FR2624632A1 - Method for automatic archiving of documents on a storage unit using compacted and encrypted transmission and the document server for implementing it - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of automatic archiving of documents, document server. The computer 1 is linked, to its peripherals, by a network 2, the acquisition of the documents is carried out by a digitizing device 3; the preservation of the documents is carried out by a storage unit 4; the data are preserved in a magnetic unit 5; the consultation terminal 6 is an intelligent terminal in addition to the usual components; screen/keyboard, internal memory, compacting and encrypting software; the retrieval of the document is performed on a printing device. The invention applies especially to: the decentralized acquisition and compacting of documents; the centralized preservation of the compacted documents; the multiple and decentralized consultation of the compacted documents.

Description

 The invention relates to a method for automatically archiving documents on a storage unit using a compacted and encrypted transmission, and to the document server for its implementation.

 The present invention relates to a method associating several devices allowing - decentralized acquisition and compacting of documents - centralized preservation of compacted documents - multiple and decentralized consultation of compacted documents.

 It uses archiving techniques on one or more storage units, as well as data compacting and encryption methods available on multi-station and multi-task computer configurations.

 The application of computer techniques to document archiving has seen the use of digital optical discs, associated with a microcomputer.

 The state of the art can be defined by patent FR-A 2,595,487 (86,03619) which describes an automatic document archiving device allowing the storage of these on laser disc for example, and their search. Each scanner 6, 8 of the input device is associated with a composting printer 7, 9. The input and operating devices include micro-computers 1 to 3, 18, 20 to 22, 26 to 30 interconnected in local network 4, 19, to a microcomputer by function.

The data of each composted document is entered into a central computer 12 of the operating device.

 These current devices operate in local or remote mode.

In local mode, the mainframe is directly linked to the storage system, the latter being able to use a data compacting method making it possible to improve the storage capacity. The exchanges between the user and the device are of the single-station, single-task type
- single station because only one station cannot, at a given time, be in communication with the archived data
- mono-tàohe because no other task is simultaneously executed by the microcomputer.

 The microcomputer can also be connected to other microcomputers (local network) and transfer data to another microcomputer having the same characteristics in hardware and software.

 From a distance, the microcomputer can offer a server function that can be interrogated by terminals. The relationship with the storage device generally only authorizes the consultation of the archives. Entry, or modification remotely, remains possible by using messaging devices (also peeled electronic mailboxes) which allow data to be transferred to the microcomputer. The effective archiving is carried out, in a second step, in local mode.

 In general, the archiving devices currently used consider - different architectures using microcomputers operating in single-station mode - compacting tools making it possible to compact and decompact in local mode.

 The limits are those linked to single-task, single-station architectures. In addition, in the particular case of archiving, data transmission is generally carried out in non-compacted mode. Since volumes are most often large, transmission times are penalized. In addition, # the transmitted elements can be picked up by an unauthorized user.

 The present invention relates to an archiving device and a document server which do not have these drawbacks, and to its implementation method.

 It considers a multitask multitask computer architecture associated with "intelligent" terminals, on the site, or relocated by public or private networks, capable of ensuring the compaction and decompaction of data.

The corresponding software, developed under an operating system compatible with UNIX (registered trademark), guarantees the portability of this software on all the computers supporting
UNIX.

 The process of automatic archiving of documents, on one or more storage units, consists in the transmission of data between one or more computers and one or more terminals is done in compacted and encrypted form, and that the operation is done in multi- multi-tasking positions.

 This archiving process and the related document server, operate in a multi-station, multi-task type architecture associating with one or more computers - intelligent screen / keyboard terminals, - at least one input scanner , - at least one magnetic disk unit, - at least one large capacity storage unit - at least one printing device.

 All software is compatible with the UNIX operating system (registered trademark).

 The method according to the invention uses compacting / decompacting and encryption / decryption software, installed or downloaded in the terminal itself, with protection serving as a key, physical and / or logical.

 It allows the transmission of data between one or more computers and one or more terminals, in compacted form, as well as the edition of labels in the form of bar codes which can be pasted on the document to be archived.

 The computer is linked to its peripherals on the site, or relocated by public or private networks, by a connection network, on a global scale; documents are captured by a digitization system which can be of the laser video camera type or reprography; the digitized data includes texts, drawings, or any object writable on a video medium; after scanning, they are transmitted to the computer; documents are stored by a storage unit; document identifying data is stored on one or more magnetic units; the consultation terminal is an intelligent terminal, or another computer, with high graphic definition comprising, in addition to the usual components: screen / keyboard, an internal memory which can be installed or downloaded, the compacting and encryption software the document retrieval is operated on a printing device.

 The entry is made from the scanning device; it further comprises the identification of the document carried out from the keyboard, and restored in the form of a label (possibly including bar codes) attached to the document; the scanned items are then compressed and encrypted to be kept in this form in the storage device.

 The identifiers are used to update the documentary database kept on magnetic disk; the consultation is carried out by the consultation terminal station, which, after interrogation, physical and / or logical authorization, is sent the documents in compressed and encrypted form: the program, permanently installed or downloaded in the memory of the terminal, allows the decryption and display of the document and its printing.

 The device for implementing the method comprises - a computer (micro, mini or more important), provided with a multi-tasking multi-user operating system, compatible with UNIX (registered trademark).

 The device includes - a computer - a connection network on a global scale - a digitization device - one or more optical units for the preservation of documents - one or more magnetic units for the conservation of identifying data - one or more terminals, for consultation of documents, on the site, or relocated by public or private networks - one or more printing devices.

 The various components of the devices are described with reference to the attached drawings, given by way of indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent an economical embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

 Figure 1 shows the basic version.

 Figure 2 shows an extended configuration.

The hardware architecture comprises, with reference to FIG. 1 - a computer 1 (micro, mini or more important), provided with a multi-tasking multi-station operating system, compatible, for example, with
UNIX (registered trademark).

 This computer 1 is connected, to its peripherals, by a network 2 of global connection, if necessary.

 The documents are captured by a scanning system 3 which can be of the laser, video camera, or any other means of reprography.

 The digitized data includes text, drawings or any other object writable on a video medium. After digitization, they are transmitted to computer 1: processing, the details of which are described below.

 The documents are preserved by one or more storage units 4, which can in particular be optical disks.

 Document identifying data is stored on a magnetic unit 5 with 310 million characters of capacity.

 The consultation terminal 6, used for consultation, is an intelligent terminal, or another computer, with high graphic definition comprising, in addition to the usual components: screen / keyboard, an internal memory which can be installed or downloaded, the compacting software. and encryption.

 The document is returned on a printing device, in particular a high definition printer 7.

 The operation of the assembly is ensured by a software architecture comprising - the XENIX operating system (registered trademark) - the scanning, compression and decompression software - the software and language - the document management software - the management of optical units - protection software - software for transferring scanned files to optical media.

 The entry is made from the scanning device. It further comprises the identification of the document carried out from the keyboard, and restored in the form of a label (possibly including bar codes) attached to the document.

 The scanned items are then compressed and encrypted to be kept in this form in the storage device; in the example, the device describes one or more optical disks.

 For example, and to illustrate the effectiveness of the software used, a set of standard format documents (21 x 29.7 cm) representing one hundred meters high will be stored on three optical disks, a height of five centimeters on a very much smaller than the standard format.

 The identifiers are used to update the documentary database kept on one or more magnetic disks.

 The consultation is carried out by the consultation terminal station which, after interrogation, is sent the documents in compressed and encrypted form. The program, permanently installed or downloaded in the terminal memory, allows the document to be decrypted and displayed.

 The document is returned using a comparable device comprising a decryption phase before printing.

 Figure 2 shows the generalization and use of the system with several "intelligent" terminals, each of which can be associated with a rendering device (printer, plotter, or other).

 The method therefore provides greater flexibility of use than the devices based on a single-station architecture, and achieves significant savings in transmission times, by guaranteeing high access security.

 It can therefore be used for - full archiving of graphical or textual data - as a document server for the very fast retrieval of this data.

 An example could be the location of a vehicle (car, boat, plane) on a map, with its visualization on a map, or a restored aerial photograph.

Claims (10)

 1. Method for automatically archiving documents on storage units and use of a document server characterized in that the transmission of data between one or more computers and one or more terminals is done in compacted and encrypted form, and that operation takes place in a multi-tasking multi-station type architecture.  2. Archiving method according to claim 1 characterized in that it operates in multi-station, multi-task mode associating with one or more computers - intelligent screen / keyboard terminals, in the site or delocalized by public networks or private, - at least one input scanner, - at least one magnetic disk unit, - at least one large capacity storage unit - at least one printing device.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it uses compacting / unpacking and encryption / decryption / dec # yptage software, implanted or downloaded in the terminal itself, with protection acting as a physical key and / or logic.  4. Method according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it allows the transmission of data between one or more computers and one or more terminals, in compact form.  5. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it allows the edition of labels in the form of bar codes which can be pasted on the document to be archived.  6. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the computer (1) is connected, to its peripherals, by a network (2) of connection, on a planetary scale; the documents are captured by a digitizing device (3) which can be of the laser, videocamera, or any other means of reprography; the digitized data includes texts, drawings, or any other object writable on a video medium; after scanning, they are transmitted to the computer (1); documents are stored by one or more storage units (4); the document identifying data are stored on one or more magnetic units (5); the consultation terminal (6), used for consultation, is an intelligent terminal, or another computer, comprising, in addition to the usual components: screen / keyboard, an internal memory which can be installed or downloaded, the compacting and encryption the document is returned on a printing device.  7. Method according to claims 1 or 6 characterized in that the entry is made from the scanning device; it further comprises the identification of the document carried out from the keyboard, and restored in the form of a label (possibly including bar codes) attached to the document; the scanned items are then compressed and encrypted to be kept in this form in the storage device.  8. Method according to claims 1 or 6 characterized in that the identifiers are used to update the documentary database stored on one or more magnetic disks; the consultation is carried out by the consultation terminal station which, after interrogation, sees the documents transmitted in compressed and encrypted form: the program, permanently installed or downloaded in the memory of the terminal, allows the decryption and display of the document; the document is returned using a comparable device comprising a decryption phase before printing.  9. Device for implementing the method according to claims 1, 6 or 7 characterized in that it comprises - a computer 1, (micro, mini or more important), with a multi-operating system multi-station tasks, compatible with UNIX (registered trademark).  10. Device according to claim 9 characterized in that it comprises - a computer (1) - a connection network (2) - a digitization system (3) - one or more storage units (4) for preservation documents - a magnetic unit (5) for storing the identifying data - one or more terminals (6) for consulting the documents - one or more printing devices (7).