JP3192995B2 - Information storage and retrieval device and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a database system for searching information distributed and stored on a network and presenting the searched information in a presentation format desired by a user.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Information is based on personal intentions and interpretations. Because of their personality, the information provided will be structured from a provider-based perspective. Generally, a provider configures information so that the utility function of the provider is maximized, and publishes the information. On the other hand, a user who is provided with information also has a utility function that the user has, and there is a demand that the user wants to perform operations such as referring to and processing information so that the utility function is maximized.

The architecture of recent database systems is modeled by a three-tier schema structure. 3
The outer schema layer is closest to the application layer of the layer schema. This layer provides a specific user (or group) with a particular view of the data structure (view or presentation format) of a part of the database. In this conventional database system, for the retrieved information, rather than "reconstructing the information from the user's viewpoint",
The emphasis is on "preventing changes to the application software in response to changes in the physical or logical data structure of the database".

Accordingly, the existing database framework does not allow the end user to freely manipulate the view of the database, and there is no framework for sharing the view among a plurality of persons. They are views by database developers / administrators. Further, the view is a view for the “data (information) structure” and does not relate to “expression of information” and “behavior of information”. In database views, it is difficult to reconstruct information in the "true sense" from the user's perspective.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention allows the user to freely change the information presentation format from the viewpoint of the user, thereby expanding the range of information utilization and promoting information utilization. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a database system that can achieve the above.

[0006]

An information storage and retrieval device according to the present invention (claim 1) stores a set of data belonging to a predetermined category and definition data describing the structure of the data and the definition of a presentation format. A storage unit, a search unit that searches the storage unit for the data and the definition data associated with the data or the definition data based on the input search data, and a search unit that is associated with the data searched by the search unit in advance. Rewriting means for rewriting the defined data based on the other definition data searched by the search means,
And a presentation means for presenting the data retrieved by the retrieval means based on the definition data rewritten by the rewriting means.
In addition to presenting, by rewriting the definition data of the searched data using other definition data, the data can be easily displayed in a display format desired by the user.

[0007] The information storage and retrieval apparatus of the present invention (claim 2)
Search means for storing a set of data belonging to a predetermined category and definition data describing the structure of the data and the definition of the presentation format; and searching the storage means for data presentable by the specified definition data. And a presenting means for presenting the data retrieved by the retrieving means on the basis of the specified definition data. It is also possible to search for and present information data that matches the presentation format desired by the user.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1) Configuration and Information Space of Information Storage and Retrieval Device FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a database system configured by connecting a plurality of information storage and retrieval devices of the present invention to a predetermined network. FIG. 1 shows, for example, a case in which three information storage and retrieval devices (hereinafter, referred to as site 1, site 2, and site 3) are connected to a network, and a local database (DB) provided in each site. 1) An information distribution type database system is configured in which information stored in 16 is a set of virtual information spaces used jointly with other sites via a network.

Although the structure of each site is the same, FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of site 1, for example. Here, terms used in the following description will be described.

[0010] The information space is a collection of information collected from a certain viewpoint, and is a file for storing information data itself belonging to a predetermined category, that is, a set of information objects, and a set of information objects associated with the set. It is composed of a file storing a description that defines a data structure (information class) and a presentation format (expression method), that is, an information definition object (schema). Further, the information space may be composed of only information definition objects.

The site 1 mainly includes a communication control unit 11, another site service unit 12, an information space ID conversion unit 13, an information space management unit 14, a local DB access unit 15, a local database (DB) 16, and a user information memory. 17, information space search unit 18, information space operation unit 19, script interpreter unit 20, access inspection unit 21, information space synthesis unit 22, overall control unit 23, information space display unit 24, information space event control unit 25, information space The information space display unit 24 is connected to an information presenting device such as a display, and the information space event control unit 25 is connected to an information input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The configuration of sites 2 and 3 is the same as site 1.

The communication control unit 11 connects a logical path to another site when providing the information space in the own site to another site, and transfers the information space of the own site to the other site. And interface processing when receiving information spaces from other sites.

The other site service unit 12 transfers data to another site in order to maintain consistency of data between sites when data in an information space in the own site referred to by another site is changed. It is for doing.

The information space ID conversion unit 13 is called from the information space management unit 14 and expands the data of the information space of its own site into the information space data area and receives the data of the information space of another site and When expanding to an area, a unique ID is assigned to the information space and the information object within the own site. With this ID, various data can be uniquely identified in the entire system.

The information space management unit 14 manages an information space data area for expanding local data in the information space in the own site and data in the information space of the other site transferred from the other site.

The local DB access unit 15 is called from the information space management unit 14 and acquires data of the information space in its own site from the local DB 16. The acquired information space data is expanded in the information space data area. Is done. The local DB access unit 15 has a DBMS (Da
tabase Management System)
Includes an interface for accessing.

The local DB 16 stores data of the information space of its own site, and is mainly configured on secondary storage. The user information memory 17 stores information on users who use the site 1.

The information space search unit 18 is called from the overall control unit 23 and receives a local D through the information space management unit 14.
The data is searched from B16. In particular,
Search for an information space, an information object, and an information definition object that match search information (for example, identification information represented by a character string for identifying each of the information space or the information object or the information definition object) input by the user. I do.

The information space operation unit 19 is called from the overall control unit 23 and performs operations such as newly creating and updating data existing in the information space data area. Specifically, the searched information space, the value update of the information object, the value deletion,
Operations such as referencing the information definition object and rewriting (overwriting) the information definition object are performed.

The script interpreter unit 20 is called from the information space search unit 18 and the information space operation unit 19, and translates and evaluates various scripts. Specifically, the script is called from the information space search unit 18 when translating and evaluating the script at the time of the search request, and operates the data of the information object and the information definition object (value update, overwrite, etc.). It is called from the information space operation unit 19 for translation and evaluation.

The access checking unit 21 is provided with the information space searching unit 1
8 and the information space operation unit 19, determine whether or not the user can access the information space based on the access key, which will be described later, and determine whether or not the information object can be rewritten based on the identifier included in the information definition object when rewriting the information definition object. Make a decision.

The information space synthesizing unit 22 includes the information space operating unit 1
9 to rewrite the description of the information definition object when overwriting the information definition object.

The overall control unit 23 controls information space events such as displaying the information space on the information space display unit 24 on the display, searching the information space on the information space search unit 18, and operating the information space on the information space operation unit 19. Part 2
When the instruction information (event) for instructing the operation of the information space input by the user via the user 5 is obtained, the entire site is controlled by giving an operation instruction relating to the information space to each section based on the instruction information (event).

The information space display section 24 is called from the overall control section 23 and displays the designated information space on a display, for example. The information space event control unit 25 acquires an event input by a user via a mouse or a keyboard based on information displayed on a display, for example, and notifies the general control unit 23 of the occurrence of the event. For example, an event occurs when a search for an information space is made by inputting a character string, or when an information object displayed on a display is selected by a mouse click.

The information space display memory 26 stores display information of the information space displayed on the display. FIG.
It specifically shows the configuration of the information space, for example, shows a configuration example of an information space named “company sales”.

The information space shown in FIG. 2 is composed of a set of information objects and an information definition object associated with the set in advance. One of the plurality of information objects is “May 3, 1997, Store A
Is described in accordance with a predetermined description format. At this time, the operation and behavior of the data may be encapsulated as an information object.

The information object has a sales date (dat
e), a store name (shop), a product name (goods), a sales amount (sold), etc., corresponding to a data attribute determined in advance by a data structure defined by an information definition object to be described later (e.g., , "May 3, 1997", "Store A", "Product B", "$ 1250") are described in the order of the data attributes.

The information definition object includes a description part (Def_Inf) relating to the information space and a description part (Def_Class: information class) relating to the information object existing in the information space.

The description section relating to the information space (hereinafter referred to as the information space description section) mainly includes an identifier of a presentation format of an information object set (in FIG. 2, an identifier of “Table” representing a table format). ) Is described, which may be described by a meta variable in which an identifier of an information space or an information class is converted into a variable. In addition, the identification information of the information space (in FIG. 2, the name represented by the character string “sales information space” is used as the identification information of the information space), and the user's access to the information space is defined (for example, , An access key for restricting a user who can access the information space (for example, “2331” in FIG. 2)
231 "is an access key).

A description part (hereinafter, referred to as an information object)
Information class description section) describes an information class of an information space (that defines an information presentation format including a data structure of an information object). Also, an identifier of the information class (for example, “Sell” in FIG. 2 is the identifier of the information class) is described. The identifier of this information class is used to check whether the information class of the overwritten side or the overwriting side is an overwritable information class when overwriting the information space or the information space template described later. Used for

An information object or an information class also has an upper / lower relationship. In general, when data having such an upper / lower relationship is used, an inheritance (or inheritance) function operates to access an attribute which is not defined in lower data. If it is defined in the upper class, it can return the result as if it were defined in the lower data.

The description of the information class description section in FIG. 2 describes a routine (column) for displaying an information object as one “column”. FIG. 3 shows a display example of an information space named “sales information space” shown in FIG. 2 on a display. One information space is displayed as one window on a display, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, a set of information objects existing in the information space is displayed in a table format according to the description of the information definition object. Each item on the table displayed here is "Sales date"
Data attributes such as “store name”, “product name”, and “sales amount”. In the table format, one information object is displayed as one column in the information space description part and the information class description part of the information definition object, and those columns are displayed as one table format column. This is because it is defined as follows.

The description format of the information object and the information definition object as shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. 2) Reference to Information Space With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a processing procedure when an information space is searched and displayed on a display will be described.

Step S1) A user inputs a name (character string) of a desired information space by using a keyboard, for example, based on information displayed on a display, specifies an information space, and makes a search request therefor.

Step S2) Information space event control unit 2
5 informs the overall control unit 23 that a search event has occurred in response to the search request for the information space. Step S3) The overall control unit 23 sets the information space search unit 18
And further calls the information space management unit 14 to access the information space data area.

Steps S4 to S5) The information space management unit 14 searches the information space data area, and if the specified information space does not exist, calls the local DB access unit 15 to search the local DB 16. . If the specified information space exists in the local DB 16, the data of the specified information space is expanded from the local DB 16 to the information space data area.

Step S5 to Step S6) Local D
When the information space specified in B16 does not exist, the other sites 2 and 3 are inquired about the specified information space (at this time, the name of the information space input by the user is notified). When the information space specified in any one of the other sites exists, the data of the information space is transferred from the other site to the information space data area of the own site and developed. It is assumed that information necessary for accessing another site (for example, an address of another site, a broadcast address, etc.) is managed by the communication control unit 11.

Step S10) If the designated information space does not exist at another site, the information space management unit 14 notifies the fact to the general control unit 23. A message notifying that the search of the information space has failed is displayed on the display.

Step S7) In developing data of the information space in the information space data area, first, the information space I
The ID for the information space (information space I
D), a unique ID at the own site such as an ID for the information object (information object ID). After that, the data in the information space is expanded to the information space data area.

Step S8) The information space search section 18 calls the access check section 21 and calls the user information memory 17
The access key stored in advance in the information space and previously assigned to the user accessing the information space is compared with the access key assigned to the information space (the access key included in the information definition object). Then, whether or not the user has an access right to the information space, or the access range of the user is determined. as a result,
For example, when it is determined that the user can access the information space, the information space ID is sent to the overall control unit 23.
And the completion of reading of the data in the specified information space is notified.

Step S9) Upon receiving this notification, the overall control unit 23 calls the information space display unit 23 and displays the specified information space on the window. The information space is displayed according to the information definition object described in the information definition object.

When an inquiry about an information space designated to another site is made in step S6, a message for the inquiry may be broadcast to the other site, or WWW (World-Wide Web).
Other sites may be accessed using a communication logical address such as a URL given in the above information. Further, another site may be accessed through a server such as a directory server that converts a conceptual name and a logical address in communication. In the present invention, a method for accessing another site is not particularly specified.

3) Overwriting of Information Space Next, overwriting of the information space will be described. FIG. 5A shows the information space (first information space) shown in FIG.
9 shows a display example when another information space (second information space) is overwritten. That is, FIG. 3 shows a display example of an information space called “sales information space”, but FIG. 5A shows an example in which the display of the information space changes by overlapping two information spaces.

In FIG. 3, a set of information objects existing in the information space is displayed in a table format. Each item in the table is a data attribute such as “sales date”, “store name”, “product name”, and “sales amount”. In the table format, the information object is displayed as one column in the information space description section and the information class description section of the information definition object, and the columns are displayed as one table format column. It is because it is defined as follows.

In the information space obtained by overwriting the two information spaces shown in FIG. 5A, a set of information objects existing in the information space is arranged in a visual three-dimensional space. . Axis X that constitutes a three-dimensional space,
Y and Z are a sales date / time axis, a store axis, and a product axis, respectively, and are projected in the information space in a display format that visually appeals “what kind of product was sold at which store and on which day”. ing.

The reason why such display can be performed is that another second information space is overlapped with the first information space like a filter. On the window W1 corresponding to the space,
This can be performed by overlapping windows W2 corresponding to the second information space.

FIG. 5B shows that when the second information space is overwritten on the first information space, the information space synthesizing section 22
5 shows an example of the description of the information definition object created by combining the description of the first information space and the description of the second information definition object. Here, the description is synthesized by, for example, rewriting a replaceable portion in the description of the information definition object in the first information space to the description of the information definition object in the second information space.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the second information space, which, like the first information space, comprises an information object and an information definition object. The information space description part of the information definition object includes “var InfoSpace X;” as the presentation format of the information object.
Is declared, and further, “Dis
"play 3Dspace ();" specifies the presentation format of the information space in the three-dimensional space.

Regarding the information class, the description class of the meta information space variable X is described in the information class description section as “For X / 〜Method show_sel”.
l () ｛... ｛｝ ”. This means that in the information space X, the information object is displayed as a three-dimensional plot centering on the sales date and time, the store, and the product. Furthermore, when clicking the displayed plot with a mouse or the like, "sh
ow_sell "method.

Window W1 corresponding to first information space
By superimposing a window W2 corresponding to the second information space on top of this, the meta information space variable X is automatically bound to the first information space, and the information definition object of the second information space (FIG. 6) By overwriting (see FIG. 2) the information definition object in the first information space (see FIG. 2), the information definition object shown in FIG. 5B is generated.

Overwriting means rewriting (synthesizing) the definition of the information class described in the information class description section with the definition of another information class (corresponding to this, the description of the information space description section). May be rewritten). By the overwriting mechanism of this information class, the window W2 corresponding to the second information space is overlaid on the window W1 corresponding to the first information space, for example, so that the display format of the information space is changed. Can be changed.

Next, a case where information defined in a plurality of information spaces is displayed in one information space will be described. That is, a case where information objects of different information classes in a plurality of information spaces are displayed in one information space in the same format (information class) (that is, by converting the data structure) and displayed with reference to FIG. explain.

In FIG. 7, medical information having different data structures exists in each of the information spaces X, Y, and Z. For example, there are differences such as a different date description format and no attribute. In order to absorb this, the definition of each information class is changed to the information class “Ldata” of the information space W.
In response to the above, conversion rules (specifically, description contents of meta information space variables) for converting the data structure so that all the medical information has the same presentation format as this, X, Y,
Determine Z. This conversion rule may be created by a user, for example.

In FIG. 6, there is one information class to be converted.
That is, there was one meta information space variable X. When there are two or more as shown in FIG. 7, the binding to the meta information space variable cannot be specified by the operation of overlapping the windows. In that case, it responds by inquiring of the user. As a result, it is assumed that the information space X is associated with the conversion rule X, the information space Y is associated with the meta information conversion rule Y, and the information space Z is associated with the conversion rule Z (X ← information space X, Y ← information Space Y, Z ← information space Z). Then, the information definition object of the information space X is overwritten by the description of the conversion rule X, the information definition object of the information space Y is overwritten by the description of the conversion rule Y, and the information definition object of the information space Z is overwritten by the conversion rule Z. The description is overwritten, and the definition of each information class of the information space X, Y, Z is unified to the definition “Ldata” of the information class of the information space W.

Next, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8, a processing procedure when performing overwriting of the information space will be described. Step S11) The user specifies a desired information space by inputting a name (character string) of a desired information space with a keyboard, for example, based on information displayed on a display, and the information space to be overwritten and the overwriting A search request for the information space to be performed is made.

Step S12) The information space event control section 25 informs the overall control section 23 that an overwrite event of the information space has occurred. Step S13) The overall control unit 23 executes the information space operation unit 1
9 is called, and the information space management unit 14 is called to access the information space data area.

Step S14) The information space management unit 14
The information space data area is searched to acquire the information space on the side to be overwritten. Step S15) The information space operation unit 19 calls the information space synthesis unit 22 and executes overwriting of the information space. At this time, the identifiers of the information classes on the side to be overwritten are obtained, collated, and the access inspection unit 21 checks whether the data structure and the presentation format are overwritable. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6, the identifiers of the first information space and the second information class are both "Sell", and in this case, it is determined that overwriting is possible.

Step S16) If overwriting is possible, an information space resulting from overwriting is newly created in the information space data area. Step S17) The overall control unit 23 sets the information space display unit 24
And the information space I resulting from overwriting
The information space overwritten on the display is displayed as a window using D as a key.

In the overwriting of the information space here,
Although the overwriting is enabled only by checking the identifier of the information class, a matching check (for example, a date and a text content check) of predetermined description contents in the information definition object may be executed. 4) Information Space Template Next, an information space template will be described.

The information space is not limited to the information space composed of the information definition objects and the information object set, but may be constituted only of the information definition objects by removing the information object set from the information space. This “empty information space” is called an information space template.

The information space template is the viewpoint of information itself, and by reusing the information space template, the viewpoint of information and sharing of know-how are achieved. The case where the information space template is overwritten in the information space will be described with reference to FIG. The information space template `` sales classification conversion '' is superimposed on the information definition object previously associated with the information object set which is the information on the sales present in the information space `` sales information space '', thereby obtaining `` sales date and time, store, The information space composed of data attributes such as “product” is converted into the information space composed of data attributes such as “sales date and time, area, product classification”.

Further, by superimposing the information space template “sales analysis”, a set of information objects existing in the information space becomes a “sales analysis information space” arranged and presented in a visual three-dimensional space. In the information space “sales analysis information space”, the axes X, Y, and Z constituting the three-dimensional space are:
The information is displayed in the information space in a display format that visually appeals, "what kind of product classification, in which area, and on which day the sales occurred", which are a sales date / time axis, an area axis, and a product classification axis, respectively.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, a processing procedure when the information space template is overwritten in the information space will be described. Here, it is assumed that the desired information space has already been searched and presented on the display. Step S21) The user inputs the name of the desired information space template (for example, using the keyboard based on the information displayed on the display). Input a character string) to specify the information space template and make a search request for it.

Step S22) The information space event control unit 25 informs the overall control unit 23 that an information space template search event has occurred in response to the information space search request.

Step S23) The overall control unit 23 calls the information space search unit 18 and further calls the information space management unit 14 to access the information space data area. Step S24) The information space management unit 14 searches the information space data area, and if the specified information space template does not exist, the local DB access unit 15
To search the local DB 16. Local D
If the designated information space template exists in B16, the data of the designated information space template is developed from the local DB 16 to the information space data area.

Step S25) If the specified information space template does not exist in the local DB 16, an inquiry is made to the other sites 2 and 3 for the specified information space (at this time, the name of the information space template input by the user) Notification). If the information space template specified in any of the other sites exists, the data of the information space template is transferred from the other site to the information space data of the own site and expanded. In addition,
Information necessary for accessing another site (for example, an address of another site, a broadcast address, and the like) is assumed to be managed by the communication control unit 11.

In expanding the data of the information space template, the information space ID conversion unit 13 assigns a unique ID such as an information space template ID to the information space template at its own site. After that, the data relating to the information space template is developed into the information space data area.

Step S35) If the specified information space template does not exist in another site, the information space management unit 14 notifies the fact to the general control unit 23, and the general control unit 23 For example, a message or the like notifying that the search of the information space template has failed is displayed on the display.

Step S26) The information space search unit 18
The access information search unit 21 is called, and the user information memory 1 is called.
7 is compared with an access key, which is stored in advance and is previously assigned to a user accessing the information space, and an access key assigned to the information space,
Determine whether the user has the right to access the information space, or determine the user's access range. As a result, for example, when it is determined that the user can access the information space, the overall control unit 23 is notified of the completion of the reading of the data of the specified information space together with the information space ID.

Step S27) The overall control unit 23 calls the information space display unit 24 to display the information space template on the window. Since the display format of the information space is described in the information definition object, the display is performed according to it.

Step S28) For example, the user performs an operation of superimposing the window displaying the information space template on the window displaying the existing information space by using a mouse, thereby changing the information space template to the information space. Give an instruction to overwrite.

Step S29) In response to this, the information space event control unit 25 informs the general control unit 23 that an event of overwriting of the information space has occurred. Step S30) The overall control unit 23 executes the information space operation unit 1
9 is called, and the information space management unit 14 is called to access the information space data area.

Step S31) The information space management unit 14
The information space data area is searched, and the information definition object on the side to be overwritten (ie, the information space template) and the information definition object on the side to be overwritten (ie, the information space) are obtained.

Step S32) The information space operation unit 19
The information space synthesizing unit 22 is called to execute overwriting of the information space. At this time, the identifiers of the information classes on the side to be overwritten are obtained, collated, and the access inspection unit 21 checks whether the data structure and the presentation format are mutually overwritable.

Step S33) If overwriting is possible, an information space resulting from the overwriting is newly created in the information space data area. Step S34) The overall control unit 23 sets the information space display unit 2
4 is called, and the overwritten information space is displayed as a window on the display using the information space ID resulting from the overwriting as a key.

When an inquiry about an information space template designated for another site is made in step S25, a message for the inquiry may be broadcast to the other site, or may be WWW (World-Wi).
Other sites may be accessed using a communication logical address such as a URL given to information on de Web). Further, another site may be accessed through a server such as a directory server that converts a conceptual name and a logical address in communication. In the present invention, a method for accessing another site is not particularly specified. 5) Processing for Request from Another Site Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, when an inquiry request for an information space (including an information space template) is made from another site (step S6 in FIG. 4, step S25 in FIG. 10). ) Will be described.

Step S41) An inquiry request is issued from another site, and the communication control unit 11 of the own site receives the request message. Steps S42 to S43) The communication control unit 11 calls the information space management unit 14, and the information space management unit 14 searches the information space data area. If the specified information space does not exist there, the local DB access unit 15 is called to search the local DB 16. Local DB
Local DB1 if the information space specified in 16 exists
6 to the information space data area, the data of the designated information space is expanded.

Step S44) The communication control section 11 transmits the data of the information space developed in the information space data area to another site of the inquiry source. Step S45) On the other hand, if the information space specified in the local DB 16 does not exist, the communication control unit 11 transmits a message for notifying that to the site of the inquiry source.

FIG. 12 shows the data structure of the information space data area of the site 1 when, for example, the site 1 transmits the information space existing at the own site to the inquiry source site in response to an information space inquiry request from another site. Is shown.

The information space data area includes an area for own site and an area for other sites. In the own site area, data of an information space which is read from the local DB 16 of the own site and temporarily stored and managed is stored.

In the other site area, when the information space existing in the own site area is transmitted to the other site, the transmission site information of the information space is stored linked to the information space of the own site area. I have. The transmission site information includes, for example, identification information and address information of the transmission destination site,
A transmission timing (a cycle time for transmitting data in the information space or update data), a pointer to data in the information space in the own site area, and the like are included.

As described above, the information on the transmission destination site of the information space associated with the information space, that is, the transmission site information is held. For example, the content of the information space held at the own site is updated. In this case (when rewritten by the user), the other site service unit 12 refers to the transmission site information and transmits the updated content to another site that is referencing the information space via the communication control unit 11. Therefore, it is possible to maintain cooperation and consistency of information across sites.

6) Collection of Information Objects FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the collection processing of information objects. For example, in the site 1, an information space template is specified, and an information class specified by the information space template is specified. Search and collect information objects that match with other sites including other sites (see FIG. 13 (a)), and display the collected information objects on site 1 (see FIG. 13 (b)). Is shown.

As shown in FIG. 13 (a), first, for example, a search request message for an information object matching an information class whose information class identifier is “class C” is sent from the information space search unit 18 of the site 1. It is issued to another site through the communication control unit 11. In the request message transmitted here, the data structure of the information object conforming to the information class specified by “class C” is composed of data having attributes such as “date”, “comment”, and “image”. This means that an information object having such a data structure is searched for in both the own site and other sites.

The information objects collected in response to this message are developed into an information space data area, and displayed on a display as an information space window. 7) System Configuration Example In the above description, as shown in FIG. 14A, a distributed database system in which a plurality of information storage and retrieval devices are connected via a network is described. Not limited to the embodiment, for example, a centralized database system in which a single information storage and retrieval device as shown in FIG. 14B is used as a database server and a plurality of client terminals access the database server can also be configured. . In this case, each client terminal (for example, a personal computer) does not need to include the local DB 16 among the components illustrated in FIG. 1 and, if necessary, includes a part of the components illustrated in FIG. Often,
It can be implemented with a simple configuration.

8) Effect Conventionally, an information file, a data structure of the information file, and a schema describing a presentation format are integrated, and data of the information file is displayed in accordance with a schema previously associated with the information file. It had been.

According to the above embodiment, not only the information space composed of the information file, ie, the information object, and the schema, ie, the information definition object, but also the information definition object which describes the definition of the data structure and presentation format of an arbitrary information object An information space composed only of the information definition object is defined, and the information definition object is stored in a database so that the user can search for the information definition object as well as the information object.
By making the configuration overwritable by another information definition object, it is possible to not only search and present the information space, but also to overwrite another information space in the information space (overwriting of the information definition object). Thus, a desired information object can be easily displayed in a display format desired by the user. Therefore,
The presentation format of information can be changed freely from the user's viewpoint,
The range of use of information is expanded, and the use of information can be promoted.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The presentation format of information can be changed freely from the user's viewpoint,
The range of use of information is expanded, and the use of information can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database system configured by connecting a plurality of information storage and retrieval devices according to an embodiment of the present invention to a predetermined network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a configuration of an information space.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of the information space in FIG. 2 on a display.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for displaying an information space.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a case where a second information space is overwritten on a first information space.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of a configuration of a second information space.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a case where information objects of different information classes in a plurality of information spaces are displayed in one information space in the same format (information class).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an information space overwriting procedure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a case where overwriting is performed on the information space of the information space template.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of searching for an information space template and overwriting another information space.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure for a request from another site.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a data structure of an information space data area of the own site when an information space existing at the own site is transmitted to an inquiry source site in response to an information space inquiry request from another site.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a case where an information space template is specified, and an information object that matches the information class specified by the information space template is searched and collected including other sites.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a database system using the information storage and retrieval device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Communication control part 12 ... Other site service part 13 ... Information space ID conversion part 14 ... Information space management part 15 ... Local DB access part 16 ... Local DB 17 ... User information memory 18 ... Information space search part 19 ... Information space operation Unit 20 Script interpreter unit 21 Access check unit 22 Information space synthesis unit 23 Overall control unit 23 24 Information space display unit 25 Information space event control unit 26 Information space display memory

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-273947 (JP, A) JP-A-3-214244 (JP, A) Taguchi, Tanaka, CALOINI, A, Yano “Multimedia authoring system” MediaDesc (3)-Scene Editor-"Information Processing Society of Japan 52nd (Early 1996) National Convention Lecture Papers (3) p. 239-240 (Heisei 8-3-6) (58) Fields surveyed (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. Definition data defining a presentation format of information data including a plurality of attribute data and a data structure of the information data presented in the presentation format, and the information data previously associated with the definition data Storage means for storing a set of information data; and a search means for searching for the set of information data and the definition data previously associated therewith, or the definition data from the storage means based on the input search data; A set of information data as a processing target searched for by the search means is set to a second presentation format different from the first presentation format defined by the definition data associated with the processing target in advance. To present in presentation format,
Based on the definition data defining the second presentation format retrieved by the retrieval means, the description of the presentation format of the definition data previously associated with the processing target is rewritten to correspond to the second presentation format, and Rewriting means for rewriting definition data previously associated with the processing object so as to convert the data structure of the processing object into the data structure corresponding to the second presentation format; and An information storage and retrieval apparatus, comprising: a presentation unit that presents a processing target. 2. Definition data defining a presentation format of information data including a plurality of attribute data and a data structure of the information data presented in the presentation format, and the information data previously associated with the definition data Storage means for storing a set of information data, a set of information data which can be presented by the specified definition data, and a search means for searching the storage means for definition data associated therewith; Based on the definition format, the description of the presentation format of the definition data previously associated with the set of information data to be processed by the search means is rewritten to the presentation format defined by the specified definition data. Rewrite the definition data previously associated with the processing target so as to convert the data structure of the processing target into a data structure corresponding to the presentation format And switching means, information storage and retrieval device being characterized in that anda presentation means for presenting said processed based on the rewritten defined data in this rewriting means. 3. The definition data includes an identifier for identifying a data structure described in the definition data, and the definition data defining the second presentation format is associated with the processing target in advance. 2. The information storage and retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein the information storage and retrieval device has the same identifier as the identifier included in the definition data. 4. The search means searches for the set of information data and definition data previously associated therewith, or the definition data, via an arbitrary network based on the input search data. 2. The information storage and retrieval device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the search unit searches for a set of information data presentable by the specified definition data and definition data associated therewith via an arbitrary network. Information storage and retrieval device as described. 6. Definition data defining a presentation format of information data including a plurality of attribute data and a data structure of the information data presented in the presentation format, and the information data previously associated with the definition data. A process for retrieving the set of information data and the definition data previously associated therewith or the definition data from the storage means for storing the set of A set of information data as a processing target searched in the second presentation format in which the content of the information data to be presented is different from the first presentation format defined by definition data previously associated with the processing target To present in
Based on the definition data defining the second presentation format searched in the search process, the description of the presentation format of the definition data previously associated with the processing target is rewritten to correspond to the second presentation format, and Rewriting processing for rewriting definition data previously associated with the processing object so as to convert the data structure of the processing object into the data structure corresponding to the second presentation format; And a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute the presentation processing for presenting the processing target based on the processing. 7. Definition data defining a presentation format of information data including a plurality of attribute data and a data structure of the information data presented in the presentation format, and the information data previously associated with the definition data. From a storage unit that stores a set of information data and a search process for searching for a set of information data that can be presented in the specified definition data and definition data associated therewith, based on the specified definition data, Rewriting the description of the presentation format of the definition data previously associated with the set of information data as the processing target searched for in the search processing to the presentation format defined by the specified definition data, For rewriting definition data previously associated with the processing object so as to convert the data structure of Treatment and, computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the presentation process, to the computer for presenting the processed based on the definition data rewritten by the rewrite process.