Hitachi, Ltd.

Nichirei Corporation

Hiroaki Oyama

Akira Kagami

Michitaka Kosaka

Tetsuo Kusuzaki

Koichi Homma

Kichizo Akashi

Tadashi Tenma

Tadashi Temma

Miyuki Maeda

Tatsumi Nishimoto

Takahiro Miura

Akira Kinefuchi

Naohiko Kunishi

Kazumi Abe

Hiromichi Kimura

Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion.

Data processing method and apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement

An object to be appraised is input and divided into structural elements which are stored in a storage unit. Information is input which indicates an appraisal for the object to be appraised and a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the appraisal. The correspondence is classified into criteria which are stored and an arbitrary criterion is selected. A combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion and appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements.

Data processing methods and apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement

Data processing methods and apparatus, wherein an object to be appraised is inputted; the inputted object to be appraised is divided into at least one structural elements which are stored in storage unit; information is inputted which indicates an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is corresponded to the inputted appraisal, and the correspondence is classified into at least one criterions which are stored in the storage means; an arbitrary criterion is selected from among stored criterions; a combination of structural elements is obtained on the basis of the selected criterion; appraisal information is inputted for the obtained combination of structural elements; the correspondence of the obtained combination of structural elements to the appraisal is compared with the selected criterion to identify a criterion; a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised is created on the basis of the identified criterion; information is inputted for designating elements to be changed and elements not to be changed in the created combination; and a new combination is created on the basis of the designation information.

A database preparing method prepares a design database from which design database image elements are retrievable to build composite design images for decision making. The entire design image, including a plurality of separable image elements, is input into a processing unit. At least one of the image elements is extracted from the entire design image. The characteristic data which (i) identifies the extracted image element and (ii) corresponds to the entire design image is recorded and stored into a memory. The foregoing steps are repeated to build the design database. In a database retrieving method, a partial image of an entire image is input as a retrieval key. The entire image which corresponds to the retrieval key is retrieved from a database stored in a memory. The retrieved entire image is output.

A questionnaire producing and aiding system according to the present invention is arranged to store a questionnaire element including a question and a plurality of reply choices which have been previously produced in a memory thereof. When a questionnaire is produced, the saved questionnaire element is used while adding, correcting and deleting the contents so that a questionnaire sheet is produced. Therefore, the questionnaire producing operation can be performed efficiently. The data about the produced questionnaire sheet are stored in a portable recording medium. The questionnaire reply gathering system according to the present invention is arranged to read data about the questionnaire sheet from the storage medium to display the contents of the questionnaire sheet on the terminal display apparatus, and to gather reply data supplied from the terminal input apparatus to be stored in the portable storage medium. The questionnaire reply gathering system is constituted by a small portable computer so that a questionnaire can be conducted after it has been moved to an arbitrary place. The questionnaire totalizing and analyzing system according to the present invention performs a totalizing process and an analyzing process by reading instructed reply data from the storage medium. As described above, data are transmitted/received between systems by means of the portable recording medium so that a necessity of establishing a direct connection between systems by using communication lines or external input apparatus can be eliminated, and thereby the handling facility can be improved.

Questionnaire system

A merchandising system for conducting a control of article display positions that are generally changed by the customers includes a method of obtaining article display positions based on the present display state. In this system, when selecting coordinate items to be suitably combined with an article, the display positions thereof can be easily determined, which advantageously helps the customer to search the store or floor for the desired items.

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Yokohama, Japan

Hiroaki Oyama