RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND RETRIEVAL METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability by raising the success rate of retrieval. SOLUTION: A retrieval client 10 issues a retrieval request A with an entire database 250 as its target (S1). A retrieval registration part 210 of a retrieval server 20 divides the retrieval request A into a specified numbers of retrieval requests A1, A2 ... on the basis of division policy stored in a division definition storage part 280 and registers them to a retrieval situation management database 260 (S3). A retrieval scheduler 220 refers to the retrieval situation management database 260 (S4), selects (n) retrieval requests, and instructs retrieval execution (S5). A retrieval execution part 230 executes the (n) retrievals in parallel in each of retrieval parts 231 (S6). Retrieval results are stored in a retrieval result storage part 270 (S7). The retrieval scheduler 220 completes the retrieval requested by the retrieval client 10 by repeating (n) retrieval instructions every time for (m) number of times in total. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT