EP1045314A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Search engine user interface
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2000-03-08
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2020-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A database interface is provided for interfacing to a database having a plurality of sets of non-text data. Each set of non-text data has a descriptive text caption associated with it. An input text query is received and compared with the captions to determine the similarities between the input query and the captions. A display is controlled to display representations of a plurality of sets of non-text data which have captions which are the most similar to the input query and which are separated in accordance with similarities.
Inventors
- 👤 Tony Gerard Canon Research Ctr. Europe Ltd. Rose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06F16/90; G06F16/903; G06F16/9038; G06F16/907; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A database interface for interfacing to a database
of a plurality of sets of non-text data, each set of non-text
data having a descriptive text caption associated
therewith, the interface comprising: receiving means for receiving an input textual
query; comparing means for comparing said input query with
said captions for said sets of non-text data to determine
the similarities between said input query and said
captions and between said captions; and display control means for controlling display means
to display representations of a plurality of sets of non-text
data which have captions which are the most similar
to said input query, and for controlling said display
means to display said representations separated in
accordance with the similarities between their respective
captions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A database interface according to claim 1 wherein
each said descriptive text caption is text in a natural
language, said input means is adapted to receive a
natural language query, and said comparing means is
adapted to perform a natural language comparison between
said input query and said captions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A database interface according to claim 2 wherein
said comparing means is adapted to compare the meaning of
said input query with the meaning of said caption.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
A database interface according to any preceding
claim wherein said display control means is adapted to
select the representation of the set of non-text data
having the most similar said caption to said query as a
focal representation, and to control said display means
to display said focal representation at a central
position and to display the representations of the rest
of said plurality of sets of non-text data around said
focal representation at distances dependent upon the
determined similarities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A database interface according to any preceding
claim wherein said non-text data comprises image data and
said display control means is adapted to control said
display means to display thumbnail images of said sets of
image data as said representations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A database interface according to any preceding
claim including means for receiving a selection signal
following the selection of a representation as a new
query, said display control means being responsible to
said selection signal to control said display means to
display the selected representation at a central position
and to display the representations for the sets of non-text
data which have captions most similar to the caption
of the selected representation around the selected
representation at distances in accordance with the
similarities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A database interface according to claim 6 wherein
said database includes a set of similarity measures
stored for each set of non-text data, and said display
control means is adapted to receive said sets of
similarity measures from said database for a selected
representation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
A database interface apparatus for interfacing a
user interface to a database of a plurality of sets of
non-text data, each set of non-text data having a
descriptive text caption associated therewith, the
apparatus comprising: means for receiving an input textual query from said
user interface; means for comparing said input textual query with
said captions for said sets of non-text data to determine
the similarities between said input query and said
captions and between said captions; and means for outputting information indentifying a
plurality of sets of non-text data having captions most
similar to said query to said user interface for the
display of representations of said sets of non-text data
separated in accordance with the similarities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A user interface for use with said database
interface apparatus of claim 8 and for displaying a
plurality of representations of sets of non-text data,
the user interface comprising: input means for inputting a text query; means for sending said input query to said database
interface apparatus; means for receiving information identifying a
plurality of sets of non-text data having the most
similar captions to said query, and similarity values; means for retrieving said sets of non-text data from
said database; and display means for displaying representations of said
sets of non-text data separated in accordance with the
similarity values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A database interface for interfacing to a database
of a plurality of sets of non-text data, each set of non-text
data having a descriptive text caption associated
therewith, the interface comprising: receiving means for receiving an input textual
query; comparing means for comparing said input query with
said captions for said sets of non-text data to determine
the similarities between said input query and said
captions; selecting means for selecting the determined most
similar set of non-text data; and display control means for controlling display means
to display a representation of the selected set of non-text
data and representations of a plurality of sets of
non-text data having the most similar captions to the
caption of said selected set of non-text data separated
in accordance with the similarities between their
respective captions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A database interface according to claim 10 wherein
said database stores the similarities between the caption
for each set of non-text data and the captions of a
plurality of the sets of non-text data which are most
similar and identities said plurality of sets of non-text
data, said display control means being adapted to
retrieve said selected set of non-text data and said
similarities and identities for said selected set of non-text
data, and to retrieve said plurality of sets of non-text
data in accordance with said retrieved identities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A database interface according to claim 10 or claim
11 wherein each said descriptive text caption is text in
a natural language, said input means is adapted to
receive a natural language query, and said comparing
means is adapted to perform a natural language comparison
between said input query and said captions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A database interface according to claim 12 wherein
said comparing means is adapted to compare the meaning of
said input query with the meaning of said caption.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A database interface according to any one of claims
10 to 13 wherein said display control means is adapted to
control said display means to display said representation
of said selected set of non-text data as a focal
representation at a central position and to display the
representations of said plurality of sets of non-text
data around said focal representation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A database interface according to anyone of claims
10 to 14 wherein said non-text data comprises image data
and said display control means is adapted to control said
display means to display thumbnail images of said sets of
image data as said representations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A database interface according to any one of claims
10 to 15 including means for receiving a selection signal
following the selection of a representation as a new
query, said display control means being responsive to
said selection signal to control said display means to
display the selected representation at a central position
and to display the representations for the sets of non-text
data which have captions most similar to the caption
of the selected representation around the selected
representation at distances in accordance with the
similarities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A database interface according to claim 16 wherein
said database includes a set of similarity measures
stored for each set of non-text data, and said display
control means is adapted to receive said set of
similarity measures from said database for a selected
representation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
A database interface apparatus for interfacing a
user interface to a database of a plurality of sets of
non-text data, each set of non-text data having
associated therewith, a descriptive text caption and
information identifying sets of non-text data having the
most similar captions and giving the similarities; the apparatus comprising: means for receiving an input textual query from said
user interface; means for comparing said input query with said
captions for said sets of non-text data to determine the
similarities therebetween; means for outputting information identifying a set
of non-text data having a caption most similar to said
query to said user interface; and means causing said information for said set of non-text
data to be sent from said database to said user
interface for the display of representations of the
identified sets of non-text data separated in accordance
with the similarities.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
A user interface for use with said database
interface apparatus of claim 18 and for displaying a
plurality of representations of sets of non-text data,
the user interface comprising: input means for inputting a text query; means for sending said input query to said database
interface apparatus; means for receiving information identifying sets of
non-text data and comparative similarity values; means for retrieving said sets of non-text data from
said database; and display means for displaying representations of said
sets of non-text data separated in accordance with the
similarity values.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
102 words
A database interface method for interfacing to a
database of a plurality of sets of non-text data, each
set of non-text data having a descriptive text caption
associated therewith, the method comprising: receiving an input textual query; comparing said input query with said captions for
said sets of non-text data to determine the similarities
between said input query and said captions, and between
said captions; and control display means to display representations of
a plurality of sets of non-text data which have captions
which are the most similar to said input query separated
in accordance with the similarities between their
respective captions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A database interface method according to claim 20,
wherein each said descriptive text caption is text in a
natural language, said query is input as a natural
language query, and the comparing step performs a natural
language comparison between said input query and said
captions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A database interface method according to claim 21,
wherein said comparing step compares the meaning of said
input query with the meaning of said captions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 20 to 22, including selecting the representation
of the set of non-text data having the most similar said
caption to said query as a focal representation, and
controlling said display means to display said focal
representation at a central position and to display the
representations of the rest of said plurality of sets of
non-text data around said focal representation at
distances dependent upon the determined similarities.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 20 to 23, wherein said non-text data comprises
image data, and said display means is controlled to
display thumbnail images of said sets of image data as
said representations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 20 to 24, including receiving a selection signal
following the selection of a representation as a new
query, responding to said selection signal by controlling
said display means to display the selected representation
at a central position and to display representations of
the non-text data which have captions most similar to the
caption of the selected representation around the
selected representation at distances in accordance with
the similarities.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A database interface method according to claim 25,
wherein said database includes a set of similarity
measures stored for each set of non-text data, and said
set of similarity measures is received from said database
for a selected representation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
113 words
A database interface method for interfacing a user
interface to a database of a plurality of sets of non-text
data, each set of non-text data having a descriptive
text caption associated therewith, the method comprising: receiving an input text query from said user
interface; comparing said input text query with said captions
for said sets of non-text data to determine the
similarities between said input query and the said
captions, and between said captions; and outputting information identifying a plurality of
sets of non-text data having captions most similar to
said query to said user interface for the display of
representations of said sets of non-text data separated
in accordance with the similarities.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method of operating a user interface for use with
database interface apparatus operating in accordance with
the database interface method of claim 27 and for
displaying a plurality of representations of sets of non-text
data, the method comprising: receiving a text query; sending said query to said database interface
apparatus; receiving information identifying a plurality of
sets of non-text data having the most similar captions to
said query and similarity values; retrieving said sets of non-text data from said
database; and displaying representations of said sets of non-text
data separated in accordance with the similarity values.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
120 words
A database interface method of interfacing to a
database of a plurality of sets of non-text data, each
set of non-text data having a descriptive text caption
associated therewith, the method comprising: receiving an input text query; comparing said input query with said captions for
said sets of non-text data to determine the similarities
between said input query and said captions; selecting the determined most similar set of non-text
data; and controlling display means to display a
representation of the selected set of non-text data and
representations of a plurality of sets of non-text data
having the most similar captions to the caption of said
selected set of non-text data separated in accordance
with the similarities between their respective captions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
87 words
A database interface method according to claim 29,
wherein said database stores the similarities between the
caption for each set of non-text data and the captions of
a plurality of the sets of non-text data which are most
similar and identities of said plurality of sets of non-text
data, the method including retrieving said selected
set of non-text data, and said similarities and said
identities for said selected set of non-text data, and
retrieving said plurality of sets of non-text data in
accordance with said retrieved identities.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A database interface method according to claim 30
wherein each said descriptive text caption is text in a
natural language, said query is received as a natural
language query, and the comparing step performs a natural
language comparison between said input query and said
captions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A database interface method according to claim 31,
wherein the comparing step compares the meaning of said
input query with the meaning of said captions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
55 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 29 to 32, wherein said display means is controlled
to display said representation of said selected set of
non-text data as a focal representation at a central
position and to display the representations of said
plurality of sets of non-text data around said focal
representation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 29 to 33, wherein said non-text data comprises
image data and said display means is controlled to
display thumbnail images of said sets of image data as
said representations.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
80 words
A database interface method according to any one of
claims 29 to 34, including receiving a selection signal
following the selection of a representation as a new
query, responding to said selection signal to control
said display means to display the selected representation
at the central position and to display the
representations for the normal text data which have
captions most similar to the caption of the selected
representation around the selected representation at
distances in accordance with the similarities.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
A database interface method according to claim 35,
wherein said database includes a set of similarity
measures stored for each set of non-text data, the method
including receiving said set of similarity measures from
said database for a selected representation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
137 words
A database interface method of interfacing a user
interface to a database of a plurality of sets of non-text
data, each set of non-text data having associated
therewith a descriptive text caption, and information
identifying sets of non-text data having the most similar
captions and giving the similarities; the method
comprising: receiving an input text query from said user
interface; comparing said input query with said captions for
said sets of non-text data to determine the similarities
therebetween; and outputting information identifying a set of non-text
data having a caption most similar to said query to said
user interface; and causing said information for said set of non-text
data to be sent from said database to said user interface
for the display of representations of the identified sets
of non-text data separated in accordance with the
similarities.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method of providing a user interface for use with
database interface apparatus operating in accordance with
the method of claim 37 and for displaying a plurality of
representations of sets of non-text data, the method
comprising: receiving a text query; sending said query to said database interface
apparatus; receiving information identifying sets of non-text
data and comparative similarity values; retrieving said sets of non-text data from said
database; and displaying representations of said sets of non-text
data separated in accordance with the similarity values.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
162 words
Data accessing apparatus for accessing each set of
data having similarity data giving the similarity of the
data, other sets of data, and the identity of the other
sets of data, the apparatus comprising; receiving means for receiving a query; comparing means for comparing the query with said
sets of data or meta data for said sets of data to
determine at least the most similar set of data; display control means for controlling display means
to display a representation for the most similar set of
data and representations for other similar sets of data
arranged in accordance with their similarity; selection means for allowing a selection of
representation; and retrieval means for retrieving said similarity data
for the set of data corresponding to selected
representation; wherein said display control means is adapted to
control said display means to display the selected
representation and representations for the other sets of
data identified in said similarity data arranged in
accordance with their similarities.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
79 words
Data accessing apparatus according to claim 39
wherein said comparing means is adapted to determine the
most similar set of data; said retrieval means is adapted
to retrieve said similarity data for said most similar
set of data; and said display control means is adapted to
control said display means to display a representation of
said most similar set of data and representations of
other sets of data identified in said similarity data
arranged in accordance with their similarities.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
60 words
Data accessing apparatus according to claim 39
wherein said comparing means is adapted to determine a
plurality of the most similar sets of data to said query
and their similarity values; and said display control
means is adapted to control said display means to display
representations of said most similar sets of data
arranged in accordance with their similarity values.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
Data accessing apparatus according to any one of
claim 39 to 41 wherein said meta data comprises text,
said receiving means is adapted to receive a text query,
and said comparing means is adapted to compare the text
query with text meta data for said sets of data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
Data accessing apparatus according to any one of
claims 39 to 42 wherein said display control means is
adapted to control said display means to display the
representation for the most similar set of data centrally
with the rest of the representations there around.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
145 words
A data accessing method of accessing sets of data,
each set of data having similarity data giving the
similarities of the data to other sets of data and the
identity of the other sets of data, the method
comprising: receiving a query; comparing the query with said sets of data or meta
data for said sets of data to determine at least the most
similar set of data; controlling display means to display a
representation of the most similar set of data and
representations for other similar sets of data arranged
in accordance with their similarity; allowing a selection of a representation; retrieving said similarity data for the set of data
corresponding to the selected representation; and controlling said display means to display the
selected representation and representations for the other
sets of data identified in said similarity data arranged
in accordance with their similarities.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
68 words
A data accessing method according to claim 44,
wherein the comparing step determines the most similar
set of data; the retrieval step retrieves said similarity
data for said most similar set of data; and the display
means is controlled to display a representation of said
most similar set of data and representations of other
sets of data identified in said similarity data arranged
in accordance with their similarities.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
52 words
A data accessing method according to claim 44
wherein the comparing step determines a plurality of the
most similar sets of data into said query and their
similarity values; and the display means is controlled to
display representations of said most similar sets of data
arranged in accordance with their similarity values.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
A data accessing method according to any one of
claims 44 to 46 wherein said meta data comprises text,
a text query is received, and the text query is compared
with text meta data for said sets of data.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
A data accessing method according to any one of
claims 44 to 47 wherein said display means is controlled
to display the representation for the most similar set of
data centrally with the rest of the representations there
around.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
98 words
Data display apparatus for displaying the
relationships between sets of data, the apparatus
comprising: data receiving means for receiving sets of data and
similarity values for the similarity between the sets of
data; and display control means for controlling display means
to display representations for said sets of data
separated in accordance with said similarity values and
to display in a first style links between said
representations which correspond to sets of data having
a strong similarity value, and in a second style links
between said representation which correspond to sets of
data having a weak similarity value.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
Data display apparatus according to claim 49 wherein
said display control means is adapted to control said
display means to display said representations as images
of said sets of data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
81 words
Data display apparatus according to claim 49 or
claim 50 wherein said display control means is adapted to
control said display means to display a said link in said
first style if the similarity value associated with the
link is above the means of the similarity values by a
predetermined amount and to display a said link in said
second style if the similarity value associated with the
link is below the mean of the similarity values by a
predetermined amount.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
88 words
The data display method of displaying the
relationship between sets of data, the method comprising: receiving sets of data and similarity values for the
similarity between the sets of data; controlling display means to display representations
for said sets of data separated in accordance with said
similarity values; and displaying in a first style links between said
representations which correspond to sets of data having
a strong similarity value and in a second style links
between said representations which correspond to sets of
data having a weak similarity.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
A data display method according to claim 52 wherein
said display means is controlled to display said
representations as images of said sets of data.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
76 words
A data display method according to claim 52 or claim
53 wherein said display means is controlled to display a
said link in said first style if the similarity value
associated with the link is above the mean of the
similarity values by a predetermined amount and to
display a said link in said second style if the
similarity value associated with the link is below the
mean of the similarity values by a predetermined amount.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
116 words
Data display apparatus for displaying the
relationships between sets of data, the apparatus
comprising: data receiving means for receiving sets of data and
similarity values for the similarity between the sets of
data; arrangement calculation means for calculating the
optimum arrangement of representations for said sets of
data on display means so that said representations are
spaced according to said similarity values; display control means for controlling said display
means to display said representations arranged in
accordance with said calculation; and user selection means allowing a user to select and
move a said representation; wherein said arrangement calculation means is
operable to recalculate the optimum arrangement of said
representations following the movement of a said
representation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
Data display apparatus according to claim 55 wherein
said arrangement calculation means is adapted to carry
out iterative calculations of the separations of said
representations from starting separations to target
separations.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
Data display apparatus according to claim 56 wherein
said display control means is adapted to control said
display means to display said representations at time
sequential stages of said iterative calculations.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
94 words
A data display method of displaying the
relationships between sets of data, the apparatus
comprising: receiving sets of data and similarity values for the
similarity between the sets of data; calculating the optimum arrangement of
representations for said sets of data on display meanc so
that said representations are spaced according to said
similarity values; controlling said display means to display said
representations arranged in accordance with said
calculations; allowing the user to select and move a said
representation; and recalculating the optimum arrangement of said
representations following the movement of a said
representation.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
36 words
A data display method according to claim 58 wherein
the calculation of the optimum arrangement of the
representations is carried out as iterative calculations
of the separations of said representations from starting
separations to target separations.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
A data display method according to claim 59 wherein
said display means is controlled to display said
representations at time sequential stages of said
iterative calculations.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
89 words
A data display apparatus for displaying the
relationships between sets of data, the apparatus
comprising: data receiving means for receiving sets of data and
similarity values for the similarities between the sets
of data; arrangement calculation means for iteratively
calculating the optimum separations of displayed
representations for said sets of data from starting
separations to target separations corresponding to said
similarity values; and display control means for controlling display means
to display said representations arranged in accordance
with said iterative calculations at time sequential
stages of said iterative calculations.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
77 words
A data display method of displaying the
relationships between sets of data, the method
comprising: receiving sets of data and similarity values for the
similarities between the sets of data; iteratively calculating the optimum separations of
displayed representations for said sets of data from
starting separations to target separations corresponding
to said similarity values; and controlling display means to display said
representations arranged in accordance with said
iterative calculations at time sequential stages of said
iterative calculations.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
50 words
A storage medium storing instructions for
controlling a processing to carry out the method of any
one of claims 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31,
32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 52, 53,
54, 58, 59, 60 and 62.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
30 words
A signal carrying instructions for controlling a
processor to carry out the method of any one of claims
20 to 38, 44 to 48, 52,to 54 and 58 to 62.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program for implementation by a computer
to carry out the method of any one of claims 20 to 38, 44
to 48, 52,to 54 and 58 to 62.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
22 words
A method comprising the combination of any one of
claims 20 to 38, 44 to 48, 52,to 54 and 58 to 62.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus comprising the combination of any one of
claims 1 to 19, 39 to 43, 49 to 51, 55 to 57 and 61.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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