JP2006053794A - Metadata distribution system and method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a metadata distribution system and method, program, and a recording medium for distributing metadata related to an image displayed at an image display terminal among users. <P>SOLUTION: The metadata distribution system comprises a GUI view creating section 5 for displaying GUI view, a view-schema definition file 6 for defining the display method of the GUI view, a schema data extracting section 4 for extracting schema data of the metadata based on a view-schema definition file 6, a metadata DB 3 for accumulating and storing the metadata, a DB communication section 10 for communicating with the metadata DB 3, and a communication section 7 for communicating with the other users except for the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a metadata distribution system and method, a program, and a recording medium for distributing metadata related to an image displayed on an image display terminal between users.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the spread of media that handle digital image data such as digital cameras, software having various functions has become popular for the purpose of visually displaying the digital image data as a list. For example, Windows XP (registered trademark), MacOS (registered trademark), and the like are known as those incorporated as part of an OS (operating system) file system.

  In addition, PhotoFinder (registered trademark) (refer to Non-Patent Document 1) corresponding to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) portion of an image database, and iPhoto (registered trademark) having a function of performing clustering in time series (see Non-Patent Document 2). ) And PhotoMesa (registered trademark) (see Non-Patent Document 3) are also known.

  On the other hand, among tools for managing digital documents imported from a scanner, there is DocuWorks (registered trademark) (see Patent Documents 1 and 2) that can display and manage documents as thumbnails on the GUI like the photo viewer.

  A feature of these tools is a group of tools for displaying files as thumbnails on the GUI so that the user can visually and intuitively understand the files, thereby facilitating the organization of the files. These tools have a function of giving metadata to data visually captured by the user.

  However, it only has a function of giving metadata to individual data, and pays attention to user behavior in the organization process on the GUI, and a function of extracting metadata to record a user's viewpoint on the data group Is not provided.

On the other hand, there is also a method of monitoring the user access status to the file and extracting clustering information reflecting the user's viewpoint from the file group from the access time series. (See Non-Patent Document 4)
Also, there is a method of freely arranging thumbnails on the GUI and extracting clustering information reflecting the user's viewpoint from the thumbnail placement position.
JP 2002-91949 A JP 2004-86426 A PhotoFinderProject http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/photolib/ Apple iPhoto http://www.apple.co.jp/ilife/iphoto/ PhotoMesaImageBrowser http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/photomesa/ Time as Essence for Photo Browsing Through Personal Digital Libraries Adrian Graham, Hector Gracia-Molina, Andreas Paepcke Terry Winograd ACM JCDL'02JULY13-17.

In the above-described conventional technology, it is difficult to view the metadata extracted by others by sharing the extracted metadata from various viewpoints, and methods for utilizing knowledge acquired by others have been limited,
In addition, it is difficult to uniquely determine the layout method of the document that seems to be optimal for the user from complex metadata, and it is difficult to uniquely determine the display method. Therefore, the metadata between documents stored in the DB on the network , It is difficult to expand on the GUI that displays thumbnails while maintaining the relationship between documents.
Also, when trying to display the metadata of other users using communication, the metadata reflects the viewpoint of the creator of the metadata, so it is understood by the browsing user just by displaying the metadata as it is. Difficult to
In addition, when the user's easy-to-view display is different for each user, or when the viewpoint to be noticed is different, if the display method is uniquely determined, there is a problem that intuitive viewability is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to share knowledge related to a large number of documents among a plurality of users, and to visually collect a large number of documents. This makes it easy to grasp the relationship and reduce the user's cognitive load, easily organizes the same data group from the viewpoint of each user, and schemas the summary information that other users have organized their GUI views. Data can be extracted and schema data can be shared as part of the metadata, and can be restored to a GUI view customized based on the shared metadata and schema data. On the restored GUI view Metadata distribution system and method, and program capable of organizing arrangement information in each from the viewpoint desired by the user And to provide a beam and a recording medium.

  In order to solve the problem, the present invention according to claim 1 is a metadata distribution system for distributing metadata about a document arbitrarily collected and arranged by a user on a GUI view to other users. A GUI view generation unit for displaying a GUI view based on the metadata, a view-schema definition file for defining a display method of the GUI view, and a view-schema definition file from the GUI view. A schema data extraction unit for extracting schema data of the metadata, a metadata DB for storing and storing the metadata, a DB communication unit for communicating with the metadata DB, and other than the user A communication unit for communicating with other users, the document arbitrarily arranged by the user Metadata distribution system of the metadata, wherein the can flow to other users.

  Also, in the present invention described in claim 2, in claim 1, the communication unit obtains metadata stored in the metadata DB included in the other user, and the metadata is the view-schema. Based on the definition file, it is converted by the GUI view generation unit, and the GUI view of the other user is reproduced and displayed.

  In addition, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the view-schema definition file includes a mapping definition for determining a display position on the screen of the GUI view, the metadata, , The arrangement of the thumbnails of the document can be arbitrarily set.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second or third aspect, the self-view-schema definition file is applied based on the metadata of the other user, and the other user's The GUI view can be changed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metadata distribution method for distributing metadata about a document arbitrarily collected and arranged by a user on a GUI view to another user, the GUI view generation unit Displaying a GUI view based on the metadata, defining a display method of the GUI view by a view-schema definition file, and based on the view-schema definition file from the GUI view by a schema data extraction unit. Extracting the schema data of the metadata, storing and storing the metadata by the metadata DB, communicating with the metadata DB by the DB communication unit, and other than the user by the communication unit Communicating with a user of said user, said user Wherein the metadata of the document placed in mind it is possible circulated to other users.

  Also, in the present invention described in claim 6, in claim 5, the communication unit acquires metadata stored in the metadata DB included in the other user, and the metadata is the view-schema. Based on the definition file, it is converted by the GUI view generation unit, and the GUI view of the other user is reproduced and displayed.

  The present invention according to claim 7 is the view according to any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the view-schema definition file includes a mapping definition for determining a display position on the screen of the GUI view, the metadata, , The arrangement of the thumbnails of the document can be arbitrarily set.

  Further, the present invention according to claim 8 is based on any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the view-schema definition file is applied to the other user based on the metadata of the other user, and the other user's view is applied. The GUI view can be changed.

  The present invention according to claim 9 is a metadata distribution program capable of executing the metadata distribution method according to any of claims 5 to 8 on a computer.

  The present invention described in claim 10 records a distribution program in which the metadata distribution program according to claim 9 is installed in a computer and recorded to be executable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to share knowledge related to a large number of documents among a plurality of users, and it is easy to grasp the relationship by visually collecting a large number of documents, thereby reducing the user's cognitive load. It can be reduced, and the same data group can be easily organized from the viewpoint of each user. The summary information that the other users have organized their GUI views is extracted as schema data, and the schema data is shared as part of the metadata. Can be restored to a customized GUI view based on the shared metadata and schema data, and the arrangement information on the restored GUI view can be organized from the point of view desired by the user. Possible metadata distribution systems and methods, programs, and recording media can be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration according to the embodiment of the metadata distribution system of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 1 for displaying a screen including a document (GUI view) for a user (not shown), and metadata processing for processing metadata of an image displayed on the GUI 1. A unit 2 and a metadata DB 3 that accumulates and stores metadata to construct a database (DB: Data Base) are shown.

  The metadata processing unit 2 includes a schema data extraction unit 4 for extracting schema data from a document displayed on the GUI 1, a GUI view generation unit 5 that generates an image including the document displayed on the GUI 1, and the GUI 1. A view-schema definition file 6 for defining metadata for determining a display method of a document to be displayed in FIG. 5 and a communication unit 7 for communicating with the metadata DB 3 and other users are shown. With these configurations, the metadata distribution system of the present invention is configured.

  For example, an image monitor of an information terminal can be used as the GUI 1, and commands related to various operations and other information are displayed on the GUI 1. Further, a document is displayed on the GUI 1, and the document in the present embodiment includes general text data, image data, and the like.

  In addition, a user (user) (not shown) uses a document displayed as an image on the GUI 1 and performs arbitrary arrangement such as rearranging the arrangement on the screen as needed, searching for a related document, and drawing out the document. ing. These operations are executed by operating an information terminal (not shown) provided with the metadata processing unit 2.

  The communication unit 7 communicates with the communication unit 7 of the metadata processing unit 2 provided in an information terminal (not shown) owned and operated by another user. FIG. 1 shows two metadata distribution systems that are connected via a communication unit 8 via a communication unit 7 and can communicate with each other.

  Next, operations of the metadata distribution system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The procedure shown in FIG. 2 is a method for extracting the metadata of the document displayed on the GUI 1, while the procedure shown in FIG. 3 is a method for displaying the document on the GUI 1 based on the metadata stored in the metadata DB 3. Is shown.

  In FIG. 2, a user (user) (not shown) first operates the information terminal. By the user operation (S1), an image is displayed on the GUI 1 provided in the information terminal, and the user displays an arbitrary document on the screen of the GUI 1. These documents can be freely arranged at arbitrary positions on the GUI 1 screen, and the user uses the documents and arranges them for easy understanding, and the GUI view (display screen) in an arbitrary layout. Is displayed.

  As the document, a document stored in the information terminal or a document collected via a network such as the Internet (not shown) is displayed on the GUI 1. These documents possess basic information such as images, videos, sounds, and texts, as well as metadata including schema data.

  The schema data indicates a display method (thumbnail display), arrangement method, procedure, and the like for displaying a document. The metadata includes schema data, and includes information such as document placement position (mapping definition) and placement time.

  Next, the schema data extraction unit 4 extracts schema data from the metadata of the document displayed on the GUI 1 based on the view-schema definition file 6. The view-schema definition file 6 is a definition of the document displayed on the GUI 1 and the schema data that is the operation procedure of the document, and this definition makes it possible to handle the same type of document collectively.

  The schema data extracted by the schema data extraction unit 4 is sent to the DB communication unit 10 via the communication unit 7 and further transmitted from the DB communication unit 10 to the metadata DB 3 and stored.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, the metadata stored in the metadata DB 3 is sent to the communication unit 7 via the DB communication unit 10.

  The communication unit 7 sends the metadata to the GUI view generation unit 5. The GUI view generation unit 5 generates a GUI view for displaying on the GUI 1 from the metadata based on the view-schema definition file 6. The generated GUI view is sent to GUI 1 and image display is executed.

  The image display displayed here is generated based on the metadata. For example, when the metadata is acquired from another user via the communication line 8, the GUI 1 includes other images. The GUI view displayed on the GUI 1 of the information terminal owned by the user is reproduced and displayed.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing in more detail a configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration according to the embodiment of the metadata distribution system of the present invention already shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows the GUI 1, the metadata processing unit 2, and the metadata DB 3 already referred to in FIG. Two metadata DBs 3 are shown, and an example is shown in which a user (not shown) and another user own one metadata DB 3 respectively.

  Also, the GUI 1 shows an example of GUI view data 11 and a GUI view displayed based on the GUI view data 11.

  The metadata DB 3 includes a metadata DB API (Application Program Interface) 15 and a metadata DB storage device 16.

  The schema data extraction unit 4 includes a schema extraction unit 12 and a metadata generation unit 13.

  The GUI view generation unit 5 includes a view data replacement unit 20 and a view data generation unit 19.

  The communication unit 7 includes a metadata transmission unit 14, a metadata reception unit 18, and a search query issuing unit 17.

  Next, with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the metadata distribution system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the schema data extraction unit 4.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the schema data extraction unit starts (starts operation) (step 10: S10). Next, the GUI view data 11 is read (step 11: S11). Next, the view-schema definition file 6 is read (step 12: S12). Next, a list creation of the extracted schema data is executed (step 13: S13).

  In step 13, the loop processing shown in steps 14 to 16 is executed for each schema data. Step 14: In S14, schema data to be added is created from the hierarchy information. Next, in step 15: creation of a schema data addition query is executed. Next, the query for adding schema data created in step 16: S16 is added to the query queue.

  Next, after the loop process of steps 14 to 16 is executed for all the schema data listed in the list of schema data created in step S16, the metadata generation unit 13 starts (starts operation) (step) 17: S17).

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the metadata generation unit 13.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the metadata generation unit 13 starts (operation starts) (step 20: S20). Next, a list of registered documents is created (step 21: S21).

  In step 21, the loop processing shown in steps 22 to 24 is executed for each document. Step 22: In S22, data relating to the document is extracted. Next, in step 23: S23, metadata that associates each data with the document is created. Next, a query for adding the metadata created in step 23 is created in the metadata DB 3 and added to the query queue (step 24: S24).

  Next, after the loop process of steps 22 to 24 is executed for all documents listed in the document list created in step S21, the metadata transmission unit 14 starts (starts operation) (step 25: S25).

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the metadata transmission unit 14.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the metadata transmission unit 14 starts (operation starts) (step 25: S25). Next, the query at the head of the queue is transmitted to the metadata DB storage device 16 using the metadata DB API 15 (step 26: S26). Next, the presence / absence of the remaining queue is determined by Yes / No. If the queue remains (Yes), the process returns to step 26 again.

  On the other hand, if the queue does not remain (No), the process proceeds to step 28: S28, and the operation of the metadata transmission unit 14 ends.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the search query issuing unit 17. The search query issuing unit 17 is a module for executing a query issuing process in order to extract metadata from the metadata DB 3.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, first, a search for finding a desired other user is started in order to display another user's image on the GUI 1 (step 30: S30). Next, the user ID of another user to be searched is specified (step 31: S31). Next, it is determined whether or not a keyword search is performed (Yes / No) (step 32: S32).

  If it is determined in this step 32 that a keyword search is performed (Yes), then a search term used for the keyword search is acquired (step 33: S33). Thereafter, a search query is created for the metadata DB 3 (step 34: S34). If it is selected in step 32 that keyword search is not performed (No), the process proceeds to step 34 without passing through step 33.

  Next, a search query is issued to the metadata DB 3 (step 35: S35). Next, the metadata receiving unit 18 starts to operate (step 36: S36).

  Next, FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the view data generation unit 19.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, first, the metadata receiving unit 18 receives metadata from the metadata DB 3 (step 40: S40). Next, the view data generation unit 19 starts to operate (step 41: S41). Next, an instance list is extracted from the received metadata (step 42: S42).

  Step 42: In S42, the processing of steps 43 and 44 is loop-processed for each instance listed in the instance list. Step 43: Data related to the instance is extracted in S43, and the instance information is converted into document data for view data display in Step 44: S44.

  Next, when the loop processing in steps 43 and 44 is finished and the processing to all the instants described in the instance list is finished, step 45: a schema list (schema data list) is received from the metadata received in S45. Extract. In extracting the schema list, the view-schema definition file 6 is referred to.

  Next, based on the extracted schema list, document arrangement information to be displayed on the GUI 1 is created (step 46: S46). The created document arrangement information is merged with respect to all the data (step 47: S47). Next, the operation of the view data replacement unit 20 starts (step 48: S48).

  Next, FIG. 10 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the view data replacing unit 20.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, first, the operation of the view data replacement unit 20 starts (step 48: S48). Next, the document information list is acquired (step 49: S49). Next, the presence / absence (Yes / No) of a document having no image data is determined (step 50: S50).

  If it is determined in step 50 that there is a document without image data (Yes), a list of documents without an image is created (step 51: S51). Next, based on the URL and path information of the document, the corresponding document is accessed to generate a document image capture (step 52: S52).

  Next, the image data is input and stored in a document management DB (not shown) (step 53: S53). Next, image information is recorded in the GUI view data 11 (step 54: S54). Next, the GUI view data 11 is overwritten and the view data is updated (step 55: S55). If it is determined in step 50 that there is no document having no image data (No), the process jumps directly from step 50 to step 55. Thereafter, all the processes are finished (step 56: S56).

  FIG. 11 shows an example of metadata related to a document according to the embodiment of the metadata distribution system of the present invention. The metadata 60 shown in FIG. 11 includes, for example, INDEX (title), document URL, file path, document acquisition time, thumbnail image path, arrangement schema, arrangement coordinates, ano station, arrangement user ID, and the like as included information. include. These pieces of information are extracted from the GUI view data 11 or extracted from user account information or the like.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, as disclosed in claim 1 of the present invention, metadata about a document arbitrarily collected and arranged by a user on a GUI view is distributed to other users. A metadata distribution system, a GUI view generation unit 5 for displaying a GUI view based on metadata, a view for defining a GUI view display method, a schema definition file 6, and a view from the GUI view A schema data extraction unit 4 for extracting schema data of metadata based on the schema definition file 6, a metadata DB 3 for storing and storing metadata, and a DB communication unit 10 for communicating with the metadata DB 3 And a communication unit 7 for communicating with other users other than the user, the document arbitrarily arranged by the user The metadata and schema data is realized metadata distribution system characterized in that can flow to other users.

  Further, as disclosed in claim 2 of the present invention, in claim 1 of the present invention, the communication unit 7 acquires metadata stored in the metadata DB 3 provided by another user, and the metadata is Based on the view-schema definition file 6, it is converted by the GUI view generation unit 5, and a metadata distribution system characterized by reproducing and displaying another user's GUI view is realized.

  Further, as disclosed in claim 3 of the present invention, in any one of claims 1 or 2 of the present invention, the view-schema definition file 6 includes a mapping definition that determines a display position on the screen of the GUI view. The metadata distribution system is characterized in that the arrangement of the thumbnails of the document can be arbitrarily set based on the metadata.

  Further, as disclosed in claim 4 of the present invention, in any of claim 2 or 3 of the present invention, the self-view-schema definition file 6 is applied based on the metadata of another user, A metadata distribution system characterized by being able to change GUI views of other users is realized.

  Further, in the metadata distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention, information processing and component operations executed in the metadata distribution system are replaced with computer programs, and a CD, DVD, FD, or the like is constructed. You may record on a recording medium. By incorporating these recording media into a computer system, or downloading a program recorded on the recording medium to a computer system via a communication line, or installing from the recording medium and operating the computer system with the program, Of course, it can function as a means for realizing a metadata distribution system and a metadata distribution method, and by using such a recording medium, the distribution can be improved.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, knowledge related to a large number of documents can be shared among a plurality of users. It is easy to grasp and can reduce the cognitive load of users, the same data group can be easily organized from the viewpoint of each user, and the summary information that other users have organized their GUI views is extracted as schema data, Schema data can be shared as a part of metadata, and can be restored to a GUI view customized based on the shared metadata and schema data, and arrangement information on the restored GUI view can be restored. Metadata distribution system and method, program, and recording medium that can be arranged from the viewpoint desired by each It is possible to provide.

The block diagram for demonstrating the whole structure based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. An explanatory view for explaining a method of extracting metadata of a document displayed on GUI1 according to an embodiment of a metadata distribution system of the present invention is shown. An explanatory view for explaining a method of displaying a document on GUI1 based on metadata stored in metadata DB3 according to the embodiment of the metadata distribution system of the present invention is shown. The block diagram for demonstrating the whole structure based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the schema data extraction part 4 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the metadata production | generation part 13 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the metadata transmission part 14 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the search query issuing part 17 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the view data generation part 19 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the view data replacement part 20 based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown. The example of the metadata regarding the document based on embodiment of the metadata distribution system of this invention is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 GUI
2 Metadata processing section 3 Metadata DB
4 schema data extraction unit 5 GUI view generation unit 6 view-schema definition file 7 communication unit 8 communication line 10 DB communication unit 11 GUI view data 12 schema extraction unit 13 metadata generation unit 14 metadata transmission unit 15 metadata DB API
16 Metadata DB storage device 17 Search query issuing unit 18 Metadata receiving unit 19 View data generating unit 20 View data replacing unit

Claims (10)

A metadata distribution system for distributing metadata about a document arbitrarily collected and arranged by a user on a GUI view to other users,
A GUI view generation unit for displaying a GUI view based on the metadata;
A view-schema definition file for defining a display method of the GUI view;
A schema data extraction unit for extracting schema data of the metadata based on the view-schema definition file from the GUI view;
A metadata DB for accumulating and storing the metadata;
A DB communication unit for communicating with the metadata DB;
A communication unit for communicating with other users other than the user,
A metadata distribution system, wherein the metadata of the document arbitrarily arranged by the user can be distributed to other users. The communication unit is
The metadata stored in the metadata DB provided by the other user is acquired, and the metadata is converted by the GUI view generation unit based on the view-schema definition file, and the GUI view of the other user is obtained. The metadata distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the metadata is reproduced and displayed. The view-schema definition file is:
3. The thumbnail arrangement of the document can be arbitrarily set based on a mapping definition for determining a display position on the screen of the GUI view and the metadata. Metadata distribution system described in 1.   4. The GUI view of the other user can be changed by applying a self-view-schema definition file based on the metadata of the other user. Metadata distribution system. A metadata distribution method for distributing metadata about a document arbitrarily collected and arranged by a user on a GUI view to other users,
Displaying a GUI view based on the metadata by a GUI view generation unit;
Defining a display method of the GUI view by a view-schema definition file;
Extracting schema data of the metadata based on the view-schema definition file from the GUI view by a schema data extraction unit;
Storing and storing the metadata in a metadata DB;
Communicating with the metadata DB by a DB communication unit;
Communicating with other users other than the user by the communication unit,
A metadata distribution method, wherein the metadata of the document arbitrarily arranged by the user can be distributed to other users. The communication unit is
The metadata stored in the metadata DB provided by the other user is acquired, and the metadata is converted by the GUI view generation unit based on the view-schema definition file, and the GUI view of the other user is obtained. The metadata distribution method according to claim 5, wherein the metadata is reproduced and displayed. The view-schema definition file is:
The arrangement of thumbnails of the document can be arbitrarily set based on a mapping definition for determining a display position on the screen of the GUI view and the metadata. The metadata distribution method described in 1.   8. The GUI view of the other user can be changed by applying a self-view-schema definition file based on the metadata of the other user. Metadata distribution method.   A metadata distribution program capable of executing the metadata distribution method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 on a computer. A recording medium recording a distribution program in which the metadata distribution program according to claim 9 is installed in a computer and executable.

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