Patent ID: 7734612
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An information search apparatus, comprising: a search unit configured to search for a first associated object in accordance with a first degree of association with a specified search source object and to search for a second associated object in accordance with a second degree of association with the first associated object, when the first associated object has been pointed at; a display unit configured to simultaneously display the first associated object, a first degree-of-association change object for changing the first degree of association, and the second associated object onto a display screen; a degree-of-association change unit configured to change the first degree of association in accordance with a first operation executed on the first degree-of-association change object; and a display control unit configured to adjust a number of associated objects of the specified search source object in accordance with the change of the first degree of association and to change a display form of the first associated object by said degree-of-association change unit, wherein said display control unit is further configured to display, onto a first display layer in said display screen, a candidate object that provides a candidate for said search unit to search for the first associated object in accordance with the first degree of association, and said display control unit is further configured to display said specified search source object and the first associated object and the first degree-of-association change object onto a second display layer in said display screen, wherein said display unit is configured to simultaneously display the first associated object, in accordance with the first degree of association which is changed by said degree-of-association change unit, with said specified search source object and said first degree-of-association change object.