INFORMATION RETRIEVAL METHOD, INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SERVER AND PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT

摘要

An information retrieval method using image recognition is provided that is suitable for personal or home use. When a user transmits image data produced using a camera (31) to a mail server (12) through a personal digital assistant (30), a reception folder (13a) of the mail server (12) stores electronic mail with an appended search image. A search server (10) separates the image data from the electronic mail to form an image key. The image key is compared with the standard pattern stored in a recording medium (11b) of the search server (10), and database registration information stored in a recording medium (11a) associated with the standard pattern is extracted and send to the personal digital assistant (30).