Information search method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An information search method for use in a system including a database storing pieces of information about a plurality of users and artists and/or works registered in association with the plurality of users, said information search method comprising:
- a first search step of, on the basis of information about a particular user, searching said database for one or more other users;
a second search step of searching said database for one or more artists or works, using, as augments, the one or more other users searched out from said database by said first search step; and
a step of presenting, to the particular user, a search result based on the one or more artists or works searched out from said database by said second search step.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Terminal devices of a plurality of users and a server apparatus are connected via a communication network. First search step performed by the server apparatus searches a database, on the basis of information about a particular user, for one or more other users. For example, the first search step specifies at least one artist (e.g., favorite artist) or work from the database, and then searches the database for one or more other users using the specified artist or work as an augment. Second search searches the database for one or more artists (e.g., favorite artist) or works, using, as augments, the one or more other users searched out from the database. Then, the thus searched-out favorite artists or works of the other users are presented to the particular user.
46 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An information search method for use in a system including a database storing pieces of information about a plurality of users and artists and/or works registered in association with the plurality of users, said information search method comprising:
-
a first search step of, on the basis of information about a particular user, searching said database for one or more other users;
a second search step of searching said database for one or more artists or works, using, as augments, the one or more other users searched out from said database by said first search step; and
a step of presenting, to the particular user, a search result based on the one or more artists or works searched out from said database by said second search step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An information search apparatus for use in a system including a database storing pieces of information about a plurality of users and artists and/or works registered in association with the plurality of users, said information search apparatus comprising a processor coupled with said database, said processor being adapted to:
-
search said database for one or more other users on the basis of information about a particular user;
search said database for one or more artists or works, using, as augments, the one or more other users searched out from said database; and
present, to the particular user, a search result based on the one or more artists or works searched out from said database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification