Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2003-05-27
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C704S003000, C704S004000, C704S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06571241
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multilingual patent information search system and apparatus, and a control method therefor and, more particularly, to a patent information search system and apparatus for searching a database storing predetermined information on the basis of, e.g., an input keyword, and a control method therefor.
Along with recent development of communication networks including the Internet, information must be inevitably published in different linguistic areas. For example, as services for publishing information, search systems for searching databases storing information associated with Japanese patents or utility models through networks have been proposed. Necessary information can be easily obtained by accessing the above-described search systems from personal computers at home or the like.
For example, a document search system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-324791 translates an input English keyword into a Japanese keyword and then searches for Japanese document files on the basis of this Japanese keyword.
A search system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-180718 has English and Japanese dictionaries of synonyms. This system translates an input keyword of a foreign language into a corresponding Japanese keyword and searches the databases using this keyword.
In a database search method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-233696, an English database is prepared. A Japanese keyword is translated into an English keyword using a table representing the correspondence between original and translation words, and the database is searched.
A system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-278268 has a knowledge base formed in a predetermined language, a database formed in a language different from the language of the knowledge base, and a dictionary means for performing translation between the database language and the knowledge base language. An “OR” relationship is set between a keyword input to the dictionary means in the knowledge base language and a plurality of keywords output in the database language, thereby searching the database.
A document search/display system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-202721 searches for documents on the basis of a received keyword, translates the searched documents, and displays them.
However, the above-described prior arts have the following problems.
In the above-described search systems, for example, when a foreigner wants to search for information associated with Japanese patents or utility models, the following disadvantages may occur.
As the first problem, a formal applicant name in a foreign country (e.g., “SUBARU”) is sometimes different from that in Japan (e.g., “
(Fuji Jukoh)”). For example, when a foreigner searches a database storing U.S. patent information using the formal applicant name in U.S.A. (e.g., “SUBARU”) as a search key, he/she can obtain desired information. However, when a database storing Japanese patent information is searched using the above-described search key, desired information cannot be obtained.
This is because the search key is different, as a matter of course. In this case, the foreigner must check the formal applicant name in Japan and then search the database storing Japanese patent information and the like. However, for foreigners who cannot understand Japanese, it is difficult to check the formal applicant name in Japan. In addition, to use the search system capable of searching for Japanese patent information and the like, very cumbersome operations including input of Japanese words are required.
As the second problem, when a foreigner has searched a database storing Japanese patent information and the like, the contents of searched information are hard to understand. This is because the obtained information is expressed in Japanese. To understand the contents of the searched information, it must be translated into a language that can be understood by the foreigner.
As described above, patent bibliographic information are important in narrowing down objects to be searched for. However, patent issuing countries employ unique description schemes for bibliographic information, and this makes it difficult for foreigners to access patent databases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a patent information search system and apparatus which can be easily used by foreigners, and a search method therefor.
The present invention has the following arrangement as a means for achieving the above object.
According to claim
1
, there is provided a patent information search system having a patent information processing apparatus for inputting a search expression for searching for patent information, and a patent information search apparatus for searching a patent information database storing patent information such as bibliographic information on the basis of a predetermined search expression,
the patent information processing apparatus comprising:
means for inputting a first search expression;
search expression replacement means for replacing the input first search expression with a second search expression suitable for search by the patent information search apparatus on the basis of bibliographic information search contents of the first search expression; and
first transmission means for transmitting the replaced second search expression to the patent information search apparatus, and
the patent information search apparatus comprising:
search means for searching the patent information database on the basis of the received second search expression; and
second transmission means for transmitting a search result to the patent information processing apparatus.
When components in the search expression are replaced, the ambiguity between different languages or different search expressions can be eliminated, unlike conventional translation. Hence, even when a search expression in a foreign language is input, accurate search can be executed.
If the user is a foreigner, his/her language must be automatically known. For this purpose, according to claim
2
as a preferred aspect of the present invention, the patent information search apparatus further comprises determination means for determining a language that can be understood by a user who has generated the first search expression, on the basis of unique information for specifying the user.
If the user is a foreigner, the searched data is preferably translated. Especially according to claim
3
as a preferred aspect of the present invention, the patent information search apparatus further comprises translation means for translating patent information so as to translate a character string contained in a figure into a character string in the language that can be understood by the user. Only by partially translating the figure, a large quantity of information can be given to a foreigner.
If the user is a foreigner, the searched data is preferably translated. Especially according to claim
4
as a preferred aspect of the present invention, the patent information search apparatus is connected, through a network, to a translation server for translating patent information, and comprises translation request issuing means for issuing a request to translate the search result from the search means into the language that can be understood by the user.
When translation is executed outside the system, the load on the system decreases.
According to claim
5
as a preferred aspect of the present invention, the replacement means has a replacement table for replacing components of the first search expression with components of the second search expression in a language of the database.
Replacement using the table is efficient.
According to claim
6
as a preferred aspect of the present invention, the replacement table contains at least one of
a table for replacing an applicant name in the first search expression with an applicant name described in the language of the database, and
a table for replaci
Alam Hosain T.
Ly Anh
Mazda Motor Corporation
LandOfFree
Multilingual patent information search system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multilingual patent information search system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multilingual patent information search system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3078323