JP3238023B2 - Information storage and retrieval device and information storage and retrieval method - 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 storage and retrieval device and an information storage and retrieval device for classifying and organizing a plurality of documents.
About how to search.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information management based on a classification system such as cabinets / binders / documents or boxes / folders / documents is generally applied in companies and the like as a technique for classifying and organizing information in units of documents. I have. As this classification system, a tree structure and a net structure are known.

[0003] The tree structure is used, for example, for realizing a file management function of an operating system, and files are arranged in a hierarchical structure represented by a tree structure, and presented and classified to a user. The storage location of the file is identified by a path name from the root directory of the tree structure to the target file via the subdirectory.

[0004] When a net structure is used, for example, in a hypertext system, text information can be divided into management units and links indicating mutual relationships can be freely set. By operating this link, information can be managed by defining a free relationship, not limited to a hierarchical structure.

In an electronic filing system, which is a specific example of an information storage and retrieval device, a classification system having a hierarchical structure such as cabinets / binders / documents or boxes / folders / documents is constructed similarly to paper files. To realize information classification. Here, the depth of the hierarchy is fixed or arbitrary within a predetermined range. In general, a classification method is to first define a hierarchical structure together with a classification name, and classify all documents by associating them with any one position in a classification system represented by a tree structure.

[0006]

The information management of documents and the like based on the hierarchical structure performed in the conventional electronic filing system has the following problems. (1) It cannot be used unless a classification system is determined in advance.

[0007] Information required in a company office has two aspects, even for the same business information, common information used by the entire organization and unique information used personally. In order to utilize this information, you can easily retrieve it when needed, by job content, item, date,
It is a general method to classify using the attribute of information according to importance or the like as seen in the classification of books.

[0008] In this case, before registering new information or re-classifying existing information, the classification destination cannot be specified unless a classification system is determined in advance.
The amount of information included in the “other” classification increases, and information management becomes meaningless. This means that if the classification system cannot be determined, the classification and arrangement of information cannot be started, and in particular, it is difficult to manage personally used information whose classification system is not necessarily fixed. (2) It is not easy to reconstruct the classification system used in the middle.

In daily office work, it is necessary to review the classification system itself, such as adding new classification items, subdividing existing classification items, or integrating existing classification items. appear. However, it is not easy to reorganize the information that is classified based only on the hierarchical structure, because it is not possible to reconstruct only the classification system without moving the substance of the information. . It is desired to utilize a mechanism other than the hierarchical structure constructed using information attributes, which is effective for sorting and organizing information, in combination with the hierarchical structure. (3) It is difficult to sort and organize information according to the evolving and growing classification system.

[0010] Even if the entire classification system is reconstructed,
Reclassifying and rearranging all related information while taking into account the old and new with respect to the changed category will generate a large amount of work at once. The classification system is changed little by little in the daily work, and the classification and arrangement of information cannot be advanced little by little, making the classification and arrangement itself difficult.

[0011] Due to the above problems, when actually operating a conventional electronic filing system, first, a predetermined classification system is created in advance, and a document as information is registered in accordance with the system. Had become. For this reason, at the time of inputting a document, it is necessary to prepare a keyword for the document according to a classification system created in advance. That is, when entering a document, the classification of the document had to be determined. Also, when sorting and organizing documents that have been input once, they are limited to within the classification system.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a document can be classified and arranged according to additional information which is set independently and in parallel with the classification information which the information itself has, independently of the conventional classification and arrangement based on a hierarchical structure, In addition, an information storage and retrieval apparatus and information configured to easily register new information
It is an object to provide a memory search method .

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in the information storage and retrieval apparatus according to the present invention, at least one of a plurality of documents for classifying the plurality of documents is provided. Storage means for providing additional information having classification information and storing the plurality of documents classified based on the classification information; and selecting and specifying a search condition based on the classification information, thereby obtaining the storage information. searching for a desired document from the documents stored in the device, display means for displaying the document list, the document list is displayed on the display means
In it are state, and displays a screen to read the documents desired to be stored newly in the storage means, a reading means for reading, set input the document read by the reading means
Documents name by adding a minute <br/> class information added to the displayed document list is provided with a processing means for storing in the storage means.

[0014]

Further, in the information storage and retrieval method according to the present invention, additional information having at least one classification information for classifying the plurality of documents is provided to the plurality of documents, and the classification information is provided to the plurality of documents. storing said plurality of documents that are classified based on the storage means, by specifying select a search condition based on the classification information, said storage hand
Searching for a desired document from the documents stored in the stage, its
Displaying a list of documents, and
Therefore, in a state in which the document list is being displayed, came to New
Display the screen to scan the document you want to
And a document name set and input to the document read in this reading step, and a list of the displayed documents.
Is added to the classification information given to the storage means.
Remembering step.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a classification system for classifying documents based on classification information, additional information that can be freely associated with each document, for example, a tag, and a tag classification system are defined. Means for changing / attaching (attaching / removing), means for giving a search condition relating to a tag associated with a document to search and narrow down and display a display target document, and means for classifying and organizing a part or all of the displayed document. , It is possible to classify documents based on a classification system that reflects a classification system with little change and classify documents using tags and tag groups that reflect a flexible classification system with change. That is, 1) Even when the classification system cannot be determined in advance, the classification and organization can be started by using the classification by tags and tag groups without using the classification by the classification system.

2) When it is desired to reconstruct the classification system in the middle, a temporary tag is attached to a document included in the classification to be changed, and the tag is changed (attached / removed) later, and reclassification is performed.・ Easy to organize.

3) The fixed classification has a hierarchical structure, and the provisional classification is a tag. By treating each of them, it becomes possible to organize the classification in accordance with the evolving and growing classification system. 4) As in the previous section, in areas where a classification system has not been established,
By using tags, classification and organization become possible.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a new document is registered in a window in which a search is performed by giving a condition relating to a tag associated with the document and a document to be displayed is narrowed down. The association between a given tag and a new document can be easily defined (tag attachment). This facilitates new registration of documents and additional registration of already registered documents. That is, 1) Even if a classification system is not determined in advance, a document can be registered anyway.

2) Even in fields where a classification system has not been established,
You can register your documents anyway. Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, another tag can be attached to a desired document in a window in which a condition related to a tag associated with a document is given and searched to narrow down a display target document. Also, the tag associated with the desired document can be removed. If the removed tag matches the tag given as the search condition, the search condition is changed to another tag of the desired document, and the result of the search is displayed again. Can be displayed based on the search condition, so that subsequent processing can be easily continued on the document from which the tag has been removed based on the result display window. This facilitates the sorting and arrangement of documents, and also improves the work efficiency. That is, 1) Even if the classification system is not determined in advance, any additional documents can be registered.

2) Documents satisfying certain conditions can be easily classified and arranged according to the evolving and growing classification system. 3) Even in fields where the classification system has not been established, any additional documents can be registered.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic filing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

That is, the electronic filing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes at least the control module 10, the memory module 20, the magnetic disk devices 51 and 52, and the display device 5.
4, keyboard 55 or mouse 57 or pen 56,
It is constituted by a system bus 60. Optionally, the image processing module 30, the communication control module 40, the image bus 61, the optical disk device 53, the scanner 5
8. A printer 59 may be connected.

The control module 10 includes a CPU 11 for controlling the entire electronic filing device, a magnetic disk device 51,
It comprises interface circuits 12 and 13 for connection to the optical disk device 52 and the optical disk device 53.

The memory module 20 includes a main memory 21 for storing a program for controlling the entire electronic filing apparatus and necessary data, a display memory 22 for displaying necessary data, and an image memory 23 for storing an image as an option. It is configured. Image memory 2
Reference numeral 3 is for temporarily storing image data read from the optical disk 53 and image data to be written to the optical disk 53, for example.

The display memory 22 is for temporarily storing image data displayed on the display device 54.
The image processing module 30 compresses and decompresses image data,
Image processing LSI that performs processing such as enlargement, reduction, and rotation
It comprises a circuit 31, an interface 32 for a scanner 58 and a printer 59, and an image bus 61 interconnecting them.

The communication control module 40 is, for example, a LAN
The communication interface circuit 41 includes a communication interface circuit 41 and the like. The system bus 60 is a bus for control signals, and connects the control module 10, the memory module 20, the communication control module 40, and the image processing module 30 to each other.

The image bus 61 is a bus for transferring image data, and includes the memory module 20 and the image processing module 3.
0 are mutually connected. The keyboard 55, the mouse 57, and the pen 56 are used to input various operation commands for classifying and organizing information. Enter the information itself, a key for searching for the information, the name of the document, the classification method, etc.

The display device 54 displays classified information,
View keys to find information, view document names,
It displays a classification system, and the like. When the classification target is image data, the image data is displayed in a window, and image data as a result of scaling and rotation of the image processed by the image processing LSI 31 can be displayed.

The hard magnetic disk device 51 and the floppy disk 52 are for storing information itself, a key for retrieving information, a classification system of information, and the like. It is also used as a temporary storage location.

FIG. 1 is a software configuration diagram of the electronic filing apparatus of this embodiment. That is, the display processing unit 71,
It comprises an input processing unit 72, a hierarchical structure management unit 73, a tag structure management unit 74, an object management unit 75, and management data 76. Here, the tag refers to additional information that can be freely associated with each document.

The display processing section 71 displays necessary information in the tag display window and the document display window, respectively.
Tag display window and document display window are these 2
Multiple sets of one window may be displayed.
One tag display window and a plurality of document display windows may be displayed. In the following description, the latter case will be described.

The input processing section 72 processes an instruction input by the keyboard 55, the mouse 57 or the pen 56. Specifically, select a tag in the tag display window,
Document selection in the document display window, selection of a processing menu, and the like. A determination process is also performed on which coordinates of which window the input command is input, which icon is input for which icon, and which processing menu is selected.

The hierarchical structure management section 73 provides a function for generating, changing, deleting, and searching a hierarchical structure constituted by a tree structure. More specifically, the method includes adding a new classification item, changing the classification name of an existing classification item, deleting an existing classification item, specifying the position of a classification item having a given classification name in a hierarchical structure, and the like.

The tag structure management section 74 provides a function of generating, changing, deleting, and searching for a tag group and a tag, and a function of generating, changing, and deleting a tag structure, that is, a relationship between a tag group and a tag.

The management data 76 includes document display window information and document display status information required by the display processing unit 71, and object information required by the hierarchy management unit 73 and the tag management unit 74.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which information is classified and arranged based on a hierarchical structure and additional information (tag) by the electronic filing apparatus of this embodiment. As a classification system, for example, the optical disk 53a forms a hierarchical structure including boxes 1 and 10, and the boxes 1 include documents 2 and 3.
And 7 are classified. Further, tag 5 and tag 6 are associated with document 2. Note that the tags 5 and 6 are included in the tag group 4. A tag 9 is associated with the document 7, and the tag 9 is included in the tag group 8.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the structure of an "object" used in the electronic filing apparatus of this embodiment to express such a hierarchical structure for sorting and organizing and additional information (tag). ing.

Whether it is a box, a document, a tag group, or a tag, it is represented by an "object".
That is, an object is composed of an object type (optical disk / box / document / tag group / tag), an object ID, a name, a creation date and a pointer to related definition information, and the related definition information includes a plurality of related types (parents). / Child / related) and a related object ID.

In this case, the optical disk 53a and the box 1, the box 1 and the document 2, the box 1 and the document 3 have a "parent-child" relationship, the document 2 and the tag 5, and the document 2 and the tag 6 have a "relation" relationship. Express that there is. That is, the object of the box 1 records an object type “box”, an object ID “1”, a name (= box name), a generation date and a pointer to related definition information. In the related definition information, the optical disk 53a is "parent"
A set of a related type “parent” and a related object “53a” indicating that the document 2 is a “child”, a set of a related type “child” and a related object ID “2” indicating that the document 2 is a “child”, and the document 3 , A set of a related type “child” and a related object ID “3” is recorded. Similarly, the object of the document 2 records an object type “document”, an object ID “2”, a name (= document name), a generation date and time, and a pointer to related definition information. The related definition information includes a related type “parent” indicating that box 1 is “parent” and a related object ID.
A set of “1”, a relation type “relation” indicating that the tag 5 has a “relation” relation, a relation type “relation” indicating that the tag 6 has a “relation” relation, A set of the related object ID “6” is recorded.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow when an "object" is added. When adding an "object", a new object is first generated in step S11. That is, the object management area is secured, the type of the object to be added (optical disk / box / document / tag group / tag) is set, a new object ID is assigned, and if specified, the name is set and generated. Set the date and time.

Next, the flow advances to step S12 to set related definition information. That is, a related definition information management area is secured, and a set of a relation type “parent” and an object ID of an object to be added is set. Further, the process proceeds to step S13, where the relation type “child” and the object ID of the new object to be added are added to the relation definition information of the parent object.

Depending on the object type, the optical disk /
Box / document / tag groups / tags are supported. FIG. 7 is a processing flow when deleting an “object”.

To delete an "object", first, in step S21, the object ID of the object to be deleted is deleted from the related definition information of the object that is the parent of the object to be deleted. Next, in step S22, the object ID of the object to be deleted is deleted from the related definition information of the object of the tag associated with the object to be deleted. Then, in step S23, the related definition information of the object to be deleted is released, and the object management area is released.

Depending on the object type, the optical disk /
Box / document / tag group / tag, all deletions are supported. FIG. 8 is a processing flow when searching for “object”.

In the search for "object", first, in step S31, a search target object ID is received. Next, the process proceeds to step S32, where the related definition information of the designated object is checked in order. After that, in step S33, a related object ID whose related type is “child” is obtained,
In step S34, the object is checked.

In the case of a document search, in step S35, the number of the current window is obtained by referring to the document display window information, and the search condition is obtained by referring to the search condition field of the document display status information. If there is a search condition in the case of a document search, the process proceeds to step S36 to determine whether the search condition matches / does not match, and if it matches, adds it to the search result list in step S37. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S38, where it is determined whether or not all the related definition information has been completed. If not, a continuation process is performed.

Depending on the object type, the optical disk /
Box / document / tag groups / tags are supported. By adding / deleting the above-mentioned “object”, addition (new registration) of a document and attachment / detachment of a tag are realized.

In the case of adding a document, it is required to input a document name.
However, it is sufficient to input only when necessary, and need not be specified. This is effective if you want to register anyway, and you can set or change the document name at any time as needed.

In attaching a tag, input of a tag name is required. However, it is sufficient to input only when necessary, and need not be specified. Anyway, it is effective when it is desired to associate a document with a document as a mark, and an appropriate tag name can be set or changed as needed. This is extremely effective as a temporary classification means particularly when the classification system is not clear, and is characterized in that the temporary classification is realized by a mechanism different from the classification based on the hierarchical structure. As can be seen from FIG. 4, since the hierarchical structure management and the tag related management are managed in the same manner on a per-object basis and independently managed, the tag operation has no effect on the hierarchical structure or the classification result based on the hierarchical structure. Has no effect. The difference between the two is expressed internally by the association type (parent / child / association).

FIG. 9 is an example of a display screen of the electronic filing apparatus of this embodiment. This display screen includes a document display window 54A for displaying a list of documents and a tag display window 54B for displaying a list of tags. These two types of windows 54A and 54B may be always displayed, or may be displayed only when necessary. The figure shows the case where it is always displayed.

The tag display window 54B includes a tag group display area 54B1 and a tag display area 54B2.
And a set of tags included in the selected tag group is displayed in the display area 54B2. In addition, it has "unorganized" as a special thing of the tag group. This is a tag group meaning that no tag is associated, and the tags included in this tag group do not exist as an exception.

The document display window 54A has a box 54A1 corresponding to the hierarchical structure, a search condition area 54A2 for tags, and an area 54A3 for displaying a set of documents. The document display window 54A is included in the selected box (in this case, box 1). A set of documents satisfying the search condition specified in the area 54A2 is displayed in the area 54A3. Also, a title display area 54A for displaying the title of the window 54A, that is, a "document display window", a process executable in the document display window 54A, for example, a process such as "scanner" as a process for inputting a new document Menu display area 54A where menu is displayed
5 are provided.

There are two types of document display methods, icon display and image display, and the display mode can be set by a menu. Icon display is a mode in which each document is displayed as an icon, and image display is a mode in which each document is displayed as its first page image. In either mode, when a tag is associated with a document other than the tag indicated in the search condition, an icon or image is highlighted to indicate that. In the icon display, the icon is highlighted by changing the shape of the icon, changing the color of the icon, or emphasizing the outer frame of the icon. In the image display, the outer frame of the first page image of the document is highlighted and displayed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of icon display. When a tag is associated with the document 2 in addition to the tag indicated in the search condition, a black area is displayed at the upper left corner of the outer frame of the icon. Is added. Document 3 shows the case without other tags.

Whether or not a tag is associated can be determined from the above by looking at the document (icon or image) in the document list window 54A3 without any operation.
When a document (icon or image) is clicked with the left button of the mouse 57, an image display window is opened and a page image is displayed in detail. When a right button of the mouse 57 is clicked on a document (icon or image), FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the tag list window 54G is opened, and a tag list associated with the document (in this case, document 2) is displayed.

FIG. 10 shows a table for managing information on the display screen. Document display window information and document display status information. The document display window information has fields for recording the number of windows and the number of the current window that can be input.

The document display status information has as many elements as the number of windows, and each element includes a current disk (eg, disk No. 0) and a current box No. , Current tag group No. , Current tag No. , Display mode, display layout, and search condition fields.

The items to which the current is added are
It indicates a classification item in the hierarchical structure displayed in the document display window 54A. The display mode manages icon display for displaying a document as an icon or image display for displaying and displaying the first page of the document. The display layout manages how many documents are displayed side by side in the document display area 54A3. The search condition manages information related to a tag serving as a search condition when a set of currently displayed documents is a result of some search. The condition is a combination of a tag group and a tag, or a combination of this combination with a logical product or logical sum,
Or, it is unorganized or empty (no search condition).
That is, based on the content recorded as the search condition, a document related to the tag to be searched is searched,
The document is displayed in the document display area 54A3.

Now, a description will be given of a case where a new document is newly registered in this electronic filing apparatus, or a case where a certain tag is additionally registered to a document already associated with the tag.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a processing flow, and FIGS. 11 to 13 show operation screen examples. In this case, the purpose of use of the new document to be registered is clear, and some documents have already been clarified as to which tag to associate with, while the purpose of use is unclear and cannot be classified. However, there are documents that are desired to be registered anyway. In the former case, a new document is input to the document display window 54A in which search conditions are narrowed down by giving search conditions for the desired tag, and in the latter case, the document display window 54A is input to the document display window 54A. At any time, a new document can be input (with respect to the document display window 54A before selecting the tag).

More specifically, first, when the system is started, in step S41, as shown in FIG. Open (1). At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the number of document display window information is set to 1, the current window is set to number 1, and the window No. of the document display status information is set.
Initialize each item of (1).

Here, the optical disk (N
o. If (0) is set, the flow advances to step S43 to display a list of boxes recorded on the optical disk 0 in the upper area 54A1 of the document display window 54A. At the same time, the tag display window 54B is opened in step S44.

In step S45, box list area 54
If box 1 is selected from A1, step S4
In step 6, a list of documents included in box 1 is displayed in lower area 54A3 of document display window 54A.

At this point, it is possible to newly register a document whose purpose of use is unclear and whose associated tag is not clear. That is, the process proceeds to step S52, where the document display window 54
The scanner 100 displayed in the menu display area 54A5 of A is selected by operating the mouse 57.

On the other hand, when registering a document whose purpose of use and the like are clear and to which tag it is already clear,
Alternatively, when registering a document to be added to a document already associated with a certain tag, the process proceeds to step S47.

In step S47, the tag display window 54
If, for example, tag group 4 is selected in B, a list of tags included in tag group 4 is displayed on the tag display window in step S48. At this time, the system
The tag group 4 is set in the current group column of the window corresponding to the document display status information with reference to the current window (1) of the document display window information of No. 0.

In step S47, for example, the tag group area 54 is displayed on the tag display window 54B of FIG.
When "unarranged" in B1 is selected, a list of documents not associated with any tag is searched, and step S47 is performed.
Step S49 is skipped from step S50, and the image is displayed on the document display window in step S50. At this time, the system uses the current window (2) of the document display window information.
, A NULL indicating unsorted is set in the current tag field of the window (2) corresponding to the document display status information in FIG. At the time of search, search condition 2 (unorganized)
And ask the search department. The search unit displays the search result in response to the display unit.

In step S49, the tag display window 54
For example, when the tag 5 is selected in B2, a document list associated with the tag 5 is searched and displayed on the document display window 54A. At this time, the system refers to the current window of the document display window information in FIG. 10 and sets the tag 5 in the current tag column of the window (1) corresponding to the document display status information.

At the time of search, in step S50, search condition 1 (tag group 4: tag 5) is designated in area 54A2 in FIG. 9 and a request is made to the search unit. The search unit displays the search result in response to the display unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, a document (icon or image) that matches the search condition 1 (tag group 4: tag 5) is displayed in the document list window 54A3.

At this point, for example, a new document to be associated with the tag 5 can be input. That is, the process proceeds to step S52 to select the scanner 100 displayed in the menu display area 54A5 of the document display window 54A by operating the mouse 57.

On the other hand, of the documents (icons or images) displayed in the document list window 54A3 in step S50, for example, when the left button of the mouse 57 is clicked on the document 2, an image display window is opened and the page image of the document 2 is displayed. Details are displayed.

At this point, additional registration can be performed on the document 2 associated with the tag 5. That is, the process proceeds to step S52, where the menu display area 5 of the document display window 54A is displayed.
The mouse 100 is operated to select the scanner 100 displayed on 4A5.

When the scanner 100 is selected, a pull-down menu 101 is displayed as shown in FIG.
The pull-down menu 101 includes the scanner setting 10
2 and a processing menu of the scanner input 103 are displayed.

The flow advances to step S53 to set scanner setting 10
When 2 is selected by operating the mouse 57, a scanner setting window 54E as shown in FIG. 12 is opened on the document display window 54A.

Here, a display example of the scanner setting window 54E will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner setting window 54E displays the document to be registered in the scanner 58.
A paper size setting area 54E4 for setting the paper size when reading with the scanner, a resolution setting area 54E5 for setting the resolution when reading the document with the scanner 58,
Paper direction setting area 54E6 for setting the direction (vertical or horizontal) of the paper to be read by scanner 58, OK button 54
E7 and a cancel button 54E8.

The paper size setting area 54E4, the resolution setting area 54E5, and the paper direction setting area 54E6 are each composed of a drop-down single selection list box.
Data from a given list according to the number of times
They are selected one by one and displayed in each area.

Thus, the paper size setting area 54
After setting each item in E4, resolution setting area 54E5, and paper direction setting area 54E6, an OK button 5
When 4E7 is clicked on with a mouse 57, the settings are reflected in the system, and the scanner setting window 54E is closed. When the cancel button 54E8 is clicked with the mouse 57, the scanner setting window 5
The contents set on 4E are not reflected on the system (canceled), and the scanner setting window 54E is closed.

Now, after the scanner setting window 54E as shown in FIG. 12 is opened in step S53, the flow advances to step 54 to scan the document to be registered.
Setting items Na 58, i.e., paper size, resolution, each setting area of the paper orientation 54E4,54E5,5
4E6 and click the OK button 54E7 to end the scanner setting (scanner setting window 54E
Is closed).

Next, the process proceeds to a step S55, at which the scanner input 1 is selected from the pull-down menu 101 as shown in FIG.
When 03 is selected by operating the mouse 57, a scanner input window 54D as shown in FIG. 11 is opened overlapping the document display window 54A.

Here, a display example of the scanner input window 54D will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner input window 54D includes a paper size display area 54D.
1, resolution display area 54D3, paper direction display area 5
4D4 are provided, and in these areas, the contents set in the above-described scanner setting window 54E, that is,
Paper size setting area 54E4, resolution setting area 54
E5, after inputting a desired value in the paper direction setting area 54E6, clicking the OK button 54E7 displays the set value. If the scanner has not been set in step S54, default values are displayed in these display areas. The default value is
For example, if the paper size is “A4” and the resolution is “200 dp”
i ", and the paper direction is" vertical ".

Further, in the page number display area 54D1, the page number of the document to be inputted by the scanner 58 is displayed. That is, the initial value is “1”
Thereafter, each time a document is input, the page number is updated and displayed.

Further, in the scanner input window 54D, an input execution button 54D5, an input stop button 54D6,
Scanner setting button 54D7, document end button 54D
8. An end button 54D9 is provided.

When the input execution button 54D5 is clicked with the mouse 57, the document of the document set in the scanner 58 in advance is read one page at a time (one page at a time if the ADF is provided). It has become.

When the input stop button 54D6 is clicked with the mouse 57, the document reading operation executed by the scanner 58 is stopped. The scanner setting button 54D7 is used to open the scanner setting window 54E from the scanner input window 54D.
When it is desired to change the values displayed in D1, the resolution display area 54D3, and the paper direction display area 54D4, by clicking the scanner setting button 54D7 with the mouse 57, the scanner setting window 54E is opened and the desired value is changed. it can.

The document end button 54D8 is for instructing the system to finish reading one unit of document (regardless of the number of pages). That is, 1
When the mouse 57 is clicked upon completion of reading of the unit document, a document creation window 5 as shown in FIG.
4F is displayed. By executing a predetermined process on the document creation window 54F, the document input by the scanner 58 is registered.

The end button 54D9 is for instructing the system to end the processing for the scanner input window 54D. That is, the end button 54D9
Is clicked with the mouse 57, the scanner input window 54D is closed. At this time,
If the read document is not registered in the scanner input window 54D, but the read document is registered (for example, if the document end button 54D8 is not clicked), the document creation is performed. The window 54F is opened.

When the scanner input window 54D displayed on the display device 54 is displayed in step S55, the document is set on the scanner 58, and the input execution button 54D5 is clicked. Then, the process proceeds to step S57, in which the set original is read by operating the scanner 58 one page at a time. At this time, the ADF of the scanner 58
When the original is set in the scanner 58, the reading of the document composed of a plurality of pages is continuously performed one page at a time until reading of all the originals is completed.
If the ADF is not equipped with the ADF, after the input of one page original is completed, the original of the subsequent page is set on the scanner 58 again, and the input execution button 54D5 is clicked.
That is, the process is repeated as long as the document continues (steps S56 to S57a).

When the input of the document of the position unit document is completed,
When the process proceeds to step S58 and clicks the document end button 54D8, the process further proceeds to step S59, and the document creation window 54F as shown in FIG. 13 is opened.

Here, a display example of the document creation window 54F will be described with reference to FIG. In the document creation window 54F, an instruction area 54 for newly registering a document subjected to the input processing in the scanner input window 54D, a document name setting area 54F3 for setting a document name in that case, a current display device 54 An instruction area 54F2 for adding and registering a document that has been input in the scanner input window 54D to the document (document 2 in this case) displayed in the image display window opened above;
In this case, a document name setting area 54F4 for setting a name of a document to be added, an OK button 54F5, and a cancel button 54F6 are provided. Note that the instruction area 54F1,
In 54F2, only one of them can be clicked at a time.

The document creation window 54 can be subjected to a process of newly registering or additionally registering a document that has been input in the scanner input window 54D. That is, when a new registration is to be made in step S60, the process proceeds to step S61, where the instruction area 54F1 is clicked, and a check mark is displayed in that area. Further, proceeding to step S62, if the document name has been determined in advance, in step S63,
The user inputs a document name from the keyboard 55 into the document name setting area 54F3. On the other hand, when the document name has not been determined, there is no need to input anything in the document name setting area 54F3.
At this time, the date and time when the document measured by the timer incorporated in the system is read as a default value is registered as the document name.

In the case of additional registration in step S60,
Proceeding to step S65, clicking on the instruction area 54F2 causes a check mark to be displayed in that area. Further, when the process proceeds to step S66 and the document name is changed, in step S67, the document name setting area 54F4
, Input the document name from the keyboard 55. On the other hand, if there is no need to change the document name, the document name setting area 54F
Nothing needs to be entered for 4. At this time, the document name (document 2 in this case) displayed in the image display window currently opened on the display device 54 is displayed as a default value.

After the necessary portions of the document creation window 54F have been set, the flow advances to step S64, and when the OK button 54F5 is clicked, the window 54F is closed. At this time, in the case of new registration, the tag to be associated is not clear, and after performing the processing up to step S46, when proceeding to step S52, the document is associated only with box 1 (that is, "unorganized"). Is registered). That is, for example, NULL is added to the related definition information of the object of the newly registered document, and the ID of the newly registered document is added to the related definition information of the object of the parent box 1.

When the tag to be associated is clear in advance and the process proceeds to step S52 after executing the processing up to step S50, the document is registered in association with the tag 5. That is, a tag (tag group 4: tag 5) corresponding to the search condition 1 is added to the related definition information of the object of the newly registered document, and the ID of the newly registered document is added to the related definition information of the parent object.

Further, in the case of additional registration, step S5
The document is added to the document 2 selected in step 1 and registered. next,
In the electronic filing apparatus of the present embodiment, a case where a tag is attached to or detached from a document that has already been registered will be described.

FIG. 21 shows a processing flow, and FIGS. 16 to 20 show examples of operation screens. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, the same parts as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. That is, the processing from step S41 to step S50 performs the same search processing. In FIG. 21, in step S50, in a state where a list of documents associated with the tag 5 is displayed, the process proceeds to step S70, and a process of attaching and removing the tag is executed.

First, the tag attaching process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Step S7
When a desired document, for example, document 2 is clicked with the right button of the mouse 57 on the documents displayed in the document list window 54A3 at 1, the tag list window 54G is opened as shown in FIG. 16 (step S72). In the tag list window 54G, all tags associated with the document 2 are displayed. FIG.
Shows a case where the tag list window 54G is displayed so as to overlap the document display window 54A.

Here, a display example of the tag list window 54G will be described with reference to FIG. The tag list window 54G has a title display area 54G1 for displaying the title of this window, and a document name display area 54G for displaying the document name of the document selected in step S71.
2. A tag list display area 54G3 for displaying a list of tags associated with the document displayed in the document name display area 54G2, a tag attachment button 54G4, a tag removal button 54G5, a tag search button 54G6, an OK button 54G7, and cancel. It consists of a button 54G8.

In FIG. 18, it can be seen from the tag list display area 54G3 that the tag 5 and the tag 6 have already been associated with the document 2 selected in step S71. If it is desired to add a new tag to the document 2, the process proceeds to step S73, and the tag attaching button 54G4
Is clicked with the mouse 57. Then, step S74
The tag display window 54 is displayed as shown in FIG.
B 'is opened. This tag display window 54B '
The tag display window 54B already opened at that time
FIG. 17 shows a tag list window 54G.
5 shows a display example that is displayed in an overlapping manner. The tag display window 54B 'includes a tag group display area 54 similar to the tag display window 54B.
B1 'and an area 54B' for displaying a tag.

Next, the process proceeds to a step S75, where a tag to be newly added is selected from the tag display window 54B '. That is, when it is desired to attach the tag 9 of the tag group 8 to the document 2, first, the tag group display area 54B1
When the tag group 8 is clicked from ', the tag group 8 is highlighted (for example, highlighted), and when the tag 9 is further clicked from the tag display area 54B', the tag 9 is highlighted (for example, highlighted). At the same time, the process proceeds to step S76, where a tag confirmation operation window 54H as shown in FIG. 19 is opened.

Here, a display example of the tag confirmation operation window 54H will be described with reference to FIG. The tag confirmation operation window 54H includes a document name display area 54H1 for displaying the document name selected in step S71 or, in the case of tag attachment, in step S81, as will be described later.
The tag to be attached, that is, the attachment tag display area 54H3 in which the tag selected in step S75 is displayed, and the removal tag display area 54H2 in which the tag selected in step S83 is displayed in the case of tag removal as described later. OK button 54H clicked after confirming each item
4. A cancel button 54H5 which is clicked to discard all of the above items.

When the contents of the attachment tag display area 54H3 displayed in the tag confirmation operation window 54H are confirmed in step S76, the flow advances to step S77, and the OK button 54H4 in the tag confirmation operation window 54H is clicked. Then, the tag confirmation operation window 54H is closed, and the attachment of the tag is executed. That is, tag group 8: tag 9 is added to the related definition information of the object of document 2, and the object ID of document 2 is added to the related definition information of the parent object.

When the cancel button 54H5 is clicked, the process is canceled without attaching the tag. At this point, the window shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the display device 54. To end the tag attachment / detachment process, step S7
8 and the OK button 54 of the tag list window 54G
When G7 is clicked, the tag list window 54G is closed.

Next, the tag removal processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S81, similarly to step S71, when a desired document, for example, document 2 is clicked with the right button of the mouse 57 from among the documents displayed in the document list window 54A3, a tag list window is displayed as shown in FIG. 54G is opened (step S82).

Next, the process proceeds to a step S83, and the tag (the tag 5 in this case) to be removed from the tag list display area 54G3 of the tag list window 54G is clicked. Then, the selected tag is highlighted (for example, highlighted).

Further, the process proceeds to step S84, and when the tag removal button 54G5 of the tag list window 54G is clicked, a tag confirmation operation window 54H is opened (step S85). When the content of the removal tag display area 54H2 displayed on the tag confirmation operation window 54H is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S86, and the OK button 54H4 of the tag confirmation operation window 54H is clicked. Then, the tag confirmation operation window 54H is closed, and the tag is removed. That is, the tag group 4: tag 5 is deleted from the related definition information of the object of the document 2, and the object ID of the document 2 is deleted from the related definition information of the parent object.

If the cancel button 54H5 is clicked, the process is canceled without removing the tag. By the way, the tag confirmation operation window 54H
When the OK button 54H4 is clicked, when the removal target tag matches the search condition, the process proceeds to step S87, and the display confirmation window 54I as shown in FIG. 20 is opened. If the removal target tag does not match the search condition, the process proceeds to step S90 (step S86).
a).

Here, a display example of the display confirmation window 54I will be described with reference to FIG. The display confirmation window 54I is a window for selecting whether or not to switch the display content of the document display window 54A.
An instruction area 54I1 when the display content is switched, an instruction area 54I2 when the display content is not switched, and after confirming these contents, click to display the display confirmation window 54.
An OK button 54I3 for closing I is provided.

Next, with reference to FIG. 24, switching of display contents of the document display window 54A will be described. FIG.
4A to 4C schematically show the document display window 54A. In step S81 of FIG. 23, the document display window 54A is searched by specifying the search condition 1 (tag group 4: tag 5), and as a result, the document that matches the search condition 1 (tag group 4: tag 5) (this In this case, the documents 2 and 3) are displayed in the document list window 54A.
3 (see FIG. 24A). Here, Document 2
Is assumed to be associated with tag 6 as search condition 1 in addition to tag 5.

When the tag 5 is removed from the document 2 as a result of the processing up to step S86 from this state, that is, the tag to be removed (tag group 4: tag 5) is retrieved by the search condition 1.
When a match is found, the search result is displayed by specifying the search condition 1 (tag group 4: tag 5) of the window (1) corresponding to the document display status information shown in FIG. 10 in the area 54A2 of the document display window 54A. The document 2 is not displayed in the displayed document display window 54A. This display state is a case where the user does not click the instruction area 54I2 in the display confirmation window 54I of FIG. 20 and selects not to switch the window (FIG. 24B).
reference).

In practice, however, it is sometimes desirable that the document 2 is displayed in the document display window 54A in order to perform editing work or the like on the document 2 from which the tag 5 has been removed. Therefore, in such a case, it is only necessary to click the instruction area 54I1 in the display confirmation window 54I of FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 25, another tag 6 associated with the document 2 is set in the current tag column of the window (1) corresponding to the document display status information, and at the same time, the search condition 2 (tag group 4: Change to tag 6). Further, in the area 54A2 of the document display window 54A, the search condition 2
(Tag group 4: Tag 6) is specified and requested to the search unit. The search unit displays the search result in response to the display unit.
That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 24C, a document that matches the search condition 2 (tag group 4: tag 6) (in this case, only document 2) is displayed again in the document list window 54A3.

That is, in step S88, when either one of the areas 54I1 and 54I2 of the display confirmation window 54I is clicked to select whether or not to switch the display, the clicked area is checked. After the mark is displayed and the content is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S89. When the OK button 54I3 is clicked, the display confirmation window 54I is closed, and the process further proceeds to step S90.
In response to the selection, the contents of the document display window 54A are displayed again. Steps S86a through S9
When the process proceeds to 0, the display confirmation window 54I is not opened, and the search result based on the original search condition (that is, the same as the case where the display is not switched in step S88) is displayed.

The above-described tag attaching / detaching operation and document registering operation can be executed independently of the classification based on the hierarchical structure. In other words, classification and arrangement in fields where a classification system has not been established or in a flexible classification system, which was pointed out as a problem of the conventional electronic file system, are processed independently of the classification and arrangement by the hierarchical structure in which the classification system is established. Providing the information makes it possible to sort and organize information in a flexible and flexible classification system. Also, when registering a new document, if the purpose of use is unclear and classification is not possible, it is possible to flexibly cope with the case where the user simply wants to register.

As a result of proceeding the sorting and sorting by the tags described above, when a flexible sorting system with many changes at first becomes a fixed sorting system with little change, the search is narrowed down by a search with the associated tag. New documents can be added to the document by adding a new classification item in the hierarchical classification system, and original tags that are no longer needed can be deleted. This is a combination of the classification and organization using a hierarchical structure that reflects a less-changing classification system and the classification and organization using tags that reflect a frequently changing classification system. This makes it easy to execute regardless of the presence / absence.

As a result of the tag removing operation, if the tag to be removed matches the search condition specified in the area 54A2 of the document display window 54A, the document for which the tag is to be removed is displayed in the document display window under the same search condition. It is not displayed on 54A. Therefore, in this case, after the tag removal operation, the search condition can be changed to another tag associated with the document whose tag is to be removed, and the search result can be displayed in the document display window 54A. The next process can be continued for the removed document, and the work efficiency is improved.

[0118]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a classification system that can be independent and coexist with the classification and arrangement of documents by a hierarchical structure or the like in which a classification system is established is used.
Classification of information such as documents in a flexible and flexible classification system,
An information storage and retrieval device that enables organization and that can easily register information without considering an existing classification system; and
An information storage and retrieval method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a software configuration diagram of an information storage and retrieval device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic filing apparatus according to one embodiment to which the information storage and retrieval apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which documents are classified and arranged according to a hierarchical structure and additional information in the electronic filing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of an “object” used for classifying and organizing documents in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the “object”.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for adding the “object”.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process when deleting the “object”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process for searching for the “object”.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a display screen in the electronic filing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table for managing information related to a display screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a display example of a scanner setting window.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a display example of a document creation window.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process for newly or additionally registering a new document.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining an operation process of newly or additionally registering a new document.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing still another example of the display screen in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing still another example of the display screen in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a display example of a tag list window.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a display example of a tag confirmation operation window.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a display example of a display confirmation window.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining an outline of an operation of attaching and detaching a tag.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a tag attaching process.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a tag removal process.

24A and 24B are diagrams for explaining display switching of the document display window. FIG. 24A schematically shows a display example of the document display window before removing the tag 5 from the document 2, and FIG. (C) schematically shows a display example of the document display window when the display is not switched.
The figure schematically shows a display example of the document display window when the display is switched.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing another example of a table for managing information on a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Control module, 11 ... CPU, 12, 13 ... Interface, 20 ... Memory module, 21 ... Main memory, 22 ... Display memory, 23 ... Image memory, 30
... Image processing module, 31 ... Image processing LSI, 32 ...
Interface, 40 ... Communication control module, 41 ...
Communication interface, 60: system bus, 61: image bus.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-6-195343 (JP, A) JP-A-2-37464 (JP, A) JP-A-5-128157 (JP, A) JP-A-5-128 89173 (JP, A) JP-A-4-191941 (JP, A) JP-A-63-157229 (JP, A) JP-A-7-84858 (JP, A) JP-A-1-258147 (JP, A) JP-A-6-68146 (JP, A) JP-A-6-243172 (JP, A) JP-A-3-44748 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/30 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing, to the plurality of documents, additional information having at least one classification information for classifying the plurality of documents, and storing the plurality of documents classified based on the classification information. A storage unit, a display unit that searches for a desired document from the documents stored in the storage unit by selecting and specifying a search condition based on the classification information, and displays a list of the documents; With the list of documents displayed on the means,
A screen for reading a document to be newly stored in the storage unit is displayed, and a reading unit for performing reading, a document name set and input to the document read by the reading unit and a document name added to the displayed document list are displayed. Processing means for adding classification information to the storage means and storing the added classification information in the storage means. 2. A plurality of documents are provided with additional information having at least one classification information for classifying the plurality of documents, and the plurality of documents classified based on the classification information are stored. Storing and searching for a desired document from the documents stored in the storage unit by selecting and specifying a search condition based on the classification information, and displaying the list of the documents; In a state where the document list is displayed by the step, a screen for reading a document to be newly stored is displayed and read, and the document name set and input for the document read in Adding the classification information given to the displayed list of documents and storing the added information in the storage means. Law.