Data processing methods and apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement

• US 5,974,422 A
• Filed: 10/24/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kagami, Akira, Oyama, Hiroaki, Kosaka, Michitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Downs, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US08/957,560
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/104, 382/305, 382/154, 706/13, 706/17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is created on the basis of the identified criterion; information is inputted for designating elements to be changed and elements not to be changed in the created combination; and a new combination is created on the basis of the designation information.

Claims

1. A data processing method for supporting analysis/judgement, comprising the steps of:

selecting an arbitrary criterion among at least one criterion;

obtaining a combination of structural elements on the basis of said selected criterion;

inputting appraisal information for said obtained combination of structural elements;

comparing the correspondence of said obtained combination of structural elements to said appraisal with said selected criterion to identify a criterion;

creating a combination of elements constituting an object to be appraised on the basis of said identified criterion;

inputting information for designating elements to be changed and elements not to be changed in said created combination, and

creating a new combination on the basis of said designation information.

2. A database retrieving method, comprising:

inputting a partial image of an image of goods as a retrieval key, said image of goods being a combination of partial images;

retrieving an image corresponding to said retrieval key from a database stored in a storage means, said retrieved image being a combination of partial images; and

outputting said retrieved image.

3. A data processing method, comprising:

(a) preparing in advance a plurality of information which is classified on the basis of at least one criterion;

(b) accepting input of a direct determination from a user made to information as objects to be appraised; and

(c) selectively outputting information corresponding to said direct determination of said user from said plurality of information prepared in advance in said step (a).

4. The data processing method according to claim 3, wherein said step (b) includes the substeps of:

b-1) outputting information corresponding to a predetermined direct determination from said plurality of information prepared in advance; and

b-2) accepting input of appraisal with respect to said information outputted in said substep (b-1) as said direct determination.

5. The data processing method according to claim 3, further comprising:

d) changing said information outputted in said step c) in accordance with input by said user.

6. The data processing method according to claim 5, wherein said step d) includes:

d-1) dividing said information outputted in said step (c) into a plurality of elements; and

d-2) changing said plurality of elements in accordance with said input by said user thereby to change said information outputted in said step (c).

7. The data processing method according to claim 5, wherein said step (c) includes:

c-3) outputting selectively said plurality of information prepared in advance in said step (a) in an order of satisfying said direct determination input in said step (b).

8. A data processing method comprising:

(a) preparing in advance a plurality of information which is classified on the basis of at least one criterion;

(b) accepting input of a direct determination made to information as objects to be appraised, said step (b) including;

b-1) outputting information corresponding to a predetermined direct determination from said plurality of information prepared in advance; and

b-2) accepting input of appraisal with respect to said information outputted in said substep (b-1) as said direct determination;

(c) selectively outputting information corresponding to said direct determination from said plurality of information prepared in advance in said step (a), said step (c) including;

c-1) outputting a plurality of information on the basis of said appraisal inputting in said substep (b-2); and

c-2) allowing said user to select one of said plurality of information outputted in said substep (c-1).

9. A data processing apparatus for supporting analysis/determination comprising:

an input unit for inputting a direct determination of a user made to information as objects to be appraised; and

an output unit for outputting from a plurality of information which is classified on the basis of at least one criterion and stored in a storage unit, information corresponding to said direct determination inputted in said input unit, wherein content of output from said output unit is changed in accordance with said direct determination of said user input into said input unit.