JP4447928B2 - Information management apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an information management apparatus and method which can quickly and reliably monitor whether or not a file has been updated.

  FIG. 19 shows a configuration example of a conventional information management apparatus. As shown in the figure, each user terminal is connected to various servers via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The user can access the server as needed and receive provision of desired information from the server.

  Information provided by each server is updated as necessary. Each user needs to know whether or not the file held by each server has been updated. Conventionally, the following method is known as a method for the user to know the file update.

  The first method is that when each server registers a user who accesses a file managed by the server in advance and the file is updated, the updated file is sent to the registered user. Is automatically transferred via the network.

  In the second method, instead of transferring the updated file data itself to each user, a message indicating that the information has been updated is transmitted to each user from the server as an e-mail. It is.

  Furthermore, in the third method, each user accesses each server as necessary to check whether or not the file has been updated.

  However, the first method described above becomes difficult to implement when the load is applied to each server and the number of users increases.

  In addition, since the second method transmits only a message, the load on the server is reduced as compared with the first method. However, the server is still required to be managed for this purpose, resulting in a large load.

  Further, in the third method, since the user accesses as necessary, there is a gap between the timing at which the server updates the file and the timing at which the user can receive the file. There was a problem that the user could not obtain.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to quickly and surely know the update state of a file monitored by a user without imposing a load on the server.

An information management apparatus according to the present invention includes a setting unit configured to set an address of a server file, which is monitored via a network, and an access unit configured to access a file at a predetermined timing based on the address set by the setting unit. Whether the file has been updated based on the file update date acquired from the server when accessing the file and the file update date acquired when the server was accessed in the past When the file is accessed by the first determination unit and the access unit, the calculation result obtained by performing a predetermined hash function calculation process on the file acquired from the server, and when the server has been accessed in the past Starring obtained by performing operation processing of a predetermined hash function on the retrieved files in The second determination means for comparing the result and determining whether the file has been updated, and the first determination result obtained by the first determination means or the second determination means obtained by the second determination means And notifying means for notifying the user of the file update status based on one of the two determination results.

The information management apparatus further includes storage means for storing a result obtained by performing a predetermined hash function calculation process on the file data obtained from the server, and the second determination means is stored in the storage means. The result is compared with the result obtained by subjecting the file data obtained by the current access to the file to the operation processing of a predetermined hash function, and it is determined whether or not the file has been updated. be able to.
The setting means is a timing for accessing the file based on the set address, and further sets individual and arbitrary timings for each of the plurality of addresses, and the access means has a plurality of settings set by the setting means. Based on the address, each file can be accessed at a timing set for each of the plurality of addresses.

  The notification means can notify the user of the update state of the file using an image obtained by reducing the image of the file.

  The notifying means arranges images representing the update states of a plurality of files in one window, and changes the compression rate of the updated image of the file and the compression rate of the unupdated file image. The update status can be notified to the user.

  The notification means arranges images representing the update states of a plurality of files in one window, and changes the color of the updated file image and the image color of the file that has not been updated, thereby updating the file update state. Can be notified to the user.

  The notification means notifies the user of the update status of the file using a predetermined image, and if the file cannot be accessed normally, notifies the user of the update status of the file using an image indicating that an error has occurred. To be able to.

  The notification unit notifies the user of the update state of the file using a predetermined image, and the access unit can further access the file when the image is designated.

The information management method of the present invention includes a setting step for setting a server file address to be monitored via a network by a setting unit, and a predetermined timing based on the address set in the setting step by an access unit. Based on the access step for accessing the file and the file update date acquired from the server for accessing the file and the file update date acquired when the server was accessed in the past, When a file is accessed in the first determination step for determining whether or not the file has been updated by one determination means, and in the access step, a calculation process of a predetermined hash function is performed on the file acquired from the server. Calculation results obtained in the past and By comparing the calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of a predetermined hash function to the acquired file upon Seth, the second determination unit, first determines whether the file has been updated Based on the determination result of either one of the determination result of 2 and the first determination result obtained by the first determination step or the second determination result obtained by the second determination step, by the notification means, A notification step of notifying the user of the update status of the file.

The information management method further includes a storage step of storing a result obtained by subjecting the file data acquired from the server to a calculation process of a predetermined hash function by a storage means . In the second determination step, The determination unit compares the result stored in the storage step with the result obtained by performing a predetermined hash function operation on the file data acquired in the current access to the file, and the file is updated. It can be determined whether or not.
In the setting step, a timing for accessing the file based on the set address is set by the setting means, and individual and arbitrary timings are further set for each of the plurality of addresses. In the access step, the access means Thus, based on the plurality of addresses set in the setting step, each file can be accessed at the timing set for each of the plurality of addresses.

In the notification step, the notification unit can notify the user of the file update state using an image obtained by reducing the image of the file.

In the notification step, an image representing the update status of a plurality of files is arranged in one window by the notification means, and the compression rate of the image of the updated file and the compression rate of the image of the file not updated are changed. By doing so, it is possible to notify the user of the update status of the file.

In the notification step, the notification means arranges images representing the update states of a plurality of files in one window, and changes the color of the image of the updated file and the color of the image of the file that has not been updated. The user can be notified of the file update status.

In the notification step, the notification means notifies the user of the file update status using a predetermined image, and if the file cannot be accessed normally, an image indicating that an error has occurred It is possible to notify the user of the update state.

In the notification step, the notification means notifies the user of the update status of the file using a predetermined image. In the access step, when the image is designated, the access means further accesses the file. be able to.

In the information management apparatus and information management method of the present invention, the file address of the server to be monitored via the network is set, the file is accessed at a predetermined timing based on the set address, and the file is accessed. If the file has been updated by the first determination means based on the file update date acquired from the server for accessing the file and the file update date acquired when the server was accessed in the past When the file is accessed, the calculation result obtained by performing the calculation process of the predetermined hash function on the file acquired from the server and the file acquired when accessing the server in the past calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of the hash function and is compared, by the second determination means, off It is determined whether or not the file has been updated, and is based on either the first determination result obtained by the first determination means or the second determination result obtained by the second determination means. The file update status is notified to the user.

  According to the present invention, a file can be acquired from a server. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and reliably monitor whether or not a file has been updated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The correspondence relationship between the invention described in this specification and the embodiments of the invention is exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the invention described in this specification are described in this specification. Therefore, although there is an embodiment which is described in the embodiment of the invention but is not described here as corresponding to the invention, it means that the embodiment is not It does not mean that it does not correspond to the invention. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described herein as corresponding to an invention, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to an invention other than the invention. Absent.

  Further, this description does not mean all the inventions described in this specification. In other words, this description is for the invention described in the present specification, which is not claimed in this application, that is, for the invention that will be applied for in the future or that will appear and be added by amendment. It does not deny existence.

According to the present invention, an information management apparatus is provided. The information management apparatus monitors the file via a network by setting means for setting the file address of the server (for example, the keyboard 17 in FIG. 2) and the file set at a predetermined timing based on the address set by the setting means. Access means (for example, the network I / F 23 in FIG. 2), and when accessing the file by the access means, the file update date obtained from the server for accessing the file, and obtained when accessing the server in the past When the file is accessed by the first determining means (for example, the CPU 11 in FIG. 2) for determining whether or not the file has been updated based on the file update date, the file acquired from the server a calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of a predetermined hash function for, the server By comparing the calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of a predetermined hash function to the acquired file when accessing the removed by the second judging means for judging whether or not the file has been updated ( For example, based on one of the determination results of the CPU 11) in FIG. 2 and the first determination result obtained by the first determination means or the second determination result obtained by the second determination means, the file Notification means (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) for notifying the user of the update state.

The information management apparatus further includes a storage unit (for example, the update information storage unit 24 in FIG. 2) for storing a result obtained by performing arithmetic processing of a predetermined hash function on file data acquired from the server . Obtained by performing a predetermined hash function calculation process on the result stored in the storage means and the file data obtained by the current access to the file, by the determination means (for example, the CPU 11 in FIG. 2). The result can be compared to determine whether the file has been updated.

In this information management apparatus, the notification means (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) can notify the user of the update state of the file using an image obtained by reducing the image of the file.
The setting means is a timing for accessing the file based on the set address, and further sets individual and arbitrary timings for each of the plurality of addresses, and the access means has a plurality of settings set by the setting means. Based on the address, each file can be accessed at a timing set for each of the plurality of addresses.

  In this information management apparatus, notification means (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) arranges images representing the update states of a plurality of files in one window, It is possible to notify the user of the update state of the file by changing the compression rate of the image of the file that has not been updated.

  In this information management apparatus, notification means (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) arranges images representing the update states of a plurality of files in one window, and updates the color and update of the image of the updated file. It is possible to notify the user of the update status of the file by changing the color of the image of the file that has not been performed.

  In this information management apparatus, the notification means (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) notifies the user of the file update state using a predetermined image, and if the file cannot be normally accessed, an error occurs. It is possible to notify the user of the update state of the file by using an image representing the occurrence.

  In this information management apparatus, a notification unit (for example, the video signal generation unit 14 in FIG. 2) notifies a user of a file update state using a predetermined image, and an access unit (for example, the network I / O in FIG. 2). F23) can further access the file when an image is designated.

According to the present invention, an information management method is provided. This information management method includes a setting step for setting a server file address to be monitored via a network by a setting means, and a file at a predetermined timing based on the address set in the setting step by an access means. When accessing a file in the access step (for example, step S1 in FIG. 10) to be accessed and the access step, the file update date obtained from the server for accessing the file, and obtained when accessing the server in the past Based on the file update date, the first determination means determines whether or not the file has been updated by the first determination means (for example, the process of step S9 in FIG. 10), and the file is accessed in the access step. If the file obtained from the server It compares the calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of the constant hash function, and a calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of a predetermined hash function to the file acquired when accessing the past server The second determination means determines whether or not the file has been updated (for example, the process of step S13 in FIG. 10) and the first determination step obtained by the first determination step. A notification step of notifying the user of the update state of the file by the notification means based on the determination result of either the determination result or the second determination result obtained by the second determination step (for example, the step of FIG. 11) S15).

This information management method further includes a storage step (for example, the process of step S14 in FIG. 10) for storing the result obtained by performing a predetermined hash function calculation process on the file data acquired from the server. , second determination step (for example, step S13 in FIG. 10) in the, by the second judging means, and results stored in the storage step, the predetermined data of the file acquired by the current access to the file It is possible to determine whether or not the file has been updated by comparing the result obtained by performing the hash function calculation process .
In the setting step, a timing for accessing the file based on the set address is set by the setting means, and individual and arbitrary timings are further set for each of the plurality of addresses. In the access step, the access means Thus, based on the plurality of addresses set in the setting step, each file is accessed at the timing set for each of the plurality of addresses (for example, the process of step S1 in FIG. 10). it can.

In this information management method, in the notification step (for example, the process in step S15 in FIG. 11), the notification unit notifies the user of the file update state using an image obtained by reducing the file image. Can do.

In this information management method, in the notification step (for example, the processing in step S15 in FIG. 11), an image representing the update state of a plurality of files is arranged in one window by the notification means, and the image of the updated file is displayed. It is possible to notify the user of the update state of the file by changing the compression rate of the file and the compression rate of the image of the file that has not been updated.

In this information management method, in the notification step (for example, the process of step S15 in FIG. 11), an image representing the update state of a plurality of files is arranged in one window by the notification means, and the image of the updated file is displayed. It is possible to notify the user of the update state of the file by changing the color of the file and the color of the image of the file that has not been updated.

In this information management method, in the notification step (for example, the processing in step S4 in FIG. 10), the notification means notifies the user of the file update state using a predetermined image, and the file can be normally accessed. If not, an image indicating that an error has occurred can be used to notify the user of the file update status.

In this information management method, in the notification step (for example, the process of step S15 in FIG. 11), the notification means notifies the user of the file update state using a predetermined image, and the access step (for example, FIG. 11). In step S18), when an image is designated, the file can be further accessed.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a personal computer connected to a communication network, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), and a mobile phone.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a network to which the information management apparatus of the present invention is connected. As shown in the figure, many servers or users are connected to the Internet as a computer network connected on a global scale, either directly or via a LAN as a subnetwork. In this example, an internal server S _A of the user and external servers S _B and S _C are shown. A user can access a predetermined server as necessary to receive various information and services.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the information management apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, a network interface (I / F) 23 receives data supplied from the Internet and other networks, supplies it to the document data storage unit 18 and stores it. The document data storage unit 18 can be composed of a solid-state memory or the like in addition to a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like. The data structure stored in the document data storage unit 18 is a hypertext description language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), image data, an image compressed by MMR (Modified Modified READ), MH (Modified Huffman), or the like. It can be a page description language such as Postscript used in data, text data, DTP, or the like.

  The image expansion processing unit 19 expands the data stored in the document data storage unit 18 into image data such as a bitmap corresponding to the data structure in response to a command from the CPU 11 and outputs the image data to the main memory 12. It is made to do. For example, when the data structure is image data compressed by MMR or MH used in a facsimile or the like, the image expansion processing unit 19 performs expansion processing. Further, in the case of a page description language such as HTML or Postscript, raster image expansion processing for expanding fonts and allocating pages is performed.

  Data stored in the main memory 12 is supplied to and stored in the display buffer 13 via the image data transfer unit 20 or the image data compression / transfer unit 21. Basically, the image data transfer unit 20 transfers the data stored in the main memory 12 to the display buffer 13 as it is, and the image data compression transfer unit 21 compresses the image stored in the main memory 12. And supplied to the display buffer 13 for storage.

  The image data compression / transfer unit 21 performs the compression process by a process of transferring data while thinning out every several lines, or a process of reducing the number of lines while performing an operation such as logical OR between the lines. Alternatively, the number of dots in the image data is counted, and the compression process is performed in accordance with the number.

  The image data compression transfer unit 21 and the image data transfer unit 20 have a relatively low resolution by converting the binary image data into multiple values when transferring the data read from the main memory 12 to the display buffer 13. Even on the display, it is possible to display without crushing fine characters. However, since the multi-value resolution conversion process takes time, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-4-337800, a coarse image is first displayed, and the data is converted into multi-value data. I will replace them later. Thereby, both the speed of reaction and the request | requirement of a beautiful display can be satisfied.

  The area copy processing unit 22 executes a process of copying (moving) a part of the image data stored in the display buffer 13 to another area of the display buffer 13.

  The video signal generator 14 reads the image data stored in the display buffer 13, converts it into a video signal, outputs it to the display 15, and displays it.

  The update information storage unit 24 stores the address of the server (file) that the user wants to monitor, the timing thereof, the last update date of the accessed file, and the like.

  The keyboard 17 has at least a cursor key 17A, and is operated by a user when inputting various commands to the CPU 11. The pointing device 16 such as a mouse is operated by the user when a predetermined position is designated using a cursor displayed on the display 15.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2 will be described. First, in order to access a predetermined homepage on the Internet, the keyboard 17 is operated to start a WWW (World Wide Web) browser such as Netscape Navigator (a trademark of Netscape Communications). Then, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for designating a predetermined homepage is input. Then, on the display 15, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined home page is displayed in the window 30 of the WWW browser. On this homepage, icons 31 for accessing various servers connected to the Internet are displayed.

  Here, when the user operates the pointing device 16 to select, for example, the “Fax in” icon 31, the CPU 11 controls the network interface 23 and is connected to the Internet and corresponds to the icon. To access. This server stores image data (bitmap data) received from an external fax receiver, or image data read out from newspapers, magazines, etc. by an image scanner using software such as an HTML editor. A service (Fax in service) for providing the data is performed.

  The network interface 23 supplies the data supplied from the server accessed via the Internet to the document data storage unit 18 for storage. A part of this data is supplied as it is to the image development processing unit 19, subjected to decompression processing and the like, converted into bitmap data, supplied to the main memory 12 and stored therein.

  The data stored in the main memory 12 is supplied to the display buffer 13 via the image data transfer unit 20 and written therein. The data written in the display buffer 13 is supplied to the video signal generator 14 and converted into a video signal, which is supplied to the display 15 and displayed. In this way, the home page as shown in FIG. 4 of the accessed server is first displayed on the display 15, for example.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, icons 81-1 and 81-2 for designating a newspaper clipping file in the window 30 of the WWW browser, which are icons simulating a reduced image of each newspaper clipping. 81-1 and 81-2 are displayed in an array. Then, the user operates the pointing device 16 and the keyboard 17 while viewing this homepage, and selects an icon 81-2 for designating a desired newspaper clipping file. Here, if the data of the file is not yet stored in the document data storage unit 18, the CPU 11 requests the server to transfer data via the network interface 23. When the server transfers data in response to this request, the data is supplied to the document data storage unit 18 via the network interface 23 and stored.

  Next, the CPU 11 reads the file data (document data) stored in the document data storage unit 18, converts the data into bitmap data by the image development processing unit 19, supplies the data to the main memory 12, and stores the data. Let Then, this data is supplied to the display buffer 13 via the image data transfer unit 20 or the image data compression transfer unit 21 and stored therein. One piece (one page) of image data written in the display buffer 13 is supplied to the video signal generator 14, converted into a video signal, and output to the display 15 for display.

  Next, the principle of displaying one image will be described with reference to FIG. Now, a window 41 is displayed on the display 15, and a cut-out image of one newspaper article (A4 size) read out from the document data storage unit 18 is displayed on the window 41. To do. Assume that the image data 42 of one image stored in the main memory 12 has a width W and a height H as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the window 41 has a width w and a height h, and the width W and the height H of the image data 42 are larger than the width w and the height h of the window 41. In this case, the entire image data 42 cannot be displayed on the window 41 as it is. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, processing for adjusting (adjusting) the width W of the image data 42 to the width w of the window 41 is performed. That is, the image data 42 is compressed at a compression rate of w / W as a whole in width and height.

Furthermore, in this way, the image data 52 that is compressed to w / W as a whole in the width and height directions is further compressed in the height direction as follows. That is, since the height h of the window 41 is smaller than the height H × (w / W) of the image data 52, the area A ₂ having a height a ₂ of 70% of the height h of the window 41, and its area a ₁ of the upper portion of the height a _1, and a region a ₃ of the height a ₃ thereunder, the window 41 is partitioned. In response to this classification, to the image data 50, a region R ₂ of the height r ₂ (= a _2), a region R ₁ of the height r ₁ of the upper, and the height r ₃ regions thereunder And R ₃ .

The data in the region R ₂ of the image data 52 is transferred and displayed as it is (without being compressed) in the region A _{2 of the} window 41. On the other hand, the data in the area R ₁ is compressed and transferred and displayed in the area A ₁ in the vertical direction, and the data in the area R ₃ is transferred and displayed compressed in the area A ₃ in the vertical direction. Is done. Height a ₂ regions A ₂ is 70% of the value of the height h of the window 41, the height r ₂ of region R ₂ of the image data 52, since it is the same value as a _2, Area A ₂ is a standard part where characters are displayed at the correct ratio (ratio between vertical and horizontal directions), whereas areas A ₁ and A ₃ are displayed with characters compressed in the vertical direction. The compression unit.

The position of the standard area A ₂ can be moved with a cursor. 6 and 7 illustrate this relationship. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the range up to K and the range up to K around the position of the cursor 61 of the display buffer 13 (and hence the window 41) are the standard area A _2. The upper and lower regions are designated as A ₁ or A ₃ . Thus, for example, from the state shown in FIG. 6, move the cursor 61 downward, as shown in FIG. 7, the area A ₂ of the standard unit is moved downward from the position in FIG. As a result, the range of the region A ₁ is larger in the case of FIG. 7 than in the case of FIG. 6, and the range of the region A ₃ is narrower in the case of FIG.

  Next, the file monitoring method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11. I will explain.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the image of the task being processed at that time is displayed on the window 41-1, as shown in FIG. An image representing the update status of a plurality of files is displayed in a relatively small window 41-2.

  FIG. 9 shows the window 41-2 in an enlarged manner. For example, assume that the update status of three files is monitored. At this time, as shown in a window 41-2 on the right side of FIG. 9, for example, a homepage image (represented by A, B, and C in FIG. 9) of the monitored file is reduced, and the reduced image is displayed. It is compressed and displayed in the horizontal direction.

  Then, each file is accessed at the designated timing, and it is determined whether or not the file has been updated. When the file has been updated, as shown in the window 41-2 on the left side of FIG. The image of the homepage is displayed larger than the image of the file that has not been updated. Thereby, the update of the file which each user is monitoring can be known quickly and reliably.

  Next, a method for monitoring a file will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Before starting the processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the user operates the keyboard 17 or pointing device 16 to execute processing for registering the address of the file to be monitored. When this input is performed, the CPU 11 stores the input information in the update information storage unit 24.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a monitoring file list stored in the update information storage unit 24 in this way. In this embodiment, the addresses a, b, and c of the three files A, B, and C and information on the date and time when the addresses should be accessed are registered. The files to be registered here may be a plurality of files managed by one server (for example, the server S _{A in} FIG. 1), or may be different servers (for example, the servers S _A , S _B , S _{C in} FIG. 1). ) May be managed files (files A, B, C), but this embodiment is the latter example. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the time information to be accessed can be specified by specifying a day of the week and time, such as every Monday at 9:00, or by specifying a time at 23:00 every day, You can also specify a period, such as every hour.

  The processing shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is performed for each file address registered in advance as described above.

In step S1 of FIG. 10, the CPU 11 reads the address (for example, address a) of the file stored in the update information storage unit 24, controls the network interface 23, and starts accessing the address. Thereby, for example, access is made to the server S _A shown in FIG.

  At this time, the accessed server provides header information to the user as shown in FIG. 13, for example, and the CPU 11 receives this header information via the network interface 23.

  This header information includes the communication protocol name (HTTP), its version (1.0), the communication status (200 OK), and the file update date (Mon, 11-09-95 07:18:57). GMT) and the like.

  In this way, when the CPU 11 accesses a predetermined file (server), the process proceeds to step S2, and an image (for example, an image of a home page) representing the content of the file prepared in advance in the document data storage unit 18 is obtained. Is further reduced in the horizontal direction and displayed as shown in the window 41-2 on the right side of FIG. Then, the image is further blinked. In this case, for example, the image of the file A represented by adding the letter A in the right window 41-2 shown in FIG. As a result, the user can be informed that the file A is being accessed and the update status is being confirmed.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not the accessed address information has been returned within a predetermined time. If no information related to the file is transmitted after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of access, the process proceeds to step S4, and the x mark is superimposed on the reduced image of the file. Then, the background color is changed to a color (for example, yellow) different from the background color (for example, white) in the normal case.

  For example, when the reduced image of the home page of file A displayed in the window 41-2 is represented by black characters on a white background as shown in FIG. 14, the background is yellow as shown in FIG. , Red X mark is superimposed and displayed. 14 and 15, for the sake of convenience, the reduced homepage is shown in a state in which it is not compressed in the horizontal direction, but in actuality, as shown in FIG. Is displayed. Since the image is compressed in the horizontal direction, it is difficult to confirm the image, but the x mark is relatively large and can be confirmed. Also, since the background is usually white, it is changed to yellow, so this color also causes network problems, such as a line being disconnected or the server being accessed turned off. It can be recognized that it exists.

  After step S4, the process proceeds to step S19 to wait until the next access time is reached. When the next access time arrives, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the information has been returned from the accessed server within a certain time, the process proceeds to step S5 to determine whether the information is correct information, not error information. To do. If it is error information, the process proceeds to step S6. A mark is added on the reduced screen, and the background color of the reduced screen is changed to yellow.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the background color is changed to yellow and red? The mark is superimposed and displayed. As in the case of step S4, this image is compressed in the horizontal direction and displayed in the window 41-2 on the right side of FIG.

  Even when such a display is performed, the process proceeds to step S19 and waits until the next access time arrives. When that time arrives, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that correct information has been transmitted from the accessed server, the process proceeds to step S7, and the reduced image blinked in step S2 is returned to the original state. That is, the blinking is stopped. And it progresses to step S8 and it is determined whether update date data is contained in header information. That is, depending on the server, the update date may not be returned. Therefore, it is determined whether or not update date data has been returned.

  If it is determined that the update date data has been returned, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is determined whether or not the update date data just read is newer than the update date accessed last time (or earlier). In the case of the first access, since there is no past update date, the latest update date data is the latest. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S10, and the update date is stored in the update information storage unit 24.

  In the case of the second and subsequent accesses, if the update date at the current access is newer than the update date at the previous access stored in the update information storage unit 24, in step S10, The update date is changed to the latest update date.

  In step S15, the character “NEW” is superimposed and displayed on the reduced screen representing the update state. The characters are displayed in green. Further, this reduced image is displayed in a larger size than the size of the reduced image when it has not been updated.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a character displayed in black with respect to a white background is changed to green, and a character “NEW” is superimposed in red. Then, this reduced image is displayed larger than the reduced images (B, C) of other files that have not been updated, as shown in the window 41-2 on the left side of FIG. When observing on the display screen, as shown in the right window 41-2 in FIG. 9, the reduced images of the three files A, B, and C are compressed in the width direction and displayed with an equal width. When the access to the file A is started, the reduced image of the file A blinks, and when it is confirmed that the file A is updated, as shown in the left window 41-2 in FIG. The window 41-2 is displayed larger (with a smaller compression ratio in the width direction), and the remaining images of the files B and C are further increased in compression ratio than in the right window 41-2. Display (with a narrower width). The characters are green, and the red character “NEW” is large and superimposed. Thus, the user can surely know that the file A has been updated.

  If the user knows that the file has been updated in this way, when accessing the file, instead of starting the access procedure from the beginning, simply specify the reduced screen. Good.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the cursor (mouse cursor) 61 of the pointing device 16 is moved onto the reduced screen of the file A in the window 41-2, and the mouse is clicked at that position.

  In step S16, the CPU 11 waits until the mouse button is clicked in this way, and when clicked, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S17 and returns the display of the window 41-2 to the original state. That is, the state shown in the left window 41-2 in FIG. 9 is changed to the state shown in the right window 41-2.

  In step S18, the CPU 11 accesses a file specified by clicking on a viewer (for example, Netscape Navigator, which is a WWW browser) for browsing files of various servers connected via the network. Address (in the case of a WWW browser, URL) is delivered. That is, in this embodiment, the reduced screen of the window 41-2 is linked to the addresses of the files A, B, and C.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S19, waiting until the next access time. When the access time is reached, the process returns to step S1 again, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, when the address of the file A is passed in step S18, the viewer accesses the address. That is, in this case, access to the file A is started. Then, the updated file A information can be received from the server 1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S9 that the update date obtained as a result of the current access is the same as the previous (or earlier) update date stored in the update information storage unit 24, step S10, The process from S15 to S18 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S19 to wait until the next access time.

  In addition, as described above, some servers may not return file update date data even when accessed. In this case, whether or not the file has been updated is determined using a hash (HASH) function as follows.

  That is, if it is determined in step S8 that the update date data has not been returned, the process proceeds to step S11, and the CPU 11 requests the server to transfer the data of the currently accessed file. Then, the server receives the data of the file. In step S12, the CPU 11 multiplies the file data (all data) provided from the server by a predetermined hash function.

For example, now, for the sake of simplicity, data _{files, A 1, A 2, A} 3, and a text data consisting of n characters of ··· A _n. Of the text data, the first character, the intermediate character, and from the end with a second three-character, A _1, A _2, A _3, to the data consisting of n characters · · · A _n Define the following hash function:
hash (A ₁ A ₂ ... A _n )
= (A ₁ + A _{n / 2} × 26 + A _n-1 × 26 ² ) mod 1000

For example, when the received data is 'SUZUKI' text data, the following calculation is performed.
hash (SUZUKI) = {ASC ('S')-ASC ('A')
+ (ASC ('Z')-ASC ('A')) × 26
+ (ASC ('K')-ASC ('A')) × 26 ² } mod 1000
= (18 + 650 + 6760) mod 1000 = 428

  In this way, the data “SUZUKI” can be made to correspond to the numerical value 428 by calculating the hash function.

  In this way, the calculated values obtained by calculating the hash function are different with a sufficiently high probability if the original data is different. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the data of the file is updated (the data is different from the past data) from the calculated value obtained by the hash function.

  Therefore, in step S13, the operation value of the hash function obtained in step S12 is compared with the past operation value stored in the update information storage unit 24. If both do not match, the process proceeds to step S14. The calculated value of the hash function just obtained in step S12 is stored in the update information storage unit 24. That is, since the calculated value is different from the past value, the file is updated. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S15, and processing such as displaying the character “NEW” superimposed on the reduced screen is executed.

  On the other hand, if the calculated value of the hash function obtained and stored in the past is equal to the calculated value obtained this time, the file data is not updated. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S19, waits until the next access time, returns to step S1 when the access time is reached, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.

  As described above, it is possible to detect an update state of a file managed by a server that does not return the update date.

As described above, for example, when the server S _A in FIG. 1 is accessed, the server S _B that manages the file B registered in the monitoring file list and the server S that manages the file C will be described next. The same process is performed for _{C at} the registered time.

  The user can set the timing for accessing each file at an arbitrary time. Therefore, the update state of the file can be known at a frequency desired by the user (any timing that can be recognized as real time for the user).

  FIG. 18 shows a more specific display example on the display 15 of the window representing the update state performed in this way. Here, in the reduction list display of the window 41-2 shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the reduction screen of the home page pointed by the cursor 61 is enlarged in the horizontal direction, and the vertical and horizontal ratios are the same. If it is displayed as a reduced screen, the user can check the outline of an arbitrary file.

As described above, according to the information management apparatus and the information management method of the present invention, the address of the server file to be monitored via the network is set. Based on the set address, the file is accessed at a predetermined timing. When the file is accessed, the file update date acquired from the server when accessing the file and the file update date acquired when accessing the server in the past Based on the file update date, the first determination means determines whether or not the file has been updated. When the file is accessed, a calculation process of a predetermined hash function is performed on the file acquired from the server. And the operation result obtained by performing the operation processing of a predetermined hash function on the file acquired when the server was accessed in the past, and the second determination means, It is determined whether the file has been updated. Further, based on either the first determination result obtained by the first determination means or the second determination result obtained by the second determination means, the file update state is notified to the user. Thus, it is possible to know whether or not the file of interest has been updated quickly and reliably without imposing a load on the file provider.

According to the present invention, since the file address of the server is set and the file is accessed based on the set address, the file can be acquired from the server. Further, according to the present invention, the file is updated based on either the file update date acquired from the server or the calculation result obtained by performing a calculation process of a predetermined hash function on the file acquired from the server. Since it is determined whether or not the file has been updated, whether or not the file has been updated can be monitored quickly and reliably.

It is a figure explaining the network which connects the information management apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the information management apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a menu. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a homepage. It is a figure explaining the principle of the display in this invention. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the cursor and display range in this invention. It is a figure explaining the range of a display when a cursor is moved in the present invention. It is a figure which shows the principle of the display of the image showing the update state of a file. It is a figure explaining compression of the window 41-2 of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of embodiment of FIG. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure explaining a monitoring file list. It is a figure explaining header information. It is a figure explaining the original reduced image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in step S4 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in step S6 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of FIG.11 S15. 9 is a photograph showing a specific display example corresponding to the display example of FIG. 8. It is a figure explaining the method of detecting the update of the conventional file.

Explanation of symbols

11 CPU, 12 main memory, 13 display buffer, 14 video signal generation unit, 15 display, 16 pointing device, 17 keyboard, 17A cursor key, 18 document data storage unit, 19 image development processing unit, 20 image data transfer unit, 21 Image data compression / transfer unit, 23 network interface, 24 update information storage unit

Claims (16)

A setting means for setting the file address of the server to be monitored via the network;
An access means for accessing the file at a predetermined timing based on the address set by the setting means;
When the file is accessed by the access means, the file is updated based on the file update date acquired from the server by accessing the file and the file update date acquired when the server was accessed in the past. First determination means for determining whether or not it has been updated;
When accessing the file by the access means, the calculation result obtained by performing a calculation process of a predetermined hash function on the file acquired from the server, and the acquired when accessing the server in the past A second determination unit that determines whether or not the file has been updated by comparing a calculation result obtained by performing calculation processing of the predetermined hash function on the file;
Based on the determination result of either the first determination result obtained by the first determination means or the second determination result obtained by the second determination means, the update state of the file is notified to the user. An information management apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying. Further comprising a storage means for storing the results obtained by performing the arithmetic processing of the predetermined hash function to the data of the file acquired from the server,
The second determination means is a result obtained by subjecting the result stored in the storage means and the data of the file acquired in the current access to the file to the processing of the predetermined hash function. And determining whether or not the file has been updated. 2. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file is updated. The setting means is a timing for accessing the file based on the set address, and further sets individual and arbitrary timing for each of the plurality of addresses.
The access means accesses each of the files at the timing set for each of the plurality of addresses based on the plurality of addresses set by the setting means. The information management device described in 1. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies a user of an update state of the file using an image obtained by reducing the image of the file. The notification means arranges an image representing an update state of a plurality of files in one window, and displays the compression rate of the image of the updated file and the compression rate of the image of the file that has not been updated. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user is notified of an update state of the file by changing the information. The notification means arranges an image representing an update state of a plurality of the files in one window, and changes the color of the image of the updated file and the color of the image of the file not updated. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update status of the file is notified to the user. The notification means notifies the user of the update status of the file using a predetermined image, and when the file cannot be normally accessed, the update of the file is performed using the image indicating that an error has occurred. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state is notified to the user. The notification means notifies a user of an update state of the file using a predetermined image,
The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access unit further accesses the file when the image is designated. In an information management method of an information management apparatus comprising a setting means, an access means, a first determination means, a second determination means, and a notification means,
By the setting unit, a setting step of monitoring through the network, sets the address of the server file,
By the access means, based on the address set in said setting step, an access step of accessing the file at a predetermined timing,
If accessing the file in said accessing step, and file update date by accessing the file acquired from the server, on the basis of the said file update date acquired when accessing the past server, the first A first determination step of determining whether or not the file has been updated by the determination means;
When accessing the file in the access step, the calculation result obtained by performing a calculation process of a predetermined hash function on the file acquired from the server, and the acquired when accessing the server in the past by comparing the calculation result obtained by performing operation processing of the predetermined hash function to the file, by the second determination means, second determination determining whether the file has been updated Steps,
Based on the first determination result or the second judgment second determination result one of the determination result of obtained by the steps obtained by the first determination step, by said notification means, of said file An information management method comprising: a notification step of notifying a user of an update state. Further comprising a storage step of storing in the storage means provided the results obtained by performing the arithmetic processing of the predetermined hash function to the data of the file acquired from the server to the information management device,
In the second determination step, the second determination means calculates the predetermined hash function on the result stored in the storage step and the data of the file acquired in the current access to the file. The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein it is determined whether or not the file has been updated by comparing a result obtained by performing processing. In the setting step, the setting means is a timing for accessing the file based on the set address, and further sets individual and arbitrary timing for each of the plurality of addresses,
In the access step, the access means accesses each of the files at the timing set for each of the plurality of addresses based on the plurality of addresses set in the setting step. The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein: The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein, in the notification step, the notification unit notifies the user of the update state of the file using an image obtained by reducing the image of the file. In the notification step, the notification means arranges an image representing an update state of a plurality of the files in one window, and the compression rate of the image of the updated file and the file of the file that has not been updated. The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein the update status of the file is notified to the user by changing an image compression rate. In the notification step, the notification means arranges an image representing an update state of a plurality of the files in one window, and the image color of the updated file and the image of the file that has not been updated. The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein the update status of the file is notified to the user by changing a color of the file. In the notification step, the notification means notifies the user of the update status of the file using a predetermined image, and if the file cannot be accessed normally, the image indicating that an error has occurred The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein the update status of the file is notified to the user. In the notification step, the notification means notifies the user of the update state of the file using a predetermined image,
The information management method according to claim 9 , wherein, in the access step, when the image is designated, the access unit further accesses the file.

Images