DE3509907A1 - DEVICE FOR STORING AND RECOVERING INFORMATION - Google Patents

Abstract

An information retrieval system for retrieving image information with the aid of retrieval information has a non-erasable first record region for recording the image information and a second record region for recording the retrieval information, which are separated from each other. Then, the desired image information is retrieved from the first record region in accordance with the retrieval information. Therefore, important image information can not be erased even if an operation is wrong and a bit unit price of information to be recorded can be made inexpensive. A first embodiment uses two regions of an optical recording disc for the record regions. In a second embodiment the first, second regions are on an optical disc, floppy magnetic disc, respectively. A third embodiment uses a hybrid optical-magnetic disc where the optical, magnetic recording regions are displaced radially from each other on the same disc.

Description

Device for storing and retrieving information

The invention relates to an arrangement for storing, searching and Get information.

In medical data technology, the medical history of a patient is compiled in the form of medical image information with a search term such as the patient's name and birthday. As with known medical If an erasable and rewritable magnetic disk is used for image information carriers, this is the storage capacity correspondingly low, so that larger amounts of information can only be recorded correspondingly expensive. Furthermore important image information can easily be deleted by mistake there.

The invention is based on the object of avoiding the stated disadvantages of the prior art and a method To search for information, specify the type of information storage that is inexpensive, i.e. that requires little storage space made possible, whereby the erroneous deletion of important information should be made more difficult.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with an information search method solved, in which image information is found with the help of a search word, which is characterized by that in a first recording area the image information

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that is recorded in a second recording area the search term is recorded and that the first and second recording areas are separated from one another, where at least the first recording area cannot be erased.

A corresponding device for searching for image information has a first recording area in which image information are recorded, and a second recording area in which the search term (or more generally the Search information) is stored, wherein the first and the second recording area are separated from each other and at least the first recording area is designed to be non-erasable.

Refinements of this device are characterized in the subclaims.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that a A large number of information can be stored inexpensively without important information being erroneously lost can.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. It shows or shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of those used in the invention Search information;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of an information search arrangement;

3 and 4 are flow charts illustrating the operation of the information search arrangement according to FIG. 2;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of an information search arrangement;

6 and 7 are flow charts showing the operation of the information search arrangement shown in Fig. 5; and

8 shows a schematic view of a memory for a device according to the invention Information search arrangement.

In the first embodiment of an information search arrangement a non-erasable video disk is used, with image information recorded in a first recording area located on an outer or an inner portion of the optical disc, while search information are recorded in a second recording area corresponding to an inner and an outer portion of the optical disc with the two recording areas separated from each other. Access to Image disk takes place in the same way as with magnetic disks via a track number and a sector number.

In the data structure of the information search arrangement shown in FIG the names of the individual image information are listed under the "Keyword" column, while under "Track number" and "Sector number" are called the track and the sector, respectively. The number of sectors is listed under "Data length". The "pointer" shows an address number of a renewed one Image information as soon as the image information has been rewritten. If no renewal is carried out, it remains the pointer at zero. In Fig. 1, the image information is recorded in accordance with the keyword "ABCD" in 64 sectors beginning with the sector with the number 1 and the track with the number 1. Furthermore, the image information according to the key word "DEF" is recorded in 128 sectors starting from the No. 65 sector on the No. 1 track, but became a renewal and the renewed picture information was carried out on 128 sectors starting with the sector No. 1 on the track No.

recorded. In this case, the image information is recorded in the first recording area together with the track number and the Sector number recorded.

The arrangement of the information search system shown in Fig. 2 comprises an optical disk 1, an image display device

2 (screen) and an operating console 3, the latter being connected to a central processor 4.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is explained with reference to the flow charts according to FIGS. First explains the process of storing the image information and the search information (search term) on the optical disk. The image plate is inserted into the image plate station and then, as shown in FIG. 3, free spaces are in the first and second recording areas determined on the optical disk by means of the processor 4. Has none of the first and second recording areas empty spaces, a display "image disk full" is generated, which is displayed on the image display device 2 informs that no recording spaces are free on this disk. The optical disk must then be replaced. Have both Recording areas are empty spaces, the data lengths are the image information to be recorded and the keyword corresponding search terms using the control panel

3 is entered and a decision is made as to whether the data to be recorded is in the empty spaces of the first and second recording areas can be recorded or not, exceeds at least one record to be recorded the free capacity, the message "Optical disk full" appears again on the display device. In this case, too, must the optical disk can be replaced. If both data can be saved in the empty spaces, a decision is made whether or not the inputted keyword has been recorded in the second recording area. If the specified If the keyword has not been recorded before, the one corresponding to the entered keyword will be used

Search information recorded in the free area of the second recording area and the corresponding image information is recorded in the free area of the first recording area together with the track number and the sector number. If the key word entered has already been recorded, the pointer of the search term to be renewed will be changed to a Head address of the renewed search term in the second recording area enrolled. In this way, the renewed search information (search term) and the corresponding Image information in the second or in the first recording area recorded on the optical disk.

If the desired image information is recovered from the optical disk, thus all of the search information recorded in the second recording area is read out and stored in a memory of the central processor 4, whereupon the key word corresponding to the image information sought is stored by means of the control panel 3 is inputted so that the data corresponding to the inputted keyword is from the second recording area to be recovered. If no identical keyword is found, then appears on the image display device 2 the note "no data". If, on the other hand, an identical keyword is found, a decision is made as to whether the Pointer for the search term remains in the null state or not. If the pointer stays at zero, this search information the track number, the sector number and the data length of the desired image information are determined and the desired image information becomes from the first recording area accordingly the determined data is recovered and displayed on the image display device 2. If, however, the pointer remains at Zero, the updated address of the search information stored in this pointer is read out and a decision is made takes place whether the pointer of the renewed search information remains in the state zero or not.

In this embodiment, since a non-rewritable optical disk is used, so even search information to be renewed are written in free areas, no important information can be deleted due to incorrect operation. A large amount of data can also be recorded, so that the cost in relation to the amount of data is relatively low. Since the error rate in optical disks is about 10 ~, an error correction area is preferred in the search information intended.

In a second embodiment, the image information is recorded on an optical disc, which is the first Recording area is used, while the search information is on an erasable and rewritable magnetic disk, such as a so-called Floppy disk, which is arranged separately from the optical disk and as a second recording area serves. The image information and the associated search information then have the same identification number and only if the identification numbers are identical, access to the image information is possible. In addition, the search information to be recorded on the magnetic disk has such a data structure that only the pointer is removed from the data structure according to FIG. 1 and that the track numbers, Sector numbers and data length of the recorded search information are rewritten according to the keyword, according to the search information to be renewed. Furthermore, the image information is stored on the optical disk together with the Recorded the track number and the sector number, as explained with reference to the first embodiment.

In the second exemplary embodiment of a search arrangement shown in FIG. 5, compared to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 Another magnetic disk statxon 5 was added.

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Since in this embodiment each optical disk is assigned to a specific magnetic disk, it is necessary to to check in each case whether the image disk introduced into the optical disk station 1 is the same as that introduced into the magnetic disk station 5 Magnetic disk before the search operation begins. First, to record the image information and of the search information, the optical disk and the magnetic disk into the optical disk station 1 and the magnetic disk station 5, respectively and then a decision is made as to whether the identification numbers of both plates are identical by means of of the central processor 4 according to FIG. 6 carried out. If the identification numbers do not match, appears the display device 2 the note "not identical". If the identification numbers correspond to one another, an Decide whether there are free areas on both plates. If one of the two plates does not have a free area, so the message "Disk full" appears on the display device 2. If both plates have free areas, the Control panel 3 shows the data length of the image information to be recorded and entered the search information corresponding to the keyword and a decision is made as to whether the data to be recorded in the respective free areas of the Image disk or magnetic disk can be stored, if at least one data record exceeds the free storage capacity, so the message "disk full" appears on the display device 2. Can both data sets in the free storage spaces are accommodated, a decision is made as to whether the entered keyword with regard to the search information in of the magnetic disk 5 is already recorded or not. The entered keyword is not recorded before the search information corresponding to the entered keyword is displayed in the free area of the Magnetic disk is recorded and the corresponding image information is recorded in the free area of the optical disk recorded together with the track number and the sector number. Has the entered keyword been recorded previously? then becomes the track number, the sector number

and the data length of the search information previously recorded is rewritten according to the keyword and that to be renewed Image information is recorded on the optical disk.

If the desired image information is recovered from the optical disk, thus, the identification numbers of the image information and the search information from the optical disk and the magnetic disk, respectively, become read out and a decision is made as to whether the identification numbers match. Are they If the identification numbers do not match, the message "not identical" appears on the display device 2. Correspond If the identification numbers correspond to each other, then the key word of the image information then to be retrieved by means of the control panel 3 entered and the search information corresponding to the entered keyword is by means of the central Processor 4 read from the magnetic disk. If there is no identical keyword, the information appears “No data” on the display device 2. If, on the other hand, an identical keyword is found, the desired Image information recovered from the optical disk in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, accordingly the search information read out.

In the above embodiment, since the search information is recorded on a magnetic disk, it is possible to use the Erase and rewrite search information so that the storage capacity can be used effectively. Since also The probability of errors in magnetic disks compared to optical disks is very low, and error correction is not necessary provided so that the cost of the device is reduced.

In a third embodiment, a hybrid plate is used in such a way that the image plate concentrically inside or outer section of the plate is arranged, wherein the magnetic plate is also concentrically corresponding in the outer or

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inner portion of the same plate is arranged. In this way, the image information and the search information in the Optical disk section or the magnetic disk section of the hybrid disk written by means of independent read / write heads will.

Fig. 8 shows schematically an embodiment with the mentioned Hybrid plate. In the hybrid disk 6 shown in FIG. 8, an optical disk 7 and a magnetic disk 8 are integral in outer ones or inner sections formed concentrically. Otherwise, the search information is recorded in accordance with the The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and also the operation of the system corresponds to the flow chart according to FIG. 6 with the exception the comparison of the identification numbers between the image information and the search information.

In this embodiment, since the optical disk on which the image information is recorded and the magnetic disk, on which the search information is recorded is integrally and concentrically formed, it is not necessary to to compare the identification numbers between the image information and the search information. Thus, both the Information recording as well as information retrieval can be carried out extremely easily and in a short time. It is also not necessary to provide for an error correction, so that the cost of the device is also reduced.

In the above embodiments, a plate-shaped Recording medium used for the first and second recording areas, but in the second embodiment the search information is also recorded on a magnetic tape independently of the image information recording medium will. If the first and second recording areas are provided on the same disc-shaped recording medium, so these areas can be divided into a multitude of sectors.

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Claims (7)

PATENTANVi'ÄLTf dr.-ing. franz - »uesthoff WUESTHOFF-v. PECHMANN-BEHRENS-GOETZ "-" "ufreda ^ esthoff (1927-1956) f D1PL.-ING. GERHARD PULS (1952-I971) \ EUROPEAN PATENTATTORNEYS" "'DIPL.-CHEM. DR. E. FREIHERR VON PECHMANN * DR. -ING. DIETER BEHRENS DIPL.-ING. DIPL.-W1RTSCH.-ING. RUPERT GOETZ 3509907 D-8000 MUNICH 90 Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. Schweigerstrasse2 lA-59 207 phone: (089) 662051 TELEGRAM: PROTECTPATENT TELEX: 524070 fax : via (089) 2 71 60 63 (111) claims 1. device for storing and retrieving information, in which a stored image information is retrieved by means of search information, characterized, that a first recording area (1; 7) for image information and a second recording area (5; 8) for search information are provided, wherein the first and the second recording area (1, 7; 5, 8) are separated from each other and at least the first recording area (1; 7) cannot be erased. 2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized, that the first and second recording areas are integrally formed on a single optical disc (1). 3. Device according to claim 1,
characterized, that the first recording area (1) as an optical disc and the second recording area as erasable and rewritable Magnetic plate (5) are formed. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3,
characterized, that the optical image disk (7) and the magnetic disk (8) are formed integrally and concentrically. - 2 - 59 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the search information is a keyword, a track number, has a sector number, a data length and a pointer. 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the search information is a keyword, a track number, contains a sector number and a data length. 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that that the search information includes a keyword, a track number, a sector number and a data length.