DE2657348A1 - Document locating filing system - has characteristic word assigned to each document and contains search and select device - Google Patents

Abstract

After search information has been preset in the form of keywords, the search and select device serves to select device serves to select one or more characteristic words. This search and select device is a fixed-programmed or programmable minicomputer (1) which has access, controlled via the keywords, to a reference data bank which is stored in a memory (2) and contains all the characteristic words of the file. There can be at least one document carrier in the form of a strip (7) displaceable in both directions longitudinally and storing documents on it in miniaturised form.

Description

Archiving system

The present invention relates to a retrieval archiving system of documents stored in an archive, each with at least one password assigned is, containing a search and selection device, by means of which according to a specification Search information in the form of key words, one or more passwords can be selected are.

The past decade is in terms of information storage and information search characterized by two directions: a) Further development the previous filing arrangements in the direction of the storage of documents (primary information) in greatly reduced form, e.g. on microfiches and reading the documents via enlarging Readers. Access to a special document from an extensive card index takes place via a register that contains the search information, which is like a table of contents is made up of the same carrier material as the rest of the card index What is part of this solution is the inexpensive storage and easy reading option of the documents. However, the selection of the document you are looking for is inflexible and laborious.

b) Transfer of the documents to a data carrier from a computer can be edited and coupling of these documents with a search program too a retrieval system. The advantage of this solution is the high flexibility and effectiveness when selecting documents, because of the powerful logical link options the computer is being worked on.

However, the storage of the documents is expensive and the reproduction documents not profitable for less frequently used documents.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a powerful and specify cheap archiving system.

The object is achieved in that as a search and selection device a permanently programmed or a programmable small computer is provided, the an access to a stored in a memory controlled by the keywords Comparison file in which all the passwords of the archive are saved. In this way, the inexpensive storage and easy reading option remains of the documents, while on the other hand a high degree of flexibility and effectiveness the selection of a document is obtained because with the powerful logical Linking options of the microcomputer can be worked.

The memory for the comparison file is advantageously an associative one Storage.

An advantageous further development of the archiving device is designed in such a way that that there is at least one document carrier in the form of a strip, which can be moved in its longitudinal direction in both directions and on the documents are stored in greatly reduced form, and that one by the Passwords controllable displacement device is present, which the selected Documents automatically by moving the strip into the correct position in a magnifying reader.

In a preferred embodiment is a writing input / output device provided by which key words can be entered and selected in the small computer Passwords can be output in readable form.

A particular advantage of the archiving device is its handiness and the particularly simple structure.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the figure and is described in more detail below. The figure shows the schematic structure of the embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the figure, the small computers are numbered 1 and the memory for the comparison file is designated by 2. The minicomputer contains a microprocessor, for example the 8080 microcomputer, as the central unit from Intel Corp. (see for example Intel catalog 1974, MCS-086-0474-2500), for this purpose an input / output memory 12, a keyword memory 13 and a search program memory 14th

A writing input / output device 16 is attached to the input / output memory connected. The central unit has access to memory 2 for the comparison file, which is an external storage. An output 15 of the microcomputer has a control input 41 of a servomotor 4, for example a stepping motor. The servomotor drives a toothed roller 6 with its shaft, the teeth of which into the perforation a strip 7 running over rollers, on which the documents in greatly reduced size Form are saved, intervene. By means of a stationarily arranged above the strip enlarging reading device 8, the documents are readable.

The mode of operation of a specified archiving device is general the following: The search queries, for example keywords, become digital one by one Key words coded and entered into the small computer. The calculator arranges passwords associated with each keyword according to criteria that can be specified by the program from the comparison file and outputs it. The documents assigned to the passwords can then the archive can be removed. The search query can also in the form of logically linked keywords or even in the form of more complicated ones Computer programs are entered. To clarify, the following are to be found some simple examples are given: 1) Only those documents are of interest concern a keyword 1 and a keyword 2 at the same time. The search query is in the Enter the form "Keyword 1 and Keyword 2". The small computer searches by program all passwords that relate to keyword 1 and all passwords that relate to keyword 2, out, averages these two selected quantities and gives the Average amount.

2) We are interested in all documents that have a keyword 1 and also a Keyword 2 concern. As in example 1), the computer searches for every keyword the associated passwords from the comparison file and then forms the union set from the two password sets and outputs this.

3) We are only interested in the documents that have either a keyword 1 or a keyword 2 concern. As before, the small computer searches for all passwords which belong to each of the two keywords. The on the cue 1 selected set of passwords is with K1 and the one belonging to keyword 2 designated with K2. Now he takes the set K1 of all passwords that do not belong to the keyword 1 and the set t2 that do not belong to keyword 2 of the comparison file. then he forms the set K = (K1 # R2) 0 (Z20r \ K1) from these four sets, where q is the symbol for averaging two sets and V the symbol for union formation mean two sets. The amount K is output and shows the ones of interest Documents.

As a rule, the search questions lie for the user in practice first in everyday language. In order to be able to enter them into the small computer, he has to reformulate it in a computer program. Since doing very complicated programs can arise whose elaboration is on the one hand very time-consuming, on the other hand the practical user cannot be expected, is an iterative one for the latter Procedure essential more expedient. The user formulates the given Search query first in the simplest possible search query, which only has the form of logically linked keywords and determines the associated amount of documents. If this amount of documents is already manageable for him, he can use it alone select the interested person directly. In the other case he improves the simplified one Search question successively until the amount of documents is manageable for him. In practice, there are usually only a few such improvement steps to be required. This method also has the advantage that memory requirements for Programs is saved.

In the exemplary embodiment, the search query is entered using the writing input / output device 16, the former being in the form of numeric keys or can have alphanumeric descriptors. The search query is written in this Input / output device for or to the digital keywords. Encoded.

The keywords are first transferred to the input / output memory and from there, controlled by the central unit 11, into the keyword memory 13 saved. The central unit 11 also registers logical links, which must be taken into account later. The central unit is controlled by a search program which is stored in the search program memory 14.

If the search query entry has been completed and all have been entered The central unit receives keywords stored in the keyword memory 11 Access to memory 2 for the comparison file. This access is via the keywords regulated. The memory 2 can for example be conventional Random access storage included. This can be the keyword or an essential one Part of it will act as an address. However, the memory 2 advantageously exists from an associative memory. In it every keyword is displayed at the same time all storage locations are given and the associated passwords are recognized immediately. The passwords selected for each access are transferred to the central unit 11. took and stored in an internal table, for example in the input / output memory. This is done sulczessive for all keywords. Logical links between Keywords are sent by the central unit 11 according to standard methods Program taken into account.

The passwords selected and saved in the internal table can now scream into the input / output memory.

The current input / output device can be output. There are the passwords output in legible form. The operator can then read the associated documents can be found in the archive.

The specified archiving system now offers the additional advantage of that the removal of the documents can be automated in the simplest way. In addition it is advantageous to use data carriers designed as strips, each of which is displaceable in its longitudinal direction in both directions and on which the documents of the archive are saved in a greatly reduced form. One about the passwords controllable shifting device brings each of the selected documents by shifting the relevant strip automatically into the correct position in the reader. in the Exemplary embodiment according to the figure, an embodiment is shown schematically for this. The strip 7 is, for example, a film strip.

The magnifying reader 8 can, for example, be a magnifying glass, a microscope, be a film projector or an epidiascope.

The strip can over the roller 6 by the servomotor 4 in the directions of the double arrow can be moved back and forth.

In order to avoid slippage, the strip 7 is like an ordinary film provided with a perforation at least along one long side and the roll 6 with corresponding teeth that engage in the holes.

The servomotor is via a control input 41 from an output 15 of the computer controlled. The control can be done by a corresponding program take place in the computer. Of course, as is always the case with a large archive will be the case several. such strip 7 and a corresponding number of servomotors exist and be operated from the computer.

As an example, let it be a particularly useful and simple control described for it. Each document on a strip is labeled with an identifier Mistake. This code indicates the number of the strip on which the Document, and the serial number of this document on this strip. Accordingly, each password is made up of a strip password and a document password together.

A character-recognizing device is built into the reader, which converts each identifier into the corresponding password in digital form. Of the The computer receives its current position, i.e. the code number, for each strip of the document that is currently in the reader as information. He takes a selected password from the internal table and compares it with each of the current passwords and recognizes from the match of the Strip passwords on which the selected document is located. From the comparison of the document passwords of these two passwords, the computer now recognizes which Direction of the stiffener must be moved and is set by a corresponding command the servomotor in the correct direction of rotation. He now compares continuously the document password of the selected password with those of the now continuously arriving current passwords. If agreement is reached, the servomotor is through stopped a command and the correct document is in the reader.

4 claims 1 figure

Claims (4)

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. Archiving system for finding of documents stored in an archive, each with at least one password assigned is, containing a search and selection device, by means of which according to a specification Search info: rmation in the form of keywords one or more passwords can be selected are, in that they are used as a search and selection device a permanently programmed or a programmable small computer (1) is provided, one of the access to one regulated by the keywords, in a memory (2) saved comparison file in which all passwords of the archive are saved are, has. 2. Archiving system according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e n n -z e i n e t that the memory for the comparison file is an associative memory. 3. Archiving system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that g e -k e n It is not indicated that at least one document carrier is present which has the shape a strip (7) which is displaceable in its longitudinal direction in both directions and on which documents are stored in greatly reduced form and that a shifting device controllable by the passwords <4 and 6) is present, which the selected documents automatically by moving the strip brings into the correct position in a magnifying reader (8). 4. Archiving system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that g It is not noted that a writing input / output device (16) is provided is through which keywords can be entered and selected in the small computer Passwords can be output in readable form.