Search apparatus and method, and program

• US 9,268,790 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ueno, Ichiro, Liao, Baiping, Tominaga, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, THANH HA T
• Application Number:
  US14/174,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 707/706, 707/913, 707/915, 707/918
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters

Abstract

A search apparatus includes the following elements. A provisional search condition inputting unit inputs character string information as a provisional search condition. A character string/position correspondence information holding unit holds character string/position correspondence information including a correspondence between character string information and position information. A position information obtaining unit obtains position information corresponding to the character string information input as the provisional search condition from the character string/position correspondence information. A search object information storage unit stores search object information with additional information including at least position information. A searching unit performs a search for the position information of the search object information stored in the search object information storage means using the position information obtained by the position information obtaining unit as an actual search condition, and outputs search object information having the found position information as a search result satisfying the provisional search condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor device to;

determine a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network;

acquire map information based on the search area range;

acquire first image data based on the search area range;

control transmission to the external apparatus, over the communication network, of display data for displaying a map image corresponding to the map information and the first image data on a display device corresponding to the external apparatus;

receiving, after the transmission of the display data, changed search area range information, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display coordinates indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image, from the external apparatus over the communication network; and

acquiring second image data based on the changed search area range information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display data indicates an area of a map indicated by the map information for viewing as the map image on the display device and the first image data is for display as a list view.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor device controls transmission to the external apparatus, over the network, of the second image data, for display by the external apparatus on the display device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the changed search area range information indicates an operation on the display device increasing or reducing the search area range.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search area range is determined based on a classification of the character string information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor device is to control display of a reference position corresponding to the character string information on the map image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the changed search area range information indicates the resizing operation on the screen display of the map image using a graphical user interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search area range is displayed on the display device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the changed search area range information is indicated by markings displayed on the map image.

10. A method comprising:

determining, by a processor device, a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network;

acquiring map information based on the search area range;

acquiring first image data based on the search area range;

controlling, by the processor device, to transmit to the external apparatus, over the communication network, display data for displaying a map image corresponding to the map information and the first image data on a display device corresponding to the external apparatus;

receiving, after the display data is transmitted, changed search area range information, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display coordinates indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image, from the external apparatus over the communication network; and

acquiring second image data based on the changed search area range information.

11. The method according to the claim 10, further comprising:

converting the changed search area range information from the basis on the map information to a basis on position information.

12. The method according to the claim 10, further comprising:

controlling, by the processor device, to transmit changed display data, in which the changed display data is for displaying the second image data on the display device corresponding to the external apparatus, to the external apparatus.

13. The method according to the claim 10, wherein the first image data is associated with first position information and the second image data is associated with second position information different from the first position information.

14. A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executable by a computer, the program comprising:

determining a search area range to search image data based on character string information input at an external apparatus and provided over a communication network;

acquiring map information based on the search area range;

acquiring first image data based on the search area range;

controlling to transmit to the external apparatus, over the communication network, display data for displaying a map image corresponding to the map information and the first image data on a display device corresponding to the external apparatus;

receiving, after the display data is transmitted, changed search area range, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image, from the external apparatus over the communication network; and

acquiring second image data based on the changed search area range information.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor device to;

display, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition;

provide to an external search apparatus, over a communication network, a search request including the character string information;

display, on the display, display data provided from the external search apparatus over the network, in which the display data indicates a map image corresponding to map information and first image data for display, the map information and the first image data being based on a search area range, the search area range determined from a search of image data based on the character string information; and

display, on the display, second display data provided from the external search apparatus over the network, in which the second display data indicates second image data for display, the second image data being based on changed search area range information provided from the apparatus to the external search apparatus after the display data is provided from the external search apparatus, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display coordinates indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display data indicates an area of a map for viewing on the display as the map image and the first image data is for display as a list view.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor device is to:

provide the changed search area range information to the external search apparatus, over the network, when the search area range is changed; and

display a changed search area range representative of the changed search area range information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the changed search area range information indicates an operation on the display increasing or reducing the search area range.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the search area range is determined based on a classification of the character string information.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor device is to display, on the display, a reference position corresponding to the character string information on the map image.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the search area range is changed by the resizing operation on the screen display of the map image using a graphical user interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the search area range is displayed on the display.

23. A method comprising:

displaying, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition;

providing, over a communication network to an external apparatus, a search request including the character string information;

displaying, on the display, display data received over the network, in which the display data indicates a map image corresponding to the map information and first image data for display, the map information and the first image data being based on a search area range, the search area range determined from a search of image data based on the character string information; and

displaying, on the display, second display data received over the network, in which the second display data indicates second image data for display, the second image data being based on changed search area range information provided to the external apparatus after the display data is received, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display coordinates indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image,

wherein the displaying of the input box, the providing and the displaying of the display data and the second display data are by a processor device.

24. The method according to the claim 23, further comprising:

converting, by the processor device, the changed search area range information from the basis on the map information to a basis on position information.

25. The method according to the claim 23, wherein the first image data is associated with first position information and the second image data is associated with second position information different from the first position information.

26. A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executable by a computer, the program comprising:

displaying, on a display, an input box in which to input character string information as a search condition;

providing, over a communication network to an external apparatus, a search request including the character string information; and

displaying, on the display, display data received over the network, in which the display data indicates a map image corresponding to map information and first image data for display, the map information and the first image data being based on a search area range, the search area range determined from a search of image data based on the character string information; and

displaying, on the display, second display data received over the network, in which the second display data indicates second image data for display, the second image data being based on changed search area range information provided to the external apparatus after the display data is received, in which a basis of the changed search area range information is on the map information and vertical and horizontal screen display coordinates indicating a frame from a resizing operation in relation to a screen display of the map image.