JP2000250917A - Method and device for object retrieval and recording medium where object retrieving program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely specify a retrieval range and further to freely add a retrieval condition by providing a step, etc., for retrieving an object, at least one of extracted individual property values of which matches, from a database connected through a network. SOLUTION: An object (key object) as a clue (key) to retrieval is specified (S1). Then all the properties that the specified key object has are extracted (S2). Then retrieval ranges are specified by the properties (S3) and a user specifies a desired property (S4). Further, the property value of the key object corresponding to the specified property is extracted (S5) and all objects which have the same value as the extracted property value are extracted from the retrieval ranges (S6). Then the retrieval results are displayed (S7). Consequently, the retrieval ranges by the individual properties can freely be specified as keys for retrieval and further retrieval conditions can freely be added.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for searching for an object such as a character string or a graphic.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional document editing apparatus, when a user searches for a desired character (character string), a desired character string is combined with an attribute value of a modification attribute added to the character string by an input device. A method for enabling a search by designating such a search condition [Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-1527]
83 Document Editing Device Canon ".

[0003] In the literature, since all are described in terms of attributes, there is a tendency for confusion with the terms used in the present invention. In order to avoid this, terms used in the present invention are defined here.

[0004] Attributes are "color" and "shape", and attribute values are "red, blue", "square, circle", and the like.
The attribute value of the attribute "font" is "italic,
Mincho, Gothic, etc. "

[0005] The contents of the document will be described below in accordance with the definition of terms of the present invention.

The above prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-1527.
It is assumed that there are a plurality of character strings (objects) having attribute values of three attributes (size, color, font) in “83 Document Editing Device Canon”. Suppose that a search for an object desired by the user is performed from the object group. In most cases, a search method is described in which a user inputs an attribute value (for example, a size of 10 pt) based on an attribute value added to a character string in a document.

When searching for a plurality of attributes, "color (red) AND size (10 pt)" and "size (1)" are used as clues (combinations of attribute attribute values) for the search.
A search method by inputting a condition such as “2pt) OR font (italic)” is described.

[0008]

However, in the above retrieval method, (A) the user must know the attribute-attribute value added to the object that the user wants to retrieve.

(B) Further, the search range cannot be freely (independently) specified by the search conditions (types of attributes).

(C) Further, when the user desires a combination of search conditions (addition of search conditions: increase of attributes), the search conditions must be re-entered from the beginning.

The present invention has been devised based on the above-mentioned problem, and does not require the user to know the attribute value of an object serving as a search key, and can freely specify a search range for each attribute serving as a search key. It is another object of the present invention to provide a search method in which search conditions can be freely added.

[0012]

According to the object search method of the present invention (claim 1), in a method of searching for an object having one or more attributes, a user can find a clue from an object held by the user. Specifying a key object, extracting at least one attribute of the key object, extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute, at least one of the extracted individual attribute values The user owns the object that matches, and / or
Or at least searching from a database connected via a network to achieve the above object.

At this time, the objects held by the user are not limited to those displayed by the visual device, but may be display by a tactile device or display by an auditory device. Similarly, the attribute-attribute value does not deal only with the one represented by the visual representation, but may be represented by the tactile representation or the auditory representation.

According to the object search method of the present invention (claim 2), in the search method of an object having one or more attributes, a key object as a clue for the user to search from all objects displayed on the display unit. , Extracting at least one attribute of the key object, and extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute;
Retrieving, from a database owned by a user and / or connected via a network, an object that matches at least one of the extracted individual attribute values. Achieve the goal.

That is, even if the user does not know the attribute-attribute value of the object (key object) that the user wants to search for on the object displayed on the display unit, the user can search the object. Becomes

In the object search method according to the present invention (Claim 3), the step of extracting at least one attribute of the key object may include the step of visually specifying the attribute by a user. The above object is achieved by being included.

That is, even if the user does not know the attribute-attribute value added to the object (key object) that the user intends to search for in the object displayed on the display unit, the operability is improved. Can be performed.

[0018] In the object search method according to the present invention (claim 4), in the above-mentioned claim 2, the step of visually specifying an attribute by the user comprises the steps of: The above object is achieved by including the step of specifying.

That is, since the range of the search target is arbitrarily specified for each attribute, the range of the search target can be freely and independently specified according to the search condition (that is, the type of the attribute).

[0020] In the object search method according to the present invention (claim 5), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the step of extracting at least one attribute of the key object includes the step of extracting all attributes of the key object. The above object is achieved by providing a step of extracting a common search target range for all attributes of the key object.

That is, since it is not necessary to specify a search range for each attribute, it is not necessary to repeat the same operation, for example, to specify a search range.
Usability can be improved.

An object search device according to the present invention (claim 6) is an object search device for an object having one or more attributes, wherein an object held by a user is
Means for the user to specify a key object that serves as a clue for search; means for extracting at least one attribute of the key object; means for extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute; The object is achieved by at least having means for retrieving an object that matches at least one of the individual attribute values from a database owned by a user and / or connected via a network. .

That is, even if the user does not know the attribute-attribute value of the object displayed on the display unit, which is added to the object (key object) that the user intends to search, it is possible to perform the search. Becomes

The recording medium according to the present invention (claim 7) is:
When retrieving an object having one or more attributes, a computer is used to specify a key object from which a user has a clue, and to extract at least one attribute of the key object. A computer-readable recording recording a program for functioning as means for extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute, and means for searching for an object that matches at least one of the extracted individual attribute values By being a medium,
Achieve the above objectives.

That is, (1) First, when an object serving as a search key is specified, all attributes of the object are extracted. (2) The search range is freely specified for each of the attributes extracted next. (3) Next, the attributes (usually a plurality) which are extracted and for which the search range is specified are displayed in a menu. (4) When the user selects one of the displayed menu items, the attribute value of the key object is extracted. (5) Next, all objects having the same attribute value as the attribute value are extracted, and the result is displayed. (6) The user looks at the displayed result and determines whether to further narrow the search (AND search) or to broaden the search (OR search), and selects this in a menu selection manner. (7) The above operations (4), (5) and (6) are repeated according to the AND search / OR search.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

(A) is solved by (1) and (4),
(B) is solved by (2), and (C) is solved by (3) to (7).

[0028]

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1
Is a method in which the method of the present invention is applied to a case where an object satisfying a desired condition is searched from a data set of graphic objects. However, the method of the present invention is not limited to a specific search target, search conditions, display method, and menu operation method.

The object search method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. 1 and the display screen diagrams of FIGS.

First, in step S1, an object (key object) to be used as a search key (key) is specified.

Next, all the attributes of the key object specified in step S2 are extracted.

A specific example of steps S1 and S2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The object L is designated as a key object (step S1). For convenience, it is assumed that an object designated as a key object is provided with a “key mark”.

Next, all the attributes of the object L are extracted (step S2). Here, the attributes of the L object are “shape”, “line type”, and “line thickness”.
Is displayed.

Designation of a key object (step S1,
When step S2) is completed, in step 3, a search range is designated for each attribute.

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the search range is specified for all the attributes of the key object to be all the displayed objects (A to K).

Next, in step S4, an attribute desired by the user is specified.

A specific example of step S4 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the user desires to search for an object having the same attribute value as the “round” attribute value of the “shape” attribute of the key object, the user selects “shape” in the menu.
Select

In step S5, the attribute value of the key object corresponding to the designated attribute is extracted. Here, the attribute value “round” of the attribute “shape” of the key object specified in step S4 is extracted.

In step S6, all objects having the same value as the extracted attribute value are extracted from the search range. Here, the object having the attribute value “round” of the “shape” attribute extracted in step 4 is extracted from the objects A to K.

The extracted objects are D, F, and G.

In step S7, the search result is displayed.

The result of the search is the objects D, F, and G indicated by the check marks in FIG. This is a result of a search for an object having an attribute value “round” of the attribute “shape”.

Step 8 is a step in which the user determines whether or not to end the search.

The above is a series of search flows in the simplest case.

Next, an AND search will be described (FIGS. 5 and 6).

If the user does not end the search in step S8, the process returns to step S4 again to specify a desired attribute.

Here, in addition to the search of the form specified earlier, when it is desired to search for an object having the same attribute value as the attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute by AND, The user selects “line thickness” in the added and displayed menu.

In step S5, the attribute value of the key object corresponding to the designated attribute is extracted. Here, the attribute value “thick” of the attribute “line thickness” of the key object designated in step S4 is extracted.

In step S6, all objects having the same value as the extracted attribute value are extracted from the search range. Here, an object having an attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute extracted in step 4 is extracted from the objects A to K.

The extracted objects are C, E, F,
I and J.

In step S7, the result of the previous search (the object D having the attribute value "round" of the "shape" attribute
F, G) and this search result (objects C, E, F, I, J having the attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute)
Take the ND and display the search results. Therefore, since the objects F correspond, a check mark is given to those objects.

Next, an OR search will be described (FIG. 5,
(FIG. 7).

If the user does not end the search in step S8, the process returns to step S4 again to specify a desired attribute.

Here, in addition to the search in the form specified earlier, it is desired to search for an object having the same attribute value as the attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute by OR, The user selects “line thickness” in the menu displayed on the same level.

In step S5, the attribute value of the key object corresponding to the designated attribute is extracted. Here, the attribute value “thick” of the attribute “line thickness” of the key object designated in step S4 is extracted.

In step S6, all objects having the same value as the extracted attribute value are extracted from the search range. Here, an object having an attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute extracted in step 4 is extracted from the objects A to K.

The extracted objects are C, E, F,
I and J.

In step S7, the previous search result (the object D having the attribute value "round" of the "shape" attribute
F, G) and this search result (objects C, E, F, I, J having the attribute value “thick” of the “line thickness” attribute)
Take R to display the search results. Therefore, the objects C, D, E, F, G, I, and J correspond, and a check mark is given to those objects. (Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, the method of the present invention is applied to a case of searching for an object satisfying a desired condition from a character string data set. However, the method of the present invention is not limited to a specific search target, search conditions, display method, and menu operation method.

The object search method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. 1 and the display screen diagrams of FIGS.

First, in step S1, an object (key object) to be used as a search key (key) is specified.

Next, all the attributes of the key object specified in step S2 are extracted.

FIG. 8 shows a specific example of steps S1 and S2.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the character string designated as the key object,
It is assumed that a “key mark” is attached.

Next, all attributes of the key object (key character string) are extracted (step S2). Here, it is displayed that the attributes of the key character string are “text”, “font”, and “size”.

Designation of a key object (step S1,
When step S2) is completed, in step 3, a search range is designated for each attribute.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the search range is specified to be all character strings for all attributes of the key character string.

Next, in step S4, the user specifies a desired attribute.

A specific example of step S4 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the user desires to search for an object having the same attribute value as the attribute value of the “font” attribute of the key character string, the user selects “font” in the menu.
Select

In step S5, the attribute value of the key character string for the designated attribute is extracted. Here, the attribute value of the attribute "font" of the key character string specified in step S4 is extracted.

In step S6, all character strings having the same value as the extracted attribute value are extracted from the search range. Here, a character string having the same attribute value as the attribute value “Mincho” of the “font” attribute extracted in step 4 is extracted from the character strings in the search range.

The extracted character string is a character string with a check mark in FIG.

In step S7, the search result is displayed.

The result of the search is a character string indicated by a check mark in FIG. This is a result of a search for a character string having the same attribute value as the attribute value “Mincho” of the attribute “font” in the key character string.

Step 8 is a step in which the user determines whether or not to end the search.

The above is a series of search flows in the simplest case.

Next, the AND search will be described (FIGS. 9 and 10).

If the user does not end the search in step S8 (FIG. 9), the process returns to step S4 again to specify a desired attribute.

Here, in addition to the search for the previously specified "font", it is desired that a character string having the same attribute value as the "size" attribute of the key character string be searched by AND. Then, the user selects “size” in the additionally displayed menu (FIG. 10).

In step S5, the attribute value of the key character string for the designated attribute is extracted. Here, the attribute value “large” of the attribute “size” of the key character string specified in step S4 is extracted.

In step S6, all character strings having the same value as the extracted attribute value are extracted from the search range. Here, a character string having the same attribute value as the attribute value “large” of the “size” attribute of the key character string extracted in step 4 is extracted from the search range.

In step S7, the previous search result (the character string having the same attribute value as the attribute value of the “font” attribute in the key character string (the character string with a check mark in FIG. 9)) and the current search The search result is displayed by ANDing the result (the object value having the attribute value “large” of the “size” attribute in the key character string and the same attribute value).

Therefore, the search result is shown in FIG. A character string with a check mark is the search result.

The OR search is omitted. (Explanation of Detailed Flow) FIGS. 2 and 3 are detailed processing flows of an object search method according to the present invention. The following is a description according to this processing flow.

First, the processing flow of FIG. 2 and FIGS.
The specification of the attribute serving as a search key and the search range will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S101, the user specifies an object (key object) serving as a search key.

FIG. 11 shows a specific example of step S101.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

It is assumed that an object P specified as a key object has a “key mark” attached thereto.

If the designation of the key object has been completed in step S101, the flow advances to step S102.

In step S102, all the attributes of the key object are extracted, and the flow advances to step S103 to display all the attributes of the key object.

The attribute of the object P is “shape”,
"Line type" and "line thickness" are displayed (FIG. 1
1). In a later-described step, "all attributes" is also displayed in order to specify a common search range for all attributes.

Next, step S104 is a step in which the user determines a desired attribute to be searched. YE
In the case of S, the process proceeds to step S105, and in the case of NO, the process proceeds to step S110.

In step S104, for each attribute of the key object as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the attribute is designated as a search attribute, and the process proceeds to the step of designating the attribute as a search range. In this manner, the user determines whether to proceed to the step of designating the search range using all the attributes of the key object as search attributes.

Steps S105 to S109 are as follows:
In this step, for each attribute of the key object, whether to designate the attribute as a search attribute and whether to specify a search range of the search attribute are determined.

In step S105, it is determined whether or not individual attributes of the key object are designated as search attributes. This step S105 is
If the user determines that the specification of the attribute is completed, step S1
Proceed to 13. If the user determines that the attribute designation has not been completed, the process proceeds to lower steps S106 to S109, and returns to step S105 again.

Step S106 is a step of selecting which attribute is to be a search attribute for each attribute of the key object.

In step S107, step S106
This is a step of determining whether to explicitly specify the search range for the search attribute specified in (Step S108) or to specify the entire search range (Step S109).

A series of processes in steps S105 to S109 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are display diagrams when the attribute “shape” is first specified as a search attribute and the search range is explicitly specified.

Here, differences from FIGS. 12 and 13 will be briefly described.

FIG. 12 designates the attribute “shape” as a search attribute,
FIG. 13 is a display diagram in a case where the search range is explicitly shown. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the user operation menu is displayed in S113 described later when the designation of the attribute is completed in step S105 in the state of FIG. FIG.

Next, FIG. 14 is a display diagram in which the attribute “line type” is designated as a search attribute in addition to the search range of the search attribute “shape”, and the search range is explicitly designated.

Finally, FIG. 15 is a display diagram in which each of the attributes (shape, line type, line thickness) of the key object P is designated as a search attribute, and the search range is designated.
The search range for the search attributes “shape” and “line type” is explicitly specified in step S108 (FIGS. 12, 12, and 13). In step S109 (FIG. 15), the search range of “line thickness” is set to the entire range (including all displayed objects; including objects A to X) in the attribute search range. Is specified.

Steps S110 to S112 are as follows:
In this step, all attributes (all attributes) of the key object are specified as search attributes, and a common search range is specified for the search attributes.

In step S110, all attributes (all attributes) of the key object are set as search attributes, and the search range is designated as the entire range (including all displayed objects) for the search attributes (step S110). This is a step of determining whether to proceed to step S111) or to proceed to a step of explicitly specifying a search range (step S111).

Steps S111 and S112 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 16 shows a common search range for all attributes (“shape”, “line type”, “line thickness”) of the key object P (step S111). (Including all objects A. to X.).

FIG. 17 shows that all the attributes (“shape”, “line type”, “line thickness”) of the key object P are explicitly defined as a common search range (object A) by step S112. To H).

Step S113 is a step of displaying an operation menu for performing a search in the lower step using the search attribute specified in the upper step (FIG. 1).
3 to FIG. 17).

Next, the processing of steps S114 to S123 will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. 3 and the display diagrams of FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed processing follow of a method of searching for an object by actually using the attribute of the key object as a clue.

The following describes the search attributes and the search method of the object in the search range specified as shown in FIG.
Steps S114 to S123 will be described.

Step S114 is a step for determining whether or not to select a menu item, that is, whether to execute the search or to end the search.

When the menu item is selected, when it is determined, the process proceeds to lower steps S115 to S123, and returns to step S114 again. When it is determined to end the search, a series of operations (search) is ended.

FIG. 18 shows the menu items displayed in step S103 described above.

[0118] Step S115 is a step of changing the display of the menu item selected by the user in step S114.

FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 show the menu items selected when the user selects each of the “shape”, “line type”, and “line thickness” in step S114. Has been changed. Items that are reversed in the menu items of each display diagram correspond to them.

Step S116 is a step of extracting the attribute value of the key object corresponding to the selected menu item (attribute).

In FIG. 19, the "shape" menu item is selected. Therefore, in this step S116, the attribute value “square” of the “shape” of the key object P is extracted.

Step S117 is a step of searching for an object having the attribute value extracted in step S116 from the search range specified in step S114.

In step S118, the user enters step S118.
This is a step of judging the menu selection method selected at 114.

Steps S119, S120, S121
Extracts the object of the search result displayed in the next step S122 according to the menu selection method determined in step S118.

[0125] Step S122 is an object for displaying a search result.

FIGS. 19 to 21 show search results of the single attribute selection method in step S122. 19 shows the attribute of “shape”, FIG. 20 shows the attribute of “line type”, and FIG. 21 shows the attribute of “line thickness”.

In FIG. 19, steps S120, S1
22, the object having the same attribute value as the attribute value “square” of the “shape” attribute of the key object P is displayed as a search result (the objects B, D, E, N, Q, S,
V, X).

The same applies to FIGS.

Step S123 is a step of updating the menu in order to newly select a menu item.

As shown in FIGS. 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, the menu is updated so that an unselected menu item is additionally displayed on the right side of the inverted menu item.

Further, the menu is updated so as not to additionally display a menu which is not selected as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 22, FIGS. 19 and 24, a result display in accordance with the search method in step S122,
The updating of the menus in FIGS. 19 to 23 and 24 will be described.

FIGS. 22 and 24 show the result of selecting the "shape" of the menu item in step 114, performing the processing of lower steps, and selecting "line type" in step 114 again.

In these two figures, attention is paid to search results (objects with check marks) and menu display.

FIG. 22 shows a result of a search for an object having both attribute values “square” and “solid line” of the attribute “shape” and “line type” of the key object (AND). Step S119, step S1
22) is displayed.

FIG. 24 searches for an object having one of two attribute values (OR) of the attribute values “square” and “solid line” of the attributes “shape” and “line type” of the key object. (Step S121, Step S122).

That is, as shown in FIG. 22, when a new menu item is selected from the additional menu in FIG. 19, an AND search is performed.

As shown in FIG. 24, when a new menu item is not selected from the additional menu in FIG. 19 but a menu item on the same level is newly selected, an OR search is performed.

Each search method (AND or OR)
In step S123, the menu is updated and displayed.

As described above, the present invention is a method for realizing that a search can be performed even if the user does not know the attribute value by using the attribute of the key object as a clue.

As is clear from the comparison between FIGS. 22 and 25, when considering combinations to be searched, this method is to realize the same result without being particularly conscious of the order. This is a method for saving the trouble of re-inputting search conditions. (Searching device of the present invention and its block diagram) FIG.
FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of the search device of the present invention, and FIG. 27 is a block diagram thereof.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an input unit for inputting to operate the retrieval apparatus. Auxiliary support, for example, reading of data, etc., is performed by using the keyboard 1a. Input from the mouse.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an external storage such as an FD or an HD.
In the case of the present invention, a program or data is stored. They may also be in the external database 8 via a network.

These programs and data are loaded into the program memory 6 and the data memory 7,
It is executed under U control, and is displayed on the display unit 3 under the control of the display control unit 5.

[0145]

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to know the attribute value of an object serving as a search key, a search range can be freely specified for each attribute serving as a search key, and a search condition can be freely added. It is possible to provide a search method, a search method, and a recording medium that can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a search method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of a search method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of a search method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 5 is an example of display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 6 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 8 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a search for a character string.

FIG. 9 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a search for a character string.

FIG. 10 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a search for a character string.

FIG. 11 is a display example when a key object is designated and attributes of the object are extracted.

FIG. 12 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 13 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 14 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 15 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 16 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 17 is a display example when a search range of a search attribute is set.

FIG. 18 is a display example of an operation menu for object search.

FIG. 19 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 20 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 21 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 22 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 23 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 24 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 25 is an example of a display when the present invention is applied to a graphic search.

FIG. 26 is an external view of a search device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a data search device of the present invention.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoki Urano 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 5B075 ND03 NK46 PP12 PP13 PP23 PQ02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A method for searching for an object having one or more attributes, wherein the user specifies a key object serving as a search key from objects held by the user, and at least one attribute of the key object is specified. Extracting, extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attributes, the user owns an object that matches at least one of the extracted individual attribute values, and / or via a network At least searching from a connected database. 2. A method for searching for an object having one or more attributes, wherein a user specifies a key object serving as a search key from all objects displayed on a display unit; Extracting one attribute; extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute; the user owning an object that matches at least one of the extracted individual attribute values; and / or At least searching from a database connected via a network. 3. At least one of said key objects
3. The object search method according to claim 1, wherein the step of extracting one attribute includes the step of visually specifying the attribute by a user. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of visually specifying the attribute by the user includes the step of specifying the range of the search target by the user for each attribute to be extracted. Object search method. 5. At least one of said key objects
The step of extracting one attribute is a step of extracting all the attributes of the key object. At this time, the step of extracting a common search range is specified for all the attributes of the key object. 5. The object search method according to claim 1, wherein: 6. A search device for an object having one or more attributes, wherein: a means for designating a key object serving as a clue for a search from objects held by the user; and at least one attribute of the key object is specified. Means for extracting; means for extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attribute; user holding an object in which at least one of the extracted individual attribute values matches; and / or via a network Means for searching from a connected database. 7. When searching for an object having one or more attributes, a computer specifies a key object to be a clue for a search from objects held by the user, and at least one of the key objects. Means for extracting attributes, means for extracting individual attribute values for the extracted attributes, the user owns an object that matches at least one of the extracted individual attribute values, and / or via a network A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for functioning as a means for searching from a connected database is recorded.