Patent ID: 7072878

Claim:
A data search apparatus for conducting a search of data which includes binary data and meta-data from a database in which the data to be searched is registered, comprising: list display means for selecting a predetermined number of data from the data registered in the database, and for displaying a list of information corresponding to the selected data; meta-data display means for displaying the meta-data contained in the data selected from the list; setting means for setting the search condition from the meta-data displayed by said meta-data display means; execution means for conducting a search of the data registered in the database based on the search condition set by said setting means; and matching means for prohibiting said list display means from displaying information corresponding to data which does not actually exist in the database, and deletes the registration of said data from the database, wherein said execution means also conducts a search of data which is stored in a predetermined logical area and which is not registered in the database, and said matching means additionally registers the data in the database, and wherein said list display means displays a list of a search result obtained by the search by said execution means.