Distributed document retrieval method and apparatus, and a distributed document retrieval program, and a recording medium recording the program

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the quality of document retrieval by performing efficient and exact ranking among retrieved documents in retrieving the documents. SOLUTION: A distributed document retrieving method retrieves the documents by using: a plurality of retrieval servers 2 to retrieve the documents from a data base 23 storing a plurality of documents; and an integrated retrieval server 1 connected with the retrieval servers by communication and to instruct retrieval to the respective retrieval servers. The respective retrieval servers transmit statistical information created on the basis of intermediate results obtained by retrieving operations to the integrated retrieval server. In the integrated retrieval server, the statistical information is totaled, global statistical information is created and transmitted to the respective retrieval server. The respective retrieval servers calculate scores on the basis of the global statistical information and return retrieval results conforming to the respective retrieval conditions to the integrated retrieval server. Thus, more reliable and efficient retrieval of t he documents is performed in retrieving the documents.