Abstract: An image search apparatus acquires associative words in relation to an input query word, and makes a keyword search of image information on the basis of the obtained associative words and input query word. Parallel to the keyword search, the apparatus acquires a query word and sensory patterns corresponding to the query word, and makes a feature amount search using the feature amounts of the obtained sensory patterns. A search result integration process integrates these search results at weight ratios which are set in advance to obtain final search results. In this manner, the multimedia information wanted can be accurately extracted with respect to the input query word.

Abstract: A search request input processing unit holds an input query word in a query word holding unit. An associative word unfolding processing unit acquires associative words in association with the query word held in the query word holding unit with reference to an associative word dictionary. An image content search processing unit using associative words makes a keyword search of image information on the basis of the obtained associative words and the query word. A sensory pattern unfolding processing unit obtains the query word and sensory patterns corresponding to associative words of the query word, and searches image information using feature amounts of the obtained sensory patterns. A search result integration processing unit integrates the search results obtained by the image content word search processing unit and sensory pattern search processing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus has an image content word holding unit for storing multimedia information, and content words each of which verbalizes a concept expressed in the multimedia information, and an associative word dictionary for storing content words, associative words associated with the content words, and non-associative words which one does not bilaterally associate with the content words in correspondence with each other. The apparatus acquires associative words corresponding to an input query word from the associative word dictionary, and searches multimedia information on the basis of the acquired associative words using a search processing unit. Also, the apparatus acquires non-associative words corresponding to the input query word from the associative word dictionary, and searches multimedia information on the basis of feature amounts corresponding to the acquired non-associative words using the search processing unit.

Abstract: According to this invention, upon managing a plurality of data by individually appending meta data used to search for the data, an input sheet that describes predetermined candidates of meta data is prepared, the user selects meta data from the candidates of meta data, and the selected meta data is saved in association with the data. Upon making a search, a data search is conducted using meta data, and after the data found by search are partially provided to the user, the user selects desired data. In this way, everyone can easily and efficiently append information for a search to data to be managed.