Information retrieval method and apparatus displaying together main information and predetermined number of sub-information related to main information

• US 6,628,313 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Minakuchi, Mitsuru, Urano, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/377,158
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 345/853-855, 345/848, 345/850, 345/764, 707/102, 707/3
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

In an information retrieval method that allows the user to retrieve information in an intuitive way even when the user only has a vague requirement, information is retrieved from a memory device in which a plurality of information are stored. The information retrieval method includes the steps of determining whether any of a predetermined number of sub-information displayed in advance is selected or not: setting selected information as main information when any of the sub-information is selected; calculating the level of relationship with the main information for each information other than the main information stored in the memory device when any of the sub-information is selected and selecting the predetermined number of sub-information according to the level of relationship; displaying the main information; and displaying the predetermined number of sub-information.

Claims

1. An information retrieval method for retrieving information from a memory device in which a plurality of information are stored, comprising:

determining whether any information from a predetermined number of displayed sub-information is selected,

when any of said sub-information is selected, setting the selected information as main information,

when any of said sub-information is selected, calculating a relationship level with said main information for each information other than said main information stored in said memory device, wherein the relationship level is calculated for each information other than said main information using at least one characteristic of the information and at least one characteristic of the main information, and selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

displaying said main information, and

displaying said predetermined number of sub-information.

2. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a value of a color corresponding to said level relationship, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises applying a color representing the relationship level of said sub-information to each said predetermined number of sub-information for display.

3. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a display position of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises displaying each said predetermined number of sub-information at said calculated display position according to said relationship level.

4. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a display size of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises displaying each said predetermined number of sub-information in a display size associated with said relationship level.

5. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises selecting at random and displaying information stored in said memory device other than said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information, together with said predetermined number of sub-information.

6. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting any of said displayed predetermined number of sub-information at random for every predetermined time and setting the selected information as new main information, and

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information, and selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level.

7. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising altering the number of said sub-information to be displayed according to a requirement,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of information comprises displaying an altered number of sub-information.

8. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises receiving a rotation amount and displaying said predetermined number of sub-information rotated by said rotation amount.

9. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a portion of information stored in said memory device other than said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information for every predetermined time, and replacing the selected information for a part of said predetermined number of sub-information to update said predetermined number of sub-information.

10. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing history of said main information, and

displaying main information displayed to date according to said history.

11. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising registering selected information out of the main information and sub-information displayed.

12. The information retrieval method according to claim 11, further comprising displaying the registered information.

13. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying detailed information of said main information displayed.

14. The information retrieval method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a partial information assembly of information matching a predetermined condition from the information stored in said memory device.

15. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program of an information retrieval method retrieving information from a memory device in which a plurality of information are stored, said information retrieval method comprising:

determining whether any information of a predetermined number of sub-information is selected displayed,

when any of said sub-information is selected, setting the selected information as main information,

when any of said sub-information is selected, calculating a relationship level with said main information for each information other than said main information stored in said memory device, wherein the relationship level is calculated for each information other than said main information using at least one characteristic of the information and at least one characteristic of the main information, and selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

displaying said main information, and

displaying said predetermined number of sub-information.

16. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a value of a color corresponding to said level relationship, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises the step of applying a color representing the relationship level of said sub-information to each said predetermined number of sub-information for display.

17. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein said step of selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a display position of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises the step of displaying each said predetermined number of sub-information at said calculated display position according to said relationship level.

18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein selecting said predetermined number of sub-information comprises

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information,

calculating a display size of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises displaying each said predetermined number of sub-information in a display size associated with said relationship level.

19. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises selecting at random and displaying information stored in said memory device other than said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information, together with said predetermined number of sub-information.

20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising:

selecting any of said displayed predetermined number of sub-information at random for every predetermined time and setting the selected information as new main information, and

calculating the relationship level with said main information for each information stored in said memory device other than said main information, and selecting said predetermined number of sub-information according to said relationship level.

21. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising altering the number of said sub-information to be displayed according to a requirement,

wherein displaying said predetermined number of information comprises displaying an altered number of sub-information.

22. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, wherein displaying said predetermined number of sub-information comprises receiving a rotation amount and displaying said predetermined number of sub-information rotated by said rotation amount.

23. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising selecting a portion of information stored in said memory device other than said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information for every predetermined time, and replacing the selected information for a part of said predetermined number of sub-information to update said predetermined number of sub-information.

24. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising:

storing history of said main information, and

displaying main information displayed to date according to said history.

25. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising registering selected information out of the main information and sub-information displayed.

26. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 25, said information retrieval method further comprising displaying the registered information.

27. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising displaying detailed information of said main information displayed.

28. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15, said information retrieval method further comprising generating a partial information assembly of information matching a predetermined condition from the information stored in said memory device.

29. An information retrieval apparatus comprising:

a memory device of a plurality of information including main information and a predetermined number of sub-information,

a display device of said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information,

an input device receiving designation from a user,

a relationship level calculation unit connected to said memory device to calculate a relationship level with said main information for each of said plurality of information other than said main information, wherein the relationship level is calculated for each information other than said main information using at least one characteristic of the information and at least one characteristic of the main information,

a sub-information display unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select and display said predetermined number of sub-information out from said plurality of information other than said main information according to said relationship level, and

a main information display unit connected to said input device, said memory device and said display device to detect selection of any of said predetermined number of sub-information to set the selected sub-information as new main information and displaying said main information.

30. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a color calculation unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit to calculate a value of a color corresponding to said relationship level,

wherein said sub-information display unit comprises a colored sub-information display unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device, said display device and said color calculation unit to select said predetermined number of sub-information out from said plurality of information other than said main information to apply and display a color representing the relationship level of said sub-information according to said relationship level.

31. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a display position calculation unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit to calculate a display position of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

a device connected to said display position calculation unit, said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select said predetermined number of sub-information from said plurality of information other than said main information, and displaying the selected sub-information at a calculated display position according to the relationship level of said sub-information.

32. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a display size calculation unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit to calculate a display size of said sub-information according to said relationship level, and

a device connected to said display size calculation unit, said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display unit to select said predetermined number of sub-information from said plurality of information other than said main information, and displaying the selected sub-information at a calculated display size according to the relationship level of said sub-information.

33. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a first device connected to said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select said predetermined number of sub-information from said plurality of information other than said main information, and

a second device connected to said first device, said memory device and said display device to select at random and display information other than the selected sub-information from said memory device.

34. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a timer,

wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a first device connected to said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select and display said predetermined number of sub-information out from said plurality of information other than said main information according to said relationship level, and

a second device connected to said first device, said timer and said memory device to select any of said predetermined number of sub-information for every predetermined time and setting the selected sub-information as the main information.

35. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a sub-information number set unit connected to said input device to set the number of said sub-information to be displayed,

wherein said sub-information display unit comprises a device connected to said sub-information number set unit, said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select said number of sub-information set at said sub-information number set unit from the plurality of information other than said main information according to said relationship level.

36. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a sub-information select unit connected to said relationship level calculation unit and said memory device to select said predetermined number of sub-information from said plurality of information other than said main information according to said relationship level, and

a sub-information rotation display unit connected to said sub-information select unit, said display device and said input device to receive a rotation amount input through said input device to rotate said predetermined number of sub-information by said rotation amount for display.

37. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a timer,

wherein said sub-information display unit comprises

a device connected to said relationship level calculation unit, said memory device and said display device to select and display said predetermined number of sub-information out from said plurality of information other than said main information according to said relationship level, and

a device connected to said timer, said memory device and said display device to select a portion of information stored in said memory device other than said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information for every predetermined time and replacing the selected information for a part of said predetermined number of sub-information for display.

38. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

a main information history memory unit connected to said main information display unit to store history of said main information, and

a main information history display unit connected to said main information history memory unit and said display unit to display main information displayed to date according to said history.

39. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising:

a registered information memory unit to store information, and

an information registration unit connected to said input device and said registered information memory unit to register into said registered information memory unit information selected by said input device out from said main information and said predetermined number of sub-information displayed at said display device.

40. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising a registered information display unit connected to said registered information memory unit and said display device to display said information stored in said registered information memory unit.

41. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said memory device comprises an information memory unit storing said plurality of information and detailed information related to each of said plurality of information,

further comprising a detailed information display unit connected to said information memory unit and said display unit to display detailed information related to said main information.

42. The information retrieval apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a partial information assembly generation unit connected to said memory device to generate a partial information assembly constituted by information matching a predetermined condition out from said plurality of information stored in said memory device.