JP2000259482A - Electronic filing system, file management controlling method in the same system and storage medium with program information of this method stored therein. - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To access all filing servers with log-on processing at a time and also to easily perform processing such as retrieval and registration over plural filing servers. SOLUTION: An index collecting device 500 collects and integrates index information from respective filing servers 100, 200, 300 and prepares a management table on the basis of an instruction from a client 400. The management table is stored in the server 300 being a management server. About input index information from the client 400, the management table is referred to and applicable contents are retrieved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for controlling a filing system in which a plurality of electronic filing server computers and a filing client computer cooperate, and in particular, an electronic filing in which a plurality of filing server computers and a filing client computer are connected to a network. The present invention relates to a system and a file control management method in an electronic filing system, and a computer-readable storage medium storing program information of the file control management method in an electronic filing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic filing system in which a plurality of electronic filing server computers (filing servers) and a filing client computer (client) are connected to a network, when the same client accesses a plurality of filing servers,
It was necessary to perform logon / authentication processing to each filing server. Therefore, for example, it is impossible to perform a search process across a plurality of filing servers by a single operation, so which filing server registers the desired information to be searched on the client side. Must be grasped in advance before starting the search. Otherwise, it is necessary to perform log-in processing and access to each filing server and search processing until desired information is obtained.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional electronic filing system, when a client accesses a plurality of filing servers, it is necessary to log on to each filing server. Further, since it is impossible to execute a search process across a plurality of filing servers by a single access operation, it is difficult for a client to immediately obtain desired information.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made to solve the above-described problem, to enable access to all filing servers by one logon process, and to provide a plurality of filing servers. Electronic filing system capable of easily performing processing such as search and registration, file management control method in the electronic filing system, and a computer-readable storage medium storing program information of the method And

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, each filing server computer manages index information such as name / title and date and content such as images and document files in the same manner as before. It is characterized in that only the internal index information is integrated and managed in one filing server computer. or,
It is characterized in that all the filing server computers can be accessed as long as the filing client computer accesses / logs in to one filing server computer only for a plurality of filing server computers. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that index information is collected while adding specific information such as information on a filing server computer from a plurality of filing server computers to one filing server computer. When collecting index information from a plurality of filing server computers, the system is characterized in that unique management information (management data for each server) defined in advance for each filing server computer is unified. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that an index search is performed using index information collected from a plurality of filing server computers as a key, and corresponding contents can be obtained from each filing server computer based on the index information. Furthermore, when performing a registration process from a filing client computer to a filing server computer, the configuration is such that the filing server computer to be registered can be automatically selected by referring to the memory availability of each filing server computer. It is characterized by the following.

According to such a configuration, a plurality of filing server computers can be linked to each other, so that all the filing server computers can be accessed only by performing logon processing once. Further, the databases independently managed by the filing server computers can be integrated, and search and registration processing across the filing server computers can be realized.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
A plurality of filing server computers (filing servers) 100, 200, and 300, a filing client computer (client) 400, and an index collection device 500 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Net).
(work), and is connected via a network 600 to construct a system. Here, for convenience, in this example,
Although three filing servers will be described, the number of filing servers is not limited to this.

[0008] Each filing server 100, 200, 3
Reference numeral 00 denotes a computer having a server function, which includes control units 120, 220, and 320 that perform various controls, and
File devices 140, 240, and 340 that perform filing processing under the control of 0, 220, and 320, and read various information such as index information such as name / title information and the like associated with contents such as various image information and corresponding contents. A database storage unit 160 that stores data in a writable manner,
260 and 360.

The client 400 is a terminal having the function of a personal computer. For example, each of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300 is attached with the index information to contents, which are image information read by a scanner.
And has a function of giving an instruction to read out the registered content using index information or the like.

[0010] The index collection device 500 stores the database storage unit 16 of each of the filing servers 100, 200, 300 based on the instruction information from the client 400.
It has a function of collecting index information stored in 0, 260, and 360 and collectively storing the index information in the database storage unit 360 of the filing server 300. At the time of the collection processing of the index collection device 500, the function is configured so that the corresponding filing server information is attached so that it is possible to know from which filing server the collected index information is collected.

The operation / action of the above configuration will be described.

First, content registration processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The content here is image information.

When an image is read by, for example, a scanner input in the client 400 (step S20).
2) The client 400 adds index information such as a name and a title to the read image (step S).
204). Then, an arbitrary filing server is selected by the client 400, and the content and the index information associated therewith are registered as a pair in the filing server (step S206). That is, the content and the index information are stored in the database storage unit of the selected filing server in a readable / writable manner.

With reference to the content and the index information registered in this manner, a process of collecting index information by the index collection device 500 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. When an index collection instruction is issued from the client 400 (step S302)
YES), the index collection device 500 collects index information from each database storage unit for each filing server (step S304). The collected index information is put together in a management table (see FIG. 4) to which filing server information as a collection destination is attached (step S306). This management table is stored in the database storage unit 360 of the filing server 300 functioning as the management server of the present system (step S308).

A search process for a desired content based on the index information thus registered will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. When the corresponding index information is input to the client 400 to obtain the desired content (step S502), the client 40
0 accesses the database storage unit 360 of the filing server 300 as the management server (step S50).
4). Then, by referring to the management table ((c) in FIG. 4), the storage location of the desired content is recognized (step S506), and the desired content is obtained from the corresponding filing server (step S506).
508).

Here, the management table shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail. 4A shows an example of index information of the filing server 100, and FIG. 4B shows an example of index information of the filing server 200. FIG. 4C shows an example of a result obtained by collecting and collecting the results in the filing server 300. Since there is a possibility that each filing server has index information having the same contents as the other filing servers, collection is performed by adding filing server information such as a filing server name to these. Then, the index information collected from each filing server and the corresponding filing server information are collectively created as the management table of FIG. 4C. Thus, even if it is not known to which filing server the desired content is registered, it is possible to search by referring to the management table of the collected index information.

FIG. 6 conceptually shows the flow of data in the system in the index information collecting process and the search process based on the index information.

According to the present embodiment, index information managed by each filing server is aggregated into one filing server from a plurality of filing servers, and a search is performed based on the index information collected from the client. Therefore, even if it is not known which filing server the desired information is registered in, it is possible to quickly search only with the index information.

The functions of the index collection device may be provided in the client 400 or may be provided in any of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of filing server computers (filing servers) 100, 200, and 300 and a filing client computer ( The client 400 and the system information unifying device 520 are connected via a LAN 600 to form a system. Here, for convenience, in this example, the filing server 300 is described as a management server, and the filing servers 100 and 200 are described as system information collection and unification targets. However, it is a matter of course that the configuration is not limited to this. Further, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this system, the system information unifying device 520 performs unified / unified management of system management information managed for each filing server. By unifying the system information, it is possible to easily integrate index information, and copy and move index information between filing servers using export / import.

A description will be given using alias information as shown in FIG. 8 as an example of system management information. Here, the alias means a function of managing keywords frequently used as index information by numbers. By managing by number, there is an effect that the trouble of inputting the same keyword a plurality of times can be saved and an input error can be prevented.

Now, the system information unifying device 520
It has a function of acquiring management information managed by each of the filling servers 100 and 200 based on an instruction from the client 400, comparing the acquired information, and performing an integration process. Further, the system information unifying device 520 has a function of collecting the integrated information into a management table as shown in FIG. 8E and registering the information in the database storage unit 360 of the filing server 300 which is the management server. Further, the system information unifying device 520 also has a function of updating the management tables held by the filing servers 100 and 200 based on the integrated management tables.

The operation / action of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the filing server 100, aliases are defined as shown in FIG. 8A, and in the filing server 200, aliases are defined as shown in FIG. 8C. (B), filing server 200
It is assumed that the index information has been registered as shown in FIG.

First, when an instruction for unifying system information is input from the client 400 (YE of the system S902).
S), the system information unifying device 520 acquires system management information from each of the filing servers 100 and 200 (step S904). The acquired management information is integrated while being compared by the system information unifying device 520 (step S906), and an integrated management table as shown in FIG. 8E is created (step S908). The created integrated management table is stored in the database storage unit 360 of the filing server 300, which is a management server, and is referred to in later search processing.

Since the system management information to be unified is used for the index information, the index information is updated in accordance with the unification processing (step S910). That is, FIG.
The system management information shown in (a) and (c) of FIG.
(E) (the two filing servers 10
The index information shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D is updated as shown in FIGS. 8F and 8G.

According to the present embodiment, by providing a function for unifying management information (information on a server basis) that has been separately managed by each of a plurality of filing servers, integration of index information, export, and import can be used. Of index information between filing servers
Movement can be easily performed.

The system information unifying function of the system information unifying device may be provided in the client 400 or may be provided in any of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300. (Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the logon process in the system configuration of the first embodiment is improved. That is, a function of sharing information that the user has logged on to one filing server among a plurality of filing servers and enabling access without logging on to another filing server will be described. Note that the system configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1 and will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the client 400 logs on to the filing server 300 with a certain user account (step S1002), an authentication process is performed (step S1004). If the authentication is correctly performed, the logon state continues (step S1006), and the user can access another filing server via the filing server 300.

Here, in order for the filing server 300 to access the other filing servers 100 and 200, the filing server 300 must
You need an account to log on to 00,200.
For this, (1) an account for a filing server (an account that can log on to each other) is prepared in advance.
(2) From the client 400 to the filing server 30
Use the account to connect to 0. It can be realized by such a method.

As described above, the function of sharing information as to which user account has logged on to the filing server is newly added, so that log-on from the client 400 is performed only once and all the filing servers 100, 200, and 300 are logged on. It becomes possible to access.

FIG. 12 shows a system for realizing the above system example. As shown in FIG. 12, a simultaneous logon account creation device 540 having a simultaneous logon account creation function is newly provided in this system. That is, in the above-described implementation method (2), the same user account needs to be created in all of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300. The simultaneous logon account creation device 540 creates the same user account in the filing servers 100, 200, and 300 simultaneously by inputting user account information once.

As described above, a plurality of filing servers 1
By providing a function for simultaneously creating the same user account in each of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300,
Can be matched by Furthermore, if the client 400 stores one user account and password, it is possible to log on to a plurality of filing servers 100, 200, and 300 using only that user account.

Further, according to the logon function, search processing over a plurality of filing servers 100, 200, and 300 can be easily realized.

That is, a function of sharing information that a user has logged on to one filing server among a plurality of filing servers and obtaining desired contents by accessing the other filing server without logging on will be described. Here, as described in the first embodiment, in the index collection device 500, the index information collected from the filing servers 100, 200, and 300 is searched using the index information input from the client 400 as a key. Is what is done.

First, when index information is input from the client 400 (see step S1302 in FIG. 13), it is determined which filing server is registered with the content linked to the index information (step S1304). Based on this determination result, the client 400 directly accesses the corresponding filing server in which the content is actually stored to acquire the content (step S1306). FIG. 14 schematically shows the flow of the search process in the present system. (Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of filing server computers (filing servers) 100, 200, and 300 and a filing client computer ( The client 400 is connected via a LAN 600 to form a system. Here, for the sake of convenience, in this example, the filing server 300 is a management server, and the filing server 10
Although 0 and 200 will be described as system information collection unified targets, it is needless to say that the configuration is not limited to this. Further, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In this system, a registration process using the management server as a contact will be described.

That is, when a filing server 300 as a management server receives an instruction for server registration of contents and corresponding index information from the client 400, the storage in the database storage units 160, 260, and 360 of each of the filing servers 100, 200, and 300 is performed. It has a function of comparing and judging the space availability and the capacity of contents to be registered and index information, and a function of selecting an optimum filing server to be registered based on this judgment.
In addition, the filing server 300 has a client 400
If there is no room for registration in the storage capacity of the filing server specified by, the other filing server also has a function of automatically detecting an optimum filing server and performing a registration process as described above.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when contents and index information corresponding to the contents are transmitted from the client 400 to the filing server 300 for server registration (step S1602), the filing server 300 transmits the transmitted contents and index information to the filing server 300. The filing server to be stored is selected (step S
1604). That is, each filing server 100, 20
0, 300 database storage units 160, 260, 36
A determination is made by comparing the vacant state of the storage capacity of “0” with the capacity of the content to be registered and the index information, and the filing server having the optimum capacity is selected.
Then, the content and index information are transferred to the selected filing server and stored in the database storage unit (step S1606). Here, if the transfer destination is not the management server 300 itself, the transfer data is deleted after the transfer.

As described above, when registering the contents and the index in the server, the management server is provided and the optimum registration destination is automatically selected and transferred by the management server. Will be possible. In addition, a client can seamlessly access a plurality of filing servers as if operating a single large-scale electronic filing system.

The operation / processing in each of the above embodiments is performed by using a computer-readable storage medium (eg, floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM) as program information.
It is needless to say that the above operation / process may be executed by storing the data in a storage medium such as a ROM or a magneto-optical disk and mounting the storage medium in a computer and executing the program information.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
Processes such as search and registration across a plurality of filing servers can be easily performed, and all filing servers can be accessed by one logon process.

That is, the databases that the filing server computers independently manage can be integrated,
It is possible to realize search and registration processing across filing server computers. Also, since a plurality of filing server computers can be linked, it is possible to access all the filing server computers by performing only one logon process.

[Easy sharp drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart showing a flow of a content registration process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing a flow of an index information collecting process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view conceptually showing an index information management table according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a search process based on index information according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view conceptually showing a data flow in the system in the index information collecting process and the search process based on the index information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view conceptually showing a management table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart showing a flow of an index information integration process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a logon process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view conceptually showing the flow of a logon process in the system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view conceptually showing the flow of one method of logon processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the flow of a search process using the logon process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view conceptually showing the flow of a search process in the logon process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic filing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary flowchart showing the flow of a registration process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary view conceptually showing the flow of a registration process according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200: filing server, 300: filing server / management server, 400: client, 50
0: Index collection device, 520: System information unification device, 540: Simultaneous logon account creation device, 60
0 ... Network.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of filing server computers for storing the contents of a file and index information attached to the contents, a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information in the filing server computer, and a filing client computer An electronic filing system comprising: a network connecting the filing server computer to the filing server computer; and an index information collecting unit for collecting index information stored in each of the filing server computers; An electronic filing system, characterized in that storage means for collectively managing and storing index information are provided so as to be connected to the network. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores the stored index information in association with filing server computer information or related information corresponding to the index information. Electronic filing system. 3. A plurality of filing server computers for storing file contents and index information attached to the contents; a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information in the filing server computer; and a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information. And an electronic filing system comprising: a network connecting the filing server computer; and index information stored in each of the filing server computers, and unique system management information of each filing server computer corresponding to the index information. And collects the above-mentioned index information and system management information collected by the system information collecting means to create new management information. Control means and an electronic filing system, characterized in that the storage means for storing management information newly created by the control means is provided to connect to the network that. 4. A search / extraction means for, when desired index information is input from the client computer, searching for and extracting contents corresponding to the index information by referring to information stored in the storage means. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is connected to a network.
The electronic filing system according to claim 2. 5. When the content and the index information assigned to the content are registered in the filing server computer, there is provided means for performing a registration process by referring to the free space of the storage capacity of the filing server computer. The electronic filing system according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein 6. If the client computer accesses one of the filing server computers and the access is permitted after the authentication processing, the client computer is provided with a means for enabling access to other filing server computers. Claims 1 and 2, wherein
The electronic filing system according to claim 3, 4 or 5. 7. A plurality of filing server computers for storing file contents and index information attached to the contents, a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information in the filing server computer, and a filing client computer And an electronic filing system comprising a network for connecting the filing server computer and the filing server computer, wherein the index information stored in each of the filing server computers is collected, and the collected index information is centrally managed / stored. A file management control method in an electronic filing system. 8. The electronic filing system according to claim 7, wherein filing server computer information or related information corresponding to the centrally managed / stored index information is stored in association with the filing server computer information. File management control method. 9. A plurality of filing server computers for storing file contents and index information attached to the contents, a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information in the filing server computer, and a filing client computer And an electronic filing system comprising: a network connecting the filing server computer; and index information stored in each of the filing server computers, and unique system management information of each filing server computer corresponding to the index information. Then, the collected index information and system management information are compared and integrated, the integrated information is created as new management information, and the newly created index information and system management information are created. In the file management control method in an electronic filing system, characterized in that so as to store the management information. 10. When desired index information is input from the client computer, the content corresponding to the index information is searched for and extracted by referring to the stored information. 10. A file management control method in the electronic filing system according to claim 7, 8, or 9. 11. When registering the content and the index information given to the content in the filing server computer, control is performed such that the registration process is performed with reference to the available storage capacity of the filing server computer. 11. The file management control method in the electronic filing system according to claim 7, 8, 9, or 10. 12. When the client computer accesses one of the filing server computers and the access is permitted after the authentication processing, the client computer is controlled to be able to access another filing server computer. 12. The file management control method in the electronic filing system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic filing system is used. 13. A plurality of filing server computers for storing contents of a file and index information such as name information attached to the contents, a filing client computer for storing the contents and the index information in the filing server computer, A storage medium used in an electronic filing system including a filing client computer and a network connecting the filing server computer, wherein a function of collecting index information stored in each of the filing server computers is provided. Computer-readable storage of program information of a file management control method in an electronic filing system having a function of centrally managing and storing index information Storage medium. 14. An electronic filing system according to claim 13, wherein said electronic filing system has a function of storing filing server computer information or related information corresponding to said centrally managed / stored index information in association with said filing server computer information. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information of a file management control method. 15. A plurality of filing server computers for storing the contents of a file and index information attached to the contents, a filing client computer for storing the contents and index information in the filing server computer, and a filing client computer And an electronic filing system comprising: a network connecting the filing server computer; and index information stored in each of the filing server computers, and unique system management information of each filing server computer corresponding to the index information. And a function to compare and integrate the collected index information and system management information, and create the integrated information as new management information. And a function of storing the newly created management information. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information of a file management control method in an electronic filing system, characterized by having a function of storing the newly created management information. 16. A function having a function of, when desired index information is input from the client computer, searching for and extracting content corresponding to the index information by referring to the stored information. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information of the file management control method in the electronic filing system according to claim 13, 14, or 15. 17. When registering the content and the index information added to the content in the filing server computer, a function is provided for performing a registration process by referring to the free space of the storage capacity of the filing server computer. 17. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for a file management control method in an electronic filing system according to claim 13, 14, 14, or 15. 18. When the client computer accesses one of the filing server computers and the access is permitted after the authentication process, the client computer is controlled to be able to access another filing server computer. A computer readable storage medium storing program information of a file management control method in an electronic filing system according to claim 13, claim 14, claim 15, claim 16, or claim 17 having a function. Storage medium.