JP6632321B2 - External metadata providing system and external metadata providing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an external metadata assigning system and an external metadata assigning method capable of assigning external metadata as a supplementary explanation to a file on a computer, a real world thing, or the like.

  Generally, various types of data handled by a computer have a concept called metadata, which is information about data. This metadata is not the data itself, but additional information related to the data. For example, the data “creation date and time”, “creator”, “data format”, “title”, “comment”, and “vertical” The "horizontal" size, "song name" or "artist name" for music, and the like are listed. The metadata is important information for efficiently managing and searching data. In many file formats for storing documents, images, and the like, metadata is stored at the beginning of a file, followed by the data itself. That is, the related art is configured to embed and manage the data body and the metadata integrally in one file.

  Patent Document 1 listed below describes a technique describing this metadata.

  This patent document states that "Provides immediate synchronization with a property-based view in a browser, and provides both immediate feedback when a property is changed and a function for graphically operating a property."

JP 2012-164365 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 described above has an effect that the content of the metadata that is embedded and integrated with the data and that is edited is immediately reflected.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an external metadata providing system and an external metadata providing method capable of providing external metadata as a supplementary explanation for a file on a computer, a real world thing, or the like.

  The present invention relates to external metadata, which is incidental information attached to a data body that is a real object that is a fact or a state that appears as a fact and is not integrally stored with the data body. An external metadata providing system including a server system for providing an external metadata, which outputs an ID serving as a key number for creating external metadata based on unique information unique to the data body, and secures an external metadata area based on the ID. A storage area for the address of the device is secured and external metadata is stored.

  The external metadata providing system and the external metadata providing method according to the present invention can provide external metadata as a supplementary explanation for a file on a computer, a real world thing, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an external metadata providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format of external metadata according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of external metadata processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a format of an address table according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an external metadata editing and displaying device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a format of an image database according to a second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the composition of the external metadata grant system by a 5th example of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing an example of input / output at a client according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an input device using finger vein authentication according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the format of the finger vein authentication database by a 6th example. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an input device using a login ID / password according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the format of the login ID and password database by a 7th example.

  Hereinafter, examples according to the present invention will be described.

[Constitution]
As shown in FIG. 1, the external metadata providing system to which the external metadata providing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a data body 101 in which metadata is present and to which external metadata is to be provided. The external metadata is configured by a server system 102 that edits, stores, and displays the metadata.

  The data body described in the present application is not limited to combination data of image data, moving image data, RFID data, barcode data, login ID, and password, which are handled on a computer described in an embodiment described later. Means various kinds of data that can be handled by. Further, the external metadata is incidental information attached to a data body that is a real object that is a fact or a state that appears as a fact and that is not stored integrally with the data body. The accompanying information included in the external metadata may overlap with the accompanying information of the original metadata stored integrally with the data body.

  Although only one data body 101 is drawn for convenience, it is assumed that a large number of various data bodies exist separately. The data body 101 is not limited to a specific property (data type: image, document file, real world thing, etc.), but typically, for example, a data file of a system on a computer is an example. No.

The server system 102 includes the following components.
(1) An input device 103 that inputs unique information of the data body 101 and outputs an ID (key number for creating external metadata) based on the unique information to the address output device 106.
In the case of a data file of a system on a computer, this unique information is a return value (file pointer) of a function when the file is opened by its name. The output ID may be generated according to any rule as long as the resource can be reproduced and distinguished. In this example, since the file pointer is the head address of the data body in the computer memory, It is suitable as a value that has reproducibility and can be distinguished from others. This ID may be obtained by converting the unique information according to a predetermined conversion rule, and this is the same in other embodiments.

  (2) An external metadata storage device 107 having a storage area for storing external metadata for each ID. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the external metadata includes an ID uniquely assigned to each external metadata and item information of the external metadata contents (variable = value form) for each ID. Be composed. However, the content of the external metadata is not limited to the illustrated one, and may be changed to, for example, a tag format such as XML.

(3) An external metadata area securing device 104 that secures an external metadata area corresponding to the ID on the external metadata storage device 107 and outputs the start address.
(4) An external metadata editing and display device 105 that displays external metadata stored in the external metadata storage device 107 and provides an interface for making corrections and changes. The result of this correction or change is written back (updated) to the external metadata storage device 107.

  (5) An address output device 106 which receives the ID, identifies the address of the storage area of the external metadata of the data body indicated by the ID on the external metadata storage device 107, and outputs the address. If the storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID has already been secured, the address output device 106 indicates the address as it is, and if the external metadata has not been secured, Then, it instructs the external metadata area securing device 104 to secure an external metadata area and output its address.

  (6) An output device 108 for outputting part or all of the external metadata stored in the external metadata storage device 107 without specifying an ID or without specifying an ID. The output ID can be used for backup or transfer to another system.

  (7) An address table 110 for storing the ID and an address on the external metadata area securing device 104 corresponding to the ID. As shown in FIG. 4, the address table 110 stores the start address of the storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID in the address column, and when the storage area of the external metadata for the ID is not secured yet, Here, NULL (an empty character string having a length of 0) is stored.

  (8) A bus 109 for interconnecting the input device 103, the external metadata area securing device 104, the external metadata editing and displaying device 105, the address output device 106, the external metadata storage device 107, the output device 108, and the address table 110. .

[motion]
The external metadata providing system configured as described above can provide external metadata to the data body by executing the steps shown in FIG.

Step s301: a step in which the input device 103 outputs an ID (in this example, for example, the same file pointer as the unique information) based on the unique information (in this example, for example, a file pointer) of the data body 101 to the address output device 106.
Step s302: a step in which the address output device 106 outputs the head address of the storage area of the external metadata based on the ID output from the input device 103. This step s302 includes processing from step s304 to step s307.

  Step s304: a step in which the address output device 106 searches the address table 110 for an address of the external metadata storage area corresponding to the ID output in step s301.

  When the corresponding address of the external metadata storage area corresponding to the ID output in step s301 does not hit in step s304, the address output device 106 stores the external meta data corresponding to the ID in the address column in the address table 110. The head address of the data storage area is stored. When the storage area of the external metadata for the output ID is not yet secured, NULL is stored here.

  Step s305: a step in which the address output device 106 refers to the value of the address in the address table corresponding to the ID output in step s301, and determines whether or not this is NULL (whether it is the first appearance).

  Step s306: When the address output device 106 determines that the value of the address in the address table corresponding to the ID output in step s305 is NULL (first appearance), the external metadata area securing device 104 A step of securing a storage area for external metadata corresponding to the ID input in s301, and recording the start address in the address table of FIG.

  Step s307: When the address output device 106 determines in step s305 that the value of the address in the address table corresponding to the input ID is not NULL (not the first appearance), or after step s306, the corresponding ID and the start address are Outputting to the metadata editing and displaying device 105;

  Step s303: a step in which the external metadata editing and displaying device 105 extracts and displays the contents (FIG. 2) of the external metadata corresponding to the corresponding ID output in step s307, and further provides an interface for editing this. .

  As described above, in the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment, the address output device 106 determines whether the address of the storage area of the external metadata of the data body indicated by the ID based on the information of the data body 101 on the external metadata storage device 107. When the storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID is already secured, the address is output as it is. When the storage area of the external metadata is not already secured, the external metadata area is output. By instructing the securing device 104 to secure the external metadata area and operating to output the address, the external metadata can be added to the data body separately from the data body.

  That is, while the external metadata providing technology according to the prior art manages data by embedding the data body and the external metadata integrally as one file, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment includes: The external metadata associated with the ID is stored in an external storage unit (external metadata storage device 107) separately from the external metadata embedded in the file.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an external metadata editing and displaying device 105 for editing and displaying the external metadata includes a processing device 504 including a CPU and an image created under the control of the processing device 504, as in a general computer. The display device 503 includes a display device 503 for displaying characters and the like, a keyboard 501 as input means for inputting characters and the like, and a mouse 502 as a pointing device for operating a pointer or an icon on the display device 503.

  The display device 503 displays an external metadata edit display area 505, a pointer 508, and an OK button 509 on a display screen. The external metadata edit display area 505 includes an ID 506 of the input data body 101, The external metadata 507 associated with the ID 506 is displayed.

  The display device 503 extracts and displays the content of the external metadata corresponding to the ID output by the processing device 504 in step s303 shown in FIG. 3, moves the pointer 508 by moving the mouse 502, and edits the content. The external metadata can be edited by designating the value of the external metadata to be input, inputting a character string using the keyboard 501, and pressing an OK button 509.

  In the present embodiment, a keyboard and a mouse are exemplified as input devices. However, other input devices, such as a software keyboard, a hardware keyboard, and a touch display of a mobile phone or a smartphone, which realize the same input function, may be used. It may be a device.

  As described above, the external metadata providing system according to the first embodiment stores the external metadata linked to the ID in the external storage unit separately from the external metadata embedded in the data file, The external metadata can be stored in the external metadata storage device 107, which is another storage medium, and the external metadata can be edited and the content can be added using the external metadata editing and displaying device 105. In particular, since the external metadata adding system according to the present embodiment can add additional external metadata later, it is necessary to manage the external metadata so that even the owner of the data itself can refer to and modify the external metadata. Can be.

  The external metadata providing system according to the first embodiment has described an example in which external metadata is provided to a general data body 101 that does not limit the nature of the external metadata. Next, a second embodiment in which the data body 101 is a real object in the real world will be described.

  The basic hardware configuration of the external metadata adding system according to the present embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, and the processing flow of the external metadata adding procedure is also the same as that shown in FIG. Is the same as the flow shown in FIG. 1, and the differences will be mainly described below. This point is the same as in other embodiments described later, except for those particularly described.

  The hardware configuration of the external metadata providing system according to the second embodiment is such that the input device 103 of the server system 102 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a monitoring system including a (monitoring) camera 601 as shown in FIG. This is an example in which the main body 101 is a moving image or a still image (hereinafter, referred to as an image) captured by the camera 601.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the input device 103 according to the present embodiment includes a monitoring camera 601 that captures an image of a monitoring target that is a real object in the real world, and an image database that stores an image captured by the camera 601. 603, an image recognizing unit 602 for recognizing the image, and a communication unit 604 for communicating with the bus 109.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image database 603 stores a plurality of captured images and IDs, which are identifiers uniquely assigned to the images, in association with each other.

  The image recognizing unit 602 searches for an image similar to the captured image from the image database 603 when an image (for example, a specific vehicle) captured by the camera 601 is designated and a search is instructed. It has an output function (similar image search processing that can be executed by image processing and image recognition) based on the ID from the communication unit 604 via the bus 109.

  As in the first embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 according to the present embodiment is a return value (file pointer) of the function when the image file is opened, and the ID output by the input device 103 is , File pointers are preferred.

  In the external metadata providing system configured as described above, in step s301 of inputting the ID of the data body 101 shown in FIG. 3 to the address output device 106, the input device 103 uses the image recognition unit 602 to generate A similar image is searched from the image database 603, and the operation is performed to output the ID from the communication unit 604 to the address output device 106, and the subsequent processing is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  Through this processing, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment identifies the data body 101 (for example, a specific vehicle) that is a real-world thing captured by the camera, and assigns the data body 101 to the real-world thing. Also, external metadata can be given, displayed, and edited.

  For example, when the external metadata providing system according to the second embodiment is applied to a parking lot of a specific apartment or the like, the external metadata providing system provides external metadata to a photographed vehicle or motorcycle, For the data, information such as a vehicle registration number mark / vehicle number mark (license plate) of a vehicle, an owner, etc. is input. Accordingly, the external metadata providing system according to the second embodiment can provide, display, and edit useful external metadata for management of vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles, which are real objects in the real world. It can be carried out.

  In addition, the external metadata providing system according to the present invention uses a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag to transmit RFID identification information (ID information) from an RFID (radio frequency identifier) tag in a short-range wireless communication using an electromagnetic field, a radio wave, or the like, instead of the input device 103 that captures an image. It may be an input device including a reader for reading by communication.

  The hardware configuration of the external metadata providing system according to the third embodiment is such that the input device 103 of the server system 102 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to an RFID system including an RFID reader 801 as shown in FIG. Is an RFID identifier of the RFID read by the RFID reader 801.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the input device 103 according to the present embodiment includes an RFID reader 801 that reads ID information of an RFID (not shown) that is a real object in the real world, and an ID reader 801 that reads the ID information read by the RFID reader 801. A communication unit 804 for outputting the ID to the bus 109;

  According to the present embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 is RFID information because the RFID information is a unique ID according to a global standard, and the ID information output by the input device 103 is preferably RFID information.

  In the external metadata providing system configured as described above, in step s301 of inputting the ID of the data body 101 shown in FIG. 3 to the address output device 106, the input device 103 transmits the ID information read from the RFID by the RFID reader 801. And outputs the ID based on the address to the address output device 106, and executes the subsequent processing in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  By this processing, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment stores the data body 1 (for example, an RFID attached to a specific device, for example, an RFID tag described in Japanese Patent No. 4057580) read by the RFID reader 801. The identification based on the ID information allows the user to perform operations such as adding, displaying, and editing external metadata to the data body 101, which is an object (RFID) in the real world.

  For example, when the external metadata providing system of the third embodiment is applied to an RFID management system that manages a device, the external metadata providing system performs a process on external metadata including ID information of an RDID tag of the device. By inputting and editing the serial number, manufacturing date, expiration date, etc. of the device, it is possible to assign, display and edit external metadata for managing this real-world RFID and the device to which the RFID is attached. It can be carried out.

Further, the external metadata providing system according to the present invention may be an input device including a barcode reader that reads a barcode, instead of the input device 103 that captures an image.
The hardware configuration of the external metadata providing system according to the fourth embodiment is such that the input device 103 of the server system 102 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a barcode system including a barcode reader 901 as shown in FIG. This is an example in which the main body 101 sets barcode information read by a barcode reader 901.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the input device 103 according to the present embodiment reads a barcode reader 901 that reads a barcode (not shown) that is a real object in the real world, and reads a barcode read by the barcode reader 901. A communication unit 904 for outputting as an ID.

  According to the present embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 is a barcode because a barcode does not basically overlap according to a standard, and a barcode is preferable as an ID output by the input device 103.

  The external metadata providing system configured as described above operates such that the input device 103 outputs the barcode read by the barcode reader 901 to the address output device 106 as an ID in step s301 shown in FIG. , And subsequent processes are executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  By this processing, the external metadata adding system according to the present embodiment identifies the data body 1 (for example, a barcode attached to a specific device) read by the barcode reader 901 and identifies the barcode which is an object in the real world. In addition, external metadata can be added, displayed, and edited to devices and the like to which the barcode is attached.

  For example, when the external metadata providing system of the fourth embodiment is applied to a barcode management system that manages device management using a barcode reader 901, the external metadata providing system uses the barcode assigned to the device. By inputting the date of manufacture, serial number, life expectancy, etc. of the device in the external metadata based on the ID based on the Can edit.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, an object (equipment) in the real world to which the barcode is attached is assumed to be the data body, and the barcode is identified by reading the data with the barcode reader. External metadata can be added, displayed, and edited to the device to which the code is attached. The external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment provides external metadata even under conditions such as a situation where the communication environment is not sufficient, a situation where an inexpensive system must be realized, and a situation where an RFID requiring a power supply cannot be embedded. be able to.

In addition, the external metadata providing system according to the present invention may be an input device including a finger vein authentication device 1201 instead of the input device 103 for capturing an image.
The hardware configuration of the external metadata providing system according to the fifth embodiment is such that the input device 103 of the server system 102 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a personal authentication system including a finger vein authentication device 1201 as shown in FIG. This is an example in which the data body 101 is the finger vein personal recognition information read by the finger vein authentication device 1201.

The input device 103 according to the present embodiment is configured by the following elements, as shown in FIG.
(1) A finger vein authentication database 1203 that stores a large number of personal information (name and the like) corresponding to a finger vein pattern obtained by transmitting near infrared rays through a human finger. As shown in FIG. 13, the finger vein authentication database 1203 stores IDs and vein patterns in pairs.
(2) A finger vein authentication device 1201 that reads an image of a finger vein pattern.

(3) A finger vein authentication unit 1202 that performs individual authentication by referring to the finger vein authentication database 1203 with the finger vein pattern read by the finger vein authentication device 1201.
(4) A communication unit 1205 for communicating with the bus 109.

  (5) An internal bus 1204 for connecting the finger vein authentication database 1203, the finger vein authentication device 1201, the finger vein authentication unit 1202, and the communication unit 1205.

  In the external metadata providing system configured as described above, in step s301 shown in FIG. 3, the input device 103 searches the finger vein authentication database 1203 for a vein pattern that matches the vein pattern read by the finger vein authentication device 1201. The communication unit 1205 outputs an ID based on the vein pattern from the communication unit 1205 to the address output device 106, and the subsequent processing is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  Further, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment can be applied to a new person who is not registered in the finger vein authentication database 1203. In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, the external metadata of the newly registered When the data storage area is not already secured in the external metadata storage apparatus 107, the external metadata area securing apparatus 104 operates to newly secure an external metadata area and output its address.

  According to the present embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 is a vein pattern because the vein pattern does not basically overlap, and the vein pattern is preferable as the ID output by the input device 103.

  Through these processes, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment identifies a person who is an object in the real world read by the finger vein authentication device 1201, and applies external metadata to the person who is an object in the real world. Can be assigned, displayed, and edited.

  For example, when the external metadata providing system according to the fifth embodiment is applied to an entry / exit management system to a specific building facility or the like, the external metadata providing system adds an external metadata to a finger vein pattern of a person who scans a finger vein. Assigning, displaying, and editing external metadata that is useful for entry / exit management for this person in the real world by assigning metadata and inputting / editing additional information of a person in this external metadata It can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which individual biometric authentication is performed using finger vein authentication has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to finger vein authentication, and other biometric authentication technologies such as fingerprint authentication and palm Authentication target using biometric sensors such as shape (palm) authentication, retina authentication, iris authentication, voiceprint authentication, face authentication, ear shape authentication, blood vessels, voice, DNA, handwriting, walking, lip movement, blinking, etc. A biometric authentication technology that can perform sensing may be used and combined. In this case, the finger vein authentication device is an authentication device that performs the corresponding authentication, and the finger vein authentication database is also a database that stores the corresponding authentication target (fingerprint, palm shape, retina, iris, voiceprint, face image, ear image, and the like). Is used.

  Further, the external metadata providing system according to the present invention can be an input device for performing personal authentication using a login ID and a password when an individual logs in to a computer, instead of the finger vein authentication of the fifth embodiment. .

  According to this embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 is a combination of the login ID and the password because the login ID and the password when the individual logs in to the computer do not basically overlap, and the ID output by the input device 103 is Is preferably a combination of a login ID and a password.

As shown in FIG. 14, the input device 103 according to this embodiment includes the following elements.
(1) A login ID / password database 1403 for storing a login ID and a password used for personal authentication when logging in to a computer. As shown in FIG. 15, the login ID / password database 1403 stores a login ID and a password for the ID.

(2) A login ID / password input unit 1401 for inputting a login ID and a password used for personal authentication when logging in to a computer.
(3) A login ID / password authentication unit 1402 that performs personal authentication of the combination of the login ID and password read by the login ID / password input unit 1401 with reference to the login ID / password database 1403.

(4) A communication unit 1405 for communicating with the bus 109.
(5) An internal bus 1404 for connecting the login ID / password database 1403, the login ID / password input unit 1401, the login ID / password authentication unit 1402, and the communication unit 1405.

  In the external metadata providing system configured as described above, in step s301 shown in FIG. 3, the input device 103 transmits the login ID and the password input from the login ID / password input unit 1401 to the login ID / password authentication unit 1402. A person is identified by searching the login ID / password database 1403, and an operation based on the login ID and the password is performed so as to output an ID based on the login ID and the password from the communication unit 1405 to the address output device 106. Execute.

  Through these processes, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment can identify a person who has been personally authenticated by the login ID / password authentication unit 1402, and can also provide, display, and edit external metadata for the person. That is, since the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment can uniquely identify a person by the ID and the password input by the person and manage information accompanying the person, a special sensor or the like for input is not required. You can also.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which an object (vehicles, devices, and persons) in the real world is identified by the external metadata providing system having the basic configuration shown in FIG. Although the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, tag data can be given to a product which is a thing in the real world via a network.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the external metadata providing system according to the seventh embodiment is connected to a client 1001 for inputting the ID of the data body 101 and editing and displaying the external metadata, and is connected to the client 1001 via the Internet 1006. And a cloud service 1002 for identifying the data body 101, editing and displaying external metadata, and charging. In the illustrated example, the data body 101 and the client 1001 are illustrated as one each, but any number may be used, and the components in the first embodiment are distributed and arranged as they are over the Internet.

  The client 1001 includes an input device 103 and an external metadata editing and displaying device 105, and is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone.

  The cloud service 1002 includes an authentication device 1004 for authenticating the client 1001, a charging device 1005 for paying for the addition of external metadata and the like, and an external metadata editing / display cloud service unit 1003.

  The external metadata editing / display cloud service unit 1003 is internally connected via a bus (not shown), and has the same address output device 106, external metadata area securing device 104, and external metadata editing / display device as in the first embodiment. 105, an output device 108, an address table 110, and an external metadata storage device 107.

  According to the present embodiment, the unique information of the data body 101 is a barcode because a barcode does not basically overlap, and the ID output by the input device 103 is preferably a barcode.

  In the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment, since the cloud service 1002 includes the authentication device 1004 and the billing device 1005, only the client 1001 that has been authenticated in advance can access the cloud service 1002, and also performs fee-based billing. be able to.

  In the external metadata providing system configured as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the client 1001 is a portable terminal having a barcode reading function and a communication function, and the barcode is attached to a product 1101 which is a wine bottle. The client 1001 can read the barcode 1104 of the product 1101 via the mobile terminal.

This external metadata providing system operates, for example, as follows.
(1) A step in which the client 1001, which is a portable terminal, displays and reads a bar code 1104 of the product 1101 by using a bar code reading function by displaying an input screen indicated by reference numeral 1102.
(2) A step of transmitting the barcode data read by the client 1001 by the barcode 1104 read by the step to the address output device 106 of the cloud service 1002 via the Internet 1006.

  (3) A step in which the address output device 106 outputs the start address of the storage area of the external metadata in the external metadata storage device 107 to the external metadata editing and displaying device 105.

  (4) In the storage area of the external metadata storage device 107 at the start address output from the address output device 106, the external metadata editing and display device 105 stores the external metadata editing and display device 105 with the name "Wine" and "2010". A step of storing the corresponding external metadata such as the origin is France, the store selling the product, the date of sale, and the expiration date.

  It should be noted that the external metadata is stored in advance by the external metadata editing and displaying device 105 corresponding to the barcode data, and the corresponding external metadata is read, input, or edited based on the barcode data. be able to.

  As described above, the external metadata providing system according to the present embodiment provides the external metadata as a supplementary explanation for things in the real world, and connects the client 1001 via the Internet 1006, so Can edit and display external metadata for anything in the world.

101 data body, 102 server system, 103 input device,
104 external metadata area securing device, 105 external metadata editing and display device,
106 address output device, 107 external metadata storage device,
108 output device, 109 bus, 110 address table,
501 keyboard, 502 mouse, 503 display device, 504 processing device,
505 external metadata edit display area, 507 external metadata,
508 pointer, 509 OK button, 601 camera, 601 camera,
602 image recognition unit, 603 image database,
604 804 904 1201 1405 communication unit,
801 RFID reader, 901 barcode reader, 1001 client,
1002 cloud service,
1003 external metadata editing / display cloud service unit, 1004 authentication device,
1005 billing device, 1006 internet, 1101 products,
1104 barcode, 1201 finger vein authentication device, 1202 finger vein authentication unit,
1203 finger vein authentication database, 1204 internal bus,
1401 Login ID / Password input part,
1402 Login ID / password authentication unit,
1403 Login ID / Password database, 1404 Internal bus

Claims (10)

A server system for adding external metadata, which is incidental information attached to a data body that is a real object that is a matter or state that appears as a fact and is not stored integrally with the data body. An external metadata providing system comprising:
The server system is
An input device that outputs an ID serving as a key number for creating external metadata based on unique information unique to the data body;
An external metadata storage device having an area for storing external metadata for each ID,
An external metadata area securing device that secures a storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID on an external metadata storage device and outputs a start address of the secured storage area;
An external metadata editing display device that displays an external metadata stored in the external metadata storage device and provides an interface for performing correction and change;
An address output device that receives an ID output from the input device as an input, identifies and outputs an address on the external metadata storage device of a storage area of the external metadata of the data body indicated by the ID,
An address table for storing the ID and a start address on the external metadata area securing device corresponding to the ID,
With
The input device,
Performing a first step of outputting the ID of the data body to an address output device;
The address output device,
A second step of inputting the ID output in the first step and searching an address of an external metadata storage area corresponding to the input ID from an address table;
A third step of referring to an address of an address table corresponding to the ID output in the first step and determining whether the address is first appearing;
When it is determined in the third step that the value of the address in the address table corresponding to the ID is the first time, the external metadata area securing device stores the storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID output in the first step in the external metadata area securing device. A fourth step of securing and recording the head address of the secured storage area in an address table;
In the third step, when it is determined that the address value of the address table corresponding to the ID is not the first appearance, the external metadata area securing device secures the external metadata storage area, and outputs the head address of the secured storage area. Or a fifth step of outputting the ID and the start address to an external metadata editing and displaying device following the fourth step,
The external metadata editing and display device,
An external metadata providing system for executing a sixth step of providing an interface for extracting and editing the content of the external metadata corresponding to the ID output in the fifth step from the external metadata area securing device. The address table has an ID column for storing the ID, and an address column for storing a head address of a storage area of external metadata corresponding to the ID stored in the ID column,
In the second step, when the address output device searches an address of the external metadata storage area corresponding to the input ID from the address table and determines that the corresponding address does not hit, the address output device sets the address column to NULL. The external metadata providing system according to claim 1, wherein   The unique information of the data body is a return value of a function when a file handled on a computer is opened by a file name, or RFID identification information, or a bar code, or a login ID and password used when logging in to the computer. The external metadata providing system according to claim 1, wherein the external metadata providing system is a combination of:   The ID output by the input device is a return value of a function when a file handled on a computer is opened by its name, or RFID identification information, or a barcode, or a login ID used when logging in to a computer. The external metadata providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the system is a combination of passwords.   The ID output by the input device is a return value of a function when a file handled on a computer is opened by its name, or RFID identification information, or a barcode, or a login ID used when logging in to a computer. The external metadata providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a combination of passwords is converted according to a predetermined rule. A server system for adding external metadata, which is incidental information attached to a data body that is a real object that is a matter or state that appears as a fact and is not stored integrally with the data body. With
The server system is
An input device that outputs an ID serving as a key number for creating external metadata based on unique information unique to the data body;
An external metadata storage device having an area for storing external metadata for each ID,
An external metadata area securing device that secures a storage area of the external metadata corresponding to the ID on an external metadata storage device and outputs a start address of the secured storage area;
An external metadata editing display device that displays an external metadata stored in the external metadata storage device and provides an interface for performing correction and change;
An address output device that receives an ID output from the input device as an input, identifies and outputs an address on the external metadata storage device of a storage area of the external metadata of the data body indicated by the ID,
An address table for storing the ID and a start address on the external metadata area securing device corresponding to the ID,
An external metadata providing method using a computer system having
In the input device,
Executing a first step of outputting the ID of the data body to an address output device,
In the address output device,
A second step of inputting the ID output in the first step and searching an address of an external metadata storage area corresponding to the input ID from an address table;
A third step of referring to an address of an address table corresponding to the ID output in the first step and determining whether the address is first appearing;
In the third step, when it is determined that the address value of the address table corresponding to the ID is the first time, the external metadata area securing device stores the external metadata storage area corresponding to the ID output in the first step in the external metadata area securing device. A fourth step of securing and recording the head address of the secured storage area in an address table;
In the third step, when it is determined that the address value of the address table corresponding to the ID is not the first appearance, the external metadata area securing device secures the external metadata storage area, and outputs the head address of the secured storage area. Or a fifth step of outputting the ID and the start address to an external metadata editing and displaying device following the fourth step,
In the external metadata editing and display device,
An external metadata providing method for executing a sixth step of extracting the content of the external metadata corresponding to the ID output in the fifth step from the external metadata area securing device and providing an interface for editing. The address table has an ID column for storing the ID, and an address column for storing a head address of a storage area of external metadata corresponding to the ID stored in the ID column,
In the second step, when the address output device searches the address of the external metadata storage area corresponding to the input ID from the address table and determines that the address does not hit, the address output device sets the address field to NULL. 7. The external metadata providing method according to claim 6, wherein the external metadata is stored.   The unique information of the data body is a return value of a function when a file handled on a computer is opened by a file name, or RFID identification information, or a bar code, or a login ID and password used when logging in to the computer. The external metadata assigning method according to claim 6, wherein the method is a combination of:   The ID output by the input device is a return value of a function when a file handled on a computer is opened by its name, or RFID identification information, or a barcode, or a login ID used when logging in to a computer. 9. The external metadata providing method according to claim 6, wherein the external metadata is a combination of passwords.   The ID output by the input device is a return value of a function when a file handled on the computer is opened by its name, or RFID identification information, or a bar code, or a login ID used when logging in to the computer. 9. The external metadata providing method according to claim 6, wherein a combination of passwords is converted according to a predetermined rule.