Abstract:
LS servers to inquire lost pets or something are connected to Internet network. As an example, an owner of a lost pet employs a terminal and inputs characteristic of the lost pet into the LS servers. A discovery person of a pet inputs characteristics of a discovered pet into the LS servers, too. A database with regard to lost pets and a database of the discovery person side are comprised to LS servers. Therefore, A pet agreeing with the characteristics of the lost pet that the owner side inputs is searched, and the information is reported to the owner side. The discovery person side can receive a notice similarly, too.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a search system and a search method to be preferred when looking for pets or something.  
           [0003]    2. Related Art  
           [0004]    Development of communications technology, especially the spread of Internet causes a big change in searching technique of lost pets or something. For example, a lost pet is posted with a photograph, and the person who looked at a homepage can be appealed to for the purchase of a product and information as opposed to a pet by uploading a homepage to a server on Internet.  
           [0005]    In addition, each person brings valuable things economically in a certain auction site, and these are posted. The person who wants to buy these negotiates with the person who wants to sell over the manager of the site on Internet. When negotiations have been concluded, the person who wants to buy pays predetermined official fee to the manager, and a sales contract of an article concludes.  
           [0006]    As thus described, consumer gets possible to easily search things which are going to be sold by using a communications network, especially Internet than before. In addition, it is not enough about access of the third person because it is a personal homepage, but when having posted a lost pet on the homepage, it gets possible to expect information from the person who was about to look at the pet.  
           [0007]    However, even if things or persons that person looks for are clear and definite so far, it is necessary to make a homepage and to upload information in this homepage. And it is also necessary to wander about on an existing “sold” bulletin board and to access site of auction frequently to look for.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Thus the object of the present invention is to provide a search system and a search method that can be inquired about lost things such as lost pets intensively.  
           [0009]    According to this invention, information of a target demanding inquiry with existing things and persons such as a lost pet, a lost camera or a missing acquaintance (a first data) is input along with a second data specifying a person demanding inquiry from a first terminal. Contrary, information that an animal like a pet is discovered and captured, information of a found camera or information of a person whom somebody will look for (a third data) is input along with a fourth data specifying a person showing the things from a second terminal.  
           [0010]    And a lost database storing a pair of the first data and the second data and a found database storing a pair of the third data and the fourth data are built. When the first data input from the first terminal was stored in the lost database, the found database is searched by means of this. On the other hand, when the third data input from the second terminal was stored in the found database, the lost database is searched by means of this. And when search results agree (it is included when being similar), through an intermediary or directly the results are told to an opponent, and lost things are handed over to a counterpart, and both are introduced.  
           [0011]    And according to this invention, a first data that expresses characteristics of a lost pet can be input along with a second data specifying an owner of the pet from a first terminal. A third data that expresses characteristics of a discovered pet can be input along with a fourth data specifying a pet discovery person from a second terminal. Data input from the first terminal are stored in a database for owner, and data input from the second terminal are stored in a database for discovery person.  
           [0012]    It is natural that there can be plural both the first terminals and the second terminals. In addition, it is also natural that a terminal can become the first terminal in one case and it can become the second terminal in the other case, it depends on a purpose of the input.  
           [0013]    Data with regard to the lost pets are integrated in the database for owner, and data with regard to the discovered pets are integrated in the database for discovery person. Therefore, an owner looking for the lost pet inputs and stores information with regard to one&#39;s pet into the database for discovery person, and it can search. The search results are displayed on owner use pertinence pet displaying means. On the other hand, a discovery person who is going to find an original owner inputs and stores information with regard to a discovered pet into the database for owner, and it can search. The search results are displayed on discovery person use pertinence pet displaying means.  
           [0014]    Also by this invention, a pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of a discovered pet is input along with a discovery person data specifying a pet discovery person in an appointed homepage on Internet from a discovery person side terminal. Then data on such the discovered pet integrate in a database for discovery person. Therefore if an owner side who lost a pet inputs information with regard to one&#39;s pet in the homepage on Internet, and it searches, search results are displayed on a homepage by an owner use pertinence pet displaying means.  
           [0015]    And more by the present invention, a first data that expresses characteristics of a lost pet can be input along with a second data specifying an owner of the pet. A third data that expresses characteristics of a discovered pet can be input along with a fourth data specifying a pet discovery person. Data on the lost pet are stored in a database for owner, and data on the discovered pet are stored in a database for discovery person. Data with regard to the lost pet are integrated in the database for owner, and data with regard to the discovered pet are integrated in the database for discovery person.  
           [0016]    Therefore, if an owner looking for the lost pet inputs information with regard to one&#39;s pet into the database for discovery person, and it searches, the search results are displayed on an owner use pertinence pet displaying means. On the other hand, if a discovery person who is going to find an original owner inputs information with regard to the discovered pet into the database for owner, and it searches, the search results are displayed on a discovery person use pertinence pet displaying means.  
           [0017]    According to this invention, a pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of a discovered pet is input from a terminal connected to Internet along with a discovery person data specifying a pet discovery person. A pair of the pet characteristic data on various pets input on this discovery person side input step and the discovery person data is memorized in a database for discovery person.  
           [0018]    And an owner side who lost a pet inputs the pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of one&#39;s pet from the terminal connected to Internet. The owner side searches the database for discovery person as a key of a search with the pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of a lost pet. When it is determined that there is the pet characteristic data that at least one part agreed with the pet characteristic data that the owner side input, the contents are displayed to a search person.  
           [0019]    By this invention, a pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of a discovered pet is input along with a discovery person data specifying a pet discovery person from an appointed homepage on Internet, And a pair of the pet characteristic data on various pets input in this way and the discovery person data is memorized in a database for discovery person that the homepage side prepared. And an owner side who lost a pet inputs the pet characteristic data that expresses characteristics of lost pet from the homepage. When the database for discovery person was searched as a key with this and it is determined that there is the pet characteristic data that at least one part agreed with the lost pet characteristic data, the contents are displayed to a search person on a homepage.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a system constitution that expresses an abstract of a search system of an example of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 shows the plane view that expresses one example of indication appearing to an indication screen of the terminal that accessed a LF server in an example of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 shows the flow sheet, which expresses search work at a point in time when registration to a database was done in an example of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is an expressing abstract of a search system of an example of the present invention. It is described mainly on inquiry of lost pets here. All kinds of servers such as LF (Lost and Found) server  101  are connected to Internet network  100 . Illustration of other LF servers to inquire about is omitted in order to simplify explanation in this figure. Of course it is not necessary for each LF server to be divided according to an animal and a person or lost things, and unification is possible depending on a demand of inquiry appropriately.  
         [0024]    Similarly all kinds of terminals are connected to Internet network  100  directly or indirectly over a provider. It is assumed that terminal  2021 - 202 N inputting information of anything with regard to a pet is connected here. Of course even if it is the same computer or information and communication terminal such as a cellular phone machine, when a viewpoint is changed, it can be a terminal of the owner side, and it can be a terminal of the discovery person side. In other words these terminals  202  may be special exclusive terminals, but it may be a completely normal information and communication terminal.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 shows an example of the indication that appeared to an unillustrated indication screen of the terminal when either of terminals accessed a LS server. When having accessed an appointed homepage for a pet search on LF server  101 , such displaying on the screen is done as normal indication of URL (uniform resource locators) of a homepage.  
         [0026]    At first the person who accessed this homepage marks either of “LOST” or “FOUND”. If a dog of a pet was lost now, the person marks “LOST”. As against this, the person who seems to have found a dog marks “FOUND”.  
         [0027]    In indication screen  211 , plural pull-down menu  2121 ,  2122  . . . are deployed. These can develop the contents by specifying with a pointing device such as an unillustrated mouse individually, and a desired item can be selected from them.  
         [0028]    For example, when pull-down menu  2121  is specified, the pull-down menu that items such as “a dog, a cat, a parakeet, . . . ” are mentioned in is displayed. “A dog” is chosen among these items.  
         [0029]    Similarly when pull-down menu  2122  is specified, the pull-down menu that items such as “a male, a female, unknown” are mentioned in is displayed.  
         [0030]    When it is impossible to tell a male from a female, an item “unknown” is selected. Then the search that does not limit this item is executed.  
         [0031]    In addition, the input of the place where a pet was lost and the place where a pet was discovered is done when pull-down menu  2124  is specified. A zip code is input in the present embodiment, and it gets possible to be changed into this.  
         [0032]    There is also the information that cannot specify in pull-down menu  212 . Therefore the data is not input about these or, an item “unknown” is selected. In addition, contents of other pull-down menus may become change depending on this when a category of “animal kinds” is selected.  
         [0033]    There is an input point  214  of E-mail of a person registering itself in bottom of indication screen  211 . Aside from E-mail, a column inputting a phone number and an address may be comprised. When the input of an appointed item is finished, and registration button  215  is pushed, registration or storage is done to an appointed LOST database or a FOUND database of LS server  101 . When cancel button  216  was pushed, cancellation of registration is done. In this way the owner who lost a pet registers information to specify the pet with the LOST database, the person who found an animal or the person who took care of an animal registers this with the FOUND database.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 expresses search work at a point in time when registration to a database was done.  
         [0035]    The registration or storage is finished (step S 231 : Y). And when registration or storage is done to the LOST database, a search of the FOUND database is executed about the same condition. On the other hand, a search of the LOST database is executed when registration was done to the FOUND database (step S 232 ). And percent displays the degree of agreements as the search result (step S 233 ). A search person has display an address of a counterpart at need, more detailed information is exchanged, and confirmation can be taken.  
         [0036]    The inquiry of a pet was described in the example mentioned above, but the inquiry target is not limited to a specific target such as pets. The things that do not understand the location with a person and a existing creature aside from it can also become targets.  
         [0037]    If a homepage for pet inquiry such as the present embodiment is made, it is not necessary to access every homepages, and, in one site or assembled site, inquiry processing can be done effectively. Besides, a database magnifies the contents depending on each demand, and the effect can be raised naturally.  
         [0038]    But when irresponsible registration works to a database is forgiven, there may be some information of the pets that have died really on the database. And the cases that delivery is not concluded may increase. Therefore a manager of the site may ensure the information from users by communication means such as E-mails regularly after having registered with the database. It is effective that the registration that confirmation is not got eliminates from the database.  
         [0039]    And the reliability of data may be ranked depending on a source of information, for example whether it is registered by an organization in charge of collecting lost pets or not. And it is effective that the rank is displayed with search results and that a color to display the rank is changed depending on the rank.  
         [0040]    In addition, it is assumed that a database of an opponent is searched in the example mutually, but only one can do a search of a database directly. When LF server  201  is employed in doing management of commerce, an owner of LF server  201  contacts the owner who lost a pet and the person who found an animal directly. And when a pet is delivered finally, the owner of LF server  201  receives a reward. In this case if it is put as a condition that one part of a reward is given to the person who found a pet or the owner side pays money of thanks to the person who found a pet particularly, this system functions effectively.  
         [0041]    Besides, when the owner of LF server  201  manages a database commercially, he may eliminate the data of pets handed over to already in order to remove invalid data, and demand the effectiveness of data existing more than a uniformity period to the person concerned. In this way it is useful in use of a system to get reliability of data.  
         [0042]    According to this invention, a database deployed on Internet is filled up by means of increase of input data along with time. Therefore it is easier to make a transaction conclude for the rare target. Besides, when E-mails and Internet are employed and the targets are definite and clear, the load of an intermediary with inquiry can be reduced enough to keep official fee low by devising software of the server side.  
         [0043]    In addition, till business is concluded, it is possible for the address information of both inquiring side and inquired side to be easily set be seen mutually. Therefore, both privacy can be kept.  
         [0044]    And according to this invention, targets demanding inquiry or search make a common key word, and database for inquiry and database for search are built on a communications network such as Internet. Therefore, it gets possible to inquire and contact easily and with a little expense, though all kinds of medium such as television, radio, newspapers and handbills are employed and spent extremely large expense for inquiry and contact before. Besides, inquiry and search of all kinds of target are possible with using a terminal and doing over a communications network for the world.