JP2003228570A - Data search device and data search method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (with correction) [PROBLEMS] To provide a data search device and a data search method which can efficiently search a database and are highly convenient. SOLUTION: A search log table indicating search contents of an executed search process is stored. This allows a. Generate frequently searched items as indexes. b. a
Update the index based on. By applying this, it is possible to follow changes in the operating location, operating time, and end user preferences of the system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data search device used for a database management device or the like for managing a database and searching data in the database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a database management system for managing a database, a data search system for searching data in the database has been used. In the above database management system, the actual data of the database is stored in the table in the storage device. Further, in the data search system, search items for searching the database are filed as index information.
The index information is created based on items defined in advance when the database is designed. By performing the data search in the database by using such index information, the speeding up of the search process is realized.

Further, when the index information for database search is created, a storage capacity for the created index information is required. Therefore, indexing all or many items in a database is not efficient. In the conventional database management system, major search items that are expected to be frequently searched are predicted in advance and an index is created.

However, with respect to search items that are frequently searched for in the database, the search tendency may change depending on the operating location of the system, the operating period, the end user's preference, and the like. As mentioned above, the conventional index for database search is created at the time of designing the database, so it is not easy to redesign the index according to the change of the search tendency because it takes a lot of time and effort. There is a point. Also, searching for items that are not indexed takes longer than searching items that are indexed.
For this reason, if the frequency of searching for items that are not indexed increases, it takes time to search each item one by one, and the operating efficiency of the entire system decreases.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention solves the problem that highly convenient index information cannot be easily created according to changes in the search frequency for various search items. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly convenient data search device and data search method that can efficiently search a database.

[0006]

A data search apparatus of the present invention searches information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, and a specifying unit for specifying a search item for the database, Retrieval means for retrieving information based on the retrieval item designated by the designating means, storage means for storing a history of retrieval contents retrieved by the retrieval means, and history of retrieval contents stored in the storage means Index creating means for creating index information by indexing a search item having a high search frequency from the database based on the above.

The data retrieval method of the present invention is a method used in a data retrieval apparatus for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for various items, and a designating step for designating a retrieval item for the database, A search step of searching for information based on the search item designated by this designating step, and a storage step of storing a history of search contents retrieved by this search step in storage means,
An index creating step of creating index information in which search items having a high search frequency are indexed from the database based on a history of search contents stored in the storage means.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data management device 1 according to the data search device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the data management device (data search device) 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a display unit 13,
It has an operation unit 14 and the like. The control unit 11 uses the CP
It is composed of U, RAM, ROM and the like. The control unit 1
Reference numeral 1 controls the entire data management device 1. The control unit 11 has a timer 11a that measures time. The timer 11a counts an update period of index information described later. The storage unit 12 is
It is composed of a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or an optical disk. The display unit 13 is composed of a liquid crystal display unit or a display device. The operation unit 14 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse and the like.

The storage unit 12 is a database 2
1, index creation condition information 22, a search log table 23, an index file 24, and the like.
The database 21 is composed of a table in which actual data is registered for each item. The index creation condition information 22 stores creation conditions for creating index information for database search. The index creation condition information 22 is information indicating a condition for creating or updating the index information,
This is information registered when the database 21 is designed. That is, the index creation condition information 22 includes
Information indicating a period for updating the index information (predetermined period), information indicating the maximum number of index information allowed in the data management device 1 (maximum number of items to be indexed), and the like are stored in advance as index creation conditions. It

The search log table 23 is a table for storing a history of search contents (search log) searched.
The index file 24 is a file in which index information for indexing predetermined items in the database is stored. The search log table 23 and the index file 24 will be described in detail later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the database 21. As shown in FIG. 2, in the database 21, a plurality of data are registered in a table for each of a plurality of items. In the database 21 shown in FIG. 2, the data related to the information 1, 2, 3, ...
(1), I (2), I (3), ..., I (n) are registered. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, item number 1 (2,
As the data regarding the information of (3, ...), the data regarding the item I (1) is A (B, C, ...), the data regarding the item I (2) is A (K, Sa ,. The data is α (β, γ, ...).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the search log table 23. As shown in FIG. 3, the search log table 2
In 3, the search items and the number of searches are stored in descending order of the number of searches. In the search log table 23, the number of searches corresponding to a search item is added every time the data management device 1 searches for data, and the search items are sorted in descending order of the number of searches. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the item I
(2), item I (3), item I (1), item I (8),
... and the number of searches for each item is 340,
280, 155, 89, ...

4 and 5 show the index file 2
It is a figure which shows the structural example of FIG. The example shown in FIG. 4 is an example of creating the index file 24A for the item I (2) having the highest number of searches stored in the search log table 23 shown in FIG. That is, the index file 24A shown in FIG. 4 extracts the data of the item I (2) from the database 21 shown in FIG. 2 and extracts the extracted item I (2).
It is index information in which the data and the item number are associated with each other. For example, an index file 2 as shown in FIG.
Referring to 4A, when the item I (2) is used as the search item, the search process can be executed faster than searching the entire database 21.

The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example of creating the index file 24B for the item I (3) stored in the search log table 23 shown in FIG. That is, the index file 24B shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the item I from the database 21 shown in FIG.
This is index information in which the data of (3) is extracted and the extracted data of item I (3) is associated with the item number. For example, referring to the index file 24B as shown in FIG. 5, when the item I (3) is used as the search item, the search process can be executed faster than searching the entire database 21.

Next, a search process for searching the information in the database 21 in the data management device 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the process of searching the information in the database 21 in the data management device 1. First, the database 2 is stored in the storage unit 12 when the database is designed.
1, the index creation condition information 22, the search log table 23, and the index file 24 in the initial state are registered in advance (step S1). Database 2 above
When the design of No. 1 is completed, the data management device 1 is in the operable state. When the data management device 1 becomes operable, the control unit 11 waits for input of a search instruction from the operation unit 14 (step S2).

In this state, the user inputs a search item and a search start instruction through the operation unit 14. When a search item and a search start instruction are input by the operation unit 14 (step S3, YES), the control unit 11 determines whether the index information of the input search item exists in the storage unit 12. It is determined (step S4).

When it is determined by this determination that the index information of the search item designated by the user is present (YES in step S4), the control section 11 executes the search process using the index information (first search means). , Step S5). The search process using this index information is
The control unit 11 searches the data corresponding to the search item specified by the user from the index information of the index file 24 for the search item stored in the storage unit 12, and retrieves the information corresponding to the searched data from the database 21. It is to read.

When it is determined by the above determination that the index information of the search item designated by the user does not exist (step S4, NO), the control unit 11 performs a search process for directly searching the entire database 21 for the search item. Execute (second search means, step S6). The search processing from the entire database 21 is performed by the control unit 11 searching the entire database 21 stored in the storage unit 12 for the data corresponding to the search item designated by the user, and the database corresponding to the corresponding data. Two
The information in 1 is read out.

For example, when the item I (2) is designated as the search item for the database 21 shown in FIG. 2, if the index file 24A as shown in FIG. The corresponding data is searched by the index information of the file 24A, and the information corresponding to the searched data is read from the database 21. By the search process using such index information, the data search process can be performed at a higher speed than a direct search of the information from the database 21.

When the information retrieved in step S5 or step S6 is read from the database 21, the controller 11 displays the information retrieved from the database 21 on the display 13 as a retrieval result (step S7). ). At this time, the control unit 11 stores the search content in the search log table 23 as a search log.

Further, the control section 11 measures time with a timer 11a. Based on the measurement result of this time, the control unit 11 monitors whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed. The control unit 11 returns to step S2 and repeats the above-described data search process until the predetermined period has elapsed. When it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed, the control unit 11 selects items from the search log stored in the search log table 23 in the descending order of the number of searches (search frequency) by the predetermined maximum allowable index number. The determination is made (step S10).

When the items corresponding to the maximum allowable index number that are frequently searched are determined by this determination, the control unit 11
Determines whether or not there is a need to update the index file 24 depending on whether or not all the index information for each determined item exists (step S11). If it is determined that the index file 24 does not need to be updated based on this determination, the control unit 11 does not perform the update process of the index file 24, and the above-mentioned step S
The process returns to 2 and waits for a search instruction.

When it is determined that the index file 24 needs to be updated based on the above determination, the control unit 11 creates index information for the maximum allowable index number of items in the search log that are searched a large number of times (( Creating means, step S12), and updates the index file 24 based on the created index information (update means, step S12). At this time, the index file 24 is updated by creating only the index information to be added and deleting the index information to be deleted. Such an index file 24
When the update of is completed, the control unit 11 returns to step S2 and waits for a search instruction from the user.

As described above, the search log indicating the search contents of the executed search process is stored, and the index information for database search is updated based on the search log. This allows the index information to be automatically updated over a long period of time. Further, the index information can be easily updated according to the actual situation of the search process in the data management device.

Further, since the index information is updated every predetermined period set in advance, it is not necessary for a clerk or the like to go to each data management device to update the index information. , It becomes possible to update the index information. Further, since the search items are stored in the search log in descending order of search frequency, it is possible to easily create index information in descending order of search frequency.

Next, as a specific example to which the data management device 1 is applied, a property information search system that searches a property information database such as rental properties will be described. Figure 7
[Fig. 1] is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a property information search system. This property information search system, as shown in FIG. 7, is a property information management device 1A, a data display device 31,
And a data input device 32. It is assumed that each property information search system is a device that is installed in a station, a department store, or the like and can be used by an unspecified number of users. Further, each property information retrieval system has its own property information database. Each property information search system normally operates offline, and the search processing as described using FIG. 6 is possible only within each property information search system. The information in the database of each property information search system may be registered and updated simultaneously online, or may be registered and updated offline for each system.

The property information management apparatus 1A has the same configuration as the data management apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, and has a database 21 of property information in the storage unit 12, index creation condition information 22, a search log table 23, and the like. The index file 24 and the like are stored. The data display device 31 is configured by a liquid crystal display device, a display device, or the like, and displays advertisement information, operation guidance, search results, or the like to the end user. The data input device 32 is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel on which hard keys such as ten keys and soft keys such as icons are displayed. In addition, the data display device 3
1 and the data input device 32 may be integrally formed using a liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the database 21 stored in the property information management apparatus 1A. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the property information of each item number is the nearest station,
It is registered for each item such as nearest station distance, floor plan, area, rent, key money, security deposit, availability of pets, educational institution, nearest department store, barrier-free, and manager.

Here, a case where the property information search system is installed in a plurality of places will be described. In these property information search systems, the index creation condition information 22 stores the maximum allowable index number as 4 and the index update period as 1 month. In addition, it is assumed that each property information search system stores index information for the three items of the nearest station, rent, and floor plan as the index file 24 in the initial state.

When such a property information search system starts operating in each place, different search log information is stored in the search log table of each property information search system. The search log information is information indicating a search tendency for each installation location of each property information search system. Based on these search logs, each property information search system updates the index information every predetermined period. Therefore, different index information corresponding to the search tendency at each installation location is stored in each property information search system.

For example, FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing examples of search logs of the property information search system installed in different places (place A, place B) after a predetermined period has elapsed. Here, it is assumed that this is an example of the search log stored in the search log table 23A in the property information search system installed in the place A where the search log shown in FIG. It is assumed that this is an example of the search log stored in the search log table 23B in the installed property information search system.

In such a case, the property information search system installed at the location A updates the index information based on the search log shown in FIG. As a result, place A
In the property information search system installed in, the maximum allowable index number is 4, so the four items with the highest number of searches, rent, nearest station, key money, and security deposit, are updated as index information. It As a result, in the property information search system installed at the location A, the index information of the item of the floor plan that was indexed in the initial state is deleted, and the index information of the two items of key money and security deposit is newly created. .

On the other hand, in the property information search system installed at the location B, the index information is updated based on the search log shown in FIG. As a result, place B
In the property information search system installed in, the maximum allowable number of indexes is 4, so the four items with the highest number of searches, rent, nearest station, floor plan, and educational institution, are updated as index information. It As a result, in the property information search system installed in the place B, index information for the items of the educational institution is created in addition to the index information of the rent, the nearest station, and the floor plan that were indexed in the initial state.

As described above, the index files of the property information search system installed in different places are updated with the index information according to the search tendency at each installed place after the operation of each system. As a result, even in a plurality of property information search systems with similar settings, index information for speeding up the search process can be optimized for each installation location according to the search tendency. Further, in each property information search system, the index information is automatically updated every predetermined period according to the search tendency, so that no manual labor is required. Further, for the user, the index information of the item that is most frequently searched reduces the search time, which improves the convenience.

[0035]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a data search device and a data search method that can efficiently search a database and are highly convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data management device according to a data search device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a search log table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an index file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an index file.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process of searching information in a database in the data management device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a property information search system.

8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database stored in the property information management apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of search log information stored in the property information management device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of search log information stored in the property information management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data management device (data search device), 11 ... Control part, 11a ... Timer, 12 ... Storage part, 13 ... Display part, 1
4 ... Operation part, 21 ... Database, 22 ... Index creation condition information, 23 ... Search log table (second storage means), 24 ... Index file (first storage means)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A data retrieval apparatus for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, a designation unit for designating a retrieval item for the database, and a retrieval item designated by the designation unit. A search unit that searches information based on the search unit, a storage unit that stores a history of search contents searched by the search unit, and a search item with a high search frequency based on the history of the search contents stored in the storage unit. An index creating unit for creating index information indexed from the database, and a data search device. 2. A data retrieval apparatus for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, comprising first storage means for storing index information obtained by indexing predetermined items in the database. , A designation means for designating a search item for the database, and index information of the search item designated by the designation means is stored in the first storage means, the index of the search item designated by the designation means A first search means for performing a search based on the information; and a second search means for searching the entire database for the search item designated by the designating means when the index information of the search item designated by the designating means does not exist. And a history of search contents searched by the first and second search means. Index information is created by indexing a search item having a high search frequency from the database based on a second storage unit and a history of search contents stored in the second storage unit, and the first storage unit is created. Updating means for updating the index information stored in the data retrieving device. 3. The update means reads out a history of search contents stored in the second storage means and creates index information by indexing search items having a high search frequency from the database at predetermined intervals. The data retrieval device according to claim 2, wherein the index information stored in the first storage means is updated. 4. The second storage means includes the first and second storage means.
3. The data search device according to claim 2, wherein a value obtained by accumulating the number of searches for each item in the database is stored as a history of the search content searched by the search means. 5. A data retrieval device for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, comprising: first storage means for storing index information obtained by indexing predetermined items in the database. , A designation means for designating a search item for the database, and index information of the search item designated by the designation means is stored in the first storage means, the index of the search item designated by the designation means A first search means for performing a search based on the information; and a second search means for searching the entire database for the search item designated by the designating means when the index information of the search item designated by the designating means does not exist. And search history of the search contents searched by the first and second search means. Second storage means for storing a value obtained by integrating the number of searches for each item in the database, and a predetermined number of items in descending order of the number of searches based on the history of the search contents stored in the second storage means. A data retrieving apparatus comprising: an updating unit that creates index information indexed from the database and updates the index information stored in the first storage unit. 6. A data retrieving method used in a data retrieving apparatus for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, wherein a designating step of designating a search item for the database, and A search step of searching for information based on a specified search item, a storage step of storing a history of search contents searched by this search step in a storage means, and a search content history stored in the storage means. An index creating step of creating index information by indexing a search item having a high search frequency from the database based on the data search method. 7. A data search method used in a data search device for searching information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, wherein index information obtained by indexing a predetermined item in the database is first. A first storing step of storing in the storing means, a specifying step of specifying a search item for the database, and index information of the search item specified by the specifying step is stored in the first storing means. A first search step of performing a search based on the index information of the search item specified by the specifying step; and when the index information of the search item specified by the specifying step does not exist, the specifying step is performed from the entire database. A second search step for searching for a search item specified by, and the first and second search steps. A second storage step of storing a history of search contents retrieved by the step in a second storage means; and a search item having a high search frequency based on the history of search contents stored in the second storage means. And a step of updating the index information stored in the first storage means by creating index information indexed from a database. 8. The updating step updates the index information stored in the first storage means by reading a history of search contents stored in the second storage means at predetermined intervals. The data search method according to claim 7, wherein the data search method is performed. 9. The second storage step includes the first and second storage steps.
8. The data search method according to claim 7, wherein a value obtained by integrating the number of searches for each item in the database is stored in the second storage means as a history of search contents searched in the search step. 10. A data retrieval method used in a data retrieval device for retrieving information in a database in which data is registered for each of various items, wherein index information obtained by indexing predetermined items in the database is indexed. A first storage step of storing in one storage means, a designation step of designating a search item for the database, and index information of the search item designated by the designation step is stored in the first storage means. In this case, the first search step of performing a search based on the index information of the search item designated by the designation step; and when the index information of the search item designated by the designation step does not exist, the designation is performed from the entire database. A second search step for searching the search item designated by the step, and the first and second search steps. A second storage step of storing, in the second storage means, a value obtained by accumulating the number of searches for each item in the database as a history of search contents searched by the step; and a search stored in the second storage means. An updating step of creating index information by indexing a predetermined number of items from the database in descending order of the number of searches based on the history of contents, and updating the index information stored in the first storage means. A data search method characterized by having.