JP2675778B2 - Information processing system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information retrieval system. [Prior Art] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional information retrieval system using data. A is a terminal for requesting information retrieval from the database, and comprises a keyboard 1 and a display 2. B is a database 4 and a computer 3 in a host as a file center. C is a terminal for supplying information to the database, and is composed of a keyboard 1'and a display 2 '. When the information searcher inputs the search information q ₁ for the database 4 of B from the keyboard of A, the computer 3 searches the database 4 and retrieves necessary information and sends it to A _i (a ₁ ). If sufficient information in the database is the absence, and transmits that to the A _i. Also, computer 3
Receives new information from the keyboard terminals C ₁ , C ₂ −−−−, C _j , −− and updates the contents of I ₁ , I ₂ ,, −−−−, I _j , −−, database 4. Can be done. In such a system, when the information is essentially lacking in the database (4), the desired data cannot be retrieved unless artificially recognizing and supplementing it, and thus timely data is not retrieved. There are inconveniences in the collection. [Objective] The present invention is an information processing system having a plurality of databases by eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an input means for inputting a search result searched from another database based on a search request, and the search. Search means for searching the own database based on the request, and comparing the search results by the search means and the search results searched from other databases, in the search results searched from the own database, other database Determining means for determining whether or not there is information to be added to the search result retrieved from, and the determining means determines that there is information to be added to the search result retrieved from another database In this case, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing system characterized by having an output means for outputting the information to be added. Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the system according to the present invention. The keyboard 1 inputs a search command, and the display 2 displays commands and search information by the keyboard 1 and includes a CRT and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a processor CPU (hereinafter, referred to as a computer) having a ROM having a search program (FIG. 3), a RAM for storing control data and the like for search, and an arithmetic unit for performing a search operation and an operation of adding value information 2 to the search result. ), And 4 is, for example, a disk and a disk controller storing a search database. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the information searcher to input search information q ₁ from the keyboard 1 of A _i,
The computer 3 of B performs a database search (K ₁ ). The search result is sent to computer 3 (K ₂ ),
Contents whether sufficient as answer q ₁ is examined (S-3). If it is judged sufficient as answer q _1, sending the search results to the A _i with the value-added information _{(+ α) (a 1)} . The search information and the result are stored in the database (S-5). On the other hand, the computer 3 returns the search result q ₁
If it is determined that the answer is insufficient, the table of the information providing department is extracted from the database 4 from the database 4 (S-8) and compared with the search information q ₁ (S-9) to obtain q ₁ . Information provision departments that can answer C ₁ , C ₂ , ---
−, C _k are selected (S-10). Next, the computer 3 sequentially queries C ₁ , C ₂ , −−−−, C _k for q _1
2 and request the input of new information (S-1
1). Each C _j outputs the requested information, if any (a _{2, j} ). Computer 3 will add value (+12) as soon as the obtained information becomes sufficient as the answer to q ₁ (S-12).
It is sent to A _i with a) and input to the database 4 (S-5). If C _1, C _2, ----, if the information obtained even after querying the C _k all information providing sector is insufficient, and transmits the fact to the A _i (S-14) . In all cases, the contents and results of the search are also recorded in the database 4 (S-13). Since C _j is a terminal that can answer q ₁ , the request q ₂ is displayed on the display 2 ′, and the operator operates the keyboard 1 ′ to input the information corresponding to q ₂ and send it to the computer 3. Note that C _j stores information corresponding to the request q ₂ in the file of C _j in the past, so that the file of C _j can be retrieved and automatically extracted in response to q and sent to the computer 3. it can. This eliminates the need for an operator to be always present.
(An example of this is shown in Figure 4.) Computer 3 is C _j that information commensurate with the q ₂ is question first
If not, ask C _{j + 1} next and send it to the computer if it is there and send it to the database. Therefore, in the order of questions in the information supply terminal table, the computer exchanges C _{j + 1} and C _j (S-7). By prioritizing the questions in this way, a quick search can be performed even when there is insufficient information in the database. As a second example, periodically outputted from the computer 3 updates asked I databases information supply terminal C _j, for those required for updating the computer 3 sends the new information I _j, the idle time of computer 3 The corresponding information in the database can be updated. Therefore, the requesting terminal _Aj always obtains new information in a timely manner. This periodic update is also performed sequentially according to the priority inquiry table (in the database) of the information supply terminal. As described above, when the required information is insufficient in the database 4, the computer determines and automatically selects a plurality of information providing departments and prompts for new information. Since the information is returned to the search source and stored in the database, information can be collected in a timely manner. The following are examples of the above system applications. From the information requesting terminal A _i (for example, a laboratory)
The number, file center when there is an input of quality to select the proper component name from the database and transmits it to the A _i to add value information such as its cost and component suppliers. If there are no suitable parts in the database, it is likely that the information supply terminal C _j
(E.g. each plant, factory, etc.) scans the address table of outputs question information on each C _j, if there is a proper part in the establishment, part name, and transmitted back to Suto the file center, the database responds to a _i stores. Thereby, timely component information can be obtained. [Other Embodiments] FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams of a distributed processing system in which a plurality of databases and a computer are connected by a communication line. R ₁
Is a display, T ₁ is a keyboard, C _i (1 ≦ i ≦ n) is a computer, and B _i (1 ≦ i ≦ n) is a database. Computer C ₁ is in Figure 4, the information searcher receives search information Q ₁ inputted from the keyboard T _1, searches the database B _1. Answer A ₁ for Q ₁ obtained is transmitted to Deisupurei R _1. Further, when the computer receives a message from the information searcher that another database connected to the communication line is to be searched, the other database (B ₂ , B ₃ ,
−−−, B _n ) is searched. At this time, computer C ₁
Cannot send the search information Q ₁ unless it knows the connection status of the communication line, the table of the information of other databases, etc., so the computer C ₁ and database B _{1 in} (1) are Centrally manage the database. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment. In FIG. 5, the computer C _i and the database B _i are linked in a ring. The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the processing flow (FIGS. 6, 7, and 8). Flow chart is in Figure 6 in computer C _1,
C ₁ is the information searcher receives search information Q ₁ inputted from the keyboard T ₁ of the terminal device, obtain the answer A ₁ for Q ₁ searches the database B ₁ (,,). Computer C ₁
Together showing the A ₁ output to the information searcher to Deisupurei R _1, inquires whether to search other databases coupled by a communication line (,). Computer C _1, when the information searcher receives the effect that desires to search other databases, transmits the search information Q ₁ to computer C ₂ next, the C ₁ is a source for Q ₁ Confirm it (,). In FIG. 7, the flow chart of the computer C ₂ is C _2.
, Once receiving the Q ₁ from C _1, by searching the database B ₂
Obtain the answer A ₂ (= a ₂ ) of Q ₁ (,,). Computer
C ₂ transmits Q _1, a ₂ to computer C ₃ next (). Incidentally, as the processing of C _1, can be allowed to migrate whether A ₁ is an appropriate information to determine automatically the C ₂ search from the amount of information or the like. When the flow chart in i-th computer C _i is C _i in Fig. 8 receives the _{Q 1, a i-1,} C i determine whether their confidence is the source of Q ₁ (,). For this, the information stored in is used. If C _i is the originator of Q _i (ie C _i = C ₁ ), then a _i-1 (=
a _n ) is output to the display R _i (= R ₁ ) (). If C _i is not the source of Q ₁ (i ≠ 1), the database B _i is searched to obtain the answer A _{i of} Q ₁ (). Further, the computer C _i compares a _i-1 with A _i (), and A _i has a _i-1
When information to be the presence Add To create _{a i (a i = a i} -1 + A i) added to A _i to a _i-1 (). A _i has a
when the information to be added does not exist in the _{i-1 (a i-1} ⊃
Let A _i ), a _i = a _i-1 (). Finally Computer C
_i transmits Q _i , a _i to the neighboring computer C _{i + 1} . The computer connected in a ring like this does not have a so-called host, but can collect information of all databases without managing the connection status and tables of other databases. In the above, between the information requesting terminal A _i and the file center,
File center with database and information supply terminal C _j
The lines are connected by public lines such as telephones and DDX, premises lines, and dedicated lines. [Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, in an information processing system having a plurality of databases, a search result searched from its own database is compared with a search result searched from another database. If it is determined that there is information to be added to the search results searched from other databases in the search results searched from the own database, and if there is information to be added, Since the information to be added is output, there is an excellent effect that information in all databases is not duplicated and that updated data in each database can be surely searched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional search system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the search system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process in FIG. Figure 4,
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another search system according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are flow charts of the process in FIG. 5, where A _i is a search request terminal and 4 is an information file. 3 is a processing processor, and C _j is an information supply terminal.

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Takeshi Hayama               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichiro Kakutani               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Inside Canon Inc.                (56) References JP-A-57-97173 (JP, A)                 JP 59-188765 (JP, A)                 JP-A-57-141776 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An information processing system having a plurality of databases, input means for inputting a search result searched from another database based on a search request, search means for searching an own database based on the search request, and the search The search result obtained by the means is compared with the search result retrieved from another database, and the search result retrieved from the own database includes information to be added to the search result retrieved from another database. Determining means for determining whether or not there is information, and when the determining means determines that there is information to be added to the search result searched from another database, output means for outputting the information to be added, An information processing system having.