Search unit, search system and search method

• US 6,738,785 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kokuyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kukuyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nansho, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/846,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/5, 705/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• 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

Abstract

This invention intends to provide a system which makes it easy to search an object by making a number of a procedure of input as less as possible in a case that a factor of an area is regarded as important in searching an object. In order to attain this object an object to be searched is stored in advance together with information on an area relating to the object and the object is output which belongs to the specified area when a condition which is to be the object to be searched is input. If the corresponding information does not exist in a searched area or if the corresponding information is desired to search in an area broader than the searched area, receive an input of a button B of “broaden searching area” so as to broaden the searching area and an area to be searched is broadened from a level of a city, town or village to a level of a country gradually.

Claims

1. A search unit for searching information in a memory means, wherein the memory means stores information regarding material supplied by a material supplier and production place of the material or an area where the material supplier is located, comprising:

condition receiving means which receives an input of a search condition concerning the material including designation of a searching range to be first searched;

searching means capable of conducting a search any number of times by changing the searching range each time, wherein;

a) the searching means first searches the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within the searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within the searching range, and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

b) optionally, changing the input regarding the searching range of the first or a subsequent search wherein the searching means then searches the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within a searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within a searching range, broader than the searching range set in the previous search and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

c) optionally repeating step (b); and

output means which outputs the information on the material searched by the searching means.

2. The search unit according to claim 1 wherein the memory means stores information regarding material based on specification requirements.

3. A search unit for searching information in a memory means, wherein the memory means stores information regarding processing provided by a processing provider and an area where the processing provider is located, comprising:

condition receiving means which receives an input of a search condition concerning the processing including designation of a searching range to be first searched;

searching means capable of conducting a search any number of times by changing the searching range each time, wherein;

a) the searching means first searches the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within the searching range and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

b) optionally, changing the input regarding the searching range of the first or a subsequent search wherein the searching means then searches the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within a searching range broader than the searching range set in the previous search and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

c) optionally repeating step (b); and

output means which outputs the information on the processing searched by the searching means.

4. The search unit according to claim 3 wherein the memory means stores information regarding processing based on specification requirements.

5. A search system comprising:

condition receiving means which receives an input of a search condition based on the material including designation of a searching range to be first searched,

searching means capable of conducting a search any number of times by changing the searching range each time, wherein;

a) the searching means first searches the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within the searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within the searching range, and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

b) optionally, changing the input regarding the searching range of the first or a subsequent search wherein the searching means then searches the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within a searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within a searching range, broader than the searching range set in the previous search and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

c) optionally repeating step (b); and

output means which outputs the information on the material searched by the searching means.

6. A search system according to claim 5 wherein the memory means stores information regarding material which is input based on specification requirements.

7. A search system comprising:

condition receiving means which receives an input of a search condition concerning the processing including designation of a searching range to be first searched,

searching means capable of conducting a search any number of times by changing the searching range each time;

wherein;

a) the searching means first searches the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within the searching range and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

b) optionally, changing the input regarding the searching range of the first or a subsequent search wherein the searching means then searches the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within a searching range broader than the searching range set in the previous search and satisfies the search condition received by the condition receiving means;

c) optionally repeating step (b); and

output means which outputs the information on the processing searched by the searching means.

8. A search system according to claim 7 wherein the memory means stores information regarding processing based on specification requirements.

9. A method for searching information stored in a memory means which stores information regarding material supplied by a material supplier and production place of the material or an area where the material supplier is located, comprising:

a step to receive an input of a search condition concerning the material including designation of a searching range to be first searched;

a step to first search the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within the searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within the searching range, to be first searched and satisfies the search condition;

a step to receive an input of instruction to change the searching range;

a step to search the information in the memory means which relates to the material produced in the production place contained within a searching range, or supplied by the material supplier located within a searching range, broader than the searching range set in the previous search when the instruction is received after the first or subsequent searches and satisfies the search conditions; and

a step to output the material searched in the first searching step or the second and subsequent.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the memory means stores information regarding material based on specification requirements.

11. A method for searching information stored memory means which stores information on processing provided by a processing provider and an area where the processing provider is located, comprising:

a step to receive an input of a search condition concerning the processing as the search condition including designation of a searching range to be first searched;

a step to first search the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within the searching range to be first searched and satisfies the search condition;

a step to receive an input of instruction to change the searching range;

a step to search the information in the memory means which relates to the processing provided by the processing provider located within a searching range broader than the searching range set in the previous search when the instruction is received after the first or subsequent searches and satisfies the search conditions; and

a step to output the processing the object searched in the first searching step or the second and subsequent search.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the memory means stores information regarding processing based on specification requirements.