Patent ID: 7664761

Claim:
An apparatus machine for searching data for a similar article, comprising: a product structure data storage device for storing data concerning assemblies, and subassemblies and parts contained in the assemblies; a hierarchical structure detection device for detecting hierarchical structures of the assemblies and subassemblies from data stored in the product structure data storage device; a similarity calculation device for calculating similarity of all the combinations of the assemblies and subassemblies based on the hierarchical structures detected by the hierarchical structure detection device; a similar data storage device for storing the hierarchical structures of the assemblies and subassemblies, and similarity for each combination of the assemblies and subassemblies, and; a similar data retrieval device for searching the assemblies and subassemblies stored in the similar data storage device, for assemblies and subassemblies similar to a target assembly or subassembly for similarity determination inputted via an input device; and a display device for displaying the assemblies and subassemblies retrieved by the similar data retrieval device; wherein the display device displays a hierarchical structure of a target assembly or subassembly for similarity determination, and those of the assemblies or subassemblies similar to the target assembly or subassembly; wherein the display device displays the target assembly or subassembly for similarity determination and the assemblies similar thereto as hierarchical structures classified into at least three levels, such that the assemblies are classified into level 1, the subassemblies or parts that are child parts of the assemblies are classified into level 2, and parts that are child parts of the subassemblies are classified into level 3; and wherein the display device displays the number of each of component parts of the target assembly or subassembly for similarity determination, and the number of each of component parts of the subassemblies and parts contained in an assembly similar to the target assembly or subassembly.