Method and device for recording a new object in a catalogue

Abstract

A method for recording a new object in a catalogue of objects is disclosed. The method enables defining the value of an attribute and comprises: selecting an identifier of the new object; detecting, on a graphic element, the presence of a label representing the attribute; and determining the position of the label with respect to the graphic element, the value of the attribute computed based on said position. The detection includes a ranking of objects already recorded in the catalogue, comprising: determining, for each object already recorded in the catalogue, an index of similarity between a set comprising said attribute value and a set of values of corresponding attributes of said object; ranking the objects already recorded in the catalogue as a function of said indices of similarity; and displaying or updating a list of the objects already recorded in the catalogue as a function of said indices of similarity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for recording an object in a catalogue of objects, the method comprising: selecting an identifier of a new object to be recorded in said catalogue; detecting, on a graphic element, the presence of a label to be used to set a value of an attribute of said new object; determining a position of said label with respect to the graphic element; computing a value of said attribute on the basis of said position; and assigning said value to said new object, wherein the method comprises, each time a new label on the graphic object or a movement of an existing label on the graphic object is detected, a ranking of objects already recorded in said catalogue, said ranking comprising: determining, for each object already recorded in said catalogue, an index of similarity between a first set comprising at least said attribute value associated with the new label positioned on the graphic object or the existing label moved on the graphic object and a second set of values of corresponding attributes of said each object; ranking the objects already recorded in said catalogue as a function of said determined indices of similarity; and displaying on an interface the updated list of the objects already recorded in the catalogue, the list being ordered as a function of said indices of similarity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set comprises only attribute values associated with labels detected on the graphic element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set further comprises additional attribute values obtained on the basis of the values of the attributes associated with the labels detected on the graphic element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said index of similarity is a distance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said index of similarity is a coefficient of correlation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphic element is of a longitudinal shape, a longitudinal axis of said element defining a normalized frame of reference, the position of said label corresponding to the coordinate of a barycenter of said label in said frame of reference.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said frame of reference is normalized between a non-zero minimum bound and a maximum bound.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method for recording an object in a catalogue of objects, the method comprising: selecting an identifier of a new object to be recorded in said catalogue; detecting, on a graphic element, the presence of a label to be used to set a value of an attribute of said new object; determining a position of said label with respect to the graphic element; computing a value of said attribute on the basis of said position; and assigning said value to said new object, wherein the method comprises, each time a new label on the graphic object or a movement of an existing label on the graphic object is detected, a ranking of objects already recorded in said catalogue, said ranking comprising: determining, for each object already recorded in said catalogue, an index of similarity between a first set comprising at least said attribute value associated with the new label positioned on the graphic object or the existing label moved on the graphic object and a second set of values of corresponding attributes of said each object; ranking the objects already recorded in said catalogue as a function of said determined indices of similarity; and displaying on an interface the updated list of the objects already recorded in the catalogue, the list being ordered as a function of said indices of similarity.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first set comprises only attribute values associated with labels detected on the graphic element.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first set further comprises additional attribute values obtained on the basis of the values of the attributes associated with the labels detected on the graphic element.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said index of similarity is a distance.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said index of similarity is a coefficient of correlation.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said graphic element is of a longitudinal shape, a longitudinal axis of said element defining a normalized frame of reference, the position of said label corresponding to the coordinate of a barycenter of said label in said frame of reference.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein said frame of reference is normalized between a non-zero minimum bound and a maximum bound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other peculiarities and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 3B respectively represent a table and a row of a table of attributes of objects that can be used in a first particular embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2A to 2D represent computer screens during an exemplary implementation of a method for ranking objects in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3A represents a computer screen during an example of implementation of a method for defining the attributes of an object in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method for ranking objects in accordance with the first particular embodiment of the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method for defining the attributes of an object in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 represents a scattering matrix that can be used in a second embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively represent a ranking and a defining device in accordance with particular embodiments of the invention;

(9) FIG. 9 represents a computer screen during an exemplary implementation of a method for recording a new object in a catalogue in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention; and

(10) FIG. 10 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method for recording a new object in a catalogue in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 represents a table TATT of attributes of objects that can be used in a first embodiment of the invention.

(12) In this example the table TATT includes the 7 objects of a catalogue CTG of objects, identified DOC1 to DOC7, each including 10 attributes AT1 to AT10.

(13) In the remainder of the text, the attribute ATp of the object DOCk will be denoted ATp,k.

(14) In this example, all the attributes of all the objects have been entered but the invention does not require it.

(15) In this example, the attributes all have values between 0 and 100. Other limit values can be used.

(16) It is supposed that a user wishes to search for an object in the catalogue CTG by specifying one or more of the attributes ATp* of this object.

(17) The invention proposes to rank the objects of the catalogue CTG of objects according to an index of similarity with the searched-for object.

(18) FIG. 2A represents a computer screen SCR for implementing a particular embodiment of the invention.

(19) On this screen SCR are displayed 10 labels ET, bearing name-labels ET1 to ET10 and a graphic element OG of rectangular shape.

(20) Each of these labels makes it possible to select a value of an attribute AT1* to AT10* when it is positioned on the graphic element OG. In this example, the label with name-label ETk is used to set the value of the attribute ATk*.

(21) In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, only the largest dimension of the graphic element OG, namely the longitudinal dimension, is significant. It will be supposed that it constitutes a normalized frame of reference regularly graduated from 5 to 100. In this example the scale 5 to 100 is displayed on the screen SCR but this is optional.

(22) It will be considered that the user has slid the label of name-label ET7 to position it on the graphic element OG, approximately at ⅓, of this object as shown in FIG. 2B, to signify that he desires the attribute AT7* of the searched-for object to have a value in the order of 33. Specifically, in this example the position of the label (for example in the center of the label if it is rectangular) occupies the position 35.

(23) In this first embodiment, for each of the objects DOCk of the catalogue CTG of objects, using the table TATT of FIG. 1, an index of similarity CSk between this object and the searched-for object is computed, taking into account only the attribute AT7 associated with the single label ET7 positioned by the user on the graphic element OG.

(24) In the embodiment described here, this index of similarity CSk is a distance. This distance D(DOCk,{7}) is expressed:
D(DOCk,{7})=(AT7,k−AT7*).sup.2, or
D(DOCk,{7})=(AT7,k−35).sup.2.
Taking again the values of the table of FIG. 1 gives:
D(DOC1,{7})=25
D(DOC2,{7})=256
D(DOC3,{7})=1089
D(DOC4,{7})=400
D(DOC5,{7})=2025
D(DOC6,{7})=0
D(DOC7,{7})=529

(25) Such that the objects ranked according to this distance measurement, from the nearest to the furthest from the target object are the objects DOC6, DOC1, DOC2, DOC4, DOC7, DOC3 and DOC5.

(26) These objects are shown on the screen SCR in this order in an ordered list LST of which only the first three elements are apparent in the example of FIG. 2B. Metadata METAk of these objects can be presented in the list.

(27) With reference to FIG. 2C, it will be supposed that the user moves the label ET7 during the graphic element OG to signify that the attribute AT7 is no longer a selection criterion of the searched-for object and that he is positioning two labels ET3 and ET5 on the graphic element OG, at positions 76 and 28 respectively.

(28) In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, for each of the objects DOCk of the catalogue of objects, one computes the distance D(DOCk,{3, 5}) of this object with the searched-for object, taking into account only the attributes AT3 and AT5 associated with the labels ET3 and ET5 placed by the user on the graphic element OG.

(29) In the embodiment described here, the distance D(DOCk,{3, 5}) is expressed:
D(DOCk,{3,5})=(AT3,k−AT3*).sup.2+(AT5,k−AT5*); or
D(DOCk,{3,5})=(AT3,k−76).sup.2+(AT5,k−28).sup.2.
Taking again the values of the table of FIG. 1 gives:
D(DOC1,{3,5})=970
D(DOC2,{3,5})=4058
D(DOC3,{3,5})=4786
D(DOC4,{3,5})=20
D(DOC5,{3,5})=4040
D(DOC6,{3,5})=4505
D(DOC7,{3,5})=520

(30) Such that the objects ranked according to this distance measurement from the nearest to the furthest from the target object are the objects DOC4, DOC7, DOC1, DOC5, DOC2, DOC6 and DOC3.

(31) These objects are shown on the screen SCR in this order in the ordered list LST of which only the first three elements are apparent in the example of FIG. 2C.

(32) With reference to FIG. 2D, it will be supposed that the user adds the label ET10 to the graphic element OG in position 10.

(33) In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, one computes for each of the objects DOCk of the catalogue CTG of objects the distance D(DOCk,{3, 5, 10}) of this object with the searched-for object, taking into account only the attributes AT3, AT5 and AT10 associated with the labels ET3, ET5 and ET10 positioned by the user on the graphic element OG.

(34) In the embodiment described here, the distance D(DOCk,{3, 5, 10}) is expressed:

(35) $D\left(\mathrm{DOCk},\left\{3,5,10\right\}\right)={\left(\mathrm{AT}3,k-AT{3}^{*}\right)}^2+{(\mathrm{AT}5,k-AT{5}^{*})}^2+;\mathrm{or}{\left(\mathrm{AT}10,k-\mathrm{AT}{10}^{*}\right)}^2;\mathrm{or}D\left(\mathrm{DOCk},\left\{3,5,10\right\}\right)={\left(\mathrm{AT}3,k-76\right)}^2+{(\mathrm{AT}5,k-28)}^2+{(\mathrm{AT}10,k-10)}^2.$
Taking again the values of the table of FIG. 1 gives:
D(DOC1,{3,5,10})=974
D(DOC2,{3,5,10})=4958
D(DOC3,{3,5,10})=5315
D(DOC4,{3,5,10})=1620
D(DOC5,{3,5,10})=9969
D(DOC6,{3,5,10})=4674
D(DOC7,{3,5,10})=1676

(36) Such that the objects ranked according to this distance measurement, from the nearest to the furthest from the target object are the objects DOC1, DOC4, DOC7, DOC6, DOC2, DOC3 and DOC5.

(37) These objects are shown on the screen SCR in this order in the ordered list LST of which only the first three elements are apparent in the example of FIG. 2D.

(38) Very advantageously, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the same mechanism can be used to define and record, in the table TATT, the attributes of a new object DOC8 of the catalogue of objects.

(39) As represented in this figure, to define the attributes AT1 to AT10 of this object, the user selects an identifier DOC8 of this object from a list LD and positions at least one label ET1 to ET10 on the graphic element OG.

(40) The value of the attribute ATk,8 is obtained from the relative position of the label ETk on the graphic element OG.

(41) In this example, the labels ET1 to ET10 are all positioned on the graphic element OG, in positions 13, 60, 80, 95, 69, 95, 50, 13, 72 and 29 respectively.

(42) Following these operations, the table TATT of FIG. 1 is completed by the row represented in FIG. 3B.

(43) FIG. 4 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, for ranking all the objects DOCk of the catalogue CTG of objects.

(44) In accordance with the invention, each object DOCk is associated with at least one attribute ATj represented graphically, on the screen SCR of a computer, by a label ETj. A graphic element OG is also represented on the screen.

(45) In the embodiment described here, this method is executed in a loop consisting of the steps E10 to E60 below.

(46) The step E10 is a step of detecting the presence of at least one label ETp on the graphic element OG. This detection is effected as soon as the barycenter of the label ETp is found within the limits of the graphic element OG.

(47) The step E10 is followed by a step E20 of determining the relative position POSp of each of these labels ETp with respect to the graphic element OG. In the embodiment described here, the graphic element OG is of longitudinal shape and a longitudinal axis of this object defines a normalized frame of reference; the position POSp of a label ETp corresponds to the coordinate of the barycenter of this label in this frame of reference.

(48) The step E20 is followed by a step E30 of computing the value of the attributes ATp,* associated with the labels ETp positioned on the graphic element OG as a function of the positions POSp of these labels.

(49) In the embodiment described here, the value of an attribute ATp,* corresponds to the coordinate of the barycenter of the label ETp in the aforementioned frame of reference.

(50) The step E30 is followed by a step E40 of determining, for each of the objects DOCk of the catalogue CTG of objects an index of similarity CSk between this object DOCk and an object defined by the values of the attributes ATpi* represented by the labels ETpi positioned on the graphic element OG. In this embodiment of the invention, this criterion of similarity CSk is a distance defined by:
D(DOCk,{pi})=Σ.sub.pi(ATpi,k−Atpi*).sup.2

(51) The step E40 is followed by a step E50 of ranking the objects DOCk as a function of the indices of similarity CSk and by a step E60 of displaying or updating an ordered list LST of the objects of the catalogue of objects as a function of these distances.

(52) FIG. 5 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method in accordance with the invention, for defining and recording the value of at least one attribute ATp,k of an object DOCk of the catalogue CTG of objects.

(53) This method includes a step F10 of selecting an identifier DOCk of this object, for example from a list LD.

(54) The step F10 is followed by a step F20 of detecting, on a graphic element OG, the presence of at least one label ETp representing this attribute ATp. This detection is effected as soon as the barycenter of the label ETp is found within the limits of the graphic element OG.

(55) The step F20 is followed by a step F30 of determining the relative position POSp of each of these labels ETp with respect to the graphic element OG. In the embodiment described here, the graphic element OG is of longitudinal shape and a longitudinal axis of this object defines a normalized frame of reference; the position POSp of a label ETp corresponds to the coordinate of the barycenter of this label in this frame of reference. The value of the attribute ATp,k is computed on the basis of this position POSp.

(56) In the embodiment described here, the value of the attribute ATp,k is determined (step F40) as being equal to the coordinate of the barycenter of the label ETp in the aforementioned frame of reference.

(57) In the first embodiment previously described, only the attributes associated with the labels positioned on the graphic element are taken into account for ranking the objects of the catalogue of objects.

(58) In this second embodiment, the ranking is done taking into account a super-set of these attributes.

(59) For this purpose, in this second embodiment of the invention, a scattering matrix is used to attribute, on the basis of the values of one or more attributes associated with the labels placed on the graphic element, values to one or more additional attributes.

(60) FIG. 6 represents an example of such a matrix MAT. The cell at the intersection of row i and column j includes a value MAT(i, j) making it possible to define how the value of the attribute of a label ETi positioned on the graphic element OG scatters, or in other words affects the value of the attribute ATj.

(61) In the embodiment described here:
ATj=Max{ATi*MAT(i,j)} with for all i,MAT(i,i)=1.

(62) In other words, in this embodiment, with an attribute ATj, during a scattering step, is associated the greatest value out of: the possible values obtained, where applicable, by scattering of the values associated with the other attributes ATi by positioning of the labels ETi on the graphic element OG, if MAT(i,j) is non-zero; and where applicable the value obtained directly by the positioning of the label ETj on the graphic element OG, if such is the case, the value MAT(j, j) being equal to 1.

(63) In the second embodiment of the invention, this scattering step replaces the steps E30 and F40 of the ranking and defining steps of the first embodiment of the invention previously described.

(64) For example in the case of FIG. 6, wherein MAT(2, 2)=1, MAT(7, 2)=0,8 and MAT(10, 2)=1,3, if one detects (step E10 or F20) on the graphic element OG, the label ET1 in position 80, the label ET7 in position 10, and the label ET10 in position 20, then one attributes to the attribute AT2, (step E30 or F40), the maximum value of the set {0, 8, 26} i.e. the value 26 scattered by the attribute ET10.

(65) In this second embodiment, the set of attributes taken into account in step E40 is the set of attributes {AT1, AT2, AT7 and AT10} respectively associated with the values 80, 26, 10 and 20, corresponding to the labels ET1, ET7 and ET10 placed by the user and to the label ET2, although this has not been positioned on the graphic element OG by the user, due to the scattering of the attribute AT10.

(66) FIG. 7 represents a ranking device DISPC in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, this device has the architecture of a computer. It particularly includes a processor 10, a random-access memory 11, a read-only memory 12, a screen SCR and a mouse KB. The read-only memory 12 constitutes an information medium in accordance with the invention. It includes a computer program PGC allowing the implementation of a ranking method in accordance with the first or the second embodiment previously described.

(67) This device DISPC includes means for accessing a catalogue CTG of objects, this catalogue being for example stored in a database accessible by the device DISPC via a network.

(68) The device DISPC includes displaying means able to display on the screen SCR labels representing attributes of the objects of the catalogue CTG.

(69) A graphic element OG, for example in the shape of a rectangle, can also be displayed on the screen SCR.

(70) The device DISPC includes detecting means configured to detect the presence of at least one label on this graphic element OG and determining means configured to determine the relative position of the label with respect to the graphic element. In practice, each label element and/or each label can be implemented in the form of a computer object including a data structure storing the position of this object on the screen SCR. A routine implemented by the processor 10 when it executes the instructions of the program PGC corresponding to steps E10 and E20 makes it possible to check whether the barycenter of the label is found within the limits of the graphic element and where applicable determine its relative position.

(71) The device DISPC includes computing means configured to compute values of the attributes associated with the labels detected on the graphic element as a function of the positions of these labels. These computing means can be constituted by the processor 10 when it executes the instructions of the program PGC corresponding to step E30. The processor 10 can also, in an embodiment, compute values for other attributes, on the basis of the values of the attributes associated with the labels detected on the graphic element. In practice, the value of the attributes associated with labels positioned on the graphic element can correspond to the relative position of their barycenters and the values of the attributes associated with the other labels can be obtained using a scattering matrix such as that described with reference to FIG. 6.

(72) The device DISPC includes determining means configured to determine, for each of the objects of the catalogue CTG, an index of similarity between previously computed attribute values and the values of the corresponding attributes of this object. These determining means can be constituted by the processor 10 when it executes instructions of the program PGC corresponding to step E40 to compute a distance or a coefficient of correlation between these different values.

(73) The device DISPC includes means for ranking objects of the catalogue CTG as a function of the indices of similarity. This ranking can be carried out by the processor 10 when it executes instructions of the program PGC corresponding to step E50.

(74) The displaying means of the device DISPC are configured to display or update a list of the objects of the catalogue CTG ordered as a function of said indices of similarity.

(75) FIG. 8 represents a defining device DISPD in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, this device has the architecture of a computer. It particularly includes a processor 20, a random-access memory 21, a read-only memory 22, a screen SCR and a mouse KB. The read-only memory 22 constitutes an information medium in accordance with the invention. It includes a computer program PGD allowing the implementation of a definition method in accordance with the first or the second embodiment previously described.

(76) The device DISPD includes means for accessing the catalogue CTG of objects and for allowing the selection of an identifier of an object contained in this catalogue, for example via a drop-down menu, when the processor 21 executes instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F10.

(77) The device DISPD includes means identical to those of the device DISPC for:

(78) detecting, on one and the same graphic element, the presence of a label representing an attribute (execution, by the processor 21 of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F20);

(79) determining the relative position of this label with respect to the graphic element (execution, by the processor 21, of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F30);

(80) computing the value of this attribute on the basis of this relative position of the label (execution, by the processor 21, of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F40).

(81) FIG. 9 represents a computer screen during an exemplary implementation of a method for recording a new object in a catalogue in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention.

(82) FIG. 10 represents, in the form of a block diagram, the main steps of a method in accordance with the invention, for recording a new object DOCz in a digital catalogue of objects (CTG).

(83) This method particularly allows the administrator of the catalogue of objects or a user to define or update the attributes of this object, by positioning labels associated with these attributes, as described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 5.

(84) As already described, the user selects an identifier DOCz (here DOC8) of the object (step F10), for example from a list LD, then positions on the graphic element OG labels ETp representing the attributes ATp.

(85) This method includes a step F10 of selecting an identifier DOCk of this object, for example from a list LD.

(86) Then, in the embodiment described here, this method is executed in a loop.

(87) Each time a label is positioned or moved on the graphic element OG, this is detected (step F20).

(88) This detection step F20 is followed by a step F30 of determining the relative position POSp of each of these labels ETp with respect to the graphic element OG and the value of the attribute ATz,k of this new object is computed on the basis of this position POSp (step F40). During this step, it is possible to: either consider only the attributes associated with the labels positioned on the graphic element (as previously described with respect to the first embodiment of the invention); or take into account a super-set of these attributes (as previously described with respect to the second embodiment of the invention) by using a scattering matrix to attribute, on the basis of the values of one or more attributes associated with the labels placed on the graphic element, values to one or more additional attributes.

(89) In accordance with this aspect of the invention, each time a new label on the graphic object or a movement of a label on the graphic object is detected (in accordance with test F10), a ranking is made of the objects DOCk already recorded in the catalogue as a function of their similarity with the new object and the user is shown a list LST of the objects already ranked according to their similarity. The ranking is thus updated dynamically as soon as an attribute of the new object is modified.

(90) More precisely, and as already described with reference to FIGS. 4, 2A to 2D, this ranking includes a step E40 of determining, for each of the objects DOCk already recorded in the catalogue CTG, an index of similarity SCk between a set comprising the values of the attributes ATp,z of the new object DOCz and the set of the values of the corresponding attributes ATp,k of this object DOCk.

(91) The objects DOCk already recorded in the catalogue are ranked (step E50) and shown (step E60) to the user in an ordered manner as a function of their index of similarity SCk.

(92) A recording device in accordance with the invention can be obtained by combining the means of the device DISPC FIG. 7 and of the device DISPD of FIG. 8.

(93) In particular, the recording device in accordance with the invention can have the architecture of a computer. In this embodiment, it particularly includes a processor, a random-access memory, a read-only memory, a screen and a mouse. The read-only memory 12 constitutes an information medium in accordance with the invention. It includes a computer program allowing the implementation of a recording method previously described.

(94) This device includes means for accessing the catalogue CTG of objects and for allowing the selection of an identifier of a new object to be recorded in the catalogue, for example via a drop-down menu, when the processor executes instructions implementing step F10. This device includes means identical to those of the devices DIPSD or DISPC for:

(95) detecting, on one and the same graphic element, the presence of a label representing an attribute (execution, by the processor 21, of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F20);

(96) determining the relative position of this label with respect to the graphic element (execution, by the processor 21, of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F30);

(97) computing the value of this attribute for the new object to be recorded on the basis of this relative position of the label (execution, by the processor 21, of the instructions of the program PGD corresponding to step F40).

(98) This device includes as the device DISPC determining means configured to determine, for each of the objects already recorded in the catalogue CTG, an index of similarity between the attribute values of the new object to be recorded represented by the labels and the values of the corresponding attributes of this object. These determining means can be constituted by the processor when it executes instructions corresponding to step E40 for computing a distance or a coefficient of correlation between these different values.

(99) The recording device includes means for ranking the objects of the catalogue CTG as a function of the indices of similarity identical to those of the device DISPC. This ranking can be carried out by the processor when it executes instructions corresponding to step E50.

(100) The displaying means of the recording device, like those of the device DISPC, are configured to display or update a list of the objects of the catalogue CTG ordered as a function of said indices of similarity.

(101) In accordance with the invention, the labels positioned or moved on the graphic object are not used to give a priority to certain attributes, but to define the values at the attributes. Thus, in the example of FIG. 9, the labels ET1 to ET10 are positioned on the graphic element OG, at positions 13, 60, 80, 95, 69, 95, 50, 13, 72 and 29 respectively; so that the attributes AT8,p of the new object DOC8 take the values 13, 60, 80, 95, 69, 95, 50, 13, 72 and 29.

(102) The documents DOC51, DOC54 and DOC57 ranked in the list LST are the documents already recorded in the catalogue the nearest to this document DOC8 in the sense of their index of similarity.

(103) It is quite possible for a document to be ranked at the head of the list LST even if one or more of these attributes is very far away from the corresponding attribute of the new object to be recorded.

(104) In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is furthermore possible to mark an attribute so that only the objects already recorded in the catalogue with such an attribute, preferably with a margin, are taken into account in the ranking.

(105) The marking can for example be done with a right click of the mouse, the label associated with an element marked indispensable being green in color.

(106) For example, if the user marks the label ET7 in green, supposing a margin of 4 units, only the objects already recorded with a value between 46 and 54 will be ranked.

(107) In another particular embodiment of the invention, it is furthermore possible to mark an attribute so that, contrariwise, the objects already recorded in the catalogue with such an attribute are not taken into account in the ranking.

(108) The marking can for example be done with a right click of the mouse, the label associated with an element marked prohibited being red in color.

(109) For example, if the user marks the label ET2 in red, the objects already recorded and of which the attribute AT2 has been entered are not ranked.