FR2716735A1 - Information management and retrieval system using hypermedia technology. - Google Patents

Abstract

This system comprises means for executing the application programs (101), means (6) for specifying link information between the programs, means (8) for retrieving information according to link information, means (10 ) for storing the link information, means (22) for discriminating the destination of transmission of the information, means (26) for carrying out a communication between the means (8, 22), means (26) for making starting the programs, means (28) for storing registration information, and means (112) for managing link information. Application in particular to multimedia information transmission systems.

Description

The present invention relates to a management system

  information retrieval and display of necessary functions and / or information from

  certain information through the use of a

  application programs, which provide different

  services to the user, by reciprocal correlation

  individual pieces of information in these application programs, and by

  individual information between them.

  Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings shows an information management and retrieval system, which uses conventional hypermedia technology referred to as "IRIS", which is described for example in an article entitled "Communication of The ACM, January 1992, Vol 35, N l ". In Fig. 17, an application program 1 provides various services to the user and is

  exemplified by a program for the display of

  and issuing a document and image data or a program for accumulated data recovery. The application program 1 comprises a main section serving as an original function, which is not associated with a link, independently of the application program, a link record section 4 for determining link origin information. and calling a link destination information determining the section with which the link is to be made, a link destination information determining section 6 for specifying a destination destination information.

  liaison when section 6 of information determination

  link destination is called from another application program (or from its own application program) during link determination, and a link recovery run section 8 to call and be called from another application program (or its own application program) during link retrieval. A link information storage section 10 determined by the link record section 4 and section 6 to determine the link destination information. A function associated with the link may be established by means of adding a link information or means for deleting a link.

  liaison information, in addition to the registration section

  4, link determination section 6 and link recovery execution section 8, depending on the uses. Since the means for adding the link information or the means for deleting the link information work according to a procedure

  identical to that of means such as the recording section

  liaison, although they have different functions.

  rents, we will not give their detailed description. These

  means associated with a link may be provided in the form of a single module, and an application program may

  be provided in the form of another module.

  Figure 18, appended to this application, represents another system, in which a data management section is constituted by the use of an independent database. In this system, a

  liaison information for different pieces of information

  between application programs is determined by

  Section 6 Determination of Destination Information

  Linking is managed by Section 12 Binding Information Management. In addition, access from the link registration section 4, from the link recovery execution section 8, etc. in Section 10 Binding Information Storage is performed through section 12 of the management of

binding information.

  Figure 19, appended to this application, shows another system, in which the destination information determination section 6 for the individual application program 11 is provided within a common application program. other than the application program 11 to determine the information

  link destination without call from the other end.

  In the conventional information management and retrieval system, a link is determined between the information to be processed by an application program and the information to be processed by another application program so that from some information, other application program information to be provided in the system can be called. Referring now to FIG. 17, the manner in which link information is

  recorded in the classical technique.

  Each application program is software to be loaded into a memory and to be executed by means of execution of the application program, such as for example a CPU unit, a unit in a general purpose computer. This is why the operation

  by the means of execution of the program of application

  cation is described here as a program operation

application.

  First, using the application program

  cation 1, the user can display different informa-

  tions. It is assumed that a link is established from some information to other information. Identifiable information (hereinafter referred to as

  "anchor") as a link source is created or extracted

  in the application program 1 to execute the

  registration of the liaison. An application program 1 (hereinafter referred to as the application program

  origin of the link) calls section 4 of registration

  the link for another application program (hereinafter referred to as the link destination application program) as an object of the link to determine an anchor. In general, an anchor determines identifiable information (such as an appropriate ID identification) in the original application program of the link. If an anchor as a link source is determined in the link registration section 4, the destination application program of the link or the destination determination section 6 of the link, which corresponds the destination application program of the link, will be called in such a way as to

  determine the destination information of the link.

  Section 6 for determining the destination information of the link in the destination application program of the link specifies the destination information of the link to determine usable information. If the information is determined, it is returned to section 6 for determining the destination destination link information of the originating link application program, and section 6 for determining the destination destination information of the link. the link stores the anchor and destination information of the link, in the form of a pair, in the storage section 10

binding information.

  Figures 20 (a) and 20 (b) appended hereto

  request illustrate an example of how information is

  linkage. In Fig. 20 (a), an anchor 14 is created in a home application program of the link (program A), and information 16 of the application program is specified in a destination application program of the link (program B) by section 6 for determining the destination information of the link. The anchor 14 and the application program information 16 are chained to another application program or other information to be managed by this program, and these link information elements are recorded in the application section. Binding information storage 10. Fig. 20 (b) shows an example of the contents of the memory storage section of FIG.

link information 10.

  We will now describe the operation of the system during a recovery, with reference to FIG.

  In Section 10 memorizing information

  Binding tone, the information as shown in Figures 20 (a) and 20 (b) is being recorded. The

  application program A searches for section 8 of

  link retrieval as a link recovery object using the anchor (data 1) as a key and provides the program information

  the destination side as a result.

  In the conventional technique, data 2 of program B constitutes the information of the application program. From the results obtained, the information retrieval execution section 8 designates data 2 to call the application program B. However, with this information management and retrieval system, which uses the technology

  conventional hypermedia, to call the application program

  connection and the information (anchor) individually and to register and call their own application programs using the link determination means (for example, the section

  the registration of the route or the section of

  information of the destination link) depending on the type of program or information, it is necessary to add new application programs, as shown in Figure 21, and to modify the determination section. link destination information and link recovery execution section, which are respectively assigned to existing application programs, so that this work is very time consuming and laborious. If these new application programs are added, the binding information management must be executed by the existing application programs. If the current format of information to be processed by the existing application program and the new program

  application is different from the previous format of

  Data must be re-formed so that a new information format can be processed. Since the individual application programs call the respective destination application programs of the link, it was difficult to call and interrupt collectively,

  simultaneously, the plurality of application programs.

  To save the existing application program as a new binding object, it is necessary to add management and call

binding information.

  The anchor information in the original application program for the binding must be specified. Therefore, if a link is to be established for the information of the original source of the link having a continuous value such as a value v in Fig. 22, it is necessary to calculate from the value , indicating in which section the information exists, and determining the link information for the section. Therefore, the smaller the individual section, the more the total number of sections increases. It is necessary to create an anchor binding at each increment so that a large amount of link information must be specified,

  which is very difficult to achieve.

  When determining the link information for the information of the original application program of the link, the user must designate the information elements of the link one by one for successive application programs, what requires

a lot of work and time.

  To use the information, which is processed by the original link application program, for existing conditions during link retrieval, such information must be converted by the original application program of the link. link or by its link recovery execution section before transmission, so that it is easily understood by the destination application program of the link, and it is necessary to repair the application program and the execution of link recovery whenever such a determination is necessary, which

  requires a lot of work and time.

  Since there is no way of knowing, from the original application program of the link, which application program is currently running, it is difficult to control in which

  conditions the application program must start.

  In view of the aforementioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval management system, which can easily execute information management and retrieval processes, and in which a new program for retrieval of information can be incorporated. application, in the case where it is added, program in which a new

function is added.

  To achieve the purpose indicated above, according to a first aspect of the invention, it is

  a management and information retrieval system

  to manage and retrieve information by reciprocal correlation of a plurality of programs

  which provide different services for the use of

  user, characterized in that it comprises: means for executing the individual application programs; means for specifying link information between the application programs; means for performing information retrieval according to the link information; means for storing the link information; means for discriminating the transmission destination of the information; means for executing a communication between the execution means of the application programs and the means for discriminating the destination of transmission of the information; means to start application programs; means for storing registration information about the application programs; and ways to

manage the link information.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the information management and retrieval system further comprises means for grouping information relating to the application programs and storing the grouped information.

  According to a third aspect of the invention

  tion, the information management and retrieval system

  additionally includes means for storing the information

  application programs in progress. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the information management and retrieval system, attribute information is used as conditions for specifying the link information. According to a fifth aspect of

  the invention, the system for managing and recovering in-

  training also includes ways to re-record information to reciprocally correlate

application programs.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the information management and retrieval system further comprises means for storing conditions

  starting application programs.

  With the information management and retrieval system, the means performing the communication facilitate the chaining of the information with a new application program with the transmission medium.

  information, and the means of memorizing the informa-

  The program registration means and the program start means can unify the program call process. The discriminating means of the information transmission destination discriminates the transmission destination of the message information, by consulting the content of the received message. The means for performing the recovery of the link collectively manage the associated means for retrieving the recording of the information of the link, for example the means for performing the recovery of the link or the means for determining the link. link information for all application programs to be processed by the system, so that the new application program to be added can be

  incorporated into the system with minimal modification.

  The means for discriminating the information transmission destination, the information management means of the link and the program starting means can execute, by consulting the grouping and storage means, the transmission of the information transmission destination. information and start an application program by processing the application programs grouped under the

  form of a single application program.

  If the new application program to be started is identical to the running application program, as regards the information concerning the running application program, which is stored in the storage means of the application. program, which avoids a double start of the application program already executed, which prevents the use of the computer with a

waste.

  Since the attribute information is used as conditions for specifying the binding information, it is possible to specify the application program to be the destination of the

  binding based on the attribute information.

  The information re-recording means records the information to be used to specify the application schedule of the binding destination so that the application programs can be reciprocally correlated in different

specification conditions.

  The program start means consult the start state of the application program stored in the program start condition storing means, compare the start condition with the information stored in the storing means of the current program. and discriminate whether the application program should be triggered or not. It is possible to start the individual application program if

the opportunity presents itself.

  Other features and benefits of the

  present invention will emerge from the description given

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the information to be exchanged between a communication interface and a main section of an application program, in the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating various services to be provided by an information transmitting and receiving section, an information transmission origin discrimination section and an information management section. link in the first embodiment, and different examples of information formats for the respective services; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing examples of information stored in a program recording information storing section in the first embodiment; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of designation of the link information in the first embodiment; Fig. 6 is a diagram showing examples of the information stored in a link information storing section in the first embodiment; Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a diagram showing examples of information relating to application programs grouped together and stored in a grouping and storage section in the second embodiment; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 is a diagram showing examples of information relating to application programs stored in a program storing section being executed, in the third embodiment; Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 is a diagram showing examples of anchors having attribute values in the fourth embodiment; Fig. 13 is a diagram showing examples of the link information stored in a link information storage section in the fourth embodiment; Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an information retrieval management system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 16 is a diagram showing examples of program start conditions stored in a program start condition storing section in the sixth embodiment; - Figure 17, which has already been mentioned, is a diagram showing a management system and information retrieval in accordance with conventional hypermedia technology; - Figure 18, which has already been mentioned, represents a diagram showing another management system and information retrieval using conventional hypermedia technology; FIG. 19, which has already been mentioned, represents a diagram showing another information management and retrieval system implementing conventional hypermedia technology; - Figure 20 (a), which has already been mentioned, represents the diagram showing the correlation between the original information and the destination information; Fig. 20 (b), already mentioned, is a diagram showing examples of link information stored in the link information storing section; FIG. 21 is a diagram of another information management and retrieval system using conventional hypermedia technology, showing its modified part, in which a new application program is added; and - Figure 22, which has already been mentioned, is a diagram showing an example in which link information is about to be created for

  continuous value through a management and recovery system

  information that uses conventional hypermedia technology. Various preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Parts or elements similar to those of the classical technique are designated by the same

  reference numbers and we will not describe them here.

  Embodiment 1: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. An application program 101 includes a main section

  102 and a part, constituting a communications interface

  20, means of communication. A section 22 of

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training discriminates the transmission destination of

  information for example from the program of application

  101. A section 24 for the issue and reception of

  The training, which is part of communication means together with the communication interface 20, is arranged between the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination and the application program 101 and is intended to convert the content of the information to be communicated between information transmission destinations. A section

  112 Liaison Information Management manages the information

  link stored in a storage section and also manages a link destination determination section 6 and a link recovery execution section 8,

  individual application program, which deals with informa-

  linkage. The system further includes a program start section 26 for starting necessary application programs, upon a request from section 22 of the information transmission destination discrimination and section 112. link information management, and a program record information storing section 28 for storing the registration information relating to

  a number of application programs for their consul-

  section 26 of the program.

  The individual application program 101 is software to be loaded into a memory and to be

  executed by means of execution of the program of application

  such as a CPU unit in a general purpose computer. Therefore, the operation of the means of execution

  of the application program is described here as an

  In addition, in this embodiment, the link destination determination section 6, the link recovery execution section 8, the transmission section 27 and Information Receiving Branch, Section 112 Liaison Information Management, Section 22 of

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  The training and the program start section 26, such as the application program 101, are in the form of software to be loaded into respective memories and executed by the CPU in a general purpose computer. No application program 101 routinely exists in a memory and is triggered when the opportunity arises. Further, each application program 101 is connected to the information transmitting and receiving section 24, using the communication interface 20, so that both can be

called on one side or the other.

  Main section 102 of the application program

  101 sends to the communication interface the information

  FIG. 2 for the application of other means for the treatment, such as for example a recovery of the link. "Program name" means the name of the destination program from which processing is to be requested, "process name" means the name indicating the

  the content of the processing to be performed, and "name of the

  training "means the name of the information such as an identification ID for the information to be processed

  (Such a single set of information will be referred to

  after under the term "message"). The example shown is a message for the request of the application program (program A) for the "display" processing concerning

  the designated information "map of Japan".

  The communication interface 20 adds the information

  the original application program to the message delivered by the main section 102 of the application program and converts the message in a format appropriate for its communication by the information transmitting and receiving section 24. In addition, the communication interface 20 converts the information delivered by the information transmitting and receiving section 24 into a format shown in FIG. 2, which can be read by the main section 102 of the program. application. In addition, the communication interface 20 opens a channel with the information transmitting and receiving section 24 when the embedded application program 101 starts and is executed, and closes the channel

  when the application program ends.

  The message delivered by the main section of the application program is converted into the communication interface 20 and sent to the information transmitting and receiving section 24. Current communication means in the application program 101 are arranged separately from the main section 102 of the application program, and the communication interface 20 is masked in the application program 101. The specified communication procedure of the application program 101 the communication interface 20 and the information transmitting and receiving section 24 can be any procedure, if necessary information can be transmitted and received, and can use an installed socket for example

  in the Unix operating system (registered trademark).

  The various system operations of this embodiment will now be described in order. First, we will describe the recording

a link information.

  The request information used to request the

  production of a link with another application program

  The link destination application program is sent as message information by the application program 101 (link origin application program) to the link destination application program. The format of the message information to be processed in the basic services is

  provided by section 24 issuing and receiving information

  training, section 22 of the

  destination of transmission of information is

  completed according to the content. Figure 3 represents different types of basic services and their forms. In this example, in the case of the basic service in which the original link application program is to create a link, only the necessary information in the "link" format (link destination application program name ): REGIST: Anchor "is sent. For example, it can be "P: REGIST: 001" link application. This is a message such as program A must register a link in program B from the anchor with identifier ID, 001. This message is sent by the main section 102 of the application program. the origin of the link to the communication interface 20, wherein the link application program information is added to the message, and the resulting message is sent to the information transmitting and receiving section 24. The information transmitting and receiving section 24 receives this message and sends it to the discrimination section 22 of the destination of the information transmission. The discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination examines whether the message content is a standard command or not, and determines, if it is a standard command, the means to which the information is to be transmitted. . If the message content is "registry link information", ie if a first sequel

  is a standard command indicating that the

  The training should be handled by the Liaison Information Management Section 112, Section 22 of

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training discriminates the message information to be processed by the linkage information management section 112 and then sends the message information to the

  Section 112 Binding Information Management.

  The exchange of this information between the application program 101 and the information transmission and reception section 24 can be executed by means of

  the use of the communication interface 20.

  When recording the link information, the information contained in the message from the link origin application program must be information about the link source application program; that is, information such that the anchor can be specified by a single application such as a number or number. "ID = 001" in the previous example is the information at a point. This information is sent to the link information management section 112 via the information transmission and reception section 24 and the transmission destination discrimination section 22 of the transmission link. information, in which the program

  application of the binding destination is discriminated.

  If the information about the link destination application program is absolutely not designated by the message information, the application programs stored in section 28 storing program registration information are displayed in a table

  allowing for discrimination and selection by

  sateur. When selecting the application and destination program for the link, the link information management section 112 starts section 6 for determining the link destination information.

  for each application program to be managed. The infor-

  about which means of determining the information

  Binding example, such as section 6 for determining the destination destination information of the link and section 8 for performing the recovery of the link, must be triggered, is stored in section 28 for storing information. Registration

  programs. This example is shown in Figure 4.

  The Linkage Information Management Section 102 calls the information determination means of

  link, with reference to this information.

  The screen displayed by the link destination information determination section 6 may be a part of program designation data of a certain document as shown in FIG. 5. In the section 6 for determination of the link destination information. Link destination information, which is provided for the program B designated as the link destination application program "Specification A, Element B", for example, is determined as information of the destination application program. link. The link destination information determination section 6 and the link recovery execution section 8 have respective different functions depending on the application programs. When specifying the link destination application program information, section 6 for determining the link destination function returns its result to section 112 for managing the link information. The link information management section 112 stores, in the link information storage section 10, the link information produced by combining the anchor of the link source application program with the link information. information from

  link destination application program.

  Figure 6 shows an example of the section

  storing the binding information. The infor-

  In the previous example, the link example is stored as the combined information of the link origin application program and the link destination application program, as shown in FIG.

upper part of Figure 6.

  Section 6 for determining link destination information or section 8 for performing link recovery, which corresponds to the respective application programs, shall not be limited to special means separate from the program of the link. application 101, and the application program 101 may contain its function and be arranged to call an application program itself in place of section 6 for determining the destination destination information or section 8

  execution of the recovery of the link.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system during recovery.

  The application program 101 specifies an anchor

  as the origin of the link and sends his information

  and a request for retrieval of the link to the information transmitting and receiving section 24 via the communication interface 20. In a specific example of a standard control shown in FIG. , the information is "binding: RECOVER: ID = 001". The information transmitting and receiving section 24 sends this information to the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination. Section 22 of

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training discriminates the message content as designating the process of performing link retrieval, and sends this information to section 112 of the

binding information.

  Since the content of the information is the execution of the link recovery, the link information management section 112 searches the link information storage section with the information. anchor (link origin), ID = 001, as a recovery key and provides link destination application program information corresponding to the information

ID = 001.

  If the information of FIG. 6 is already stored in connection information storage section 10, the display name "display" and the information name "specification A, item B" for "program B "are obtained. The link information management section 112 sends this link information in the message format "program B: display: specification A, element B" to the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination. Upon receipt of the message information according to the information management section 112 of the link, the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination sends the message information to section 26. program start section, after which the program start section 26 reads the name of the link destination application program in the message and triggers the program B as the object link destination application program. At this moment, the system refers to the start-up process

  memorized in section 28 of the memorization of the informa-

  program registration. After verifying that the program start section 26 has started the object application program (program B), the

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training transmits the message content from the link information management section 112 to the communication interface 20 of the object application program

  (Program B) through Section 24 of

  information and reception. Program B receives the information and executes the processing according to

content.

  As a result of retrieving the link information storage section by the link information management section 112, in the case of several link destination application programs, the recovery execution section 8 linker for the corresponding application program is called to specify what information

  must be executed. Section 8 of the execution of the recovery

  The link ration further specifies the information in the corresponding application program and returns the recovery of the destination of the substantial link to the link information management section 112. The link information management section 112 triggers the corresponding application program using the start section 26 of the program, on the

  source information specified as a unit.

  The procedure for starting the start section 26 of the

  program is as mentioned above.

  The procedure will be described with which a new application program is added to the information management and retrieval system of this embodiment. The new application program has a structure identical to the existing application program and includes the communication interface 20. First, the information concerning the new application program

  stored in the information storage section 28

  program registration. Using the program start section 26 and the link information management section 112, it is possible to call another application program and call the new application program from another application program. application program. Simultaneously, the information for the use of means for determining the link information of the application program from section 112 for managing the link information, such as section 6 for determining the information

  destination and section 8 of the recovery operation.

  connection, is stored in section 28 of the

  storing program recording information.

  If a request for link creation appears for the application program, these link destination determination sections 6 are called from the link information management section 112 to specify the information. this leads to the use of the new application program as an application program for

binding destination.

  When registering the new application program, you do not need to modify the existing application program, section 6 for determining link destination information, and section 8 for performing link recovery for the program

existing application.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to easily incorporate a new application program. In this embodiment, the information to be exchanged between the communication interface 20

  and section 24 for the transmission and reception of

  This is represented by characters using the format of FIG. 3. If the communication interface 20

  and section 24 for the transmission and reception of

  are mutually understandable information.

  the format and the method of expression should not be

  in no way limited to the examples shown.

  Embodiment 2: Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment and in the embodiments which follow, parts or elements substantially similar to those of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numbers, and

  will not give here their description. A party or a

  element having a new function in addition to the function or the corresponding part or element of the first embodiment will be designated by an identical reference numeral to which is added 100, 200,

300, 400, 500 or 600.

  This embodiment is characterized by a grouping and storing section 30, which groups and stores information about a plurality of application programs. In this embodiment, intrinsic program names for application programs are used as information

  application programs and are grouped together.

  The individual group of information is tagged with a group name and then stored in the grouping and storage section 30. Figure 8 shows an example of such a record; program A (application A), program B (application B) and program C (application C) are registered under the name group "group 1". Therefore, it is possible to start several application programs collectively by designating the group name initially. Indeed, with the consultation of the grouping and storage section 30, in this embodiment, the program start section 226 can start

  collectively the aggregated application programs.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system of this embodiment.

  First, as shown in Figure 8, several application programs are labeled with a single group name and this application program group

  is registered in the grouping section

storage and memorization 30.

  When recording link information, the destination application program of

  liaison is designated in Section 212 of the Management of

  liaison training. The link information management section 212 displays, in a table, application programs stored in the program record information storing section 28 for user selection. Otherwise, if the name of the link destination application program has been designated by the link source application program, the name of the application program is used. In this embodiment, it is possible to designate the group name when designating the name of the program

  link destination application.

* When retrieving link information, the program start section 226 examines the grouping and storage section 12 to determine if the name designated by the message information from the destination discrimination section 22 information transmission is the group name, when the link designation application program is executed. If the name exists in the grouping and memorizing section 12, section 22 of

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training discriminates the group name, and therefore the program startup section 226 starts all application programs grouped by the group name. If the name does not exist in the grouping and memorizing section 12, section 22 of

  discrimination of destination of the transmission of

  training, discriminates only a link destination application program name, and the program start section 226 only starts the application program. The other operations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and

  we will not give here their description.

  According to this embodiment it is possible to collectively start the aggregated application programs. Embodiment 3: Fig. 9 shows a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system

  according to a third embodiment of the invention.

  vention. Parts or elements similar to those of the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numbers and will not be given here

their description.

  This embodiment is characterized by a section 32 for storing the running program for storing information.

  concerning the application program being executed.

  This is why it is possible to prevent a double

  application program already executed. In the information

  application program in progress, in this embodiment, such as:

  shown in Figure 10, the name of the application program

  cation in progress, the name of the process executed by the application program and the name of the information being processed are associated with each other, and these names are stored in the storage section 32 of the

program running.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system of this embodiment.

  When retrieving link information, the program start section 326 examines whether the information about the identical application program and the information about the link destination application program, which is to be executed and designated by the message information from the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination, is recorded in the

  section 32 for memorizing the program being executed.

  when the execution program is executed. If the identical application program is running,

  you can not restart the application program.

  The term "identical" means not only that the names of running programs are the same, but that the same processes are executed for the same information in the program. Therefore, if different processes are running while the program names are identical, it means that identical programs

  application are not executed.

  As previously mentioned, with the program start section 326 according to this embodiment, limiting the running application program so as to prevent a double start of the application program already executed, by consulting section 32. memorizing program running, it is possible to reduce the amount of wasted consumption

computer resources.

  Embodiment 4: Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Parts or elements substantially similar to those of the preceding embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and theirs will not be given here.

description.

  This embodiment is characterized in that when the application program 401 requests a

  such as recording, deleting, adding

  link 422 of the information transmission destination and section 412 of the link information management, the application program 401 sends to section 422

  discrimination of the transmission destination of the in-

  training and section 412 Binding Information Management, an attribute information as a condition specifying the anchor in addition to the identification ID of the anchor.

  The information processed by the application program

  401 contains information inherent in the respective application program on many occasions. This is why an attribute information is added to the anchor to constitute the information of the

  application program of the original link source.

  Fig. 12 shows an example of an anchor having an attribute value, i.e., attribute information of this type. The anchor "ID = 002" has an attribute value in terms of length. According to such values, the link destination application programs may be different. FIG. 13 represents an example of a link information stored in the link information storing section 410, in this

embodiment.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system of this embodiment.

  The anchor and its attribute value, which are contained in the message information from the application program 401, are discriminated by section 22 of the information transmission discrimination and are transmitted to the management section 412. binding information. It is assumed that in the link memory storage section 410 is stored the application program which must be different "line destination" in the range of attribute values,

  the anchor having the identical identification "identifica-

  Anchor ID "of the" link source "application program, as shown in FIG. 13. The link information management section 412 specifies information about the application program of the destination. link, which uses the anchor 10 and the attribute value as anchor identification conditions The downstream processing of this information has been specified as described in the first embodiment. previously, according to this embodiment, since the attribute information can be processed, it is possible to specify the link destination application program by

  function of the attribute information.

  Embodiment 5: Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a management system, information retrieval according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Parts or elements substantially similar to those of the preceding embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and theirs will not be given here.

description.

  This embodiment is characterized by a link information conversion section 34,

  which is connected to Section 412 Information Management

  linkage and can re-record the information to be handled by Section 412 Information Management

  link. With this section 34 of information conversion,

  linkage, it is possible to correlate programs of application in different constitutions

specification.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system of this embodiment.

  An example of information conversion will be described using Figure 12. First, the type of the "line" of

  transmission of the anchor is recorded in the

  section 410 for storing the link information.

  This example is used to specify the information about the link origin application program, with an attribute value. In this example, lines with

  "scaled scale" attribute values are shown.

  This "line" is defined by the following conversion equation of the attribute a:

x = Min + (Max - Min) x a.

  Main section 402 of the application program

  401 adds the anchor type and its attribute value to the message indicating a link registration request and sends the resulting message to the communication interface 20. This format is predetermined as is

  described in the first embodiment.

  The message information is sent to the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination, via the communication interface 20 and the information transmission and reception section 24. Discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination discriminates the message information relating to the link and sends the message information to the link information management section 412. In the link information management section 412, since the anchor type for the registration of the origin of the link is "line", the message information is transmitted.

  in Section 34 Link Information Conversion.

  In the link information conversion section 34, the value x after conversion is calculated in accordance with the aforementioned relation at the time of registration, based on the added attribute value. Under the effect of such a conversion method, it is possible to specify the recording condition of

  link depending on the type of the individual anchor.

  The link information conversion section 34 sends the converted value to the link information management section 412, a search being

  carried out in section 410 for storing the information

  link information to specify the link information by means of the identification ID of the anchor and the value x, thereby obtaining information about the destination application program of the link. The subsequent process is as described in the fourth

embodiment.

  In addition, the information conversion section

  In this embodiment, linkage 34 allows the content of the specified link information to be re-registered as desired. Under the effect of the transfer, to the link information conversion section 34, the link information obtained when the link information management section 412 searches in the memory storage section 410 link information, it is possible to save the content and convert it to the desired content. The link information obtained after this conversion is sent to the program start section 26 through the discrimination section 22 of the information transmission destination. As previously mentioned, according to this embodiment, since the link information or the message information and the information of

  source to be correlated between the application programs

  cation, it is possible to specify the application program

  cation of the binding destination, in different

specification conditions.

  Embodiment 6: Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an information management and retrieval system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Parts or elements substantially similar to those of the preceding embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and

  do not give here the description.

  This embodiment is characterized by a program start condition storing section 36 which stores the start conditions of the application program. With section 36 storing start conditions, it is possible to start individual application programs when

the opportunity presents itself.

  Fig. 16 is a diagram showing different program start conditions stored in section 36 storing program start conditions. The term "maximum" represents a maximum value of the number of application programs that must start

  simultaneously. "Condition of discrimination during the

  "is a condition to discriminate if the identical application program has already started." Process Name "and" Information Name "are conditions

  whether the application program being executed

  tion, which is stored in the program storage section 32 in progress, coincides with the execution environment. "User" is a condition used to restrict the user of the application program. The start condition can be edited

  for example by an editor program editor.

  We will now describe the operation of the

  system according to this embodiment.

  Upon receipt of the message information from the information transmission destination discrimination section 22, the program start section 626 triggers the reading of the binding destination application program in the program. message information. At this time, the program startup section 626 consults the program storage section 32 being executed, and the program start condition storage section 36, and triggers the designated application program only if the condition of start saved in section 36 for storing start conditions of the

program is satisfied.

  It is assumed that the application program, in which "program name" is "program A", "program name" is "display" and "information name" is "map of Japan", is in progress execution and is saved in section 32 for storing the running program. In the case where start requests of the application program, in which "program name" is "program A", "program name A" is "display" and "information name" and "the entire area of Kanto "are sent to the program start section 626, if at least" process name "coincides with the program storage section 32 being run, the application program is discriminated as being executed and the condition according to which the application program should not be triggered, is in

  recording course as shown in Figure 16.

  In FIG. 16, in the case of "program A", if "process name" coincides with the storage section 32 of FIG.

  running program, the condition of discriminating against

  is that the application program has already started. Therefore, program start section 626 does not restart program A and sends the information

  message in section 22 of the destination discrimination.

  execution of the information, so as to send the new information, in which "information name" is "the whole Kanto zone" to program A, which has already started. With regard to program B, if both "process name" and "information name" do not coincide with program storage section 32 being executed in accordance with Figure 16, the program application is discriminated as having already started. Therefore, if "information name" does not coincide with the program storage section 32 being executed, the program startup section 626

  restart program B. In fact, for a "name of information"

  "different, program B restart to run the respective treatments.Of course, it is impossible to start an application program,

whose number exceeds "maximum".

  On the other hand, by adding the "username" information to the information sent by the application program 101 via the information transmission and reception section 24 and the stored information. in section 13 memorizing the program

  running and adding the condition of the use of

  In the section 15 for storing the start condition of the program, as shown in FIG. 16, it is possible to limit the total number of application programs to be started so that the execution can only be allowed for a number

limited users.

  As previously mentioned, because of the presence of the program start condition storing section 36, it is possible to specify different start conditions for the application programs to be executed. Therefore, it is possible to start the individual application program when the opportunity arises, which is appropriate for the users and reduces the

  amount of computer resources used.

  In the previous embodiments, the characteristics of the individual constituent elements are

  described in a distinct and independent manner.

  However, the individual building blocks can

to be combined with each other.

  With this arrangement, since the means for performing registration of the binding information, the means for performing the recovery of a binding information are collectively managed by the information management means. in association with the communication means and the means for discriminating the destination of transmission of the information, and it is sufficient, when adding a new application program, to record the new program of application in the storing section of the program record information and calling the means for performing registration of the binding information and the means for performing the retrieval of the binding information from link information management means, which facilitates the incorporation of the new application program with less work. Since the management module such as the information transmission destination discrimination means and the link information management means are separated from the application programs, and more particularly since performing the registration of the binding information, the means for performing the retrieval of the binding information, etc. are collectively managed by the liaison information management means, it is possible to improve the

  maintenance of the link information.

  Since the information concerning a plurality of application programs is grouped together and stored in a group by the grouping and storage means, it is possible to call and start the plurality of programs collectively.

application.

  Since by means of a prior storage in the storage means of the running program, a dual start of the application program identical to the information concerning the application program already explained can be prevented. is possible to reduce the amount of unnecessary consumption

computer resources.

  Since the attribute information is used as a condition specifying the binding information, it is possible to safely specify the binding destination application program which

  corresponds to the attribute information.

  In addition, since the information for

  reciprocally correlate the application programs

  If it can be re-recorded by the information conversion means, it is possible to specify the link destination application program under different specification conditions. It is also possible to facilitate the correlation between the application programs

  and reduce the resources for memorizing the in-

liaison training.

  Further, since the program start condition storing means is added, it is possible to specify different start conditions for the application programs to be executed. Therefore, it is possible to start the individual application programs according to the respective conditions, which provides some convenience for the users and reduces the

  amount of consumption of computer resources.

Claims (14)

  An information management and retrieval system for managing and retrieving information by reciprocal correlation of a plurality of application programs, which provide different services to the user, characterized in that it comprises: a) means for executing the individual application programs (101); (b) means (6) for specifying link information between the application programs; (c) means (8) for performing information retrieval according to the link information; (d) means (10) for storing the link information;   (e) means (22) for discriminating the destination   transmission of information;   (f) means (8) for executing a communication   between said application program execution means and said information transmission destination discrimination means; (g) means (26) for starting the application programs;   (h) means (28) for storing information   registration concerning the programs of application   cation; and (i) means (112) for managing the link information. An information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that   said means (8) executing the communication comprises   an information transmitting and receiving section (24) for converting content into information between the application programs and said means (22) for discriminating the information transmission destination. The information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that said link information management means (112) displays, in a table, application programs stored in said means ( 28) for storing recording information, if the linking information between the application programs is not   designated by message information.   An information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that said storage information storage means (28) stores start information.   said means specifying the link information.   An information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, when a new application program is to be added, information about the new application program and information to use said   means (6) specifying the information link are recorded.   stored in said memory storage means (28) registration requirements.   6. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (30) for grouping the information concerning the application programs and   memorize the grouped information.   Information management and retrieval system according to claim 6, characterized in that the information concerning the application program   individual is an application program name.   8. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises means for re-recording the information for the reciprocal correlation of the application programs, and means for memorizing data.   starting conditions of the application programs.   9. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for storing the information concerning the application programs, which are executed. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 9, characterized in that the information concerning the application program being executed is a name of the application program being executed, and a name of a running process for the application program, and a name of   the information being processed.   An information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that attribute information is used as a condition   to specify the binding information.   12. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for recording the information to perform the reciprocal correlation of application programs.   13. Information management and retrieval system according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises means (36) for memorizing the   starting conditions of the application programs.   The information management and retrieval system according to claim 13, characterized in that   said means (26) for starting a program   the designated application program only when the start conditions of the application program, which are stored in the storage means of   conditions for starting the program are met.