JP3161489B2 - Information sharing 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 sharing apparatus in which a plurality of users store and share information, and more particularly to an information sharing apparatus in a distributed environment where a plurality of computers are connected via a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information sharing apparatus that stores information (data) and shares the stored information among a plurality of users has been used in a top-down manner, reflecting a pyramid-type social structure and an organizational structure within a company. It has been managed and operated. As an example of an information sharing device based on top-down management, a directory system for directory guidance for searching telephone numbers and business contents in a public telecommunication network or an intra-company communication network (Fujiwara et al., NTT R & D, Vol. 41, No. 8, pp. 96
7-1006).

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information sharing apparatus that performs top-down management. In this type of information processing apparatus, one center device 502 and a plurality of user terminals 503 are connected to a communication network 501. Then, the user uses the user terminal 503,
The information stored in the center device 502 is searched. In this case, the range of information to be handled, in other words, the range of information stored in the center device 502, its items, its data format, and the like are as follows:
These specifications are decided at the time of system design, and these specifications are not changed in principle during system operation. Input and update of information are performed by a dedicated operator using a data input terminal 504 directly connected to the center device 502. To search for information, it is necessary to set up an appropriate directory. This directory has a tree structure in which the subordinate organization is positioned below the upper organization, and searches in order from the upper organization. is there.

As an example of an information sharing apparatus in which a user inputs information by himself / herself, an electronic bulletin board (Ishida et al., "Computer Network", bit extra edition, Vo. 18, No. 8, PP. 101)
9-1041). FIG. 2 shows a system configuration example of the electronic bulletin board.

In an electronic bulletin board, a communication network 511 is used.
Is connected to a plurality of host devices 512 and a plurality of user terminals 513, and the user inputs and refers to information using the user terminals 513. The information is stored in the host device 512. The range of information to be handled and its propagation range are determined by the administrator of each host device 512. Each piece of information generally includes a title part (title) and a text part following the title part, and the text part can be freely described. When information is input to a specific host device 512 by a user, the host device 512 delivers the information to other host devices 512 within a defined propagation range, and as a result, the information is transmitted between the host devices 512. Will be shared.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an information sharing apparatus in which top-down management is performed, a top-down definition and
There is a problem that only managed information and information temporarily distributed for public knowledge can be handled. In other words, this type of information sharing apparatus can store information that is accumulated based on personal experience, information that differs in sections / locations, and information that covers a wide range of information to be handled, such as information that is not limited to one company. Difficult to share with multiple users. Further, since the directory has a tree structure in which the lower organization is positioned below the upper organization, it is necessary to search sequentially from the upper organization, and the search procedure is likely to be complicated.

On the other hand, electronic bulletin boards have a problem that the function of storing / sharing information for a long period of time is weak.
When updating information, a method is used in which existing information is supplemented and newly added. Therefore, there is a problem in that correct information cannot be obtained at present at present unless accumulated information is referred to in time series.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information sharing apparatus which allows a user to easily input, update, and retrieve information without being aware of a top-down tree structure.

[0009]

An information sharing apparatus according to the present invention has a data storage unit for storing data in a predetermined format, and an update processing unit for updating data stored in the data storage unit. An information sharing device capable of performing a search on the data by using a keyword,
An attribute defining an open range of the data is added to the data, and the update processing unit updates the data stored in any of the data storage units.
Identify the information that defines the release range of the data, and if the release range of the data before update is other than the narrowest release range, consider the new data without deleting the data before update. An attribute corresponding to a disclosure range narrower than the disclosure range of the data before update is added to the data.

[0010]

Since the information input by the user is unified in a predetermined format, the information sharing device is composed of a communication network and a user terminal, a host device, and a center device connected to the communication network. Even so,
Information can be handled uniformly. The predetermined format is preferably a card format that can be processed by a computer.

[0011] An attribute defining the disclosure range is added to the data. The disclosure range indicates a range in which the target data is disclosed (whether only a data entry person can refer to, only a person belonging to a certain group can refer, or can all persons involved in this information sharing apparatus refer to). And is usually defined in several stages. Since the open range is set, different information can be managed in sections / locations. In this case, when data is updated by the user who entered the data or another user, the disclosure range of the data before update is identified, and the data before update is regarded as new data without deleting the data, and Is made smaller than the disclosure range of the data before the update, the original information is also stored.

Further, if a data storage unit is provided for each type of disclosure range, the user can easily update the information. In this case, when updating the data, the storage location of the data before the update may be changed to a data storage unit having a narrow one-stage disclosure range.

Further, by providing a keyword extracting unit and a search table, data can be searched without being aware of a top-down tree structure.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the information sharing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In this information sharing apparatus, one center device 102 and a plurality of host devices 1 are connected to a communication network 101.
03 and a plurality of user terminals 104 are connected to each other, and the user uses the user terminal 104 to input information in a card format described later, and also refers to the stored information. The communication network 101 mediates data transfer between computers and includes a public telecommunication line, a dedicated line, a LAN (local area network), a gateway, and the like. In this case, each user terminal 104 is logically accommodated (connected) to one of the host devices 103. The host device 103 stores all cards (information) input from the user terminal 104 connected to the host device 103 via the communication network 101. Center device 1
02 stores a card that can be referred to from all user terminals 104 in the system. Here, the system is
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication network 101 and the center device 1 connected to the communication network 101
02, the entire host device 103 and each user terminal 104.

Next, the center device 102 and the host device 10
3 and the configuration of the user terminal 104 will be described with reference to FIG. Host device 103 and user terminal 104
Can be connected to the communication network 101, respectively. For the sake of simplicity, in the following, each of the host device 103 and the user terminal 104 is connected to the communication network 101. Shall be

The center device 102 is a communication control unit 1 for connecting the center device 102 to the communication network 101.
22 and a center card storage unit 123 for storing cards that can be referenced from all user terminals 104 in the system
When the content of the card stored in the center card storage unit 123 is updated by the user who has input the card or another user, the fact is notified to the host device connected to the user who input the card before the update. An update processing unit 124 for notifying, a search table 123 for managing the correspondence between titles and keywords of the cards stored in the center card storage unit 123 and the cards, and a communication control unit l
The control unit 121 controls the O2, the center card storage unit 123, the update processing unit 124, and the search table 127. Here, the keyword is extracted from the text portion of the card, as described later.

The host device 103 is connected to the host device 10.
3 is provided with three types of storage units for actually storing cards to be stored, namely, a personal card storage unit 151, a host card storage unit 152, and a center card storage unit 153. The personal card storage unit 151 stores and stores a card input from the user terminal 104 connected to the host device 103 and whose disclosure range is limited to the individual user who input the card. belongs to. The host card storage unit 152 stores a card that is input from the user terminal 104 connected to the host device 103 and whose open range is limited only to the user terminal 104 connectable to the host device 103. It is for storing and keeping. The center card storage unit 153 is for storing and storing the card input from the user terminal 104 connected to the host device 103 and also stored in the center card storage unit 123 of the center device 102. Things. Note that the personal card storage unit 151 is provided for each user.

The host device 103 includes a communication control unit 142 for connecting the host device 103 to the communication network 101, a public range identification unit 143 for reading the public range of the card stored in the host device 103, Processing unit 144 for performing update processing of information, and information (card) input by the user via the user terminal 104
145, a card formatter 145 for converting the data into card format data that can be processed by a computer, a keyword extractor 146 for extracting a keyword word from the input card title and text, and a correspondence between the extracted keyword and the card. And a search table 147 for managing Further, the host device 103 has a communication control unit 142
, Center card storage unit 153 and host card storage unit 15
2, a personal card storage unit 151, a disclosure range identification unit 143, an update processing unit 144, a card shaping unit 145, a keyword extraction unit 146, and a control unit 141 for controlling the search table 147.

Here, the update processing section 144 will be described. When the content of the card stored in the center card storage unit 123 or the host card storage unit 152 has been updated by the user who has input the card or another user, the update processing unit 144 does not delete the card before the update. The storage location (accumulation unit) of the card before the update is changed. In the information sharing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the disclosure range in several stages is defined and the disclosure range is set for each card. However, the update processing unit 144 determines that the card before the update is one stage narrower than the original disclosure range. Move to the storage unit corresponding to the disclosure range. Therefore, by performing the update, the updated card is stored in the storage unit corresponding to the same disclosure range as before the update, and the card before the update is kept stored without being deleted.

Next, the card will be described. In the information sharing device of the present embodiment, the information input by the user via the stored information input unit 171 is shaped by the card shaping unit 145,
It is managed and stored in units called "cards". This card has a Title, a Distributio
n), a text part, an author name, and a date and time. Here, the user can freely describe the title and the text part. FIG. 5 shows an example of a result of shaping data input by the user into a card format by the card shaping unit 145, that is, an example of a card. In FIG. 5, portions surrounded by solid lines 191 to 193 indicate data input by the user. The title is surrounded by a solid line 191, and the title is
2 is a disclosure range, and a text is surrounded by a solid line 193.

The disclosure range is an attribute that defines to whom the card, which is input and stored information, is to be disclosed. For example, "private" is set as the disclosure range so that only the user who has input the information can search and read the card. If the card is to be disclosed only to the user terminal 104 that can be connected to the host device 103 to which the user terminal 104 used by the user who has input the information is connected, the host device 103 of the host device 103 is set as the disclosure range. If the name (xxx) is described and all user terminals 104 in the system can refer to it, "public" is described. In addition, when information is input according to an instruction from the control unit 141, the card shaping unit 145 automatically describes the author (Author) and the date and time (Date) on the card. Here, the author is the name of the user who has input the information relating to the card, and the date and time is the date and time when the information was input.

Next, the user terminal 104 will be described. The user terminal 104 is connected to a keyboard, a mouse, an image reader, a video camera, a display device, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as input / output devices) for performing a man-machine interface with the user. A function for transferring files to and from a medium is provided. The user terminal 104 includes a communication control unit 162 for connecting the user terminal 104 to the communication network 101, a storage information input unit 171 for receiving information input by the user using the input / output device, and a user A search information input unit 172 for receiving a search operation (such as a command input for searching for a stored card) performed by using, and a search result output for displaying a search result of the stored card on an input / output device Part 173
A card output unit 174 for displaying the contents of the stored card on the input / output device, a temporary storage unit 175 for temporarily storing information input from the storage information input unit 171,
Communication control section 162, storage information input section 171, search information input section 172, search result output section 173, and card output section 17
4 and a control unit 161 for controlling the temporary storage unit 175.

Next, the center device 102 and the host device 10
3, search tables 127 and 14 provided respectively.
7 will be described. Search tables 127 and 147
Manages the correspondence between keywords and cards, and an example of this correspondence is shown in FIG. Here, for each keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146, the title or text is associated with the ID (identification number) of a card including the keyword. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the ID of each card is the name of the user who has input the card (such as aaa) and the name of the host device 103 to which the user terminal 104 of the user is connected (such as xxx).
And the date and time when the card was entered (9212161114
, Etc.) and a symbol (c is the center card storage unit 153, h) indicating the open range of the card (that is, the storage unit to be stored)
Is the host card storage unit 152, and p is the personal card storage unit 1.
51).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the processing when the user inputs information will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the input process.

The user inputs information to be stored in the information sharing apparatus via the storage information input unit 171 of the user terminal 104 (Step 201). The input information is transmitted to the control unit 1
In accordance with the instruction of 61, the information is sequentially stored in the temporary storage unit 175. When the input is completed, the information stored in the temporary storage unit 175 is stored as a card in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 161.
It is transmitted from the communication control unit 162 to the communication control unit 142 of the host device via the communication network (step 20).
2). The card received by the communication control unit 142 is
According to the instruction of 41, the card is formatted into a computer-readable card format including the title, author, date and time, disclosure range, and text in the card formatter 145 (step 203). The card shaped by the card shaping unit 145 is sent to the keyword extracting unit 146 according to the instruction of the control unit 141, and the keyword is extracted from the title and the text part (step 204). Then, the card is divided by the disclosure range by the disclosure range identification unit 143 according to the instruction of the control unit 141 (step 205).

The disclosure range is individual ("private" in the above example)
In the case of, the card is stored in the personal card storage unit 151 according to the instruction of the control unit 141 (step 206), and the search table 147 in the host device 103 is based on the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146 first. Is updated (step 212). If the disclosure range is within the host (such as "aaa" in the above example), the card is
In accordance with the instruction of No. 1, it is stored in the host card storage unit 152 (step 207), and the search table 147 in the host device 103 is updated based on the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146 first (step 21).
2).

If the disclosure range is the center, the card is stored in the center card storage unit 153 according to the instruction of the control unit 141 (step 208). Then, the keyword and the card extracted by the keyword extracting unit 146 are:
In accordance with an instruction from the control unit 141, the communication is transmitted from the communication control unit 142 to the communication control unit 122 of the center apparatus 102 via the communication network 101 (step 209). The card received by the communication control unit 122 of the center device 102 and the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146 are stored in the center card storage unit 123 of the center device 102 according to an instruction of the control unit 121 (step 210). The search table 127 in the center device 102 is updated based on the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146 (step 211). Further, the search table 147 in the host device 103 is updated based on the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction unit 146 first (step 211).

When the above operation is completed, the input processing is completed, and the input card is stored in an appropriate storage unit.

Next, a process of searching for a card stored in the information sharing apparatus and referring to the searched card will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the search / reference processing.

First, the user inputs a keyword for searching for a card and search conditions (search range, author, range of input period, etc.) via the search information input section 172 of the user terminal 104 (step 221). The input keywords and search conditions are stored in the control unit 161 of the user terminal 104.
Of the host device 103 from the communication control unit 162 via the communication network 101
Is transmitted (step 222).

In the host device 103, the communication control unit 1
The keyword and search condition received at 42 are stored in the control unit 1
In accordance with the instruction of 41, the information is divided by the search range in the disclosure range identification unit 143 (step 223). If the search range is within an individual or a host, the control unit 141 instructs the search table 147 to search in the search table 147 according to the keyword and search conditions specified by the user (step 22).
4), create a list of search results (step 22)
9).

When the search range is the center, the keywords and the like and the search conditions specified by the user are instructed by the control unit 141 from the communication control unit 142 of the center apparatus 102 via the communication network 101 via the communication network 101.
2 (step 225). Center device 102
In accordance with the instruction from the control unit 121, the search table 127 is searched according to the keyword and the search condition received by the communication control unit 122 (step 226), and a list of search results is created (step 227). The created search result list is transmitted from the communication control unit 122 to the communication control unit 142 of the host device 103 that has requested the search from the communication control unit 122 via the communication network 101 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 121 (step 228). Further, the host device 103
The process proceeds to step 224 in order to perform a search within the URL.

Steps 227 to 229 described above
Is transmitted from the communication control unit 142 to the communication control unit 162 of the user terminal 104 requesting the search via the communication network 101 in accordance with an instruction of the control unit 141 of the host device 103 (step). 23
0). In the user terminal 104, the search result list received by the communication control unit 162 is output via the search result output unit 173 according to the instruction of the control unit 161 (step 2).
31). In the user terminal 104, the user who sees the displayed search result list returns to step 221 and repeats the search processing if there is no card to be referred to in the search result list (step 232).

When the card to be referred to is found, the user specifies the card to be referred by using the search information input section 172 (step 233). The input information is provided by an instruction of the control unit 161 of the user terminal 104.
The data is transmitted from the communication control unit 162 to the communication control unit 142 of the host device 103 via the communication network 101 (step 234). In the host device 103, according to the information received by the communication control unit 142, it is determined by an instruction of the control unit 141 whether the card to be referred is stored in the host device 103 or the center device 102. (Step 235).

The card to be referenced is the host device 103
If it is stored in the storage device, it is subsequently identified which storage unit of the host device 103 is stored (step 236). Personal card storage unit 151
If it is determined that the card is stored in the personal card storage unit 151 corresponding to the user, the designated card is read out (step 237), and the host card storage unit 15 is read.
2 is read from the host card storage unit 152 (step 238), and if it is determined that the card is stored in the center card storage unit 153, The designated card is read from the center card storage unit 153 of the host device 103 (step 239).

If the card to be referred to is not stored in the host device 103 but is stored in the center device 102, the control unit 1 of the host terminal 103
In accordance with the instruction of 41, information specifying the card to be referred is transmitted from the communication control unit 142 to the communication control unit 122 of the center device 102 via the communication network 101 (step 240). In the center device 102, based on the information received by the communication control unit 122, the designated card is read from the center card storage unit 123 in accordance with the instruction of the control unit 121 (step 241), and the read card is used for communication. The communication control unit 1 of the host device 103 that has requested reference from the control unit 122 via the communication network 101
42 (step 242).

The card read in the above steps 237 to 239 or the center device 10 in the above step 242
The user terminal 1 that has requested reference from the communication control unit 142 via the communication network 101 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 141 of the host device 103 is sent from the card transmitted from the host device 103.
04 to the communication control unit 162 (step 24).
3). In the user terminal 104, the card received by the communication control unit 162 is output using the card output unit 173 according to the instruction of the control unit 161 (step 244). When the above operation is completed, the search / reference processing ends.

Next, a process for updating the card stored in the information sharing apparatus will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the update process.

The user first executes the above search / reference processing using the user terminal 104 (step 251). When a card to be updated is found by the search / reference processing, the user specifies a card to be updated via the search information input unit 172 (step 252). Then, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 161 of the user terminal 104, the search / input described above is performed according to the information input from the search information input unit 172.
The reference process is executed again, and the card to be updated is stored in the temporary storage unit 175 of the user terminal 104 (step 2).
53). The user corrects the card stored in the temporary storage unit 175 via the storage information input unit 171 (Step 254). In this case, the card may be corrected using an appropriate editor program.

The data corrected in the temporary storage unit 175 is transmitted as a card from the communication control unit 162 to the communication control unit 142 of the host device 103 via the communication network 101 according to the instruction of the control unit 161 (step 25).
5). In the host device 103, the communication control unit 142
Is formatted by the card formatting unit 145 into a computer-readable card format including a title, an author, a date and time, a disclosure range, a disclosure range before updating, and text (step 256). ). The card shaped by the card shaping unit 145 is sent to the control unit 1.
In accordance with the instruction of 41, the information is divided by the disclosure range (individual, host, or center) by the disclosure range identification unit 143 (step 257).

If the disclosure range before the update is an individual, the keyword extraction process of step 204 in the input process described with reference to FIG. 7 is executed (step 264), and the update process ends.

When the disclosure range before the update is within the host, the card before the update is moved from the host card storage unit 152 to the personal card storage unit 151 of the user who has input the card before the update according to the instruction of the control unit 141. (Step 25
8) Update the search table 147 of the host device 103 (step 259). Thereafter, of the input processing described with reference to FIG. 7, the keyword extraction processing of step 204 is executed (step 264), and the update processing ends.

When the disclosure range before the update is the center, the communication control unit 1 is instructed by the control unit 141 of the host device 103.
42 via the communication network 101 to the center device 1
02 is notified to the communication control unit 122 of Step 02 (Step 260). In the center device 102, the host device 10 to which the user terminal 104 to which the card before updating has been input is connected from the communication control unit 122 via the communication network 101 according to an instruction from the control unit 121.
The notification of the update is transferred to the third communication control unit 142 (step 261). Host device 10 that has been notified
In step 3, the card before the update is moved from the center card storage unit 153 to the host card storage unit 152 in accordance with the instruction from the control unit 141 (step 262).
47 is updated (step 263). Thereafter, in the host device 103 corresponding to the data terminal 104 that has updated the data, the keyword extraction process of step 204 in the input process described with reference to FIG. 7 is executed (step 264), and the update process ends. .

In office work, information such as "who can understand a certain matter" or "who is familiar with what" is important as problem solving means. However, the task of searching for a destination from a problem requires local information and empirical knowledge, and thus has relied on individual abilities (experience, personal connections, etc.).
The information required for such work is information accumulated based on experience, and differs depending on the section / location, and the scope of the information is not limited to within a company but covers a wide variety. Therefore,
It is difficult to manage information from the top down, and it is considered effective to accumulate / manage information in individuals or sections from the bottom up. By using the information sharing device of this embodiment, it is possible to accumulate / share information from the bottom up.

In the information sharing apparatus of this embodiment, the search directory does not have a tree structure in which the lower organization is positioned under the upper organization, and can be searched only by specifying a keyword and a search range. Therefore, there is no need to search in order from the upper organization in consideration of the top-down tree structure. When updating information, the stored information is directly updated instead of supplementing existing information and adding new information, so that update management of information is easy. In addition, original information is also stored with its disclosure range narrowed.

In the present embodiment, the host device and the center device each have a center card storage unit. This allows the center device to update the card stored in the center card storage unit of the center device. This eliminates the need to transfer the card to the host device. As a result, the card is stored in two places, which requires twice the storage capacity as in the case where the card is stored in one place. However, the card is transferred from the center device to the host device and re-managed. There is an effect that information transfer in the direction opposite to the filling can be prevented. Further, there is an advantage that the structure of the communication control unit and the like can be simplified and the communication cost can be reduced.

[0049]

As described above, the present invention provides information accumulated by personal experiences which cannot be handled by the prior art,
There is an effect that it is possible for a plurality of users to share information that is different in sections / locations, information that is handled not only within one company, but also various information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional top-down information sharing device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an electronic bulletin board.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an information sharing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a center device, a host device, and a user terminal in the information sharing device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a card.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a search table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an input process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a search / reference process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an update process.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 communication network 102 center device 103 host device 104 user terminal 121, 141, 161 control unit 122, 142, 162 communication control unit 123, 153 center card storage unit 124, 144 update processing unit 127, 147 search table 143 open range identification Unit 145 card shaping unit 146 keyword extraction unit 151 personal card storage unit 152 host card storage unit 171 storage information input unit 172 search information input unit 173 search result output unit 174 card output unit 175 temporary storage units 201 to 212, 221 to 244, 251-264 steps

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data storage unit for storing data of a predetermined format, and an update processing unit for updating data stored in the data storage unit, wherein a search is performed on the data by a keyword. In the information sharing device, the data may be added with an attribute that defines a disclosure range of the data, and the update processing unit may update the data stored in any of the data storage units. Identifying the information defining the disclosure range of the data, and if the disclosure range of the data before update is other than the narrowest disclosure range, consider the data before update as new data without deleting it. An information sharing device for assigning an attribute corresponding to a disclosure range narrower than the disclosure range of the data before update to the data. 2. A data storage unit is provided for each type of disclosure range, and the update processing unit, when updating data stored in any of the data storage units, sets a disclosure range of the data before update. 2. The data before the update is transferred and stored in a data storage unit corresponding to a disclosure range narrower than the disclosure range of the data before the update if the data is other than the narrowest disclosure range. Information sharing device. 3. The information sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication network, one center device connected to the communication network, and one or more devices each connected to the communication network. A user terminal and a host device, wherein each of the user terminals is associated with one of the host devices and stores data in an open range for all user terminals belonging to the information sharing device. An information sharing device, wherein a data storage unit is provided in the center device, and a data storage unit for storing data in a public range equal to or smaller than a range related to the host device is provided for each of the host devices.