1. A search device that performs a search process by using, as a search key, an input character string including ambiguity, to acquire a search text, said search device comprising:
a word dictionary to store word character string data about each of words into which said search text is divided;
a similar word candidate acquirer including a word dictionary searcher to perform a comparison between said input character string and word character string data stored in said word dictionary, and search for word character string data similar to said input character string to acquire, as similar word candidates, the word character string data which have been searched for, and a number-of-similar-word-candidates controller to select similar word candidates from the similar word candidates acquired by said word dictionary searcher according to a preset threshold;
a similar word selector to calculate an edit distance between each of the similar word candidates selected by said number-of-similar-word-candidates controller and said input character string, and select, as a similar word, a similar word candidate whose calculated edit distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance;
a search index data storage to store said search text; and
a text searcher to refer to said search index data storage to search for a search text including the similar word selected by said similar word selector,
wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a number-of-input-characters determinator to determine whether a number of characters of said input character string is large or small, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
2. (canceled)
3. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a number-of-input-words determinator to, when said input character string consists of a plurality of words, determine whether a number of words of said input character string is large or small, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
4. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes a specific character string determinator to determine whether said input character string matches a specific character string which is preset, and acquire said threshold corresponding to a result of the determination.
5. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said similar word candidate acquirer includes an arithmetic load determinator to acquire an arithmetic load on said search device, determine whether said arithmetic load is high or low, and calculate said threshold according to a result of the determination.
6. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes a similar character string weight table to define combinations of similar character strings, and said similar word candidate acquirer includes a similar character string expander to refer to said similar character string weight table to expand said input character string to similar character strings, and wherein said word dictionary searcher performs a comparison between said input character string and the similar character strings after the expansion by said similar character string expander, and the word character string data stored in said word dictionary, and searches for word character string data similar to said input character string and said similar character strings after the expansion, to acquire the word character string data as said similar word candidates.
7. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes a similar word integrator to compare each of similar words selected by said similar word selector with said input character string, search through said similar words for a plurality of similar words each of whose leading character string matches said input character string, and integrate the plurality of similar words which said similar word integrator has searched for into a similar word, and wherein said text searcher refers to said search index data storage, and searches for a search text including the similar word after the integration by said similar word integrator.
8. The search device according to claim 1, wherein said search device includes:
an input character string divider to, when said input character string consists of a plurality of words, generate an after-division input character string in which said input character string is divided on a per word basis;
a number-of-yet-to-be-processed-words determinator to determine whether processes of said similar word candidate acquirer, said similar word selector, and said text searcher are performed on all character strings of said after-division input character string on a basis of a search text which said text searcher has searched for; and
a search result integrator to, when said number-of-yet-to-be-processed-words determinator determines that said processes have been performed on all the character strings of said after-division input character string, integrate search texts which said text searcher has searched for.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An article comprising:
a. a flexible container defining a cavity, said flexible container including a translucent material; and
b. particulate material arranged with said cavity, said particulate material having a plurality of colors such that said flexible container displays a desired design and has a desired three-dimensional size and shape.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein said plurality of particulate material comprises at least a first sand having a first color and a second sand having a second color.
3. The article of claim 1 further comprising sponge material arranged within the cavity of said flexible container, said sponge material being at least partially covered by said particulate materials.
4. The article of claim 1 further comprising a pliable solid material arranged within the cavity of said flexible container, said pliable material being at least partially covered by said granular materials.
5. The article of claim 4 wherein said pliable material comprises a clay-like material.
6. The article of claim 4 wherein said pliable material comprises at least one elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure.
7. The article of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the flexible container has a first section and at least one second section, said first section having a larger volume than said at least one second section.
8. The article of claim 1 comprising a base attached to said flexible container, said base being sized and shaped to support said flexible container and said materials therein when placed on a surface.
9. An article comprising:
a. a generally translucent flexible container having a predetermined size and shape, and defining a cavity, said flexible container member having at least one sealable opening in communication with the cavity; and
b. a plurality of fill materials placed within said cavity such that said flexible member contains a three-dimensional size and shape, one of said fill materials having a first color and at least one of the other fill materials having a second color whereby a multi-color design is visible through said translucent flexible member.
10. The article of claim 9 wherein said flexible container comprises a resilient material.
11. The article of claim 10 wherein said resilient material comprises a natural or synthetic polymer.
12. The article of claim 9 wherein said flexible container has an exterior surface, and a pattern, design or indicia formed on said exterior surface.
13. The article of claim 9 wherein the cavity of said flexible container has a first section and at least one second section, said first section having a larger volume than said at least one second section.
14. The article of claim 9 wherein at least one of said various types of fill materials comprises particulate material and at least another of said various types of fill materials comprises a pliable solid material.
15. The article of claim 13 wherein at least one of said various types of fill materials comprises particulate materials, and at least another of said various types of fill materials comprises a sponge material arranged within said first section of said cavity, and said particulate material is arranged within said first and second sections.
16. The article of claim 15 wherein another of said various types of fill materials comprises a solid pliable material, said particulate material surrounding at least a portion of said pliable material within the cavity.
17. The article of claim 13 wherein said generally transparent flexible member comprises the shape of a hand, said first section comprising a main area within said hand shape and said at least one second section comprising a plurality of finger areas within said hand shape.
18. A method of creating a particulate-filled article, said method comprising:
a. providing a translucent flexible container defining a cavity therein and having a sealable opening in communication with the cavity;
b. placing particulate material having a first color through the sealable opening until the desired amount of the particulate material is arranged within the cavity;
c. placing a particulate material having a second color through the sealable opening whereby the first and second colors are visible within the translucent container; and
d. sealing the opening to prevent the particulate material from flowing out of the container.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising placing a desired amount of particulate material having a third color through the container opening prior to sealing the opening.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising sealing the opening by placing an object therein.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising stretching the opening of said flexible container and placing the object therein having a dimension larger than the dimension of the opening prior to placement of the object therein.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the object placed within the opening forms a substantially stable base and said particulate-filled article can rest in a stable position on the base.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of a pliable solid material within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said pliable material within the cavity of the flexible container.
24. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of a sponge material within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said sponge material within the cavity of the flexible container.
25. The method of claim 18 further comprising placement of an elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure within the opening, said particulate material covering at least a portion of said elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure within the cavity of the flexible container.
26. The method of claim 23 further comprising placing sponge material through the opening along with the first and second colored particulate material and the pliable material whereby the first and second colored particulate material covers at least a portion of the pliable material and the sponge material.
27. The method of claim 26 further comprising placing an elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure and at least partially covering the elongate pipe-cleaner-like structure with the particulate material of the first or second colors.