JP2008310800A - Data base and displaying method for information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a many to many relationship between entities in a database simply on a single screen to control. <P>SOLUTION: The displaying method comprises displaying or inputting of the relationship by displaying instances belonging to the two entities which have the many to many relationship and checkboxes for representing the relationship between the two entities, and selecting the instances or checkboxes by an input device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a database and an information terminal display method, and more particularly to a database system, data model, relationship, relational database, information terminal, display device, operating system, application software, and communication device.

When expressing real-world events on a database and managing them, generally, a logical data model that logically represents events is first created and structured according to the requirements of the database system.

The basis of the logical data model is an entity that is an object to be expressed as a database and a relationship that represents a mutual relationship between the entities. An entity correlation diagram (ER (Entity-Relationship) diagram) or the like is used as a means for logically expressing relationships between a plurality of entities.

The mapping correspondence represented by the relationship existing between entities may be one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many. In structuring the logical data model, normalization generally defines a new entity corresponding to a many-to-many relationship and converts it to a one-to-many or one-to-one relationship. Specifically, a new entity is defined with a composite key that is a combination of two primary keys of both entities having a many-to-many relationship, and the new entity is either 1: 1 or 1 By defining the many-to-many relationship, the many-to-many relationship that existed between the entities is removed.

In this way, normalization eliminates many-to-many relationships from the logical data model, removes non-normal entities with two or more of the same kind of attributes from the data model, and eliminates redundancy. It is structured (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-319629

However, in general, in order to eliminate many-to-many relationships, the number of instances belonging to a newly defined entity is greater than the two entities that made up the many-to-many relationship before normalization. For example, when there is an n: m relationship between an entity A having n instances and an entity B having m instances, and a new entity C is defined for normalization, an instance belonging to the entity C Is a maximum of n × m. If the entity C is a multi-set, the number of instances belonging to the entity C may exceed n × m.

If the user of the database system wants to search and display an instance belonging to the entity B having a relationship with a specific instance belonging to the entity A, the database management system (DBMS) belongs to the entity C. Among the instances, the instance belonging to the entity C having the primary key of the entity A that has received the search request as one of the composite keys is searched and displayed.

On the contrary, when the user of the database system wants to search and display only the instance of the entity A having a relationship with the specific instance belonging to the entity B, the DBMS selects from the instances belonging to the entity C, The instance belonging to the entity C having the primary key of the entity B that has received the search request as the other of the composite keys is retrieved and displayed.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that there is a many-to-many relationship regarding the course as shown in FIG. 1a between the entity “name” and the entity “subject”. Four instances of “Brown”, “Fleming”, “Chen”, and “Smith” are instances belonging to the entity “Name”, and are “Mathematics”, “English”, “Science”, “History”, and “Society”. Five instances belong to the entity “subject”. Therefore, the radix of this relationship is 4 to 5. However, in FIG. 1a, for simplification of the flowchart shown later, each instance belonging to “name” is represented as N (n) and each instance belonging to “subject” is represented as S (n), where n is an integer. Yes. An ER diagram representing this is shown in FIG. 1b. This relationship is converted into two one-to-many relationships from “name” and “subject” to “enrollment” by defining a new entity “enrollment” in the process of normalizing this relationship. FIG. 2 shows an ER diagram representing the substance “enrollment” and FIG. 3 shows a table. Although the redundancy is eliminated by this operation, the number of instances belonging to the newly defined entity “study” is larger than the number of instances belonging to “name” and “subject”.

Therefore, for example, by inputting the command “SELECT * FROM taking;” in the SQL language, an attempt to express the entity “taking” will become complicated as shown in FIG. 3, so it belongs to the entity “taking”. Listing all instances is less common.

Normally, in this state, when a user of this database displays a list of courses taken with the name “Chen”, the entity “Course” is searched using “Chen” as a search key. A table like 4 is displayed. Also, to display a list of people who have taken "Mathematics" and "History", search for the substance "Study" using "Mathematics" and "History" as search keys, and display this in the table shown in indicate. Further, when a many-to-many relationship between “name” and “subject” is input and changed, the relationship is once entered and changed after being displayed with the one-to-many relationship as shown in FIG. However, according to this conventional method, only one-to-many relationships of “name” to “subject” or “subject” to “name” can be displayed on the screen. However, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to display and input, and it is difficult to display the whole image of the many-to-many relationship as shown in FIG.

That is, intuitive display, control, and operation of a many-to-many relationship have been difficult to achieve with a display method using a one-to-many relationship that is generally used in a DBMS.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a display that can simply display and control a many-to-many relationship between entities in a database on one screen. An object is to provide an apparatus method for control.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for storing a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane is displayed in the first pane. A first list consisting of a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed in the second pane, and a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity is displayed in the second pane. When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first display means to display and the first instance group, the database is searched, and the first instance group is searched for each of the second instance groups. When a second display means for displaying a relationship with a specific instance of the first instance and one or more third specific instances from the second instance group are selected, the database Searching in the scan, for each of the first instance group, systems with, a third display means for displaying the relationship between the third specific instance is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for storing a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane is displayed in the first pane. Displays a first list consisting of a first instance group belonging to the first entity, and a second list consisting of the second instance group belonging to the second entity in the second pane. In the display method of the information terminal comprising the first display means for displaying, when one or more first specific instances are selected from the first instance group, the database is searched and the second For each instance group, the relationship with the first specific instance is displayed, and one or more third specific instances are selected from the second instance group Once, searching in the database, for each of the first instance group, the third display method of an information terminal and displaying the relationship between the specific instance is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for storing a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane is displayed in the first pane. A first list consisting of a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed in the second pane, and a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity is displayed in the second pane. When the first specific instance and the second specific instance are selected from the first instance group to be displayed, the database is searched and included in the second instance group, For the third specific instance having the first relationship between the first specific instance and the second specific instance with a first predetermined condition, the first specific instance And the first relationship between the first specific instance and the second specific instance are displayed in a first form, and a second predetermined condition is displayed on the first specific instance and the second specific instance. A second display means for displaying the second relationship with the first specific instance and the second specific instance in a second form for a fourth specific instance having a relationship; Is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for storing a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane is displayed in the first pane. Display a first list of first instance groups belonging to the first entity in the second pane, and display a second list of second instance groups belonging to the second entity in the second pane. When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first display means for displaying and the first instance group, the database is searched, and the first instance group is searched for each of the second instance groups. Second display means for displaying a relationship with a specific instance of the first instance, wherein one or a plurality of the first specific instances are selected from the first instance group, When one or more arbitrary relationships among the relationships between the first specific instance and each of the second instance groups displayed by the second display means are selected, the arbitrary relationships are selected. Is deleted from the database.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a database for storing a relationship between a first entity and a second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane is displayed in the first pane. A first list consisting of a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed in the second pane, and a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity is displayed in the second pane. When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first display means to display and the first instance group, the database is searched, and the first instance group is searched for each of the second instance groups. A second display means for displaying a relationship with the specific instance of the second instance, and the relationship with the first specific instance is included in the second instance group. Selecting third specific instance that does not exist in the serial database system relationship with the first specific instance and the third specific instance, characterized in that it is added to the database is provided.

From another viewpoint, according to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity. And when one or more first instances are selected from the plurality of first instances, the database is searched for each of the plurality of second instances. Determining a first relationship that exists between the selected one or more first instances and selecting one or more second instances from the plurality of second instances. , Search the database and select the one or more second instances selected for each of the plurality of first instances. And a display device for displaying a first pane and a second pane, wherein the first list including the plurality of first instances is displayed. Displaying in the first pane, displaying a second list including the plurality of second instances in the second pane, and displaying the first relationship or the second relationship in the second pane. There is provided a database system comprising a display device for displaying in one pane and the second pane.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity are stored. And when a third instance and a fourth instance are selected from the plurality of first instances, the third instance and the fourth instance are selected from the plurality of second instances. One or a plurality of fifth instances in which a first relationship exists under one predetermined condition is searched from the database, and among the plurality of second instances, the third instance and the fourth instance One or a plurality of sixth instances in which a second relationship exists under a second predetermined condition are added to the database. A display device for displaying a microprocessor to be searched, a first pane and a second pane, wherein a first list including the plurality of first instances is displayed in the first pane, A second list including a plurality of second instances is displayed in the second pane and the third instance and the first instance existing between the fourth instance and the fifth instance; A display device for displaying a relationship in a first form and displaying the second relationship existing in the third instance, the fourth instance and the sixth instance in a second form; , A database system is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity are stored. A database to display, a first pane and a second pane, a first list including the plurality of first instances in the first pane, and the plurality in the second pane In the display method of the information terminal having the display device that displays the second list including the second instance, the database is selected when one or more first instances are selected from the plurality of first instances. For each of the plurality of second instances, the first relationship existing between the selected one or more first instances. The first relationship is displayed on the display device, and when one or more second instances are selected from the plurality of second instances, the database is searched, For each of the one instance, a second relationship existing between the selected one or more second instances is obtained, and the second relationship is displayed on the display device. An information terminal display method is provided.

In the information terminal for display and control of the present invention, the many-to-many relationship between entities in the database is simply displayed on one screen, and the many-to-many relationship can be easily controlled and operated. Can do.

The best mode currently conceivable for carrying out the present invention will be described below. Since the scope of the present invention is clearly defined by the appended claims, this description should not be construed in a limiting sense, but merely to illustrate the general principles of the invention.

The present invention can be used in various information terminals or communication terminals. The information terminal or communication terminal used here may be anything such as a personal computer, a server, a portable information terminal, a wired telephone, a cellular phone, a game machine, a television, a video recorder, a camera, a video camera, and a portable music player. The display device can use a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI), and can be used to control objects on the GUI, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch sensor, Any device with an input device such as a graphic tablet, trackball, or joystick may be used.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each element constituting the hardware cooperates with software for displaying, controlling, and operating a many-to-many relationship in a database (hereinafter referred to as a many-to-many RMS). By doing so, the effect can be obtained. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing constituent elements of an information terminal as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the information terminal shown in FIG. 6 is typical, but this should not be interpreted in a limited manner and can be changed according to a specific embodiment. For example, in addition to these, other peripheral devices such as an optical disk storage medium, an audio input / output device, a printer, and a similar device may be connected. The main function of the information terminal may be anything such as information storage, processing, communication with other terminals and servers, and information relay in the network.
(Embodiment 1)

First, an overview of a many-to-many relationship display and input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 6 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 13, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 17 show how the method executed in each step in FIG. 7 is realized in cooperation with the hardware resource shown as an example in FIG. 6. This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In an example of an embodiment according to the present invention, the information terminal includes a microprocessor 601, and all processing described below is performed by operating the application software loaded in the main storage device 604 and the main storage device 604. The procedure is communicated to the system 605, which is executed by instructing the microprocessor through the bus 603.

First, in a state where the operating system 605 is loaded into the main storage device 604, a many-to-many RMS 606 stored in the external storage device is loaded into the main storage device 604. Here, when the user of the information terminal designates information to be displayed or controlled from the course subject database 614 stored in the external storage device 602 through an input device such as the keyboard 608 or the mouse 609, The to-many RMS loads a part or all of the information related to the entity and the relationship including the instructed information into the main storage device 604. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the information loaded here is referred to as a course table 610. In this state, the many-to-many RMS 606 is displayed on the graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI) 613 displayed on the display device 612 in the many-to-many RMS window 615 as an example shown in FIG. Each instance belonging to the “name” and the entity “subject” is displayed as shown in FIG. 8, for example (step S701).

That is, in the many-to-many RMS window 615, three areas having the headings “school year”, “name”, and “subject” are provided. In the area having the heading “school year”, a list including “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4”, which are instances belonging to the entity of the school year, is displayed. In the area having the heading “Name”, a list including “Brown”, “Fleming”, “Chen”, and “Smith”, which are instances belonging to the entity “Name”, is displayed. In the area having the heading “Course”, a list including “Mathematics”, “English”, “Science”, “History”, and “Society” which are instances belonging to the subject “Subject” is displayed. In this way, an area in which instances belonging to an entity are displayed is referred to as a “pane”. A pane is an area obtained by dividing it by a single window border. The border may not be explicitly displayed. The pane may not display a heading. Even if a headline is displayed, the headline may not be displayed above the instance, but may be displayed beside or displayed below. A pane is realized as a subwindow within a window. Alternatively, one pane may be realized by one window.

  In the following description, there is a case where a pane and an entity in which an instance is displayed are identified with each other. For example, “a pane in which an instance belonging to the entity E is displayed” may be simply expressed as “entity E”.

Subsequently, the user of the information terminal selects one or more arbitrary instances belonging to “name” or “subject” from the displayed instances (step S702). For example, a mouse click operation is performed on the display of one or a plurality of instances belonging to “name”. Then, an area where a mark can be displayed is displayed in each instance belonging to “subject” which is the other entity that is not the entity “name” to which the selected instance belongs. For example, a check box is displayed (step S704 or S708). A program that realizes a many-to-many RMS operates a microprocessor to display an instance belonging to a “subject” that has a relationship with an instance belonging to the selected “name” in the course table. This is obtained by searching (step S705 or S721).

Here, the “subject” instance that has a relationship with the “name” instance is a combination of an instance belonging to “name” and an instance of “subject” (tuple or record). Exists in the class table 610. In addition, each combination of the instance belonging to “name” and the “subject” instance existing in the course table 610 is related to the relationship existing between that instance belonging to “name” and that instance of “subject”. That's it. Therefore, in step S705 or S721, for each instance of the selected “name”, the microprocessor searches for a combination having the instance in the “name” column among the combinations existing in the course table. The value of the “subject” column is read from the combination. Note that an “instance belonging to an entity” may be expressed as an “entity instance”.

For example, in FIG. 6, a tuple of “Brown: N (0)” and “Mathematics: S (0)” is present in the first row of the course table 610. Therefore, there is a relationship between “Brown” and “Mathematics”. Alternatively, it can be said that “mathematics” is an instance of a subject that has a relationship with “Brown”. In addition, an expression that “mathematics” is associated with “Brown” can also be used. Conversely, the expression “Brown” is associated with “mathematics” can be used.

As a result, a mark is displayed inside the check mark displayed corresponding to the instance of the subject that has a relationship with the instance of the selected name (step S706 or S722). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9a, the instance “Chen” in the entity “name” is selected, and as a result, “English”, “history”, and “society” are highlighted in the instance of the entity “subject”. Is displayed on the sub-pane 84 for displaying the relationship of “Enrollment”. This indicates that “Chen” has taken “English”, “History”, and “Society” as shown in the course table 610 of FIGS. In addition, the check boxes on the left side of “Mathematics” and “Science” are empty, indicating that “Mathematics” and “Science” are not taken by “Chen”. The sub-pane 84 is an area obtained by further dividing the inside of the pane 83 with a boundary line. However, the “Study” relationship is not limited to being displayed in the sub-pane. For example, the English, history, and social subject names displayed by Chen can be displayed in any way, such as by changing the font. You may make it emphasize.

A plurality of instances may be selected. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9B, two instances of “Brown” in addition to “Chen” are selected from the entity “Name”. Even in this case, the existence of the relationship between the “subject” instances is displayed for these two instances by the same steps as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 9b, all the instances of “name” selected by the check mark “re” 96 to the left of “history”, here both “Brown” and “Chen”, "" Indicates that the course has been taken. Also, for example, a check mark “-” 98 attached to the left side of “Mathematics” indicates that “Mathematics” has been taken only by a part of the selected instance of “Name”, in this case, “Brown”. ing. Details of the above steps will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

Still further, for example, from the state of FIG. 9a, the user of this information terminal always moves one or more other ones displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615 by moving the cursor 618 using the mouse 609 or the like. By selecting an arbitrary instance, it is also possible to display relationships that exist with other instances, including the reverse direction. For example, from the state shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b, as in the example shown in FIG. 10, “mathematics” is selected from the pane 83 in which the instance of the entity “subject” displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615 is displayed. 103 and “History” 102 can be selected. Then, in the same manner as when the instance belonging to the entity “subject” is highlighted and displayed (steps S 708, S 709, and S 710), there is a relation to the instance belonging to the entity “name” (steps S 708, S 709, and S 710). The instances that belong to the entity “name” and that have a relationship with the instances that belong to “subject” are displayed. Thereby, the many-to-many relationship in the reverse direction can be displayed. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, a check mark “” 104 displayed on the left side of “Brown” indicates that both “Mathematics” and “English” are taken by “Brown”. Also, for example, the check mark “-” 105 displayed on the left side of “Fleming” indicates that Fleming is a part of the selected entity “subject”, that is, in this case either “mathematics” or “history”. Indicates that you are taking. Details of the above steps will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS.

As described above, in the information terminal according to the present invention, the user of the information terminal moves the cursor 618 of the GUI 613 on the display device 612 using the mouse 609 or the like, and selects between the two entities only once. Many-to-many relationships can be easily displayed in both directions.

Further, according to the present invention, not only can a many-to-many relationship between two entities be displayed in both directions, but also an input for changing the relationship can be easily performed through the GUI 613. . For example, the following description will be given starting from the state shown in FIG. 9b. In the state of FIG. 9b, the user of this information terminal moves the cursor to the display of the check box 99 on the left side of the science by using the mouse 609, and clicks by pressing the button here (step S708). Here, since this check box is empty before clicking (step S709), “re” is displayed in this check box (step S710), and as a result, the many-to-many RMS window is in the state shown in FIG. Further, a combination of two instances “Brown” and “Chen” of the entity “name” selected in step S701, that is, {Brown ”,“ Science ”} and {“ Chen ”,“ Science ”}, It adds to the above-mentioned course table 610 (step S711). Details of the above steps will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

Further, in this state, the user of this information terminal can select whether to input (add) or change the relationship displayed subsequently or to display another relationship (step S713). For example, when the relationship is continuously input, the user of the information terminal moves the cursor with the mouse 609 to the display of the check box 96 on the left side of “History” in the state of FIG. Here, the button is clicked by pressing the button down (step S708). Here, since “re” is displayed in this check box before the click (step S709), “re” in the check box is deleted (step S714), and as a result, the many-to-many RMS window is displayed in FIG. The state shown in FIG. Next, when another relationship is to be displayed, the process returns to step S702 from step S713 in FIG. This selection of input or display can be easily selected by clicking one of the check boxes on the many-to-many RMS window GUI or selecting any instance. Details of the above steps will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 18.

In the present embodiment, the check marks “re” and “−” are merely examples of symbols indicating relationships between entities, and the check marks displayed in the check boxes include other symbols, icons, It may be anything such as image data, letters or numbers. For example, in FIG. 10, instead of the check marks “Re” and “−”, in the check box on the left side of each instance of the entity “Name”, the number of subjects taken by each name is expressed by a number. Similarly, by the method of displaying, a many-to-many relationship between two entities can be easily displayed in both directions. In addition, the check boxes used for the display and control of the many-to-many relationship between entities do not have to be so-called check boxes, and can be anything such as windows, icons, and figures that can be selected or input. Good.

In the explanation with reference to FIG. 6 so far, the basic principle of the present invention is explained using an example in which the many-to-many RMS program and the course table exist on the main storage device of the information terminal. However, it may exist in any storage device in the server connected to the other end of the network via the communication device 620. In this case, when the user of the information terminal performs an operation of selecting or clicking an instance or a check box displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 613 by operating the keyboard 608 or the mouse 609, The web browser converts it into a command and sends it to the server via the communication device 620. Upon receiving this, the server searches, adds, deletes, or changes the registration table in the storage device in the same procedure as the above steps, and displays the many-to-many RMS window again. Send to this information terminal through the network. The information terminal that has received the information by the communication device 620 displays the many-to-many RMS window as described above on the GUI 613 of the display device by the web browser 621.

Next, how the method executed in each step shown in FIG. 7 is realized in cooperation with the hardware resource shown as an example in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 16, 17, and 18.

First, steps up to selecting an arbitrary instance will be described with reference to FIG. In a state where the operating system 605 is loaded into the main storage device 604, a many-to-many RMS 606 stored in the external storage device is loaded into the main storage device 604. Here, when the user of the information terminal designates information to be displayed or controlled from the course subject database 614 stored in the external storage device 602 through an input device such as the keyboard 608 or the mouse 609, The to-many RMS loads a part or all of the information related to the entity and the relationship including the instructed information into the main storage device 604. In the example shown in FIG. 6, first, a user of this information terminal follows the instruction of the many-to-many RMS 606 in the graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI) 613 displayed on the display device 612 by the display control device 611. The item 617 representing the fourth grade is selected with the mouse 609 from the grade selection window 616 in the many-to-many RMS window 615 for displaying the relationship of the classes displayed in FIG. (Step S1301). Then, the many-to-many RMS 606 searches the course storage database 614 stored in the external storage device 602 for the names of the 4th grade and the courses taken by the students of the 4th grade, and these are searched for in the main storage 604. And stored as a course table 610 (step S1302). Next, the instance of the entity “name” and the instance of the entity “subject” represented by the course table 610 on the main storage device 604 are displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615 in the GUI 614 (step S1303). Here, all instances of the entities “name” and “subject” may be displayed, or some selection window is further displayed, and operations for this are narrowed down from records in the study table 610 Above, any part of each entity instance may be displayed. In this state, the many-to-many relationship between these two entities is not displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615. Here, integer variables i, k, and r to be used for the following repetitive process are declared (step S1304). These are variables used for the name N (i), the subject S (k), and the record number in the course table 610, respectively. In addition, an integer array for use in GUI display in later processing, FS (k) (however, in the example of FIG. 6, k = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4), and FN (i) (however, an example of FIG. 6) Then, i = 0, 1, 2, 3) are also declared. FS (k) is a flag associated with each instance of the subject. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, FS (3) is a flag associated with the instance “history” of the subject. Similarly, FN (i) is a flag associated with each instance of the name. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, FN (2) is a flag associated with the instance named “Chen”.

Next, the user of this terminal can select any n instances of the entity “name” displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615 or any n instances of the entity “subject”. Either one is selected by operating the mouse 609 and moving the cursor 618 on the GUI 613 on the GUI (step S1305). Then, a check box associated with each instance of the other entity that is not the selected entity is displayed (steps S1306 and S1307). In the example shown in FIG. 9A, the user of this information terminal operates the mouse 609 to move the cursor 618 on the GUI 613 on the GUI, and the pane 81 in which the instance belonging to the entity “name” is displayed is displayed. “Chen” 92 is selected from the four displayed instances (step S1305). As described above, in the many-to-many RMS window 615, an arbitrary number of instances can be selected from the pane 81 in which instances belonging to the entity “name” are displayed. FIG. 9a shows an example of them. It is only shown and n = 1 in the example of FIG. 9a. In the example of FIG. 9a, since an instance of “name” is selected, each instance of “subject”, ie, “mathematics”, “English”, “science”, “national language”, and “society”, is selected. A check box corresponding to the left side is displayed (step S1306). In the example of FIG. 9a, since the selected instance is the entity “name”, the next processing moves to FIG.

Next, using the example shown in FIG. 14, a check mark is displayed in the check box displayed on the left side of the entity “subject” in the above step, and the relationship between the entity “name” and the entity “subject” is displayed. The steps for displaying are described. First, FS (k) is initialized to 0 for variables i, k, r, and all k for the iterative processing (step S1402). As described above, in the example illustrated in FIG. 9A, “Chen” is selected, but according to the course table 610, “Chen” is N (2). Therefore, the first branch (step S1403) is true only in the case of i = 2 representing "Chen" in the iterative process by the branch (step S1409) related to i starting from i = 0 and the increment process (S1404). It is. Accordingly, only in this case, N (2) that is “Chen” is obtained by the iterative process for r, which includes the second branch (step S1405), the increment process for r (step S1407), and the third branch (step S1408). ) Is retrieved from the course table 610 on the main storage device 604. If a record r that matches N (2), which is Chen, is found in the instance T1 (r) with the name in the course table 610, the second branch (step S1405) becomes true, and the subject in that record is found. The value of FS (k) associated with T2 (r) is incremented by 1 (step S1406). That is, the value of k satisfying S (k) = T2 (r) is obtained, and 1 is added to the value of F (k) to obtain the next value of F (k). In the example shown in FIG. 9a, N (2), “Chen”, finds a match at r = 3, 4, and 5 in the fourth grade table, referring to FIG. For this reason, flags FS (1), FS () associated with each of the subjects “English” S (1), “History” S (3), and “Society” S (4) in each found record. 3) and FS (4) are each incremented by one. As a result, in the example illustrated in FIG. 9A, as a result of the above processing, the flags associated with each instance of “subject” are FS (0) = FS (2) = 0, and FS (1) = FS ( 3) = FS (4) = 1. The above is the processing for searching the correspondence table 610 in the main storage device 604 for mapping of the selected instance “Chen” to the entity “subject” (step S705).

Next, the process proceeds to a process of displaying the retrieved mapping correspondence in the many-to-many RMS window 615 in the GUI on the display device. By performing the following process for all the entities “subjects” by the iterative process starting from k = 0 by the increment process (step S1415) and the sixth branch (step S1416) for k, the selected instance “Chen The relationship existing between the instance of the entity “subject” with respect to the entity “name” to which “” belongs is displayed. First, in the fourth branch (step S1410), if the conditional expression FS (k) = 0 is true, the check to the left of the “subject” instance S (k) in the many-to-many RMS window 615 Do not check any of the boxes. If there is any check, it is deleted (step S1412). This represents that the name represented by the instance of the entity “name” selected in step S1305 does not take the subject S (k). If the conditional expression FS (k) = 0 is false, it is checked in the fifth branch (step S1411) whether FS (k) = n. Since n is the number of names selected in step S1305, if the conditional expression of the fifth branch is true, check the instance S (k) of “subject” in the many-to-many RMS window 615. A check mark “re” is displayed in the box (step S1413). This represents that all of the people selected in step S1305 have taken the subject S (k). If the conditional expression of the fifth branch is false, the check box to the left of the check box S (k) of the “subject” instance S (k) in the many-to-many RMS window 615 has a check mark. “-” Is displayed (step S1414). This represents that some of the people selected in step S702 have taken the subject S (k). In the example shown in FIG. 9a, the number of selected people is only “Chen” and n = 1, and FS (0) = FS (2) = 0 and FS (1) = FS (3) as described above. = FS (4) = 1, check boxes 95, 96, and 97 displayed to the left of “English”, “History”, and “Society” in FIG. Nothing is displayed in the check boxes 98 and 99 displayed to the left of “Mathematics” and “Science”, respectively. In this way, the relationship is displayed in the many-to-many RMS window as shown in FIG. 9a. Note that the algorithm for searching and displaying the check mark is not limited to that shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, and any algorithm can be used as long as the display shown in FIG.

For example, instead of using an array of FS and FN, an algorithm that performs a search and displays a check mark or the like by a set operation realized by a relational database system may be used. In FIG. 9b, a set of subjects that the selected Brown is taking is obtained, a set of subjects that the selected Chen is taking is obtained, and the history included in the intersection set of those sets is marked with “L”. May be used to mark the mathematics, English, and society included in the set obtained by subtracting the product set from the union of those sets.

In addition, according to the present invention, in the state in which the subjects for which “Chen” is taken are displayed by check marks as shown in FIG. It is possible to display easily without performing the operation for. If “continue” is selected in the seventh branch (step S1417) in FIG. 14 and a new display is selected in the eighth branch (step S1418), the selection operation (step S702 or S1305) in FIG. Jump to). Note that these steps S1417 and S1408 do not require an explicit operation by the user of this information terminal, and are simply displayed by selecting an arbitrary instance displayed in the many-to-many RMS window. That is, it becomes a jump to FIG. 13, and if an arbitrary check box is clicked, it will become an input, ie, a jump to FIG.

In the present invention, a plurality of instances can be selected and their mapping correspondences can be displayed on the GUI on the display device. In the example shown in FIG. 9b, the state shown in FIG. 9a is further shifted to the selection operation (in step S1305) in FIG. 13, the mouse 609 is operated, and the cursor 618 on the GUI 613 displayed on the display device 612 is moved. In addition to “Chen”, “Brown” is selected. As described above, as a method for selecting a plurality of users on the GUI, a method of clicking “Brown” with the mouse while pressing any key of the keyboard, or a method for selecting an instance of “Name” on the GUI 613 is used. There is a method of generating another window and inputting it with a mouse or a keyboard.

Referring to FIG. 14 again, in the example shown in FIG. 9B, N (0) and N (2) representing “Brown” and “Chen” are selected, and n = 2. Also in this example, mapping correspondence to the entity “subject” of the selected instances “Chen” and “Brown” is stored in the main storage device 604 by the search processing S705 from step S1402 to S1409 in exactly the same manner as the above processing. As a result of retrieval from a certain course table 610, the following is obtained. The flags associated with each instance of the entity “subject” are “Mathematics” FS (0) = 1, “English” FS (1) = 1, “Science” FS (2) = 0, “History” Is FS (3) = 2, and “Society” is FS (4) = 1.

Further, based on these search results, a screen as shown in FIG. 9B is displayed in the many-to-many RMS window 615 displayed on the GUI 613 on the display device 612 by each step of the display processing S706 shown in FIG. . Here, among the items representing instances of the entity “subject”, a check mark “” is displayed in the check box 96 to the left of “history”. This means that both “Brown” and “Chen” have taken “History”. In addition, no check mark is displayed in the check box 99 on the left of “Science”, which indicates that neither “Brown” nor “Chen” has taken “Science”. On the other hand, a check mark “-” is displayed in each check box 88, 85, and 87 to the left of “Mathematics”, “English”, and “Society”, which are “Brown” and “Chen”. Indicates that one of these subjects is taking these subjects.

As shown in FIG. 9 so far, the user of this information terminal selects the one or more instances of the entity “name”, thereby the relationship of each instance to each instance of the entity “subject”. That is, in the example of FIG. 9, subjects that each name has taken can be easily displayed in a many-to-many RMS window 615 on the GUI.

At any time in this state, the user of this information terminal can select one or more arbitrary instances of the entity “subject” by operating the mouse 609 or the like and moving the cursor 618. For example, in the GUI shown in FIG. 10, the user of this information terminal selects two items “mathematics” and “history” from the instances of the entity “subject” by operating the mouse. (Step S1305). Referring to FIG. 13 again, since the instance of “subject” is selected here, check boxes 104, 105, 106, and 107 corresponding to the left side of each instance of the entity “name” are displayed in the pane. 101 is displayed (step S1307).

The subsequent processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. However, the detailed steps of the process are almost the same as the steps in the case of selecting an arbitrary instance of the entity “name” and displaying the mapping correspondence to the entity “subject” described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the example shown in FIG. 10, “Mathematics” and “History” are selected on the many-to-many RMS window 615. Therefore, in the first branch of FIG. 15 (step S1501), only when k = 0 and k = 3 is true, a search is made in the study table on the main storage device 604 after the second branch. (Step S1502) The flag associated with the name of the matched record is incremented (Step S1503). As a result of the series of search processes (step S705), in the example shown in FIG. 10, the flags associated with each instance of the entity “name” are “Brown” with FN (0) = 2 and “Fleming” with NF ( 1) = 1, “Chen” is NF (2) = 1, and “Smith” is NF (3) = 0.

Further, based on these search results, the instance of the entity “name” of the many-to-many RMS window 615 displayed on the GUI 613 on the display device 612 is displayed by each step of the display process (step S706) shown in FIG. Among the items to be represented, a check mark “” is displayed in the check box 104 to the left of “Brown”. This means that “Brown” has taken both “Mathematics” and “History”. In addition, check marks “-” are displayed in the check boxes 105 and 106 to the left of “Fleming” and “Chen”. This means that “Fleming” and “Chen” have taken either “Mathematics” or “History”. Further, no check mark is displayed in the check box 107 on the left side of “Smith”. This means that “Smith” has not taken either “Mathematics” or “History”.

Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 10, the user of this information terminal always sends one or more arbitrary instances of the entity “name” or one or more arbitrary instances of the entity “subject” to the mouse 609 or the like. Can be selected by moving the cursor 618 on the GUI 613. This indicates that transition from the eighth branch (step S1518) shown in FIG. 15 to step S1305 shown in FIG. 13 can be made at any time.

The method for flexibly displaying the many-to-many relationship in the database table on the main storage device in the present embodiment has been described. According to this, one or a plurality of relationships existing between arbitrary instances between two entities having a many-to-many relationship can be displayed flexibly and simply. Next, the method according to the present invention is used to display not only the many-to-many relationships displayed in each of the above steps, but also to change or display new relationships between displayed entities using a keyboard, A method of inputting data using a mouse or the like and changing the table on the main storage device will be described.

For example, in the examples shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, as described above, the user of this information terminal uses the mouse 609 or the like to make many instances of the entity “name” or the entity “subject”. When the selection is made on the to-many RMS window 615, the display is selected in the seventh branch (step S1418 or S1518) in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15, and the process jumps to step S1305 in FIG. The mapping correspondence to an instance of the entity “subject” or vice versa can be displayed.

However, on the other hand, in each example shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15, the user of this information terminal uses the mouse 609 or the like to click the check box instead of each “name” or “subject” instance. Allows you to change the relationship between the displayed entities or enter a new relationship.

Referring again to FIG. 9b, now, as a result of the selection of “Brown” and “Chen” among the instances of the entity “name” on the display device, the data of the study table on the main storage device is used. In addition, a check mark “Le” is displayed for “History”, a check mark “−” is displayed for “Mathematics”, “English”, and “Society”, and no check mark is displayed for “Science”. This means that, for example, the selected “Brown” and “Chen” have not taken “Science”.

In this state, if the user of this information terminal wants to additionally input a new relationship that both “Brown” and “Chen” take “Science”, the user operates the mouse 609 to move the cursor on the GUI 613. 618 is moved onto the check box 99 on the left side of “Science”, and the mouse button is clicked by pressing it down (step S1601). In the state of FIG. 9b, nothing is displayed in this check box, so the check mark “re” is displayed in the check box selected above through the first and second branches in FIG. 16 (step S1302). ), The state shown in FIG. 11 is obtained. By this operation, in the many-to-many RMS window 615 on the GUI 613, a relationship that “Bronw” and “Chen” have taken “Science” is newly entered and displayed, but it is on the main memory. These relationships have not been added to the course table at this point.

Next, with reference to FIG. 17, a method of adding the relationship change to the course table on the main memory will be described. First, the iteration variables i and r for each instance of “name” and each record in the course table are initialized to 0 (step S1701). Next, in the first branch (step S1702), the sixth branch (step S1712), and the iterative process by the increment process for i (step S1703), only the name N (i) selected in S1305 has the following records: Perform additional processing. In the example shown in FIG. 11, since “Brown” and “Chen” are selected, the following processing is performed only for these two instances.

Next, a flag Flg for determining whether or not a record representing the relationship to be searched exists in the current course table 610 is initialized to 0 (step S1704). The “name” is the instance selected in step S1305 by the repetition processing by the second branch (step S1705), the fourth branch (step S1709), and the increment processing (step S1708) regarding r, and the instance A record r in which the “subject” being taken is the instance S (a) selected in step S1601 is searched from the course table (steps S1705 and S1706). If such a record is found, 1 is assigned to the flag Flg (step S1707). At each iteration of r, the many-to-many RMS verifies the value of Flg (step S1710). If such a record is not found, the record {N (i), S ( a)} is added (step S1711). In the example shown in FIG. 11, {N (i) = “Brown”, S for the instance “science” of the entity “subject” to which the check mark “re” is added in step S1602 in the course table 610 in FIG. Since the two records (a) = “Science”} and {N (i) = “Chen”, S (a) = “Science”} are not searched, these two records are stored in the main storage device 604. It is added to the stored course table 610.

The above is a method for adding a check mark to the subject table on the main storage device by clicking on an instance of “subject” without a check mark with the mouse in the present invention to add a check mark. is there. In the same way, if a check mark “-” is attached, click the check box of the “subject” instance that maps to some of the multiple instances of “name” selected with the mouse. Then, a check mark can be added and the mapping correspondence can be corrected in the course table on the main memory.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 11, a check mark “-” is displayed in the check box on the left of mathematics in a state where the instances “Brown” and “Chen” of the entity “name” are selected. This represents a relationship in which either “Brown” or “Chen” has taken “Mathematics”. Suppose that the user of this information terminal wants to change the relationship corresponding to the entity “taken” to a relationship in which both “Brown” and “Chen” have taken “Mathematics”. The user of this information terminal operates the mouse 609 to move the cursor 618 on the GUI 613 onto the check box to the left of “Mathematics”, and clicks it by pressing the mouse button once (step S1601). ). Also in this case, as a result of the two branch processings shown in FIG.

Next, referring to FIG. 17 again, similar to the step of adding the relationship of “Brown” and “Chen”, iterative processing relating to the record of the name and the study table is performed, and it is stored in the main storage device 604 shown in FIG. A record of {N (i) = “Chen”, S (a) = “Mathematics”} that is not in a certain study table 610 is added. In this case, since the record of {N (i) = “Brown”, S (a) = “Mathematics”} exists in the study table 610 with r = 0, as a result of substituting 1 for Flg in step S1707, the study is completed. Processing to be added to the table 610 (step S1711) is not executed.

Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 11, in the state where the instances “Brown” and “Chen” of the entity “Name” are selected, the check mark “Re” is displayed in the check box to the left of “History”. Has been. This represents a relationship in which both “Brown” and “Chen” have taken “History”. Suppose that the user of this information terminal wants to delete this relationship and change the status so that both names have not taken “History”. The user of this information terminal operates the mouse 609 to move the cursor 618 on the GUI 613 onto the check box to the left of “History”, and clicks the mouse by pressing the mouse button once (step S1601). ). Then, the many-to-many RMS 606 empties the check box to the left of “history” as a result of the branching process shown in FIG. 16 (step S1603).

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, a method of reflecting the change in the relationship on the course table on the main storage device will be described. First, the iteration variables i and r for each instance of “name” and each record in the course table are initialized to 0 (step S1801). Next, the first branch (step S1802), the fifth branch (step S1809), and the iterative process for N (i) by the increment process (step S1803) for i are selected in step S702 or step S1305. The following record addition processing is performed only for the name N (i). In the example shown in FIG. 11, since “Brown” and “Chen” are selected, the following processing is performed only for these two instances.

Next, the relation between the instance of the entity “name” selected in step S702 or step S1305 and the instance S (a) of the entity “subject” selected in step S708 or step S1601 is stored in the current course table 610. Whether or not a record representing a ship exists is searched by the iterative process regarding r by the second branch (step S1804), the fourth branch (step S1808), and the increment process (step S107). In the example shown in FIG. 11, as a result of clicking the “history” check box in step S1601, {N (i) = “Brown”, S (a) = “History”}, and r = The two {N (i) = “Chen”, S (a) = “History”} that are 4 are retrieved by the branch of the third branch (step S1805), and these are stored in the main memory 604. It is deleted from the course table 610 (step S1806).

In addition, in step S708 of FIG. 7 which is the schematic diagram, details of the case where any one check box is clicked in the “subject” instance will be described with reference to FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. did. On the other hand, in step S724 of FIG. 7, the case where one arbitrary check box is clicked in the instance of “name” is the same as this, and the description thereof is omitted.

According to the present invention, the following two effects can be obtained as compared with the conventional method.

The first effect is that a many-to-many relationship between two entities can be displayed in a simple and bi-directional manner, such as a single mouse button click. Now consider the relationship between the two entities of "name" and "subject". For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, according to the conventional method, in order to display the relationship from “name” to “subject”, “Chen” is used as a search key and the fourth grade on the main memory 604 is displayed. By searching the course table 610, it was necessary to display the result as shown in FIG. 4 on the display device. The content displayed here is equivalent to FIG. 9a according to the present invention. The effect of the present invention compared to the conventional method is that, from this state, when displaying the mapping correspondence in the reverse direction from “subject” to “name”, the operation by the user of the information terminal becomes simple, In addition, simple display is possible.

For example, according to the conventional method, when it is desired to obtain a list of people who have taken "Mathematics" and "History" from the state shown in FIG. It has been necessary to explicitly perform the operation of searching the fourth grade register table 610 using “English” and “English” as search keys, using the keyboard 608 and the mouse 609. For example, according to the conventional method, after calling the inquiry screen from the state shown in FIG. 4, for example, “SELECT name FROM 4th grade table WHERE subject = 'mathematics'OR'history'; It was necessary to display a table as shown in FIG. However, according to the present invention, when it is desired to obtain a list of people who have taken “Mathematics” and “History” from the state of FIG. 9a corresponding to FIG. Without calling up the screen, simply selecting “Mathematics” and “History” in the many-to-many RMS window 615 on the GUI 613 from the entity “subject” to the entity “name” as shown in FIG. The relationship in the opposite direction to that of FIG. 9a is displayed. The contents displayed in FIGS. 5 and 9b are equivalent. That is, in two entities having a many-to-many relationship, the relationship in one direction can be displayed with one click from the state in which the relationship from one entity to the other entity is displayed. As a result, compared with the conventional method, there is an effect that the user of this information terminal can understand a complicated relationship between two entities while moving back and forth between the two relationships.

The second effect is that a many-to-many relationship between two entities can be added, deleted, or changed with a simple operation such as two mouse button clicks and in both directions. According to the conventional method, for example, after first searching for “Chen” and displaying FIG. 4, a new window for adding, deleting, or changing relationships is displayed, and input is made for an object in the window. It was necessary to change the relationship by doing so. In the method according to the present invention, from the state of FIG. 7, first, “Chen” is selected by clicking with the mouse, and then the check box displayed in each of the subject instances is also clicked with the mouse. Any operation can add, delete, or change any relationship from the entity “name” to the entity “subject” or vice versa.

As described above, the basic principle of the present invention has been described by taking as an example the many-to-many relationship between “entrance” between two entities “name” and “subject”. It can also be used to display relationships between entities or to input data into a database using an input device. The information handled here may be any character information, image information, numerical value, or the like. In the example of FIG. 19a, a many-to-many relationship between the entity “photo” 1901 and the entity “disclosed” 1903 is displayed on the display device by the method according to the present invention. The user of the information terminal operates the mouse or the like to move the cursor 1909 on the display device and selects “Lake” 1908, which is one of the instances of the entity “Photo”. Among the two displayed instances, a check mark “re” is displayed in a check box 1907 displayed to the left of “Tomohisa Ota”. This indicates that the user of this information terminal has disclosed the photograph of “Lake” to “Tomohisa Ota”.

At any time in this state, the user of this information terminal can move the cursor by operating a mouse or the like to select an arbitrary instance of “disclosed”. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 19b, as a result of the user of this information terminal selecting “Bethy Thomas” 1910 and “Tomohisa Ota” 1911 which are instances of the entity “disclosed”, each instance of the entity “photo” is selected. A check box is displayed on the left, and a relationship is displayed by a check mark. In the example shown in FIG. 19b, since no check mark is displayed in the check box 1912, the “museum” which is an instance of the entity “photo” is not disclosed in both names, and the check box 1913 contains Since a check mark “−” is displayed, “Lake” is disclosed in a part of both names, and a check mark “L” is displayed in the check box 1914. Both names are disclosed.

In this way, by applying the present invention to the two entities “photograph” and “disclosure destination”, the relationship “which is a photo disclosed to a specific person” and the opposite direction to it are obtained. A bidirectional relationship of “who is disclosing a particular photo” can be freely displayed with a single mouse click. For this reason, the user of the information terminal of the present invention can easily grasp the overall image of the complex many-to-many relationship between the disclosure subject and the disclosure person, and easily add, change, and delete the relationship as well. It can be done.

Furthermore, each instance of the many-to-many RMS window may include an independent instance narrowing window. In the example shown in FIG. 19, an entity “photo” is provided with a narrowing window 1902 for narrowing down using a keyword associated with each instance, and by operating this, a window 1901 for the instance of the entity “photo” is displayed. You can narrow down the photos to be displayed. Similarly, the entity “disclosure destination” also includes a window 1904 for narrowing down using a keyword associated with each instance, thereby narrowing down the name displayed on the instance display 1903 for the entity “disclosure destination”. it can. Although the narrowing operation of each entity is independent, the method for displaying and inputting the relationship between each displayed instance is executed by the information terminal according to the present invention according to the steps described above.

(Embodiment 2)
According to an example of another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display on the display device after narrowing down only the information required by the user of the information terminal from a large number of information with a simple operation. Hereinafter, as an example of the embodiment of the present invention, a contact name narrowing-down method in a telephone directory or an address book will be described.

According to the current method, the following two methods are widely used as methods for narrowing down information necessary for the user of the information terminal from a large amount of information (hereinafter referred to as an instance) existing on the database.

In the first conventional method, each instance is classified and managed in a classification destination (hereinafter referred to as a folder) having a tree structure, and when the information terminal user narrows down necessary information, the tree structure This is a method of reducing the number of instances to be displayed on the display device by tracing from top to bottom. For example, in the database having the tree structure in the example shown in FIG. 20, in order to search for “Johnson” 2001 belonging to the sales department, a GUI representing the tree structure illustrated in FIG. When selecting “Sales Department” by operating the mouse or the like and moving the cursor 2102 and selecting each list in order from the top level, the “Name” column 2104 belongs to “Sales Department”. “Brown” and “Johnson” are displayed.

This first conventional method is an excellent method with high searchability, in which the upper major classification is selected in order and the lower minor classification is sequentially selected. However, in an actual database, for example, as in “Frank” 2002 shown in FIG. 20, when one instance belongs to a plurality of classification destinations, there is a problem that it is difficult to narrow down and perform classification operations. For example, in a database having a tree structure, it cannot be recognized that three “Frank” 2002 shown in FIG. 20 are the same instance.

A second conventional method used to solve this problem is called tagging. This is a method of storing each instance of a name in the database with one or more tags and retrieving it. In this tagging, the information shown in FIG. 20 is stored in a database in the form shown in FIG. 22, for example. For example, when a user of this information terminal wants to search for a friend of high school age from among a number of instances, the “tag” in the table shown in FIG. Column 2201 to obtain three instances of “Miller” 2202, “Fox” 2203, and “Jonse” 2204. In such a method, since one instance can have a plurality of tags, the above-described problem in the tree structure folder method is solved. However, according to this tagging method, there is a problem that it is difficult to search for a tag, especially when the number of tags is large, because it is difficult to manage the hierarchized tags. There is also a problem that a plurality of tags having the same name cannot be used, which is possible in a search by a classification destination having a tree structure. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 20, there are two folders “company”, “company 2003” below “work” and “company” 2004 two levels below “friend”. With tagging without a tree structure, there is no way to distinguish between the two companies. Accordingly, in FIG. 20, for example, “Brown” belongs to a company, but in the notation of FIG. 22, it cannot be recognized that “Brown” belongs to “company”.

That is, whether to use the conventional first method or the conventional second method is essentially the problem that it is difficult to classify one instance into a plurality of classification destinations, and the hierarchy. It was attributed to the problem of choosing between the two problems that it is difficult to manage instances with a structured tree structure.

However, according to the present invention, both of the problems in the two conventional methods can be solved. For example, the classification into tree-structured folders and the tagged tables illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 are both a many-to-many relationship between the entity of tag or folder and the entity of name. Can be captured. Therefore, the method and information terminal for displaying and inputting a many-to-many relationship described in detail in the first embodiment can be applied.

That is, a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity are nodes having a hierarchical structure such as a tree structure, and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity are associated with these nodes. . For example, the first instance is a department such as “Sales Department” or “Development Department”, and the second instance is a person belonging to the department. In this case, if a certain second instance is associated with a certain first instance, the second instance is also associated with a first instance in a hierarchy higher than the first instance. To do. For example, if “Brown” belongs to “Sales Department”, it is assumed that “Brown” also belongs to “Company” and “Work” in the upper hierarchy of “Sales Department”. In general, a many-to-many relationship exists between a first entity and a second entity having such a data structure. The present invention can also be applied to relationship display, operation and control in such a case.

In addition, a hierarchical structure such as a tree structure can be represented by using a table representing the relationship between the upper and lower nodes of the node, for example, with the root node of the tree as the highest node.

In the following, the term “category” is used as a term equivalent to a tag or folder in the present invention to distinguish it from the conventional method. In the following description, the many-to-many relationship between the entity “category” and the entity “name” is bidirectionally indicated by check boxes displayed on the display device and check marks “re” and “−”. Shall be displayed. Note that a method for realizing this in cooperation with software and hardware resources for performing bidirectional input by operating a mouse or the like and selecting a check box is the same as that described in the first embodiment. Since it is the same, it abbreviate | omits here and demonstrates the effect displayed on a display apparatus as a result.

FIG. 23 to FIG. 25 show a method for narrowing down according to the method of the present invention for displaying and inputting a many-to-many relationship between a category and a name of a tree structure shown as an example in FIG. This window includes an instance display window 2302 for the entity “category” and an instance display window 2303 for the entity “name”. First, referring to FIG. 23 a, the user of this information terminal moves the cursor 2304 on the display device and selects “friend” which is one of the hierarchized instances of the entity “category”. As a result, in the window 2303 for the entity “name”, all the persons belonging to the category below the friend in FIG. ”And“ Miller ”are displayed. Next, referring to FIG. 23b, when the user of this information terminal selects “Others” 2306, which is the lower layer of “Friends”, all the persons “Davis” belonging to the hierarchy below “Others” among the above seven people. ”,“ Fleming ”,“ Frank ”, and“ Jones ”. Further, referring to FIG. 23c, by selecting “tennis” 2307, which is the lower category, the four names are narrowed down to three names “Davis”, “Frank”, and “Jones”. Up to this point, the method is the same as the first conventional method, which is the display and input of narrowing down using a folder having a tree structure.

Next, referring to FIG. 24, when the user of this terminal selects “development department” and “tennis” from the instances of the entity “category”, a window representing the instance of the entity “name” is displayed. The names of persons belonging to the category “development department” or “tennis” are displayed in the name window 2303. According to the first conventional method, that is, the tree-structured folder, in the example shown in FIG. 20, “Frank” 2002 exists in both the “development department” folder and the “tennis” folder. When a plurality of folders are selected as described above, two “Franks” are displayed in the “name” window 2303. In the method according to the present invention, the “development department” and “tennis”, which are instances of the entity “category”, have a many-to-one relationship with the “Frank” that is an instance of the entity “name” in the first embodiment. Displayed based on database information by the method described in detail. In other words, in the database, it can be recognized that “Development”, which is an instance of the entity “category”, and “Frank” associated with “tennis” have a relationship with one “Frank” of the entity “name”. . Therefore, in the method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 24, the “name” window is displayed even if “development department” and “tennis” are selected together after narrowing down “name” by the same operation as the tree structure. “Frank” is not duplicated in 2303, and the names of those who belong to either “Development Department” or “Tennis” of “Davis”, “Frank”, and “Jones” are displayed. Is done.

From the state of FIG. 24, the user of this information terminal can select any instance displayed in the entity “name” at any time by moving the cursor 2304 on the display device using a mouse or the like. . For example, as shown in FIG. 25a as an example, when “Jones” 2501 is selected, a check box corresponding to each instance of the entity “category” is displayed. This represents the relationship between “Jones” and the entity “Category”, and “Jones” belongs to “Tennis” 2504, and therefore, “Others” 2503 at the higher level and “ The fact that the user belongs to “friend” 2502 is indicated by each check mark “”. Further, “Jones” belongs to the category of “high school” 2506, and therefore belongs to the higher “school” 2505, and is also displayed by each check mark “re”.

As described in the first embodiment, at any time from the state shown in FIG. 25a, an instance of another entity “name” is selected to display a relationship to the “category” or the entity “category”. Any instance can be selected and names belonging to that category can be displayed in the window 2303. Furthermore, the cursor 2304 is moved to a check box displayed in each instance of “Category” and clicked with the mouse. You can also update, delete, or add new relationships to the displayed relationships.

Further, a plurality of instances of the entity “category” and the entity “name” can be selected, and the relationship of these instances can be input such as displaying, changing, deleting, or adding. In the example shown in FIG. 25b, as a result of selecting two instances of “Frank” and “Jonse” from the state of FIG. 24, the instance of “Category” to which both “Frank” and “Jonse” belong is added. A check mark “L” is displayed, and a check mark “−” is displayed for each “category” instance to which one belongs.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the instance of the entity “category” has the same tree structure as that of the conventional first method. Therefore, it is easy to narrow down the conventional first method. And the effects described in the first embodiment can be obtained, and therefore, one instance of “name” similar to the advantage of tagging that is the second method of the related art is a plurality of “category” instances. You can also enjoy the benefits of association.

Any entity that can be handled in the second embodiment may be used. For example, not only the name but also any text information such as address, e-mail address, telephone number, etc., any image data such as photos, numerical information, etc. Any information terminal can be provided that can efficiently search and narrow down these entities To do. As in the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the program or database that operates in cooperation with each component of the information terminal may be in the storage device of the information terminal, or the other end of the network. May be on a server that exists.

The first embodiment and the second embodiment both provide an information terminal that can easily display a two-to-many relationship between two entities in both directions and input changes, additions, and deletions. Yes. On the other hand, the difference between Embodiments 1 and 2 is that Embodiment 2 is asymmetric while the display of bidirectional instances and relationships between two entities is symmetrical. Specifically, in the second embodiment, when an instance of the entity “category” is selected, a check box for displaying and inputting the relationship displayed in the first embodiment is displayed in each instance of the entity “name”. Is not displayed. In the case of the first embodiment, even if an instance of one entity is selected, the displayed instance of the other entity does not change. However, in the case of the second embodiment, when an instance of the entity “category” is selected, As a result, the instance of the entity “name” is changed, and the instance of the entity “name” is narrowed every time the hierarchy of the entity “category” moves down. In the second embodiment, information can be easily classified and searched using categories in this way.

As a summary of the above, a database storing one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity, and the plurality When one or more of the first instances are selected, the database is searched, and for each of the plurality of second instances, the selected one or more of the first instances are selected. A first relationship existing with one instance is obtained, and when one or more second instances are selected from the plurality of second instances, the database is searched, and the plurality of second instances are searched. For each instance, a second relay that exists between the one or more selected second instances. A display unit for displaying a first list including the plurality of first instances in the first pane; and a display device for displaying a first pane and a second pane. A second list including the plurality of second instances is displayed in the second pane, and the first relationship or the second relationship is displayed in the first pane and the second pane. There is provided a first database system comprising a display device for displaying.

In the first database system, when the display device displays the first relationship or the second relationship, the first relationship or the second relationship exists. A second database system is provided that highlights the first instance or / and the second instance.

In the second database system, the display device highlights the second instance in which the first relationship exists with the one or more selected first instances. A third database system is provided that highlights the first instance in which the second relationship exists with the selected one or more second instances. The

In the third database system, when the display device performs the highlighting of the first instance or the second instance, the display device marks the inside together with the first instance or the second instance. A displayable display area is displayed, and highlighting of the first instance or the second instance is performed by displaying a mark in the display area. A fourth database system is provided. The

In the fourth database system, the mark displayed in the display area is the second instance in which the second relationship exists between the mark and the first instance where the highlighting is performed. Alternatively, a fifth database system is provided, wherein the fifth database system changes according to the number of the first instances in which the first relationship exists with the second instance to which the highlighting is performed. The

In the fourth database system, a sixth database system is provided in which the display area is a check box.

In the second database system, the highlighting is performed by changing a font when the first instance and / or the second instance is displayed as a character string. A system is provided.

In the first database, the microprocessor selects one or a plurality of the first instances from the plurality of first instances displayed in the first pane, and displays them in the second pane. When one or more of the second instances are selected from the displayed second instances, each of the selected one or more of the first instances and the selected one or more of the first instances. An eighth database system is provided, wherein the relationship existing between each of the second instances is deleted from the database.

In the first database system, the microprocessor may be configured to display the plurality of the plurality of the plurality of first instances displayed in the second pane in a state where one or a plurality of the first instances are selected from the plurality of the first instances. When one or more of the second instances are selected from a second instance, each of the selected one or more of the first instances and each of the selected one or more of the second instances. A ninth database system is provided, wherein the relationship is stored in the database with each other.

In the ninth database system, the microprocessor may include the selected one or more of the first instances and the selected one or more of the second instances. A tenth database system is provided, wherein a combination of the first instance and the second instance is stored in the database when no relationship is stored in the database.

In the first database system, a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity have a hierarchical structure, and a relationship exists between the first instance and the second instance. In this case, an eleventh database system is provided in which a relationship exists between the first instance and the second instance that are higher in the hierarchy than the first instance.

A database storing one or a plurality of relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity; When the third instance and the fourth instance are selected from the plurality of instances, the third instance and the fourth instance out of the plurality of second instances have the first predetermined condition under a first predetermined condition. One or more fifth instances in which a relationship exists are searched from the database, and among the plurality of second instances, the third instance and the fourth instance have the second predetermined condition. A microprocessor that searches the database for one or more sixth instances having two relationships. A display device for displaying a first pane and a second pane, wherein a first list including the plurality of first instances is displayed in the first pane, and the plurality of second panes is displayed. A second list including instances is displayed in the second pane, and the first instance and the first relationship existing between the fourth instance and the fifth instance are displayed in the first pane. And a display device that displays the third instance and the second relationship existing in the fourth instance and the sixth instance in the second form. A database system is provided.

In the twelfth database system, the microprocessor may change the relation between both the third instance and the fourth instance as the one or more fifth instances from the plurality of second instances. An instance in which a ship exists is searched, and the relationship between the third instance and the fourth instance is set as one or a plurality of sixth instances from the plurality of second instances. A thirteenth database system is provided for searching for instances in which there exists.

A database storing one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity; a first pane; Displaying a second pane, displaying a first list including the plurality of first instances in the first pane, and including a second list including the plurality of second instances in the second pane. In a display method of an information terminal having a display device for displaying a list of the plurality of second instances, when one or a plurality of first instances is selected from the plurality of first instances, the database is searched, For each of the instances, a first relationship existing with the selected one or more of the first instances is determined, and the first relationship is determined. And when one or more second instances are selected from the plurality of second instances, the database is searched and selected for each of the plurality of first instances. A first display of an information terminal characterized in that a second relationship existing between the one or a plurality of the second instances is obtained and the second relationship is displayed on the display device. A method is provided.

Further, in the first display method, the display of the first relationship or the second relationship may be the first instance in which the first relationship or the second relationship exists or / and A second display method of an information terminal is provided, wherein the second instance is displayed with emphasis.

In the second display method, the first relationship or the display of the second relationship may be displayed between the selected one or a plurality of the first instances. Highlight the second instance in which the second instance exists and highlight the first instance in which the second relationship exists with the selected one or more second instances. A third display method of the information terminal is provided.

Further, in the third display method, when highlighting the first instance or the second instance, a display area capable of displaying a mark inside is provided together with the first instance or the second instance. A fourth display method for an information terminal is provided, wherein the highlighting of the first instance or the second instance is performed by displaying a mark in the display area.

In the fourth display method, the second instance in which the second relationship exists between the mark displayed in the display area and the first instance where the highlighting is performed. Alternatively, the fifth display of the information terminal is changed according to the number of the first instances where the first relationship exists with the second instance where the highlighting is performed. A method is provided.

In the fourth display method, a sixth display method for an information terminal is provided in which the display area is a check box.

In the second display method, displaying the first instance or / and the second instance with emphasis displays the first instance or / and the second instance in a character string. A seventh display method of the information terminal is provided, which is performed by changing the font at the time.

As another aspect, a database for storing a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first pane includes the first pane and the second pane. A first list consisting of a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed, and a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity is displayed in the second pane. When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first display means and the first instance group, the database is searched, and the first specific instance is searched for each of the second instance groups. When the second display means for displaying the relationship with the instance and one or more third specific instances from the second instance group are selected, And search, for each of the first instance group, a third display means for displaying the relationship between the third specific instance, the fourteenth database system having provided

A database for storing a relationship between the first entity and the second entity;
A first pane and a second pane are displayed, a first list including a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed in the first pane, and a second list is displayed in the second pane. Is a first that displays a second list of the second instance group belonging to the second entity
In the information terminal display method comprising display means, when one or more first specific instances are selected from the first instance group, the database is searched for each of the second instance groups. , Displaying a relationship with the first specific instance, and when one or more third specific instances are selected from the second instance group, the database is searched and the first instance group is searched. For each of the above, an eighth display method of the information terminal is provided, wherein the relationship with the third specific instance is displayed.

A database for storing a relationship between the first entity and the second entity;
A first pane and a second pane are displayed, a first list including a first instance group belonging to the first entity is displayed in the first pane, and a second list is displayed in the second pane. Is a first display means for displaying a second list comprising a second instance group belonging to the second entity, and a first specific instance and a second specific instance are selected from the first instance group. And searching the database, and having a first relationship between the first specific instance and the second specific instance included in the second instance group under a first predetermined condition. For the specific instance, displaying the first relationship with the first specific instance and the second specific instance in a first form, and For the fourth specific instance having a second relationship with the first specific instance and the second specific instance under a second predetermined condition, the first specific instance and the second specific instance There is provided a fifteenth database system having second display means for displaying two relationships in a second form.

In addition, a database for storing a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first entity is displayed in the first pane. First display means for displaying a first list consisting of a first instance group to which the first instance group belongs, and displaying a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity in the second pane; When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first instance group, the database is searched, and each of the second instance groups is related to the first specific instance. Second display means for displaying one or more of the first specific instances from the first instance group, and the second display means When one or more arbitrary relationships among the relationships between the first specific instance and each of the second instance groups displayed are selected, the arbitrary relationship is deleted from the database. A sixteenth database system is provided.

In addition, a database for storing a relationship between the first entity and the second entity, a first pane and a second pane are displayed, and the first entity is displayed in the first pane. First display means for displaying a first list consisting of a first instance group to which the first instance group belongs, and displaying a second list consisting of a second instance group belonging to the second entity in the second pane; When one or more first specific instances are selected from the first instance group, the database is searched, and each of the second instance groups is related to the first specific instance. And a second display means for displaying, wherein a relationship with the first specific instance in the second instance group exists in the database. Selecting have third particular instance, the 17 database system which relationships between the first specific instance and the third specific instance, characterized in that it is added to the database is provided.

It is a figure showing an example of a many-to-many relationship. It is a figure showing an example of a many-to-many relationship. It is an ER diagram showing an example of the one-to-many relationship after normalization. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the display screen of the many-to-many relationship by the conventional method. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the display screen of the one-to-many relationship by the conventional method. It is a figure showing an example of the reverse one-to-many relationship by the conventional method. It is explanatory drawing of the component of the information terminal by this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the outline | summary of each step of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a database selection screen. It is explanatory drawing of the display screen of the many-to-many relationship by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the display screen of the many-to-many relationship by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the display screen of the reverse many-to-many relationship by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the addition method of the many-to-many relationship by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the deletion method of the many-to-many relationship by this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of instance selection. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of a relationship display. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of a relationship display. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of a relationship change display. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of relationship addition. It is a flowchart explaining the detailed step of relationship deletion. It is a figure explaining the application to the information disclosure display and control of this invention. It is a figure explaining the application to the information disclosure display and control of this invention. It is a figure explaining the classification | category of a tree structure. It is explanatory drawing of the method of narrowing down search object using classification of a tree structure. It is a figure explaining the classification | category by tagging. It is explanatory drawing of search object narrowing down by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of search object narrowing down by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of search object narrowing down by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of search object narrowing down by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the search object classification method by this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the search object classification method by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

615 Many-to-many RMS window 618 Cursor 81 pane 83 pane 84 sub-pane 96 check box

Claims (20)

A database storing one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity;
When one or more of the first instances are selected from the plurality of first instances, the database is searched and for each of the plurality of second instances, the selected one or more selected instances A first relationship existing with the first instance is obtained, and when one or a plurality of the second instances are selected from the plurality of second instances, the database is searched, and the plurality of the plurality of second instances are selected. A microprocessor for a second relationship that exists between the selected one or more second instances for each of the first instances of:
A display device for displaying a first pane and a second pane, wherein a first list including the plurality of first instances is displayed in the first pane, and the plurality of second instances are displayed. A display device for displaying a second list including the second list in the second pane and displaying the first relationship or the second relationship in the first pane and the second pane;
A database system comprising: When the display device displays the first relationship or the second relationship, the first instance or / and the second relationship where the first relationship or the second relationship exists are displayed. The database system according to claim 1, wherein two instances are highlighted. The display device highlights the second instance in which the first relationship exists with the selected one or more first instances, and the selected one or more selected instances. The database system according to claim 2, wherein the first instance in which the second relationship exists with the second instance is highlighted. When the highlighting of the first instance or the second instance is performed, the display device displays a display area in which a mark can be displayed together with the first instance or the second instance, 4. The database system according to claim 3, wherein highlighting of the first instance or the second instance is performed by displaying a mark in the display area. The mark displayed in the display area is the second instance where the second relationship exists between the first instance where the highlighting is performed or the first instance where the highlighting is performed. The database system according to claim 4, wherein the database system changes in accordance with the number of the first instances in which the first relationship exists between two instances. The database system according to claim 4, wherein the display area is a check box. The database system according to claim 2, wherein the highlighting is performed by changing a font when the first instance and / or the second instance is displayed as a character string. The microprocessor selects one or more first instances from the plurality of first instances displayed in the first pane, and the plurality of second instances displayed in the second pane. When one or more of the second instances are selected from each of the instances, each of the selected one or more of the first instances and each of the selected one or more of the second instances, The database system according to claim 1, wherein the relationship existing between the two is deleted from the database. The microprocessor may include one or more from the plurality of second instances displayed in the second pane in a state where one or more of the first instances are selected from the plurality of first instances. When the second instance is selected, the relationship is established between each of the selected one or more of the first instances and each of the selected one or more of the second instances. The database system according to claim 1, wherein the database system is stored in the database. The microprocessor has no relationship stored in the database between each of the selected one or more first instances and each of the selected one or more second instances. 10. The database system according to claim 9, wherein a combination of the first instance and the second instance is stored in the database. A plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity form a hierarchical structure, and if there is a relationship between the first instance and the second instance, the first instance 2. The database system according to claim 1, wherein a relationship also exists between a first instance higher than one instance and the second instance. A database storing one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity;
When a third instance and a fourth instance are selected from the plurality of first instances, among the plurality of second instances, a first predetermined value is assigned to the third instance and the fourth instance. One or a plurality of fifth instances having a first relationship in the condition are searched from the database, and the third instance and the fourth instance out of the plurality of second instances have a second A microprocessor that searches the database for one or a plurality of sixth instances in which a second relationship exists under a predetermined condition;
A display device for displaying a first pane and a second pane, wherein a first list including the plurality of first instances is displayed in the first pane, and the plurality of second instances are displayed. A second list including the first instance and the third instance and the first relationship existing between the fourth instance and the fifth instance in a first form. A display device for displaying the second relationship existing in the third instance and the fourth instance and the sixth instance in a second form;
A database system. The microprocessor searches for an instance where the relationship exists between both the third instance and the fourth instance as the one or more fifth instances from the plurality of second instances. Then, an instance in which the relationship exists between one of the third instance and the fourth instance is searched from the plurality of second instances as the one or plurality of sixth instances. The database system according to claim 12. A database storing one or more relationships existing between a plurality of first instances belonging to the first entity and a plurality of second instances belonging to the second entity;
Displaying a first pane and a second pane; displaying a first list including the plurality of first instances in the first pane; and displaying the plurality of second panes in the second pane. In a display method for an information terminal having a display device for displaying a second list including instances,
When one or more first instances are selected from the plurality of first instances, the database is searched and for each of the plurality of second instances, the selected one or more of the first instances. A first relationship existing between the first instance and the display device, and displaying the first relationship on the display device;
When one or more second instances are selected from the plurality of second instances, the database is searched, and for each of the plurality of first instances, the selected one or more second items are selected. A method for displaying an information terminal, comprising: obtaining a second relationship existing between the first instance and the second device; and displaying the second relationship on the display device. The display of the first relationship or the second relationship highlights the first instance or / and the second instance in which the first relationship or the second relationship exists. The information terminal display method according to claim 14, wherein display is performed. The display of the first relationship or the second relationship indicates the second instance in which the first relationship exists with the selected one or more first instances. 16. The first instance of highlighting and highlighting the first instance in which the second relationship exists with the selected one or more of the second instances. Of information terminal. When highlighting the first instance or the second instance, together with the first instance or the second instance, a display area in which a mark can be displayed is displayed, and the first instance or 17. The information terminal display method according to claim 16, wherein the highlighting of the second instance is performed by displaying a mark in the display area. The second instance where the second relationship exists between the mark displayed in the display area and the first instance where the highlighting is performed or the second instance where the highlighting is performed. The information terminal display method according to claim 17, wherein the information terminal is changed in accordance with the number of the first instances in which the first relationship exists between two instances. The information terminal display method according to claim 17, wherein the display area is a check box. The display of the first instance and / or the second instance with emphasis is performed by changing a font when the first instance or / and the second instance is displayed in a character string. The display method of the information terminal according to claim 15.