JP3435471B2 - Information retrieval post-processing method and apparatus and information retrieval system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieval post-processing method and apparatus, and an information retrieval system, and more particularly, to an information retrieval processing apparatus for selecting only information desired by a user from retrieval results from the information retrieval processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a processing method and device and an information retrieval system.

More specifically, in order to select only the search result desired by the user from a plurality of search results having the same homonymous character, the difference in the kanji information of what kind of kanji each search result is composed of is used. The present invention relates to an information retrieval post-processing method and apparatus, and an information retrieval system.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an information search result includes a plurality of search results of homophones and different characters, it is possible to select which search result has a search result desired by the user by the following two methods. To do.

The first method enumerates search results in homophones and different characters on an output device having a screen and allows the user to select them.
In the second method, the operator selects the search result desired by the user by explaining to the user the difference between the homophones and the different characters by voice or the like.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional method has the following problems. In the first method, when using a terminal such as a telephone that does not rely on vision, it cannot be used because it is presented only on the screen.

In the second method, the operator himself / herself has to make an explanation so that the difference between a plurality of homophones and different characters can be made clear, and if the operator himself / herself does not have the knowledge, he / she should deal with it. Since it is not possible, the operation and the mental burden on the operator are large. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an information retrieval post-processing device is provided with a function of interacting with a user, and a user's desired search from among a plurality of search results through interaction with the user. An object is to provide an information retrieval post-processing method and apparatus and an information retrieval system capable of automatically selecting only the result.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. The present invention is an information retrieval post-processing method for selecting information desired by a user from retrieval results from an information retrieval processing device, when the retrieval result is acquired from the information retrieval processing device (step 1), the retrieval is performed. If there are multiple results, multiple search results will
If it is an acronym, multiple search results are matched one-to-one and the difference
Differences are extracted for each position where minutes occur, and different kanji are differentiated
Extracted as (Step 2) was extracted from the search results
A text explaining the difference is generated (step 3), the text is presented to the user (step 4), the selection input from the user for the presentation is received (step 5), and the search result selected by the user or the search The user is provided with information related to the result (step 6).

[0008]

Further, according to the present invention, when the text explaining the difference between the search results is generated (step 3), the step 2 is performed.
Based on the difference, the knowledge for generating the difference explanation sentence corresponding to the difference extracted in (3) is searched, and the difference explanation sentence is acquired. Further, according to the present invention, when the text explaining the difference between the search results is generated (step 3), if the difference is the same as the input to the information search device, the text is generated based on the difference and the difference explanation sentence. However, if a part of the input to the information search device is a difference, a text is generated based on the input, the difference, and the difference explanation text.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The present invention is an information search post-processing device 200 that is added to an information search device 100 that inputs key information and outputs a search result that matches the key information, the search result and the information being obtained from the information search device 100. Search result storage means 210 for temporarily storing the search condition input to the search device 100.
In the search results obtained from the information retrieval device
If the search result is composed of different words, search
Judgment means 220 for judging that the difference between the results is to be extracted
Then, the determination means 220 determines that the search results for homophones and
Then, one-to-one matching is performed and the parts (differences) of different kanji are extracted.
A difference extracting unit 230, description generating means for explaining the difference between the obtained search results by the difference extraction unit 230 240
And the input means 2 for dialogue which receives the selection input from the user.
70, a dialogue output means 280 for outputting the explanation sentence generated by the explanation sentence generating means 240 to the user, and a dialogue output means 280 to present the text to the user,
The selection input for the text is acquired via the interactive input unit 270 , and the search result desired by the user from the search results or information related to the search result is acquired from the search result storage unit 210 and provided to the user. The provision means 260 for

[0011]

Further, the explanation sentence generating means 240 refers to the explanation knowledge storage means for storing the knowledge for the difference explanation sentence for explaining the difference prepared in advance, and the knowledge for the difference explanation sentence, When the difference explanation sentence generation means for generating a difference explanation sentence for clarifying the difference and the difference between the key information input to the information retrieval apparatus 100 are the same, a text is generated based on the difference and the difference explanation sentence. Text generation means of
When a part of the key information input to the information search apparatus 100 is a difference, the second text generation means for generating a text based on the input and the difference and the difference explanation is included.

Further, the above-mentioned providing means 260 provides the user with input means 270 for dialogue as information relating to the search result.
It includes a narrowing means for providing only one candidate based on the information selectively input.

Further, the information search system of the present invention receives one search condition, performs a search process based on the search condition, and outputs one search result, and one search condition from the information search device. When there are multiple search results corresponding to, multiple search results are multiple homophones.
When comparing, multiple search results are collated one-to-one and a difference occurs.
The difference is extracted for each position, and different Kanji characters are extracted as the difference.
Out, the extracted difference presented as explanation to the user, and the information retrieval post-processing apparatus to refine outputs the plurality of search results according to the response from the user, narrowed output from the information retrieval post-processing apparatus And a voice synthesizing device for providing the user with the retrieved search result by voice through a voice synthesizing process.

Thus, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of search results in response to the input of the information search device and the search result which is the output of the information search device in response to the input, the search results are interleaved. Is extracted, and an explanatory text for explaining the difference with respect to the difference is generated. At this time, the description for each difference is generated by using the knowledge for explaining the difference. Furthermore, it is possible to select the search result desired by the user by presenting the generated explanation to the user and acquiring the answer.

According to the present invention, when an operator who searches for a telephone number uses the post-search processing device to input a name requested by the user to the information search device, a plurality of information search devices are operated. When the name of a homophone is obtained as a search result, the operator accesses the device after information retrieval to explain the difference in the search result of the homograph to the user, and the user makes 1
Select one search result (name). As a result, the operator can search for the telephone number corresponding to the search result.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically provide the user with the search result narrowed down by the voice by the system including the information search device, the information search post-processing device and the voice synthesizer.

[0018]

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration to which the present invention is applied. In the system shown in the figure, the user 1 requests an inquiry such as a telephone number inquiry and a search request from the information search device 1
00 is input. As a result, the information search device 100
Performs a search process based on the key, and outputs the search result to the post-information search device 200. At this time, if there is one search result, the search result is returned to the user. When there are a plurality of search results, the plurality of search results are output to the post-information search device 200. After the information search, the device 200 acquires a plurality of search results, and when the same phonetic variant is included, the search result is input to the information search device 200, and a description of the difference regarding the search result of the same phonetic variant is given. The sentence is acquired and the explanatory sentence is presented to the user 1. As a result, the user 1 selects a desired name or the like that he / she wants to search by the explanatory text of the difference of the provided search results.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the information retrieval device of the present invention. The post-information search device 200 shown in the figure is composed of a CPU and a memory in terms of hardware, but functionally, the input information storage unit 210, the search result input unit 220, the difference extraction unit 230, and the explanatory text. It includes a generation unit 240, a difference explanation sentence generation database 250, a dialogue control unit 260, a dialogue input unit 270, a dialogue output unit 280, and a device output unit 290.

The search result input section 220 includes the information search device 1
After the information retrieval, the retrieval result input from 00
It is received as an input of 0 and it is checked whether a plurality of search results are obtained as candidates. That is, the result of searching the information search device 100 based on certain key information is input, and at this time, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of search results.

The input information storage unit 210 stores the search result received by the search result input unit 220 and the search condition input by the information search apparatus 100. The difference extraction unit 230
Of the search results obtained from the search result input unit 220, it is determined whether or not there is a search result for homophones and different characters, and if there is, a difference between the search results for homophones and different characters is extracted.

The explanation sentence generation unit 240 includes a difference extraction unit 230.
Based on the difference obtained in step 1, the difference explanation sentence generation database 25
It is generated by referring to the knowledge of 0. The difference explanation sentence generation database 250 is a database in which, for the differences obtained by the difference extraction unit 230, sentences that explain the differences are collected and stored in advance.

The dialogue control unit 260 controls the interaction with the user. The dialogue input unit 270 receives an input from a user, and receives an input by voice recognition or an input by a touch-tone phone. The dialogue output unit 280 informs the user of the explanation generated by the explanation generation unit 240 by voice.

The device output unit 290 is used by the device 20 after information retrieval.
The processing result of 0, that is, the narrowed-down search result is output. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of the operation of the information retrieval device of the present invention. Step 101) The input unit 220 of the search result post-processing device is set to the information search device 100.
And the search result corresponding to the input are accepted as the input to the device after information retrieval.

Step 102) Further, the input section 220
Checks whether or not there are a plurality of received search results, and when there are a plurality of received search results, transfers the search results corresponding to the input of the information search device 100 to the difference extraction unit 230. If there is one search result, or if no search result is input (the search result is not output from the information search device 100), the process ends.

Step 103) The difference extracting section 230
Differences between the search results transferred from the input unit 220 are extracted, and the difference and the input (hereinafter, referred to as a search condition) input to the information search device 100 obtained by the input unit 220 are described. 240 to 240.

Step 104) Explanation sentence generator 240
Acquires the difference between the search results transferred from the difference extraction unit 230 and the search condition for the information search device 100 stored in the input information storage unit 210, extracts one from the differences, and extracts the difference. The difference explanation sentence generation database 250 is searched as a key, and the difference explanation sentence for the difference is acquired. Further, the information search device 1 is used by using the difference description for the acquired difference and the search condition obtained by the input unit 220.
An explanation is generated such that the difference between the search results for the input of 00 is clear. Then, the explanatory note generation unit 240
The generated explanatory text is transferred to the dialogue control unit 260.

Step 105) The dialogue control unit 260
The explanatory text is presented to the user using the dialogue output unit 280. Step 106) Further, the dialogue control unit 260 divides the processing according to the response from the user obtained via the dialogue input unit 270. If the response from the user is affirmative, that is, if the search result that is the source of the explanation is the search result desired by the user, the process proceeds to step 107, and the response from the user is negative, that is, If the search result which is the source of the explanation is not the search result desired by the user, the process proceeds to step 108.

Step 107) The dialogue control unit 260
If a positive response is obtained, the search result is stored as the selected search result. Step 108) The explanation sentence generation unit 240 is the dialogue control unit 2.
It is checked whether or not there is a difference between the search results other than the search result for which there is a negative response acquired from 60, and if there is a difference, the processes of steps 104 to 107 are applied to the difference. (Step 104). If there is not, the dialogue control unit 260 is notified of that fact, and the dialogue control unit 260 provides the user with only the search result selected by the user from the device output unit 290, the search result accumulated in step 107. .

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As an example, it is assumed that the information search apparatus 100 inputs reading as a search condition and outputs the kanji notation as a search result to the post-information search apparatus 200.
00 describes an example in the case of identifying which Kanji notation is desired by the user by inputting the Kanji notation.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the input to the information retrieval apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention and the retrieval result thereof. According to the figure, the search condition input to the information search device 100 is "Ito".
The search results obtained by the information search device 100 are “ITO”, “ITO”, and “ITO”.

First, the input unit 22 of the post-search result device 200
0 receives the search results “Ito”, “Ito”, and “Ito” acquired by the information search device 100 shown in FIG. 6 (step 101). Further, since the input unit 220 has three search results, and there are a plurality of search results, these search results are input to the difference extraction unit 23.
0 (step 102).

The difference extracting section 230 extracts the difference between the search results transferred from the input section 220. FIG. 7 shows an example of the difference obtained by the difference extracting unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the difference extraction unit 230 compares the comparison source search result with the comparison destination search result, and compares the search result for each character from the difference position (starting character position: ending character position). "Ito" is the comparison source search result, "Ito" is the comparison destination search result, and the first character is compared (1:
1). As a result, "i" and "I" are different, so the difference is "i".

Next, "Ito" is set as the comparison source search result,
Using "Ito" as the comparison destination search result, comparison is performed from the first character to the last character position (1: 2). This makes 2
Since it is different from the letters, the difference is "Ito". Furthermore,
"Ito" is the comparison source search result, "Ito" is the comparison destination search result, and only the last character position is compared (2:
2). As a result, "Fuji" and "East" are different, so the difference is "Fuji".

The difference obtained as described above is transferred to the explanatory sentence generation unit 240 (step 103). The explanation sentence generation unit 240 selects 1 from the differences “I”, “Ito”, and “Fuji”.
One difference is taken out and the difference explanation sentence generation database 250 is searched using the difference as a key. Here, the difference explanation sentence generation database 250 is searched for the difference “I” between “Ito” and “Ito” as the difference. FIG. 9 shows an example of the contents of the differential explanation sentence generation database according to the embodiment of the present invention. By searching the difference explanation sentence generation database 250 shown in the same figure, the difference explanation sentence “well well” is obtained for the difference “well”. Similarly, for the difference “Ito”, a difference explanation “Nimben no ni ni east” is obtained. A difference explanation "Fujinohana Fuji" is obtained for the difference "Fuji".

As a result, the explanation sentence generation unit 240 creates the explanation sentence using the sentence template shown in FIG. 8 in order to present the difference to the user using the difference explanation sentence. In the sentence template shown in the figure, it is possible to replace the specified part with a variable character string. If the difference is the same as the input (search condition), select item number "1" and input (search condition) If a part is the difference, the item number “2” is selected. With regard to the difference "i" and the difference explanation "well well", part of the input (search condition) is a difference,
The item number “2” in the example of FIG. 8 corresponds. Therefore, the information retrieval device 10 is added to the variable part “input” of the item number “2” of the sentence template.
“Ito”, which is the search condition for 0, is input as the input information storage unit 21.
The value is read from 0 and set.
And by embedding the "difference explanation" was obtained by searching the difference description generating database 250 "well i", respectively, generates a description of "Is well of Ito is well Lee?" To do. Then, the explanation sentence generation unit 240
Transfers the description to the dialogue control unit 260 (step 104).

The dialogue control unit 260 includes an explanation sentence generation unit 240.
The explanatory text “ Ito no Ii is a well ?” Transferred from is presented to the user via the dialogue output unit 280 (step 105). Further, the dialogue control unit 260 divides the processing according to the response from the user obtained via the dialogue input unit 270 (step 106). Here, it is assumed that the response from the user is negative, that is, the search result "Ito" that is the source of the explanation is not the desired search result (step 108).
Move to).

The explanatory sentence generating section 250 checks whether or not there is a difference between the search results other than the search result "Ito" for which a negative response has been given. As shown in FIG. 8, there is a difference “Fuji” that does not include “Ito” in the difference, so the process proceeds to Step 104 to apply Steps 104 to 107 to the difference.

By the same method as the above-mentioned processing, the explanatory text " Ito 's wisteria is wisteria wisteria wisteria ?" Is generated for the difference "wisteria" and presented to the user (steps 104, 10).
5). Here, if the response from the user is affirmative, that is, if the search result "Ito" that is the source of the explanation is the search desired by the user, the dialogue control unit 260 determines that the search result is the selected search result. Accumulate "Ito" (step 10)
7).

Next, the explanatory sentence generator 240 checks whether or not there is a difference between the search results other than the search result "Ito" for which a negative response has been made. As shown in FIG. 8, since there is no unprocessed difference that does not include “Ito”, the dialogue control unit 260 is notified of that fact, and the dialogue control unit 260 notifies the search result accumulated in step 107, that is, "Ito"
As an output from the information retrieval post-processing device
0 (step 108).

The device output section 290 provides the user with only the search result "Ito" selected by the user (step 109). In the present embodiment, by performing the above processing, the kanji between the search results are selected from the plurality of search results “Ito, Ito, Ito” obtained for the search condition “Ito” to the information search apparatus 100. By presenting the difference as a difference to the user and obtaining a response, only the search result “Ito” desired by the user can be provided to the user.

The search result from the information search apparatus 100 may be composed of a plurality of types of information. For example, in the case of the information search apparatus 100 which obtains the Chinese character notation and the telephone number by inputting the reading, the search result is As shown in FIG. 10, a telephone number is added to each of the three candidates and output. For example, if such data exists in the database to be searched by the information search apparatus 100, such as “Ito: 0468-59-xxxx”, by entering the search condition “Ito”, the surname (name) is entered. The corresponding telephone number is also retrieved at the same time.

In such a case, as in the above-described embodiment, the difference is calculated for the family name, and the description condition is generated by embedding the search condition, the difference, and the difference description in the sentence template, and presented to the user as a candidate. It is possible to Based on the response from the user, it is possible to output the narrowed-down search result as shown in FIG.

Although this example is an example in which a telephone number is added and output, the present invention is not limited to this example, and all information related to addresses and search conditions is acquired and applied as search results. It is possible. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a telephone number search system. The system shown in the figure has a voice synthesis device 300 in addition to the information search device 100 and the post-information search device 200. To explain this system by applying the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11, the user inputs the search condition “Ito” to the information search apparatus 100.

The information search device 100 performs a search process based on the search condition “Ito”, and retrieves three search results “Ito”, “Ito”, and “Ito” from the information search post-processing device 200.
Output to. The post-information search device 200 obtains the difference between the three search results, generates a difference explanation sentence from the difference, further embeds the difference explanation sentence, difference information, etc. in a predetermined explanation sentence generation template, and explains the explanation sentence text. Is generated and transferred to the speech synthesizer 300.

The voice synthesizing device 300 performs a voice synthesizing process based on the explanatory text, and for example, is “I” of “Ito” “I no I”? By this, the user can say "Yes" by uttering the Kanji information (name) desired by the user, or a signal corresponding to an affirmative response by the PB signal. Is transmitted to the information retrieval post-processing device 200.

When the user's response is a negative response, the post-information search device 200 performs the processing of and again,
In the case of an affirmative response, the telephone number, which is the related information of the search result for which the affirmative response is targeted, is given to the user.
Notify via 0. Accordingly, in the telephone number guidance service, when the information 200 after the information search performs candidate selection when the Chinese character information of the same phonetic variant exists, it is possible to provide the user with the automatic voice service.

In the telephone number guidance service, when the search condition is input to the information search device 100,
It is also possible to unmann the entire system by installing the voice recognition device in front of the information retrieval device 100. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0049]

As described above, according to the information retrieval post-processing method and apparatus and the information retrieval system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) By explaining the difference using voice information,
It is possible to provide the user with only the search result desired by the user, even when using a terminal such as a telephone that cannot be relied on visually.

(2) By providing the information device after the information retrieval with the dialogue function with the user, only the retrieval result desired by the user can be obtained from a plurality of retrieval results through the dialogue with the user without the intervention of the operator. It becomes possible to select and provide it to the user. (3) By the information search system of the present invention, a plurality of search results from the information search device are narrowed down by the information search device,
Since the result can be output by voice by the voice synthesizer, it is not necessary to intervene with an operator, and automation can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an information retrieval post-processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an information retrieval post-processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of an input to an information search device and a search result thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a difference obtained by a difference extraction unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a sentence template having a variable part used in an explanatory sentence generator of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of contents of a differential explanation sentence generation database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an example of a plurality of search results according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an example of an output from the post-information search device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an example in which the present invention is provided to a telephone number search service.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 information retrieval device 200 Information retrieval device 210 Search Result Storage Unit, Input Information Storage Unit 220 Judgment means, search result input section 230 Difference Extraction Means, Difference Extraction Unit 240 Explanatory sentence generation means, explanatory sentence generation unit 250 Difference explanation sentence generation database 260 providing means, dialogue control unit 270 Dialogue Input Means, Dialogue Input Unit 280 dialogue output means, dialogue output section 290 Device output section 300 voice synthesizer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-283858 (JP, A) JP-A-7-244672 (JP, A) JP-A-7-319667 (JP, A) JP-A-6- 176063 (JP, A) JP-A-6-19886 (JP, A) JP-A-8-6940 (JP, A) JP-A-9-237096 (JP, A) JP-A-8-123481 (JP, A) Kato, Imamura, Oyama, Easy input of unreadable surnames and names with many homophones, NTT Technical Journal, February 1, 1991, Volume 3, No. 2, pp. 54-57 Suzuki, Hoshi, Ogawa, Research on Electronic Dictionary for Confirming Kana-Kanji Conversion Results for Visually Impaired People, Proc. Of IPSJ 51st (Late 1995) National Convention (1), September 22, 1995, # 363 pages, second page 634 (58) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ^7, DB ) G06F 17/22 - 17/30 G10L 3/00 H04M 3/42 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. Among the search results from the information search processing device
Information retrieval post-processing method for selecting desired information from users
At When the search result is obtained from the information search processing device,
If there are multiple search results, The multiple search resultsIs more than one homonym,
Position where multiple search results are collated one-to-one and differences occur
The difference is extracted for each, different kanji is extracted as the difference, Search resultsThe difference extracted fromExplaining the text
Generate Present the text to the user, For presentationThe aboveReceive selection input from users, Search results selected by the user or related to the search results
Information that provides information to the user
Post-search processing method. 2. When generating a text explaining a difference between the search results, knowledge for generating a difference explanation sentence corresponding to the extracted difference is searched based on the difference and the difference explanation is searched. The post-information retrieval processing method according to claim 1, wherein the sentence is acquired. 3. When generating a text explaining a difference between the search results, when the input to the information search device and the difference are equal, a text is generated based on the difference and the difference explanation sentence. The post-information search processing method according to claim 2 , wherein, when a part of the input to the information search device is a difference, a text is generated based on the input, the difference, and the difference description. 4. An information retrieval post-processing device, which is added to an information retrieval device that inputs key information and outputs a retrieval result that matches the key information, the retrieval result and the information obtained from the information retrieval device. In the search result storage means for temporarily storing the search condition input to the search device, and the search result acquired from the information search device,
If the search result consists of homophones and acronyms,
Determining means for determining a target for extracting a difference between the search results, by the determining means, to the search result of the homophonic
Then, one-to-one matching is performed and the parts (differences) of different kanji are extracted.
A difference extracting unit configured to, the description generating means for explaining the difference between the obtained search results in the difference extracting means, and interactive input means for accepting a selection input from the user, the description generated for the user A dialogue output means for outputting the explanatory text generated by the means, and the dialogue output means for defining the text to the user, and obtaining the selection input for the text via the dialogue input means. An information retrieval post-processing device comprising: a providing unit that provides a search result desired by the user from the search results or information related to the search result to the user. 5. The explanation sentence generating means stores an explanation knowledge storing means for storing knowledge for difference explanation sentences for explaining differences prepared in advance, and a difference by referring to the knowledge for difference explanation sentences. A difference explanation sentence generation means for generating a difference explanation sentence for clarifying, and a first for generating a text based on the difference and the difference explanation sentence when the input to the information search information is equal to the difference When a part of the input to the text generation means and the information retrieval device is a difference,
Claim and a second text generation means for generating a text based on the the input difference and the difference Description 4
Post-processing device for information retrieval described. 6. The narrowing means for providing only one candidate to the user as information related to the search result based on the selectively input information input by the interactive input means to the user. An information retrieval post-processing device according to claim 4, including. 7. An information search device that inputs one search condition, performs a search process based on the search condition, and outputs a search result, and the search result corresponding to the one search condition from the information search device. If there are multiple search results ,
When there are multiple homonyms, multiple search results will be displayed one-to-one.
And the difference is extracted at each position where a difference occurs,
That kanji extracted as a difference, the extracted difference presented as explanation to the user, and the information retrieval post-processing apparatus to refine outputs the plurality of search results according to the response from the user, the information search after An information retrieval system, comprising: a voice synthesis device which provides the user with the voice of the narrowed-down search result output from the processing device by a voice synthesis process.