JP2009123114A - Information processor and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow metadata having strong relevance to a retrieval key to be selected when displaying a result obtained by performing data retrieval with an item of the metadata as the retrieval key together with a value of the metadata. <P>SOLUTION: This information processing method in an information processor for retrieving data added with the metadata has: a process for registering auxiliary metadata in an auxiliary database; a process (S904) for acquiring the item of the metadata designated as the retrieval key; a process (S909) for reading the auxiliary metadata of the acquired item of the metadata from the auxiliary database; a process (S906) for retrieving the data based on a retrieval condition; and a process (S911) for displaying the values of the metadata respectively corresponding to the item of the metadata designated as the retrieval key and the item of the read metadata among the values of the metadata added to the retrieved data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to data search processing, and more particularly to search processing for data to which metadata is added.

  Conventionally, data management systems for managing data with various metadata added have been widely used. In such a system, metadata is managed in a database, data search is performed using metadata items as search keys, and searched data is displayed together with metadata values added to the data. It is possible.

  However, if the number of metadata added to the data is large, all metadata items may not be displayed on the display screen. Therefore, in order to limit the metadata items to be displayed, for example, in Patent Document 1, the metadata items to be displayed are narrowed down based on the past usage status of each metadata such as the usage frequency and usage history of the user. I am going to do that.

According to this document, it is possible to dynamically switch metadata items to be displayed, and as a result, metadata values frequently used by the user are preferentially displayed together with search results.
JP 2000-293423 A

  However, in the case of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the metadata values displayed together with the search results are arranged according to the past usage status of each metadata. For this reason, an item that is strongly related to the metadata item used as the search key is not necessarily selected.

  On the other hand, a user who has performed a data search using a metadata item as a search key usually performs a process of sorting the displayed search result based on another metadata item. This is because it is effective to further narrow down the search results in order to extract data desired by the user from the search results.

  At this time, in many cases, the metadata item used for the sort instruction by the user is generally a metadata item strongly related to the metadata item used as the search key. For this reason, in order to perform such sort instructions smoothly, when displaying the search result together with the metadata value, the metadata item used as the search key and the metadata item having a strong relation are selected. It is desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and when searching for data using a metadata item as a search key and displaying the search result together with the value of the metadata added to the data, the present invention relates to the search key. Make sure metadata items with strong characteristics are selected.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An information processing apparatus that performs a search process for data to which a plurality of metadata is added,
Registration means for registering a database that defines the relationship between metadata items,
A first acquisition means for acquiring a metadata item designated as a search condition among the plurality of metadata items;
Reading means for reading metadata items related to the metadata items acquired by the first acquisition means from the database;
First search means for searching for data based on the search condition;
Of the metadata values added to the data searched by the first search means, the metadata item acquired by the first acquisition means and the metadata item read by the read means Display means for displaying metadata values corresponding to the search results together with the search results.

  According to the present invention, when a data search is performed using a metadata item as a search key and the search result is displayed together with the metadata value added to the data, a metadata item strongly related to the search key is selected. Will come to be.

  Details of each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, metadata refers to information that is added to data as information indicating data attributes and includes metadata items and metadata values.

  The auxiliary metadata refers to other metadata items that are strongly related to a specific metadata item among a plurality of metadata items included in the metadata added to the data.

[First Embodiment]
1. Configuration of Information Processing Device FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing device 100 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a CPU 101 executes an OS (Operating System) and various application programs (including a data management system 111 described later) and controls each unit.

  The ROM 102 stores fixed data among various application programs executed by the CPU 101 and calculation parameters. The RAM 103 provides a work area for the CPU 101 and a temporary storage area for data. The ROM 102 and the RAM 103 are connected to the CPU 101 via the bus 104.

  Further, an input device 105 such as a keyboard, a display device 106 such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, and an external storage device 107 such as a hard disk device, MO, and CD-ROM are connected to the bus 104 via an interface 108. The bus 104 is connected to a network via the communication unit 109.

  The external storage device 107 stores a data management system 111 and an OS 112 as application programs. Furthermore, a database 113 in which the data name of data to be managed by the data management system 111 and the metadata added to the data is registered in association with each other is stored. Furthermore, an auxiliary database 114 is stored in which each item of metadata registered in the database 113 is registered in association with another highly related metadata item (auxiliary metadata item).

2. Module Configuration of Data Management System 111 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a module configuration of the data management system 111 executed in the information processing apparatus 100.

  A data display unit 201 displays a list of searched data together with metadata values on the display device 106 and generates a screen for operating the database 113 and the auxiliary database 114 via the display device 106. Or display the generated screen.

  A metadata management unit 202 generates and manages the database 113 based on a metadata definition (details will be described later). An auxiliary metadata management unit 203 generates and manages the auxiliary database 114 based on auxiliary metadata definition (details will be described later).

  A metadata search unit 204 receives a search condition specification from the user, and searches for data in the database 113 according to the specified search condition.

  A data management unit 205 manages data stored via the data management system 111. A storage unit 206 stores the database 113 or the auxiliary database 114 in the external storage device 107.

  The data management system 111 requires a module for inputting / outputting data in addition to these, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted here.

3. Details of Various Data (1) Metadata FIG. 3A is a definition of metadata managed by the metadata management unit 202. In this embodiment, a common metadata definition is used for all data. The metadata definition 301 includes a metadata item 302 and a data type 303, and each is defined as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, a relational database is used as the database 113, and the metadata management unit 202 generates the SQL statement shown in FIG. 3B when generating the database 113 based on the metadata definition 301. Will be used. By using the SQL sentence as shown in FIG. 3B, each metadata item 302 of the metadata definition 301 forms each column of the database 113.

(2) Auxiliary Metadata FIG. 4A shows an auxiliary metadata definition 401 managed by the auxiliary metadata management unit 203. Reference numeral 402 denotes a metadata item to be associated with auxiliary metadata, and reference numeral 403 denotes the number of auxiliary metadata to be associated. Reference numeral 404 denotes an auxiliary metadata item that is an item of metadata (auxiliary metadata) associated with the target metadata item, and reference numeral 405 denotes a priority order of each auxiliary metadata item.

  Multiple auxiliary metadata items can be defined for one metadata item, and metadata items defined as auxiliary metadata items for one metadata item can be defined for another metadata item. Can also be defined as auxiliary metadata.

  In this embodiment, a relational database is used as the auxiliary database 114. Therefore, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 uses the SQL statement shown in FIG. 4B when generating the auxiliary database 114 based on the auxiliary metadata definition 401. Thereby, each auxiliary metadata item 404 of the auxiliary metadata definition 401 forms each column of the auxiliary database 114.

4). Description of Auxiliary Metadata Registration Processing Next, details of the auxiliary metadata registration processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) Auxiliary Metadata Registration Screen FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the auxiliary metadata registration screen. Both the metadata selection unit 502 and the auxiliary metadata selection unit 503 can select metadata items registered in the database 113.

  The priority order specifying unit 504 specifies the priority order of the selected auxiliary metadata. Reference numeral 505 denotes a registration execution button.

(2) Flow of auxiliary metadata registration processing FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of auxiliary metadata registration processing. In step S601, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 receives an instruction to start registration of auxiliary metadata.

  In step S <b> 602, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 acquires the metadata items registered in the database 113 from the metadata management unit 202. Then, an auxiliary metadata registration screen 501 including the metadata selection unit 502 and the auxiliary metadata selection unit 503 is generated and displayed.

  When the user selects a metadata item and an auxiliary metadata item in the metadata selection unit 502 and the auxiliary metadata selection unit 503 and presses the registration execution button 505, this is accepted in step S603. In step S604, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 acquires the metadata item, the auxiliary metadata item, and the priority order selected by the metadata selection unit 502, the auxiliary metadata selection unit 503, and the priority order specification unit 504. .

  In step S605, it is determined whether a priority order is specified for the acquired auxiliary metadata item.

  If it is determined in step S605 that the priority order is specified for the auxiliary metadata item, in step S606, the auxiliary metadata item is arranged in accordance with the specified priority order.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S605 that the priority order is not specified for the auxiliary metadata item, the auxiliary metadata items are arranged in order from the top of the auxiliary metadata selection unit 503 in step S608. .

  Finally, in step S608, SQL for registering auxiliary metadata in the auxiliary database 114 is generated and registered in the auxiliary database 114. In this embodiment, in order to register in the auxiliary database 114 generated based on the SQL statement 405, the SQL statement shown in FIG. 7 is generated here.

  In FIG. 7, three metadata items of “photographer”, “photographing device”, and “subject” are set as metadata items “photographing location” as auxiliary metadata items, and priorities are set and registered in this order. Is shown. In this case, three auxiliary metadata items of “photographer”, “photographing device”, and “subject” are registered in the auxiliary database 114 in a comma-separated order according to the priority order.

5). Description of Data Search Processing Next, details of the data search processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) Data Search Screen FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition designation screen which is a user interface for inputting search conditions when performing data search processing. In the present embodiment, a search key specifying unit 802 that selects an item of metadata used as a search key, a condition specifying unit 803 that specifies a matching condition (metadata value) for the selected search key, and a search execution instruction And a search button 804 to be included.

(2) Flow of Data Search Processing Next, the flow of data search processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. When the metadata search unit 204 receives a search start instruction in step S901, the metadata search unit 204 displays a search condition designation screen 801 in step S902.

  Next, when the user designates a search key (metadata item) and a matching condition (metadata value) using the search key designation unit 802 and the condition designation unit 803 and presses the search button 804, this is accepted in step S903. .

  In step S904, the metadata search unit 204 acquires the metadata item specified as the search key from the search key specifying unit 802. In step S905, the matching condition (metadata value) for the search key is acquired from the condition specifying unit 803. Obtain (first obtaining means). Next, a search is performed for data to which metadata matching the acquired search key and matching conditions is added (first search means).

  In this embodiment, metadata is registered in the database 113 that is a relational database. Therefore, in step S906, the metadata management unit 202 executes the SQL statement shown in FIG. In this example, “shooting location” is designated as the search key and “home” is designated as the matching condition.

  If the search result is acquired from the metadata management unit 202, it is transferred to the data display unit 201 in step S907. The data display unit 201 that acquired the search result selects a metadata item to be displayed.

  First, in step S908, the metadata item specified as the search key is acquired from the metadata search unit 204 (reading means). Here, “shooting location” is acquired.

  Next, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 is inquired as to whether or not the metadata item is registered in the auxiliary database 114. In step S909, the auxiliary metadata management unit 203 searches the metadata item registered in the auxiliary database 114 for the designated metadata item, and the auxiliary metadata item associated therewith is displayed in the data display unit 201. return. Here, “photographer”, “photographing device”, and “subject” are acquired.

  In step S910, it is determined whether an auxiliary metadata item associated with the metadata item specified by the search key has been registered. If it is determined in step S910 that the associated auxiliary metadata item has been registered, the process proceeds to step S911.

  In step S911, a metadata item to be displayed as a display item is displayed based on the acquired auxiliary metadata item on the data display screen that displays the search result.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S910 that the associated auxiliary metadata item has not been registered, the process proceeds to step S912. In step S912, a metadata item to be displayed as a display item is displayed based on the metadata item registered in the database 113 on the data display screen that displays the search result.

(3) Search Result Display Screen FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a data display screen that is displayed by the data display unit 201 and displays search results. In FIG. 11, metadata items are displayed in the top row 1102 as display items. Each row (1103) below the second row corresponds to one piece of data, and each column (1104) displays the value of metadata added to each piece of data.

  It is assumed that data names are displayed in the leftmost column 1105. In the second column 1106 from the left, metadata items designated as search keys are displayed. Here, “photographing location” is designated as the search key and “home” is designated as the matching condition, so all the values in this column are “home”.

  From the third column from the left, auxiliary metadata items associated with the metadata item designated by the search key are displayed (1107). Here, since three items of “photographer”, “photographing device”, and “subject” are acquired as auxiliary metadata items, the data display unit 201 displays them in order from the left.

  As described above, when priorities are set for the auxiliary metadata, they are registered in the auxiliary database 114 according to the order. Therefore, in the data display unit 201, if the auxiliary metadata items are displayed in the order of acquisition, they are displayed according to the priorities. Will be.

  In addition, when the priority order is not specified, the order is meaningless in the first place.

  Finally, metadata items other than the auxiliary metadata item associated with the search key and the metadata item specified in the search key are displayed in the right column of the auxiliary metadata item.

  As is clear from the above description, when performing a search process using a metadata item as a search key, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment registers a related metadata item in the auxiliary database in advance as an auxiliary metadata item. It was set as the structure. In displaying the search result together with the metadata value, the auxiliary metadata item associated with the metadata item designated as the search key is preferentially displayed.

  As a result, metadata items that are strongly related to the metadata item used as the search key are preferentially displayed.

[Second Embodiment}
In the first embodiment, the metadata value displayed together with the search result is selected based on the auxiliary database. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the search result itself may be displayed after being narrowed down based on the auxiliary database. Details of this embodiment will be described below.

  The module configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and only the metadata search unit is different. Therefore, in the following, the data search process by the metadata search unit, which is the difference from the first embodiment, will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

(1) Data Search Screen FIG. 12A shows an initial state of the search condition designation screen in the present embodiment. Since the screen configuration conforms to the search condition designation screen shown in FIG. 8 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

(2) Flow of Data Search Processing Next, the flow of data search processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 12B and 13. In step S1301, the user selects a metadata item to be used as a search key from the search key designation unit 802.

  When the search key is selected, in step S1302, the metadata search unit 204 immediately acquires the search key specified by the search key specifying unit 802. Further, in step S1303, an inquiry is made as to whether or not auxiliary metadata items associated with the metadata item designated as the search key are registered in the auxiliary metadata management unit 203. The auxiliary metadata management unit 203 searches the auxiliary database 114 for this, and returns the search result to the metadata search unit 204. In this example, “photographer”, “photographing device”, and “subject” are acquired.

  In step S1304, the metadata search unit 204 adds the acquired auxiliary metadata item as an auxiliary search key to the search condition designation screen and displays it. FIG. 12B shows a state where a search condition designation screen including an auxiliary search key 1201 and an auxiliary condition designation unit 1202 is displayed.

  When the user specifies a matching condition (auxiliary metadata value) in the auxiliary condition specifying unit 1202 and the search execution button 1203 is pressed, this is accepted in step S1305. In step S1306, the metadata search unit 204 acquires a matching condition (metadata value) for the search key (metadata item) from the condition specifying unit 803 (auxiliary search condition).

  In step S1307, the matching condition (auxiliary metadata value) for the auxiliary search key (auxiliary metadata item) is acquired from the auxiliary condition designating unit 1202 (second acquisition unit). In step S1308, a metadata search is executed (second search means). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a search is performed with an AND condition of a matching condition for each of the acquired search key and auxiliary search key.

  Since the subsequent search processing and search result display method are the same as in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, the search condition designation screen is displayed using the auxiliary metadata item associated with the metadata item input as the search key as the auxiliary search key. The auxiliary metadata value corresponding to the displayed auxiliary metadata item can be specified as a matching condition.

  As a result, the search result can be further narrowed down by the auxiliary metadata item that is strongly related to the metadata item used as the search key.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, there is one search key designated on the search condition designation screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of search keys can be designated. It may be configured. In that case, on the search result display screen, the individual metadata items specified by the search key and the metadata values for those auxiliary metadata items are displayed. FIG. 16 shows an example of a search result display screen in the present embodiment.

  Here, it is assumed that “photographer” is registered as an auxiliary metadata item of the metadata item “shooting location”, and “shooting date and time” is registered as an auxiliary metadata item of the metadata item “subject”. .

  Under such a premise, when the metadata items “shooting location” and “subject” are designated in the search key, the data display unit 201 in the present embodiment generates a data display screen in the following procedure.

  First, a data name column is displayed (1105). Next, the metadata items (1601, 1602) designated by the search key are displayed on the right side of the data name column (1105). Further, auxiliary metadata items (1603, 1604) associated with the metadata item designated as the search key are displayed on the right side according to the search key arrangement order. Finally, a metadata item 1605 other than the metadata item specified as the search key and the auxiliary metadata item is displayed.

  In the second embodiment, the auxiliary search key 1201 and the auxiliary condition specifying unit 1202 are displayed when the search button 804 is pressed on the search condition specifying screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, a plurality of search key specification sections may be displayed on the search condition specification screen. Each time a search key is selected in any one of the search key specification units 802, an auxiliary metadata item associated with the metadata item specified as the search key is displayed as an auxiliary search key. Also good.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In each of the above embodiments, both the metadata item specified as the search key and the auxiliary metadata item are displayed on the data display screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, an auxiliary metadata item with the first priority is added to the metadata item specified as the search key, and the merged item is displayed in one column (1401). Good.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14B, the metadata item (“shooting location”) designated in the search key is not displayed, and only the auxiliary metadata items (“photographer”, “photographing device”, “subject”) are displayed. May be displayed as a display item (1402).

[Fifth Embodiment]
In each of the above embodiments, the user designates a search key through the search condition designation screen and acquires data as a search result. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a data management system having a folder structure, data may be acquired by opening a folder.

  Specifically, the metadata management unit 202 registers the registration destination folder name 1501 (FIG. 15) in the database 113 in addition to each item 301 as a metadata definition. After the data is registered in the folder, the data name of the registration destination folder is set as the registration destination folder name of the metadata added to the data.

  When a folder is opened and data acquisition in the folder is instructed, the metadata search unit 204 performs a search by specifying the registration destination folder name as the search key and the data name of the folder to be opened as the matching condition. Execute.

  Thereby, data in the folder is acquired as a search result. In the data display unit 201, when displaying data in the folder, as shown in the fourth embodiment, the value of the search key (registration destination folder name) is not displayed and only the auxiliary metadata item is displayed. Is displayed. As a result, it is possible to control the metadata items displayed in the operation of opening the folder.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.

  Needless to say, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. In this case, the above functions are realized by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included.

  Further, when the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. Is also included. That is, after the program code is written in the memory, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and is realized by the processing. This is also included.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a module configuration of a data management system executed in the information processing apparatus 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the SQL statement for producing | generating a database based on the metadata definition which the metadata management part 202 manages, and this metadata definition. It is a figure which shows an example of the SQL sentence for producing | generating an auxiliary | assistant database based on the auxiliary | assistant metadata definition which the auxiliary | assistant metadata management part 103 manages, and this auxiliary | assistant metadata definition. It is a figure which shows an example of an auxiliary metadata registration screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of auxiliary metadata registration processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the SQL sentence for registering auxiliary metadata in an auxiliary database. It is a figure which shows an example of a search condition designation | designated screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the search process of data. It is a figure which shows an example of the SQL sentence used when performing a search process. It is a figure which shows an example of the data display screen which displays a search result. It is a figure which shows an example of the initial state of a search condition designation | designated screen, and the screen on which the auxiliary key and the auxiliary condition designation | designated part were displayed. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the search process of data. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a search result. It is a figure which shows an example of the SQL statement for producing | generating a database based on the metadata definition which the metadata management part 202 manages, and this metadata definition. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a search result.

Claims (6)

An information processing apparatus that performs a search process for data to which a plurality of metadata is added,
Registration means for registering a database that defines the relationship between metadata items,
A first acquisition means for acquiring a metadata item designated as a search condition among the plurality of metadata items;
Reading means for reading metadata items related to the metadata items acquired by the first acquisition means from the database;
First search means for searching for data based on the search condition;
Of the metadata values added to the data searched by the first search means, the metadata item acquired by the first acquisition means and the metadata item read by the read means And a display means for displaying metadata values corresponding to the search results together with the search results. Second acquisition means for acquiring an item of metadata read by the reading means, designated as an auxiliary search condition;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second search unit that searches for data based on the search condition and the auxiliary search condition.   Among the plurality of metadata items, at least one metadata item can be selected as a search key in the search condition, and a metadata value corresponding to the selected metadata item The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a user interface capable of selecting at least one metadata value as a matching condition in the search condition.   Among the metadata items read by the reading means, at least one metadata item can be selected as a search key in the auxiliary search condition, and corresponds to the selected metadata item. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a user interface capable of selecting at least one metadata value as a matching condition in the auxiliary search condition from among metadata values is provided. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus that performs search processing on data to which a plurality of metadata is added,
A registration process that registers a database that defines the relationship between metadata items;
A first acquisition step of acquiring a metadata item designated as a search condition among the plurality of metadata items;
A reading step of reading metadata items related to the metadata items acquired in the first acquisition step from the database;
A first search step for searching for data based on the search condition;
Of the metadata values added to the data searched in the first search step, the metadata item acquired in the first acquisition step and the metadata item read out in the read step And a display step of displaying metadata values respectively corresponding to the search results together with a search result.   A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 5.

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