JP2996051B2 - Information presentation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information presenting apparatus for presenting relevant information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known technologies include HyperC.
ard [1] [2], NoteCards [3], gI
There are technologies such as hypertext as shown in BIS [4] and Intermedia [5].

Reference [1] Goodman, D .;
The Complete HyperCard Ha
ndbook. New York: Bantam
Book, 1987.

Reference [2] Danny Goodman (translated by Project House), The Hypercard (above)
Bottom), BN, Inc., 1988. (Japanese translation of document [1])

Literature [3] Halasz, Fran
kG. , "Reflections on Not
eCards: Seven Issues for
the Next Generation of Hy
permedia Systems, "Commun
indications of the ACM, July
1988, Vol. 31, No. 7, p
p. 833-852.

Document [4] Conklin, Jef
f and Begeman M. L. , "GIB
IS: A Hypertext Tool for
Exploratory Policy Discuss
Sion, "CSCW88 Proceeding
s, September 1988, pp. 140
-152.

Reference [5] Utting, Kenn
eth and Yanellovic, Nico
le, "Context and Orientat
ion in Hypermedia Network
s, "ACM Transactions on I
nformation Systems, Vol.
7, No. 1, January 1989, p.
p. 58-84.

According to these techniques, information can be described in units of fragments called nodes, and the information can be stored in association with each other by links. For example, Hyper
In Card [1] [2], information is stored in a card (node)
It can be described in units and related by "button functions" instead of links. Moreover, various procedures can be described on the button. NoteCard
s [3], gIBIS [4], Intermedia
In [5], various types of links are prepared, and the user can describe related contents. These hypertext systems can follow a link and obtain related information by mouse clicking on a specific position embedded in a node (here, called a link anchor).

[0009]

[0006] Paper documents are easy to read and easy to write. Also, it is easy to remember where and what was written. However, in order to find relevant information, it is necessary to turn a page or look up an index, which is very time-consuming and labor-intensive.

On the other hand, HyperCard [1]
[2], NoteCards [3], gIBIS
In conventional hypertext systems such as [4] and Intermedia [5], by clicking a link anchor of a node shown on a computer screen, the user can follow a link to see related information. See relevant information with less time and effort. However, the information displayed on the display is difficult to read. Writing is not easy. Because all information is displayed in one place, the display,
There was a problem that it was hard to remember.

Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to solve the problem that it takes time and effort to obtain reference information in a paper document. In the hypertext system, a second problem is to solve a problem that related information is difficult to read, not easy to write, and does not remain in storage.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information presenting apparatus for storing node information (8 in FIG. 1).
And link information storage means (4 in FIG. 1) for storing a link indicating a relationship between pieces of information stored in the node information storage means in a form including a link ID for specifying the link. .

An information presentation device according to the present invention (Claim 1) includes, in addition to the above-described basic means, an ID-added print image creating means (2 in FIG. 1) for creating a print image including a link ID.
Printing means (1 in FIG. 1) for printing the print image created by the ID-added print image creation means.

[0014] In addition to the above-mentioned basic means, the information presenting apparatus of the present invention (Claim 2) further comprises: a link ID input means (6 in FIG. 1) for inputting a link ID of printed information;
It has a search means (7 in FIG. 1) for searching for a link corresponding to the link ID from the input means, and a node information display means (9 in FIG. 1) for displaying a search result by the search means.

Further, the information presentation apparatus of the present invention (Claim 3) has a link type display means (10 in FIG. 1) for displaying a link type in addition to the means of Claim 2.

The information presentation apparatus of the present invention (Claim 4) provides, in addition to the invention (Means 2), a procedure executing means (11 in FIG. 1) for executing a procedure, and outputs a procedure execution result. Execution result output means (12 in FIG. 1).

The information presentation apparatus of the present invention (Claim 5) has, in addition to the means of Claim 1, a printing ID assigning means (3 in FIG. 1) for assigning a valid printing ID only at the time of printing.

[0018]

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to an example in which related information is referred to from printed information. When the user inputs the link ID of the printed information from the link ID input means (6 in FIG. 1), the ID is sent to the search means (7 in FIG. 1). Search means is the link ID
, The link information stored in the link information storage means (4 in FIG. 1) is searched to obtain information such as the link destination node ID of the target link, the link type, and the procedure to be executed. Then, the node information storage unit (8 in FIG. 1) is searched for node information corresponding to the link destination node ID, and displayed on the node information display unit (9 in FIG. 1). The link type is indicated by link type display means (1 in FIG. 1).
0) is displayed. Information on the procedure to be executed is sent to the procedure execution means (11 in FIG. 1) and executed, and the execution result is output to the execution result output means (12 in FIG. 1). Also,
By embedding a relatively inconspicuous print-time ID in the text instead of displaying the link ID directly and obtaining the link ID based on the print-time ID, the text can be easily viewed.

[0019]

【Example】

(Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an information presentation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information presenting apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a printing unit 1 for printing a print image created by the print image creation unit with ID 2, a link ID
Between the information stored in the ID-added print image creating means 2 for creating a print image including the ID, the print-time ID assigning means 3 for assigning an effective print-time ID only at the time of printing, and the node information saving means 8 (link) Information storage means 4 for storing the link ID specifying the link, data input means 5 for inputting data, link ID input means 6 for inputting the link ID of the printed information, link ID
Search means 7 for searching for a link corresponding to the link ID from input means 6, node information storage means 8 for storing information,
Node information display means 9 for displaying a search result by the search means 7; link type display means 1 for displaying a link type
0, a procedure execution unit 11 for executing the procedure, an execution result output unit 12 for outputting the execution result of the procedure, and the like.

(Node Information Printing Process 1) First, an example in which a link ID is simply incorporated into node information for printing will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing at this time. Hereinafter, according to the flowchart of FIG.
Specific processing at the time of printing will be described.

It is assumed that the node information and the link information are stored in advance in the node information storage unit 8 and the link information storage unit 4 by the data input unit 5 in the forms shown in FIGS. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, each node stored in the node information storage unit 8 is assigned a node identifier (NodeID), and the content information of the node includes information about the related other specific node. Link anchor information indicating the relationship is embedded. The link information stored in the link information storage means 4 is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 4, a link ID which is an identifier of the link,
It is composed of data such as a link type representing the type of link, an execution procedure to be executed when the link is selected, and a node ID of the link destination. The user instructs to print a specific node or a specific node group from the data input unit 5 or the like (step S2a).

The ID-added print image creating means 2 searches the node information storing means 8 to obtain node information to be printed and a link ID of a link anchor embedded in the node. In this example, it is assumed that link anchor information is embedded in node information as shown in FIG. If the link anchor information is in a data format that is not embedded in the node information, a process of retrieving the link anchor information and embedding it in the node is required (step S2b).

Next, the ID-added print image creating means 2
A print image of the node information in which the link ID of the link anchor is embedded is created (step S2c). The link ID is an image in a form that can be read by a human using characters such as numbers and alphabets. Note that a form such as a bar code that cannot be read by humans may be used.

Finally, the print image created by the ID-added print image creating means 2 is printed by the printing means 1 (step S2d). FIG. 5 shows an example of a print result obtained by printing the link ID in the node information so that the user can read the link ID.

(Node Information Printing Process 2) Next, an example of a case where a link ID is arranged at a position different from that of the node information and printed, and the relationship with the original position is expressed by a printing ID will be described. I do. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing in this case. Hereinafter, the specific processing at the time of printing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the node information and the link information are stored in advance in the node information storage unit 8 and the link information storage unit 4 by the data input unit 5 in the forms of FIGS.

The user instructs to print a specific node or a specific node group from the data input means 5 or the like (step S6a).

The printing ID assigning means 3 searches the node information storing means 8 to obtain node information to be printed and the link ID of the link anchor embedded in the node (step S6b).

Next, all link anchors to be printed are extracted, and an ID (printing ID) used in the information to be printed, such as “* 1,” “* 2,” “* 3”, is sequentially added (ID at the time of printing) ( Step S6c).

The ID-added print image creating means 2
Creates a print image of node information in which a print ID is embedded at the position of the link anchor. Next, when printing I
Create a print image showing the relationship between D and the link ID,
A final print image is created by combining with the print image of the node information, and sent to the printing means 1. Of course, also here, the link ID may be in a form that can be read by humans using characters such as numbers and alphabets, or may be in a form that cannot be read by humans, such as a barcode (step S6d).

Finally, printing is performed by the printing means 1 in the form shown in FIG. 7, and the process is terminated (step S6).
e). In FIG. 7, the node information is “* 1” and “* 2” on the left side.
It is printed in a form including a print ID such as “* 3”. On the right side, information indicating the relationship between the printing ID and the barcode indicating the original link ID is printed.

(Process for Displaying Related Information) Here, a process for displaying related information from a link anchor included in printed node information will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing this processing. Hereinafter, a specific process at the time of displaying related information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the user looks at the printed node information and wants to see the related information, he inputs the link ID of the link anchor from the link ID input means 6. For example, when the link ID is directly printed as shown in FIG. 5, this input method may use a keyboard as an input unit, or may use a recognition device that recognizes numbers, alphabets, and the like. When a barcode or the like is printed as shown in FIG. 7, a barcode reader or the like serves as an input unit (step S8a).

The search means 7 having received the link ID from the link ID input means 6 searches the link information stored in the link information storage means 4 in the form shown in FIG. 4, and finds the link type of the target link and the link destination. A node ID is obtained (step S8b).

Next, a node corresponding to the previously obtained node ID is searched from the node information stored in the node information storage means 8 in the form shown in FIG. 3 (step S8).
c).

Then, the link type is displayed on the link type display means 10 and the node information is displayed on the node information display means 9 in the form shown in FIG. 9 (steps S8d and S8e).

(Process for Executing Related Procedure) Here, a process for activating the related procedure from the link anchor included in the printed node information will be described. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing this processing. Hereinafter, FIG.
A specific process at the time of starting the related procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As in the case where the user views related information,
The link ID of the link anchor is input from the link ID input means 6. (Step S10a).

The search means 7 having received the link ID from the link ID input means 6 searches the link information stored in the link information storage means 4 in the form shown in FIG.
10b) Obtain information on a procedure (execution procedure) executed when following the target link (step S10)
c).

Next, the information is sent to the procedure execution means 11. The procedure executing means 11 executes the received procedure.
Examples of this procedure include generating a sound, automatically sending e-mail to interested parties, displaying a browser that represents the overall structure of the hypertext, and printing related information, figures, pictures, etc. There are various processes, such as performing (step S10d).

The execution result is output to the execution result output means 12.
And the process ends (step S10e).

[0041]

According to the present invention, related information can be easily viewed from paper by giving a link ID indicating a link anchor of a hypertext to printed information. In other words, it has become possible to present information that has the advantages of making the paper easy to read, easy to write, and easy to remember, and the advantage that the related information of the hypertext technology can be quickly seen. The present invention can be used, for example, in an environment where a normal manual and an online manual are used at the same time. A paper manual is easy to read, and you can easily write your own memos, and it is easy to remember where and what was written. However, searching for relevant information requires turning pages and indexing, which takes time. On the other hand, if the online manual is converted into a hypertext, related information can be instantly viewed. However, first, the information displayed on the display is difficult to read. In addition, it is impossible at all to write, or you have to invoke a special command. It is also difficult to remember where and what was written. By using the present invention, it is possible to work in an environment where a user normally uses a paper manual and wants to refer to related information in a computer, in which the related information is instantaneously referred to. Another example is a technical document such as a patent or a paper.
According to the present invention, it is possible to instantly call up related information while reading a paper document and to know what kind of relationship exists between them. The above two examples are only some examples, and there are many similar scenes, so that the present invention has a wide application range.

Further, in the present invention (claim 4), various processes can be started from the link ID. This allows you to not only see the link,
It is also possible to output sounds at the same time, and to perform processing such as calculation and printing.

In the present invention (claim 5), an ID at the time of printing can be given. This allows
It is possible to create a state in which a relatively inconspicuous printing ID is embedded in the text. This is link I
Compared to the case where D is directly embedded, there is an advantage that sentences and figures in the text are easy to understand.

If the ID is provided in a form that can be read by a human, the ID can be input from a keyboard, a character recognition device, and a graphic recognition device, and a special input device is used. You can see related information without it. Further, if the related information can be viewed by the barcode reader, the related information can be instantaneously referred to by an easy operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration for realizing a communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing node information printing processing (part 1);

FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored in a node information storage unit.

FIG. 4 shows an example of data stored in a link information storage unit.

FIG. 5 shows an example of information printing result (part 1).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a node information printing process (part 2);

FIG. 7 shows an example of information print result (part 2).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a display process of related information.

FIG. 9 is a display example of link type information and link destination node information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a start procedure of a related procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... printing means, 2 ... print image creation means with ID, 3 ...
Printing ID assigning means, 4 link information storing means, 5 data input means, 6 link ID input means, 7 searching means, 8 node information storing means, 9 node information displaying means, 10 link type display Means, 11: Procedure execution means, 12: Execution result output means.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 17/21 G06F 17/30 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. Node information storage means for storing information, link information storage means for storing a link indicating a relationship between information stored in the node information storage means and link information including a link ID for specifying the link. An information presenting apparatus, comprising: a print image creating means with ID for creating a print image including a link ID; and a printing means for printing the print image created by the print image creating means with ID. 2. Node information storage means for storing information, link information storage means for storing a link indicating a relationship between information stored in the node information storage means and link information including a link ID for specifying the link. Link ID input means for inputting a link ID of printed information, search means for searching for a link corresponding to the link ID from the link ID input means, and node information display means for displaying a search result by the search means. Information presentation device to have. 3. A link type for displaying link type information on an information presentation device according to claim 2, wherein the link information stored in the link information storage means includes link type information expressing a type of a relationship between the node information. An information presentation device characterized by adding display means. 4. The information presenting device according to claim 2, wherein the link information stored in the link information storage means includes information on a procedure corresponding to the link. An information presentation device characterized by adding execution result output means for outputting, and 5. The information presenting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print ID assigning means for assigning a print ID valid only at the time of printing.