JP2006227916A - Information processor, information search method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide determination information for determining an information processor connection status for eliminating unnecessary access operation for improvement in certainty of access operation. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor capable of searching for electronic information on a network based on an inputted search condition is provided with a search index generation part generating a search index, which includes information about the type of electronic information stored in an information database of another information processor and information about network connection of the other information processor, a search index update part updating content of the generated search index in every fixed time period, and a search result display part finding the determination information estimating whether access to the other information processor is possible or not based on the information about the network in the updated search index and displaying a combination of the determination information, the inputted search condition, and a search result based on the information about the type of electronic information of the updated search index on a display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information search method, and the like for searching information stored in a plurality of devices connectable via a network.

  With the development of computers and networks, the database distributed on the network, the accumulation of computerized information in information processing devices including storage devices such as hard disks is progressing, the database distributed on the network along with it, There is an increasing expectation for electronic processing of computerized information, for example, information retrieval technology, of an information processing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “information processing apparatus”) including a storage device such as a hard disk.

  In such information retrieval technology, in an information processing device including storage devices such as databases and hard disks distributed over a network, when performing information retrieval, a technology for providing the name of an information processing device for storing data, Techniques have been proposed in which information relating to data registration and search history is provided as search information obtained as a score.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260260, there is a technique for managing the data registration date and the number of references, reducing the score as the elapsed time from the data registration date to the search time is longer, and increasing the score as the data reference count increases. Proposed.
JP 2001-084256 A

  However, in the case of the prior art as described above, when performing an information search on a database distributed on a network or computerized information of an information processing device, a score display regarding the search information or a name display of the information processing device, etc. Has a problem that it cannot recognize whether access to other information processing apparatuses on the network is actually possible. In particular, there is a problem that even if the information is actually accessed using the displayed score as a clue, the connection state of the information processing apparatus that stores the information changes, the access cannot be performed, and the target information cannot be obtained. . In such a case, as a result, a useless access operation to the information processing apparatus or the like is forced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when performing an information search on an information processing apparatus on a network, whether or not access to the information processing apparatus is possible is as follows. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing technology that eliminates waste of an access operation by providing determination information for determining a connection status and improves the certainty of the access operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention mainly has the following configuration.

That is, an information processing apparatus capable of searching for digitized information on a network based on an input search condition is as follows:
Search index creation means for creating a search index including information on the type of digitized information stored in information storage means of another information processing apparatus and information on network connection of the other information processing apparatus;
Search index update means for updating the contents of the search index created by the search index creation means at regular intervals;
Based on the information related to the network connection of the search index updated by the search index update means, determination information for evaluating whether or not the other information processing apparatus is accessible is obtained, and the determination information and the input And a search result display unit that displays the search result based on information related to the type of electronic information of the updated search index and the updated search index.

  According to the present invention, when an information search is performed on an information processing apparatus on the network, access is provided by providing determination information for determining a connection status as to whether or not access to the information processing apparatus is possible. It becomes possible to improve the certainty of operation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus 100 concerning this invention. In the configuration shown in the figure, the CPU 101 performs operations for information retrieval processing, logical determination, etc., and controls each component via a bus (BUS) 107. The CPU 101 can control the network controller 109, which will be described later, and control the entire data transmission / reception. The network controller 109 can access other information processing apparatuses 160 and 170 connected to the network 150 to search for information and process search results.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a bus, which transfers an address signal and a control signal instructing each component to be controlled by the CPU 101. In addition, data transfer between each component is performed.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a writable random access memory (RAM) that can be used for primary storage of various data from each component.

  A read-only fixed memory (ROM) 102 can store a boot program by the CPU 101. The boot program loads the control program 110 stored in the hard disk (HD) 106 into the RAM 103 when the system is started up, and is executed by the CPU 101. The control program 110 will be described in detail later with reference to a flowchart.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and reference numeral 105 denotes a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a hard disk (HD), which is used as a control program 110 executed by the CPU 101, an information database 111 storing electronically created electronic information, and an information heading (index) when performing an information search. Information search index data 112 is stored. For example, when searching for data stored in the information database 111, the information search index data 112 specifies the type of digitized information stored in the information database 111 such as “image data” and “document data”. The content of the information database 111 can be efficiently searched by the information search index data 112.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a network controller, which is a controller unit capable of exchanging data with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a network line.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a removable external storage device for accessing an external storage medium such as a flexible disk, CD, or DVD. It can be used in the same manner as the hard disk (HD) 106 described above, and can exchange data with other information processing apparatuses through those recording media. The control program 110 stored in the hard disk (HD) 106 can also be stored in the hard disk (HD) 106 from these external storage devices 108 as necessary.

  In the information processing apparatus 100 including such components, an interrupt signal input from the input device 104 is sent to the CPU 101, and accordingly, the CPU 101 reads various commands stored in the ROM 102 or the RAM 103, and executes various commands by executing them. Is controlled.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically showing the configuration of the network controller 109.

  Reference numeral 203 denotes a search index creation unit, which is information related to the type of computerized information (eg, document, graphic, etc.) stored in the information database 111 of the information processing device, information related to network connection (eg, the name of the information processing device, Create a search index that lists path names or network connection status. The search index is based on a response result of a command for requesting information search index data 112 of the own device used for searching for computerized information stored in the information database 111 and information search index data 112 for other information processing devices. Created.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search index, which includes a keyword 602 (this information corresponds to a search type), the name and path name of an information processing apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as “link destination”) 604, and a network. Information relating to the disconnection time 605 is included as information indicating the connection state to the.

  The search index creation unit 203 collects the information search index data 112 related to the information database in other information processing apparatuses in addition to the information search index data 112 related to the information database 111 of the own apparatus, and the information processing apparatuses connected to the network. It is possible to create a search index for identifying which data of which search type is stored in which information processing apparatus. The search index creating unit 203 multicasts a request command for requesting information search index data to another information processing apparatus connected via the network 150 in order to collect the information search index data 112 in the other information processing apparatus. The search index is generated based on the response result from the other information processing apparatus.

  In FIG. 6, the disconnection time 605 indicates a time during which the information processing apparatus initially in the connected state changes to a state in which the information processing apparatus is not connected to the network and is not connected.

  A search index update unit 204 updates information related to the search index created by the search index creation unit 203 every elapse of a predetermined time. The search index update unit 204 transmits a command for requesting the information search index data 112 to the own device and other information processing devices every predetermined time, and the information database 111 of the own device and the information database 111 in the other information processing device. The contents of the information search index data 112 related to the computerized information stored in the server are collected, and the state related to the network connection (whether connected or disconnected) is determined based on the response result to the request command. can do. In addition, the search index update unit 204 determines whether there is data of the added search type in the information database 111, and adds the keyword 602 item in the search index 601 if there is data of the added type. Further, the search index update unit 204 can recognize a plurality of information processing devices connected via the network 150 by, for example, a plug-in play function or the like, and there are newly added information processing devices. Then, the information about the keyword 602 and the link destination 604 regarding the information processing apparatus is added to the search index 601 to update the contents of the search index.

  A search condition input unit 205 inputs and sets search conditions (search type, search data, etc.) for searching for computerized information stored in the information database 111.

  For example, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an input screen display of a search condition to be input and set by the search condition input unit 205. A search type 801 and search data 802 can be set as the search condition. In the type 801, it is possible to select whether the data to be searched for information is “document” data 803 or “image” data 804. Moreover, a pattern, a design, a table | surface, a figure, etc. can be input as search data. Here, “image” data 804 is selected as a search type, and a figure 805 is input as an example of a search keyword.

  Reference numeral 206 denotes an information search unit, which is stored in the information database 111 in the own apparatus or in the information database of another information processing apparatus according to the search conditions (including the search type and search keyword) input by the search condition input unit 205. An information search request for searching for digitized information is generated and transmitted to the own apparatus or another information processing apparatus.

  A search result output unit 207 outputs a search result for the information search request from the information search unit 206. A search result display unit 208 obtains determination information for evaluating whether or not another information processing apparatus can be accessed based on the updated search index, and performs a search based on the determination information and the input search condition. The result and the search result output by the search result acquisition unit 207 are combined and displayed on the display device 105.

  A search result access unit 209 accesses information indicated by the search result displayed on the search result display unit 208 and executes processing for acquiring the information.

  Next, the flow of search processing executed in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus that was initially in a connected state changes to a state in which it is not connected to the network, and the time during which the disconnected state continues (hereinafter referred to as “disconnection time” is obtained, and is access possible from this disconnection time? The process of providing “access probability” as determination information as a parameter for evaluating whether or not and providing it in combination with the search result is described.By providing this access probability as determination information, the connection status of the information processing apparatus is determined in advance. This makes it possible to improve (recognize) and improve the reliability of the access operation by eliminating unnecessary access operations.

  First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the electronically created information is stored in the information database 111. When information is stored (S1-Yes), the process proceeds to step S2. If no information is stored (S1-No), the process proceeds to step S3.

  Here, the content of the electronic information created electronically may include, for example, table data, text data, and the like in addition to the graphic information mixed as indicated by 401 in FIG. In the case of 401 in FIG. 4, the search type is “graphic”.

  In step S <b> 2, the digitized information 401 is stored in the information database 111.

  For example, the computerized information 401 illustrated in FIG. 4 is stored in the information database 111 of the information processing apparatus 100 as “figure.jpg”. As a result, “figure.jpg” is newly added to the information database 111 in addition to “pattern.jpg”, “design.jpg”, and “table.jpg”.

  In step S <b> 3, the search index creation unit 203 creates an index to be used for searching the computerized information 401 stored in the information database 111 based on the information search index data 112. At the time of search index creation (FIG. 6), the information processing apparatus that responds to the information search index data request command transmitted by the search index creation unit 203 needs to be connected to the network. "It has become.

  In step S4, the search index update unit 204 updates the search index 601 created by the search index creation unit 203 every elapse of a predetermined time. The search index update unit 204 recognizes a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected via the network 150 by, for example, a plug-in play function, and if there is a newly added information processing apparatus, information on the apparatus The search index data 112 is collected and the search index is updated (FIG. 7). If the connection state of the information processing apparatus already registered in the search index 601 changes to a disconnected state, the disconnection time information is updated by measuring the disconnection time.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing search index update results 701. The search index update unit 204 updates the time when the “information processing apparatus 170” registered in the search index is disconnected from the network to 120 (minutes). When the information processing apparatus 175 is newly detected (recognized) connected to the network 150, information (702 to 705) related to the information processing apparatus is additionally registered in the search index 701.

  In step S5, the search index update unit 204 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed (S5-Yes), the process returns to step S4 to update the search index. To do. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (S5-No), the process proceeds to step S6. Here, the predetermined time can be set in an arbitrary unit (hour, minute, second) via the input device 104 (for example, the predetermined time is 2 hours or 30 minutes, or 60 The display index disconnection time display field can be switched according to the set time unit.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not information search is performed for the link destination registered in the search index. If information search is to be performed (S6-Yes), the process proceeds to step S7. If no information search is performed (S6-No), the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S <b> 7, the search condition input unit 205 performs a search condition input process for performing an information search on the computerized information 701 stored in the information database 111.

  In step S8, the information search unit 206 generates an information search request for searching the computerized information 401 stored in the information database 111 according to the search condition input by the search condition input unit 205 of step S7. Transmit to the device or another information processing device. At this time, the information search unit 206 refers to the search index (601, 701) and searches the search range (search search) from the search condition search input by the search condition input unit 205 and the keyword 602 in the search index. Target information processing apparatus) can be identified.

  In step S9, the search result output unit 207 of the information processing apparatus targeted for the search outputs the search result for the information search request transmitted by the information search unit 206 in step S8.

  For example, “graphic.jpg” 401 is output from the range specified by the search index as a search result based on the search condition “search” “image” 804 and search keyword “graphic” 805 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 10, the search result display unit 208 of the information processing apparatus that is the transmission source of the information search request displays the search result output by the search result output unit 207 in step S <b> 9 on the display device 105.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the search result display unit 208 displays the search result as “link destination” (information processing device name and path name) and “access probability” to the information processing device. Information including 901 is displayed (901, 902).

  The access probability is a parameter that evaluates the possibility of access (communication) from the search source to another information processing apparatus as the search destination via the network 150, and is based on the disconnection time as shown in FIG. The access probability is determined in advance. The access probability table shown in FIG. 10 can be stored in the information search index data 112 in the hard disk 106, and the search result display unit 208 shows the relationship of the disconnection time in the search index (FIG. 7). Based on the access probability table, the access probability can be obtained as a parameter for evaluating whether or not each information processing apparatus can be accessed.

  In step S11, based on the search result displayed by the search result display unit 208, if access to the designated information processing apparatus is possible, the information processing apparatus is accessed and predetermined information is acquired. The user selects an information processing apparatus for storing desired data based on two search results (901, 902) indicated as targets for storing desired data from the search result screen as shown in FIG. Then, based on the link destination information, the information processing apparatus is accessed to acquire predetermined information.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not to end the process. When the process is continued, the process is returned to step S1, and the same process is repeated. If the process is not continued, the process ends.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine (understand) the connection status of the information processing apparatus in advance by providing the access probability as determination information as a parameter for evaluating whether access is possible from the disconnection time. Become. When performing an information search on an information processing apparatus on the network, it is possible to improve the certainty of the access operation by providing the access probability in combination with the search result.

(Search result display example 1)
As a display example of search results, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of search results 1101 and 1102. This display example is based on the search indexes 601 and 701 in FIGS. The search index 601 is updated every predetermined time, and the update of the disconnection time, new search keywords, and search destination information are added (701 in FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, link destination information related to the search keyword “pattern” is newly added to the search index, and the disconnection time of the information processing apparatus 170 is updated to 120 (minutes).

  Here, in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 100 and the information processing apparatus 170 are registered as link destinations to be searched for the keyword “graphic”, and the disconnection time for the information processing apparatus 170 is 120 (minutes). Therefore, the search result display unit 208 obtains the access probability for the disconnection time 120 (minutes) from the access probability table of FIG. In this case, the search result display unit 208 changes and displays the access probability of the search result (1102 in FIG. 11) for the information processing apparatus 170 to 80% (the initial access probability is 100% (see FIG. 6)).

(Search result display example 2)
As a display example of the search result, a process for displaying determination information indicating whether the information processing apparatus as a search destination is accessible or impossible in combination with the search result will be described. In this case, the search index creation unit 203 configures a “keyword” 1202, “link destination” 1204, and access status (status indicating whether access is possible or impossible) 1205 to the information processing apparatus. A search index 1201 included in the content is created (FIG. 12). This process corresponds to step S3 in FIG.

  Since the search index 1201 shown in FIG. 12 is created based on the information search index data 112 of an information processing apparatus capable of communication, the “access status” column indicates a status where all access is possible (“possible”). ) State. Then, in the process corresponding to step S4 in FIG. 3, the search index update unit 204 updates the search index 1201 with changes in access status, new keywords, link destination information, etc., at predetermined time intervals (FIG. 13). 1301).

  In the search index 1301 shown in FIG. 13, information related to the search for the keyword “pattern” 1302 is added, and the access status to the information processing apparatus 170 that is the search target link destination for the keyword “graphic” is Is updated to “impossible” 1303 indicating a situation where the user cannot perform the above.

  The search result by the search result display unit 208 based on the search index 1301 includes, for example, “link destination” (name and path name of the information processing apparatus) and the information processing apparatus as search results 1401 and 1402 as shown in FIG. Is displayed as information including an “access status” indicating whether or not access is possible.

  Determination information for evaluating whether or not the search destination (link destination) can be accessed as a search result by including information on “disconnection time” and “access status” in the search index created by the search index creation unit 1303 By indicating this to the search source user, it is possible to improve the certainty of the access operation.

(Second Embodiment)
An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to an information processing apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code. The storage of the program code is not limited to the client computer, and can be stored in a computer functioning as a server, for example.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  By providing the access probability as determination information as a parameter for evaluating whether or not the program can be accessed from the disconnection time and the access status by the program provided by the present embodiment and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program, information processing It is possible to determine (understand) the connection status of the device in advance. When performing an information search on an information processing apparatus on the network, it is possible to improve the certainty of the access operation by providing the access probability in combination with the search result.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically showing the configuration of a network controller in the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing to be searched by the information processing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the storage process of electronic information. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network which the information processing apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention connects. In the first embodiment of this invention, it is a figure explaining the search index used in order to perform an information search exemplarily. It is a figure explaining the search index updated after predetermined time progress exemplarily. It is a figure which illustrates the screen display for setting the search condition which a search condition input part performs an input process. In the first embodiment of the present invention, it is a diagram illustrating a display of search results. In the first embodiment of the present invention, an access probability table is exemplarily described. It is a figure which illustrates a search result when access probability falls. In the first embodiment of this invention, it is a figure explaining the search index used in order to perform an information search exemplarily. It is a figure explaining the search index updated after predetermined time progress exemplarily. It is a figure which illustrates the display of a search result.

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus capable of searching for computerized information on a network based on input search conditions,
Search index creation means for creating a search index including information on the type of digitized information stored in information storage means of another information processing apparatus and information on network connection of the other information processing apparatus;
Search index update means for updating the contents of the search index created by the search index creation means at regular intervals;
Based on the information related to the network connection of the search index updated by the search index update means, determination information for evaluating whether or not the other information processing apparatus is accessible is obtained, and the determination information and the input And a search result display means for displaying on the display means a combination of the search result based on the search condition and the search result based on the information on the type of digitized information of the updated search index. The search index creation means transmits a command for requesting information search index data for specifying the type of digitized information stored in the information storage means to another information processing apparatus connected to the network. Based on the response result from the other information processing apparatus, the search index is created by collecting information on the type of digitized information stored in the information storage means and the network connection of the other information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The search index update means transmits a command for requesting the information search index data to another information processing apparatus connected to the network at regular intervals, and based on a response result from the other information processing apparatus The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content of the search index is updated. The search result display means obtains a disconnection time during which the other information processing apparatus is not connected to the network based on information on the updated network connection of the search index, and corresponds to the disconnection time The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein probability information to be displayed is displayed on the display unit as determination information for evaluating whether or not access is possible. An information search method in an information processing apparatus capable of searching for computerized information on a network based on an input search condition,
A search index creating step for creating a search index including information on the type of digitized information stored in the information storage means of another information processing apparatus and information on network connection of the other information processing apparatus;
A search index update step of updating the content of the search index created by the search index creation step at regular intervals;
Based on the information related to the network connection of the search index updated by the search index update step, determination information for evaluating whether or not the other information processing apparatus can be accessed is obtained, and the determination information and the input And a search result display step of displaying a search result based on information related to the type of electronic information of the updated search index and a display result on the display means. The search index creation step transmits a command for requesting information search index data for specifying the type of digitized information stored in the information storage means to another information processing apparatus connected to the network. Based on the response result from the other information processing apparatus, the search index is created by collecting information on the type of digitized information stored in the information storage means and the network connection of the other information processing apparatus. The information retrieval method according to claim 5, wherein: The search index update step transmits a command for requesting the information search index data to another information processing apparatus connected to the network at regular intervals, and based on a response result from the other information processing apparatus The information search method according to claim 5, wherein the content of the search index is updated. The search result display step obtains a disconnection time during which a state in which the other information processing apparatus is not connected to the network continues based on information on the updated network connection of the search index, and corresponds to the disconnection time. 6. The information search method according to claim 5, wherein probability information to be displayed is displayed on the display means as determination information for evaluating whether or not access is possible. A program for causing a computer to execute the information search method according to claim 5. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 9.

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