Patent ID: 8521727

Claim:
A search apparatus that searches graph data for a graph including a plurality of nodes and links connecting the nodes, the search apparatus comprising: at least one microprocessor configured to function as: an input receiving unit that receives an input of a reference node from among the nodes of the graph, and an input of a search condition; a searching unit that searches the graph data for a node, a link, or a combination of a node and a link which satisfies the search condition; a search result data generating unit that generates search result data that indicates at least one search result obtained by the searching unit together with path data showing a path on the graph from the reference node to each of the at least one search result, wherein the at least one search result comprises a plurality of search results, and the search apparatus further comprises: a selection receiving unit that receives a search result selected by a user from among the search results; a path data memory that stores the path data indicating the path of the search result selected by the user; a similarity-search instruction receiving unit that receives an input of a second reference node from among the nodes of the graph and an instruction to conduct a similarity search, wherein the search unit, when an instruction to conduct the similarity search is given, performs a similarity search by searching the graph data for a node, a link, or a combination of a node and a link based on the second reference node, and performs control to present at least a part of a search result from the similarity search between a path on the graph from the second reference node to the at least part of the search result.