Patent ID: 6363375
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
An information retrieval apparatus using classification trees with respect to a plurality of information sources connected to a network, each classification tree having a hierarchical structure defined in terms of entries, the apparatus comprising:a class definition unit for managing classification tree class information for each classification tree class defined among entries constituting each classification tree, each classification tree class information indicating retrieval condition parameters for each classification tree class; and an information retrieval control unit for receiving from a user a retrieval request indicating a retrieval target entry that was obtained by the user by tracing the classification trees, generating retrieval commands with respect to selected information sources among said plurality of information sources by referring to each classification tree class information corresponding to the retrieval target entry that is managed by the class definition unit, obtaining a retrieval result of a retrieval with respect to the selected information sources using the retrieval commands, and returning the retrieval result to the user.