Retrieval support system, retrieval support method and retrieval support program

Abstract

A retrieval support system includes a database which stores commodity image data; a retrieval unit which acquires commodity image data having image characteristic information which is the same as or similar to image characteristic information indicating a characteristic in an image of input image data, from the database, with respect to the input image data; and a condition setting unit which sets a retrieval condition including at least one of time information relating to time, place information relating to places and occasion information relating to occasions. The retrieval unit performs retrieval of the commodity image data based on the retrieval condition set by the condition setting unit. The commodity image data acquired by the retrieval unit and information relating to a commodity different from a commodity corresponding to the commodity image data are output together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retrieval support system comprising:
 a commodity information database which stores image characteristic information about a commodity item which is combined for use in an image medium;   a combination information database which stores information about combination of each commodity item with a different commodity item which is combined for use with the commodity item;   a similar item retrieval unit which acquires a commodity item having image characteristic information which is the same as or similar to image characteristic information about an input image, from the commodity information database;   a combination retrieval unit which retrieves a different commodity item which is combined for use with the commodity item acquired by the similar item retrieval unit, from the combination information database; and   a condition setting unit which sets a retrieval condition including at least one of time information relating to time, place information relating to places and occasion information relating to occasions,   wherein at least one of the similar item retrieval unit and the combination retrieval unit performs retrieval based on the retrieval condition set by the condition setting unit.