JPH1021042A - Method and device for displaying information, and information storage means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To let a user easily confirm an information storage means to be utilized in advance, by displaying an icon image expressing the storage means, to which link-enabled information belongs, together with that information. SOLUTION: Concerning the method and device for displaying information in a peculiar information storage means 103 and information possessed from a shared information storage means 105 through a communication medium while linking them through a description information display control means 102, the icon image expressing the storage means to which the link enabled information belongs is displayed together with the name of that information. Namely, when transiting the indication of information belonging to the peculiar information storage means 103 to the indication of information belonging to the shared information storage means 102, a communication start notice page is displayed and that notice is displayed by displaying a cursor and the icon image expressing the information storage medium to which the information under display at present and the information to be next selected and displayed belong. Thus, the user can easily confirm the information medium to be utilized in advance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to information for displaying information of a unique information storage means (for example, a CD-ROM) and information of a shared information storage means (for example, a communication medium = a WWW server connected via a communication line) in association with each other. The present invention relates to a display method, a display device, and an information storage unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information display method and apparatus for displaying information obtained from a CD-ROM and a communication medium in association with each other is disclosed in Nikkei Multimedia (August 1995, No. 2). It is used for sales, etc., in which information from a CD-ROM and information from a communication medium are configured by different description methods, and communication is performed in cooperation with personal computer communication.

[0003] Also, the WWW (World) of the Internet
As a grammar for constructing a homepage corresponding to a d Wide Web) server, for example, HTML (Hyper
Text Markup Language) format has been recognized as a standard grammar with the spread of the WWW, and the WWW browser has been recognized as indispensable software for Internet access.

[0004]

In the prior art as described above, since the data from the CD-ROM and the communication medium are written in a unique manner in each information storage medium, the system is not compatible. Information obtained by communication cannot be shared with other information, and content creation is troublesome. In addition, it takes time to receive information due to the problem of the Internet connection environment, and there is anxiety about poor operability and communication cost.

[0005] When displaying information on a CD-ROM using a WWW browser in the same manner as information from a communication medium, unlike Internet access, which is originally recognized as communication, the user is asked to present or next to the Internet. It is desirable to be able to notify whether the information medium of the display information is a CD-ROM or a communication medium. In addition, it is a desirable function to easily realize transition between information without mutual links, such as when returning to information on a CD-ROM after surfing the Internet in WWW communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display method for displaying information stored in a plurality of information storage means in cooperation with each other, wherein the information storage means to be used can be easily confirmed in advance by a user. And a device and an information storage means therefor.

More specifically, information stored in a unique information storage means such as a CD-ROM is linked with information stored in a shared information storage means such as a WWW server connected via a communication medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display method and apparatus, and a unique information storage means, which enable a user to easily select information to be displayed and easily check a storage means for storing the information.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, information in a unique information storage means and information obtained from a shared information storage means via a communication medium are linked by a description information display control means. And displaying an icon image representing the storage unit to which the information belongs together with the information name that can be linked, and transitioning from the information display belonging to the unique information storage unit to the information display belonging to the shared information storage unit. To do so, a communication start notification page is displayed, and a notification is given by displaying a cursor and an icon image representing the information storage medium to which the information currently displayed and next selected and displayed belongs.

A CD-ROM storing information in a common description format of HTML is used as the unique information storage means, and information is stored in a common description format of HTML as the shared information storage means. Use a WWW server. The CD-ROM stores selectable information names and page information for displaying an image representing the storage means to which the information belongs.

The description information display control means may include a WW
It is configured using a personal computer equipped with a W browser, and displays transition information of display information in a tree structure and displays the display information again according to the transition history information.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cooperative information display method and apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cooperative information display device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an information display unit, specifically, for example, a display of a personal computer. Reference numeral 102 denotes description information display control means, which is specifically configured by software such as a WWW browser mounted on a personal computer, for example. Reference numeral 103 denotes a unique information storage unit, specifically, for example, a CD-ROM. Reference numeral 104 denotes information transmission means, specifically, for example, a modem, a communication line, and a communication protocol. Reference numeral 105 denotes a shared information storage unit, specifically, for example, a group of WWW servers. 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes a selected medium constantly informing means, specifically, a unique information storage means (CD-ROM) for displaying, for example, an image image representing an information storage medium (means) to which the information belongs together with a selectable information name. 3) The page information stored in 103 and the description information display control means 102 for displaying the page information are configured by a software display control function. Reference numeral 107 denotes communication use prior notification means. Specifically, for example, page information stored in the unique information storage means (CD-ROM) 103 for displaying a message for asking the user about the use of the communication medium, and The description information display control means 102 to be displayed is configured by a software display control function. Reference numeral 108 denotes a use medium notifying unit, specifically, a unit for constantly displaying an icon and a cursor image representing the information storage medium to which the information to be displayed or to be displayed next belongs.
This is a display control function realized by software in. Reference numeral 109 denotes a browser-linked history display unit. More specifically, for example, a display control function by software that holds transition history information of the display information in conjunction with information display by a WWW browser and displays the transition history information in a tree structure. is there.

The information display means 101, the description information display control means 102, and the unique information storage means 103 are implemented with software such as a WWW browser,
The shared information storage means 105 is constituted by a group of hard disks and its control means. The information transmission means 104 communicates with a modem connecting the personal computer and the shared information storage means 105. It is composed of lines and the like.

Conventionally, the unique information storage means 103 and the shared information storage means 105 are originally provided with the description information display control means 10.
However, recently, in the unique information storage unit 103, the information is weathered over time, and the shared information storage unit 1
05 is a cooperative device (cooperative system) that displays the information of both storage devices in coordination in order to make use of each other's strengths to compensate for the disadvantages due to problems such as increased communication time and cost.
Has appeared.

The current cooperative system is based on the unique information storage unit 10.
3 and the shared information storage means 105 each have their own information description system or system configuration. Most of them use existing personal computer communication, and it is necessary to newly create contents according to each description system. Heavy burden.

Therefore, in the present invention, the unique information storage means 1
03 is described in the same H as the information description in the WWW server as the shared information storage means 105.
As the TML format, images, voices, texts and link information as their association information are stored in each storage means, and the WWW browser in the description information display control means 102 is used to store the CD-information as the unique information storage means 103.
A cooperative system in which a ROM is used as a virtual WWW server is configured.

FIG. 2 shows a CD-R serving as a virtual WWW server.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the distribution of information on a certain company homepage as an information configuration of an OM (unique information storage means) 103 and an actual WWW server (shared information storage means) 105. Reference numeral 201 denotes a page information group existing on the CD-ROM 103; 202, a page information group existing on the WWW server 105;
Reference numeral 213 denotes each page information of the cooperation mode page information group;
Reference numeral 4 denotes a page information group outside the cooperative system linked from the CD-ROM 103.

In the coordination method of the common description, an information page that does not change over a certain period of time, for example, company introduction information 20
5,206, catalog information 207, 208, 20 for mail order
9. Time-consuming information such as URL collection 210 or ordinary Internet access (using a communication medium) such as moving images and voices is stored in the CD-ROM 103 in advance, and new information 211 or data registration, which is frequently updated, is stored.
The order form information 212 and the questionnaire 213 that require the use of the communication medium such as an application are sent to the WWW server 10.
5 to improve efficiency.
Also, the WWW server 10 which cooperates with the CD-ROM 103
In addition to the page information on the WWW server 5, cooperation with the page information group 214 on another WWW server is realized.

Next, a description will be given of the selective medium constant notification means 106 and the communication use advance notification means 107 in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen in which the constant-selection-medium notifying means 106 according to the present invention performs constant-selection-medium notification using the page structure shown in FIG. 2 as an example. FIG.
In the figure, 301 is a homepage display screen of a certain company, and 302 to 306 are options of link page information,
07, a communication icon image indicating that the link page information is information obtained from the WWW server 105 via a communication medium; 308, a link icon information indicating that the link page information is a CD-ROM;
CD-R indicating that the information is obtained from 103
It is an OM icon image.

FIG. 4 is a display screen displaying communication start notification page information in the communication use advance notification means 107 according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, 401 is a WWW browser, 402 is a current page information address display field, 403 is a communication start notification page, 404 is a next page cooperation key (on the WWW server), 405 is a previous page cooperation key, 406 is a cursor, 407 Is the page information address display field to select,
Reference numeral 408 denotes a use medium notification column. Note that the cursor 406
The use medium notification column 408 is used in the description of the use medium notification unit 108.

Conventionally, the Internet access always requires the use of a communication medium (line). However, in the cooperative method described in the common description, the page information access on the CD-ROM 103 is a virtual WWW server access, and the communication line is The information can be used without using it. At this time, the current WWW browser displays a notation starting with “file: ///-” in the current page information address display column 402. When the cursor is placed on an option in the page layout, an address display field 4 of information to be selected is displayed.
07, if the option is page information in the CD-ROM 103, "file: ///-", the WWW server 10
If the page information is on page 5, a notation beginning with "http: //" is displayed, and the user is notified of the medium of the page information to be selected. However, since this notation appears in the form of characters in the lower part of the display screen, it is difficult for a user, especially a beginner who does not understand the contents, to recognize the notation, and the page on the WWW server 105 must be confirmed without confirming the notation. When the information is selected, it is connected to the WWW server 105 via the communication line without the user being conscious.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the home page information of a certain company. The constant medium notifying means 106 expresses the information storage medium (information storage means) to which the page information belongs together with the associated page information options 302 to 306. This is a description for displaying the icon images 307 and 308 to be displayed. For example, in the description of the company homepage display screen 301, the mail-order catalog page 304 displays the CD-ROM icon image 308 because it belongs to the CD-ROM 103, and the questionnaire page 305 has information that belongs to the WWW server 105. The communication icon image 307 is displayed. Communication icon image 307 and CD-
By displaying the ROM icon image 308, it is possible to always present visual information for making the user surely recognize the information storage medium to which the information of each option belongs by editing the text information.

The display screen shown in FIG. 4 is used for selecting information belonging to the WWW server 105 from information belonging to the CD-ROM 103, that is, when linking the information display of the CD-ROM 103 to the information display of the WWW server 105 via a communication line. This is a notification page to be displayed on the screen. The communication use advance notification unit 107 displays the prepared communication start notification page 403 on the CD-ROM 103. For example, when the user acknowledges this and clicks the next page cooperation key 404, access to the WWW server 105 is performed. When permission is granted and communication is not performed, the user clicks the previous page cooperation key 405 to return to the previous page on the CD-ROM 103. By displaying the communication start notification page 403 in this way, communication start always requires the recognition and permission of the user. That is, by editing the text information corresponding to the common description of the selected medium constantly informing unit 106 and the communication use advance informing unit 107, it is possible to clearly present the used medium to the user.

Next, the use medium notifying means 10 shown in FIG.
8 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a screen displaying a use medium notification cursor and an icon image in the use medium notification means 108 according to the present invention. In FIG.
Is a WWW browser, 502 is a display field of the current page information address, 503 is a homepage field, 504 is a cursor,
05 is a display field of the address of the page information to be selected, 506
Is a use medium notification column.

As described above, in the current WWW browser, the address of the page information being displayed is displayed in the current page information address column 502, and when the cursor is placed on an option in the page layout, the page information address display column to be selected is displayed. At 505, the address of the selected page information is displayed.

In accordance with the coordination method based on the common description according to the present invention, the coordination information display device moves the cursor of an ordinary arrow, for example, if the option in the page layout is the page information in the CD-ROM 103 as described above. BA-RO
The cursor is changed to an M cursor 504, and if it is page information on the WWW server 105, it is changed to a communication cursor 406.

Also, in conjunction with the cursor, the information storage medium to which the currently displayed page belongs and the information storage medium to which the selected page information belongs are displayed in the use medium notification fields 408 and 506. For example, in the left area of the use medium notification column 408, page information being displayed by the WWW browser is a CD-ROM.
An icon of a CD-ROM image indicating that the image belongs to the ROM 103 is displayed, and a next page cooperation key 404 selected by the cursor 406 is displayed on the right side area of the use medium notification field 408 to the page information belonging to the WWW server 105. Displays the icon of the communication image that indicates cooperation. The use medium notification fields 408 and 506 allow the user to always present the information storage medium to be used to the user as a function of the WWW browser.

Next, the browser-linked history display means 1 shown in FIG.
09 will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of a transition history tree in which the browser-linked history display means 109 according to the present invention displays history information in conjunction with a WWW browser, taking the page configuration image of FIG. 2 as an example.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a transition history tree;
Reference numeral 602 denotes a display field of the address of the page information to be selected, white boxes 603 to 609 indicate page information on the CD-ROM 103, and solid boxes 610 to 612 indicate WW.
Page information on the W server (communication medium) 105, 613 is a cursor, and 614 is page information being displayed by a WWW browser.

The transition history tree 601 starts up together with the WWW browser, acquires and holds the address of the page information displayed on the WWW browser. When the page is moved, the contents of the link are displayed as a tree and updated. In order to cope with the linkage method of the common description, the page information 603 to 609 on the CD-ROM 103 and the page information 610 to 612 on the WWW server 105 are displayed in different colors, and the page information 614 currently displayed is blinking. Display.

The purpose of the transition history tree 601 is to make it possible to easily reload page information having history information.

The history information link in the figure is an example of the transition history of the page information shown in FIG. 2. When the cursor 613 is placed on the box of the desired page information, for example, it is placed on the "mail order catalog" page information 606. In this case, since the page information 606 belongs to the CD-ROM 103,
The arrow cursor up to that point is changed to the CD-ROM cursor 613.
And display the address of the page information in display column 6
02 is displayed. When a box is clicked, the WWW browser is linked to read page information of the selected box.

In the example of FIG. 6, the “Kanto Onsen” page information 614 belongs to the WWW server 105, and the “mail order catalog”
The page information 606 belongs to the CD-ROM 103,
There are no reciprocal links between the pages. Currently, WW
Although the “Kanto Onsen” page information 614 is displayed on the W browser, the cursor 6 is displayed on the “mail order catalog” page 606.
13, the URL of the “mail order catalog” page information 606 is displayed in the address column 602, and when this is clicked, the URL displayed in the address column 602 is displayed.
The L information is issued to the WWW browser, and the WWW browser reads the “mail order catalog” page information 606 and displays it again.

In the conventional WWW browser, history information has no transition information, and the number of title characters is limited. Therefore, it is impossible to freely reload the history information. In the method, the WWW server 105
There is no effective mutual link from the above page information C
It is impossible to return to the D-ROM 103.

However, in the transition history tree 601, if the page information is once displayed by the WWW browser as in the specific example described above, it can be freely re-read even if there is no mutual link with the displayed page information. It is possible to do.

In the above embodiment, the CD-ROM is used as the unique information storage means. However, if the storage medium is capable of storing and reproducing moving images, voices, and texts, the magnetic recording system and the semiconductor recording system can be used. For example, any other type of storage medium can be used.

[0038]

According to the present invention, a WWW connected to a unique information storage means such as a CD-ROM via a communication line is provided.
By describing each information of a shared information storage means such as a server by a common description method, the information is displayed in association with each other, a display of a selectable information name is displayed, and an icon image representing the storage means to which the information belongs is displayed. Further, when the information display belonging to the unique information storage means is changed to the information display belonging to the shared information storage means, the communication start notification page is displayed, so that the user can easily confirm the use information medium in advance.

Further, by notifying by displaying a cursor and an icon image representing the information storage medium to which the information to be currently displayed and to be selected and displayed next belongs, selection of information and confirmation of the information medium are facilitated. .

Further, since the history of information display is retained and displayed in the transition history tree, the transition history of the page information displayed in the past can be recognized at a glance.
The desired page information display is restored even between information that does not have a substantial mutual link relationship, such as page information belonging to the shared information storage means (WWW server) and page information belonging to the unique information storage medium (CD-ROM). Operation becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cooperation information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an information configuration in the cooperation information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a display screen of selected medium constant notification page information in the cooperative information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a display screen of communication use advance notification page information in the cooperative information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a display screen of used medium notification page information in the cooperative information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a display screen of a transition history tree displaying history information in the cooperation information display device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: information display means, 102: description information display control means, 103: unique information storage means, 104: information transmission means, 105: shared information storage means, 106: selected medium advance notification means, 107: communication use advance notification means, 108 ... medium notification means, 109 ... browser linked history display means.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jun Miyauchi 2-6-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Hitachi Information Network Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Takeuchi 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Yokohama, Japan Hitachi Multimedia System Development Division

Claims (14)

[Claims] An information display method for displaying information acquired from a unique information storage means and information acquired from a shared information storage means via a communication medium by a description information display control means in a linked manner. An information display method characterized by displaying an icon image representing a storage unit to which the information belongs. 2. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein a unique information storage unit and a shared information storage unit that store information in a common description format of an HTML format are used. 3. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein a CD-ROM is used as said unique information storage means. 4. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein a WWW server is used as said shared information storage means. 5. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein said description information display control means displays an icon image representing the storage means to which the currently displayed information belongs and the storage means to which the selection information belongs. 6. The information display method according to claim 1, wherein said description information display control means displays communication start notification information when starting cooperation with said shared information storage means. 7. The description information display control device according to claim 1, wherein the description information display control means holds the transition history information of the display information and displays it in a tree structure, and redisplays the display information according to the transition history information. Information display method. 8. An information display method for displaying a CD-ROM in which information is stored in a common description format of HTML and said information of a WWW server in cooperation with a description information display control means, together with a linkable information name. An information display method, characterized by displaying an icon image representing a storage means to which the information belongs. 9. An information display method for displaying information of a unique information storage means and information acquired from a shared information storage means via a communication medium by a description information display control means in cooperation with each other. An information display method, wherein communication start notification information is displayed when cooperation with the shared information storage means is started based on the information. 10. An information display method according to claim 9, wherein a CD-ROM is used as said unique information storage means, and a WWW server is used as said shared information storage means. 11. An information display device for displaying information in a unique information storage means and information acquired from a shared information storage means via a communication medium by a description information display control means, wherein the description information display control means comprises: An information display device which displays cooperable information and an icon image representing a storage unit to which the information belongs. 12. An information display device according to claim 11, wherein a personal computer equipped with a WWW browser is used as said description information display control means. 13. A unique information storage means which stores selectable information names and page information for displaying an image representing the storage means to which the information belongs. 14. The unique information storage means according to claim 12, wherein a CD-ROM is used.