JPH01293433A - Data presenting method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily realize an information presenting sequence intended by an information preparing person side by registering a subject item and the combination of the node selected corresponding to it for respective nodes of a hyper text and designating the subject item when a user uses the hyper text. CONSTITUTION:When some data are presented, the selection file of a selection file recording part 15 is referred to, the pair of the node corresponding to the subject item to select the data to be presented next is removed, the selection table is prepared, and when a user selects one subject item, a presenting part 14 newly presents the corresponding data in accordance with the description of the selection table. Thus, the subject item and the combination of the node selected corresponding to it are registered in a file for respective nodes, and when the subject item is designated by a user at the time of presenting the hyper text, only the user command and the combination of nodes are presented to the user. Thus, the presentation sequence control at an information preparing person side can be easily realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for presenting data composed of a plurality of data and pointers indicating links between each data.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, digitized documents with a non-sequential structure called hypertext have been appearing [for example, Proceedings on the NCM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Notecars in a Nutshell, April 1987 (Proc. , of th
e ACM Conf, on Human Facto
rs in Computing Systems, N
oteCards in a Nutshell, Ap
ril, 1987)) @Hypertext is a structure in which a pointer is placed between randomly created text data and relationships between each data can be freely set. Each piece of data pointed to by a pointer is called a node, and the pointer is called a link. One node may have multiple links.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of hypertext. A normal document basically has a hierarchical data structure, which can be expressed by links showing parent-child relationship 2 and context.

The parent-child relationship is a relationship such as the main text and annotation, or the summary and the main text, and the context relationship is an order relationship such as chapter 1 and chapter 2.

Hypertext also adds links that span layers. For example, there are cross-references, links that tell you where to find related data.

In FIG. 2, the parent-child relationship 2 context relationship and cross-reference links are clearly shown, but the types of links are not limited to these.

Also, instead of restricting nodes to text data, images,
Multimedia data such as audio may also constitute hypertext as nodes.

Due to its flexibility, such a data structure can provide functions such as changing the content and order of information presented according to the reader's interests, or organizing unorganized ideas, and is useful for electronic publishing and CA1. ．． It is expected to be applied in fields such as research. In these applications, it is important to be able to selectively determine the data to be presented through interaction with the user. A typical function conventionally implemented in this regard is that when a certain node is presented, information on the nodes that can be accessed from that node is clearly displayed, and the user can freely select one. . For example, Brown University's hypertext system for research and education, ``Intermedia''
and Construction on an Object Oriented Hypermedia Systems and Applications Framework, 1986 (Proc, of 00PSLA86. Inter
media: The Archi-tecture
and construction of an 0b
ject orient-ed Hyper me
dia System and Applica
tions Framework)], if link information from one node to another is registered in units called "webs", when the relevant node is presented, the user can decide which data to present next. You can browse the web to find out. The node/link information registered on the web is displayed as icons in a single window, and the user only has to use the mouse to select the next data to be presented from among these. Intermedia also allows users to set and register their own links.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional techniques leave complete control of the data presentation sequence to the user. Although this is an important feature, there are some shortcomings. One of these is that with conventional technology, it is not possible to reflect the "subject" of presentation, such as the purpose or intention of presenting data (from the user's perspective, the purpose or intention of searching for data), in the selection of data. Can be mentioned. For this reason, even if an information creator wants to present information in a specific order, for example, the creator cannot specify the presentation sequence, so the message intended by the information creator may not be conveyed to the user. Also,
From the user's point of view, if the information content to be searched is not well understood, being left completely in control of the presentation sequence can lead to confusion. Rather, it would be easier to understand if the information creator narrowed down the nodes that could be selected and guided the user to some extent. Particularly, such consideration is necessary in applications such as CAT.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to register a combination of a subject item and a node selected by the corresponding Q in a file for each node, so that when presenting hypertext, the subject item When the user specifies
An object of the present invention is to provide a data presentation method and device that easily realizes presentation sequence control on the information creator side by providing the user with only a combination of a corresponding user command and node.

[Means to solve the problem]

The data presentation method of the present invention has a selection file that records a combination of a subject item indicating the purpose or intention of presenting data and data to be presented in response to selection of the subject item, and when certain data is presented, A selection table is created by referring to the selection file and extracting a set of nodes corresponding to a subject item for selecting data to be presented next, and when the user selects one subject item, according to the description in the selection table, The feature is that the corresponding data is newly presented.

Further, the data presentation device of the present invention includes a data storage means for storing a plurality of data, a database management means for managing attribute information of each data and link information between the data, and a read control means for reading each of the data. , recording a presentation means for presenting the read data, a command input means for inputting a command, a subject item indicating the purpose or intention of presenting the data, and a combination of data presented in response to selection of the subject item. a selection file recording means; a selection table creation means for, when notified of the currently presented data, referring to the selection file and extracting a set of related subject items and presentation data to create a selection table; The table creation means is notified of the data currently being presented to create a selection table, and when a subject selection command is input by the user from the command input means, data to be newly presented is determined by referring to the selection table. and the readout control means.

The present invention is characterized by comprising a sequence control means for causing the presentation means to present the information.

[Effect]

A data presentation device according to the present invention includes a data storage means for storing a plurality of data, a database creation means for managing attribute information of each data and link information between data, a readout control means for reading each data, and a presentation of the read data. and command input means for managing user input. The user performs hypertext registration and search processing via the command input means. Regarding user input and hypertext management, the sequence control means described later is provided with functions equivalent to those of a conventional hypertext presentation device (including a normal text editor function).

In the data presentation method and device according to the present invention, an information creator defines a plurality of "subjects" to be presented, and when a user selects one of them, a presentation node can be selected in accordance with the "subject". Here, the subject is a constraint that determines for what purpose or intention the information is presented (or searched from the user's perspective). For example, ``Browsing'' to list the contents, ``Summary'' to show important points.
Subject items include ``examples,'' which provide explanations with specific examples, and ``references,'' which introduce related matters. The subject can also be any item depending on the information content. For example, in an educational application, each stage of learning can be viewed as a subject item, and
Items such as "Introduction", "Practice", and "Review" may also be considered. In addition to conventional searches, users can search for nodes in the order intended by the information creator by selecting these subject items.

In the present invention, subject items and data to be presented in response to selection of subject items are recorded in a selection file. The file format of the selected file is as follows.

File number description variable definition section Correspondence list between subject number and subject item Correspondence list between node symbol and node name Option description section (node symbol 1. (subject number, (node symbol 2))
) ( ) means repetition. The subject number is a series of numbers used in the option description section, and the node symbol is
A symbol given to a node in the option description section. The node name is a unique name defined in the database (i
d layer number is also good).

The option description section records, for each node, a set of subject items and presentation nodes that can be used when that node is presented. Node symbol 1 is the node currently being presented, the next theme number is the theme item that the user can select for the node being presented (node symbol 1), and node symbol 2 is the corresponding node to be selected. It shows. Node symbol 2
There may be multiple nodes. The nodes indicated by node symbol 1.2 are limited to the nodes listed in the descriptive variable definition section.

Create this file using a regular text editor.

Command input regarding data presentation is accepted by the sequence control means. The sequence control means causes the reading control means 13 and the presentation means to present the requested data, and at the same time notifies the selection table creation means of the node name (or ID layer number) being presented. , and create a selection table by extracting the corresponding subject item and data combinations.

The sequence control means refers to the created selection table and notifies the presentation means of selectable subject item names, allowing the user to select a subject item. When the user selects a subject item through the command input means, the sequence control means refers to the selection table, determines the corresponding node, and instructs the readout control means and presentation means to present it.

Thereafter, the selection table creation means is notified of the presented node name again. The selection table creation means creates a selection table corresponding to the new node and prepares for the next subject item selection.

In this way, in the data presentation method and device for hypertext, by simply creating and registering a selection file, the data presentation sequence intended by the information creator can be easily provided to the user, and the data can be effectively applied. can be presented.

(Example) Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data presentation device that implements a data presentation method according to the present invention. This data presentation device includes a data storage unit 11 that stores a plurality of data, a database management unit 12 that manages attribute information of each data and list information between data, a read control unit 13 that reads each data, and a read control unit 13 that reads each data. A presentation unit 14 for presenting data, a command input unit 18 for inputting commands, a subject item indicating the purpose or intention of presenting the data, and a combination of data presented in response to selection of the subject item is recorded. a selection file recording unit 15; a selection table creation unit 16 that, when notified of the currently presented data, refers to the selection file, extracts a set of related subject items and presentation data, and creates a selection table; Notifies the selection table creation section of the data currently being presented to create a selection table, and when the user inputs a subject selection command, refers to the selection table to determine new data to be presented, and controls readout. 13 and a sequence control section 17 that causes the presentation section 14 to make presentations.

The database management unit 12 manages node information and link information in a record format as shown in the following table.

The node record contains the node ID number (N+, N2゜N
z, ...), node type (e.g. text.

media type (image, video, etc.), display area on the screen of the presentation unit 14 ((X+, y+), (Xz,)
'z).

..., blank for audio data), data length (indicates presentation time tI+ tZ+...; blank for data without time attribute), pointer in each media data storage section (P+, Pz,...・) is recorded. The link record contains a link ID number (L, .

Lx,...), start node ID number (N+1.I
'Jz+.

), end node ID number (N, □, N2□1
), record the link type (parent and child 1, cross-reference, etc.).

The most common subject items include the following:

Subject items Content browsing Understanding the overview Summary Explanation of key points Examples Explanation reference for specific examples Explanation of related matters In this example,
The selected file is stored in the selected file recording section 15. An example of a selection file is shown below. Here, id numbers are used instead of node names.

File number: 20゜ Descriptive variable definition section: Subject item: 1 = “Browsing,” 2 = “Summary”, 3 = “
Example", 4="Return" Node: A=1.8=2. C=12. D=22°E=3.F=31.G=4L H=42°1=32.
J=43. K=51 Choice description section: A I, B 2, C 3, D, E B 1. C 4, A C1, F 2, H 4, A DI, E 2, K 4, A E 1. 1 4, A F 1. N 3, G 4, AG 4. F H1, D 2, D 4, A 1 1, K 3, J 4, A J 4. IK 1. A This is the selected file with file number 20, and node 1.
2. 3.12.31.32.41.42.43.5
The presentation sequence for 1 is described. The first operand of the option description part is node symbol 1, the second operand is the subject item, and the third . 4th. ...The operand is node symbol 2. If the first operand is omitted, the first operand of the previous line is valid. Among the subject items listed here, 1=“Browsing,” 2-“Summary,” 3=“
An illustration of "Example" and the transition of nodes due to its selection is as shown in Figure 3.The information creator is 1. Overall, the information presentation sequence is considered with node A as the starting point and node K as the ending point. Among the nodes, the important ones that outline the main points are A, C, H, D, and K, and the specific examples are B, D, E, F, G, and 1.J.

Here, D and E are the main points, and at the same time, they have a hierarchical structure in which they are examples when viewed from A. “Browsing involves sequentially traversing all of these and returning to node A.

“Summary” literally follows only the main nodes sequentially. “Example” is intended to provide a concrete example in response to a key point explanation. Since multiple nodes D and E correspond to the "example" (subject number 3) for node A, they are also included. “Return” is a function to return to an appropriate presentation start node depending on each node.

Below, a procedure for controlling the presentation sequence based on the theme from this selected file description will be explained. First, assume that a user requests presentation of node A using the conventional method.

Command input is received by the sequence control unit 17 via the command input unit 18. Sequence control section 17
notifies the readout control unit 13 of the ID number (1 in this case) of node A and causes it to be presented, and then notifies the selection table creation unit 16 of the node ID number. Here, the selection table creation section 16 operates as follows (see FIG. 4).

(1) Read the selected file from the selected file recording section 15 in advance, and create a variable table showing the correspondence between node symbols and ID numbers by referring to the descriptive variable definition section.
(Steps 400.401.402).

(2) Wait for notification (end or presentation node ID number) from the sequence control unit 17 (step 403., io
4°405).

(3) When notified of the presentation node ID number, read the part of the option description part that matches the first operand via the variable table (step 406).

(4) Create a selection table from the read data.

Here, the node symbol is changed to a node ID number using the variable table (step 407).

(5) Notify the sequence control unit 17 of the contents of the selection table (step 408).

The variable table in (11) above may be the same as the node description in the description variable definition section. For example, if the ID number of node A is notified, the selection table in (4) above will be as follows: 322.3. On the other hand, Presentation sequence control related to theme item selection by the sequence control unit 17 is performed as follows (see FIG. 5).

(1) Notify the selection table creation unit 16 of the node ID number being presented (steps 500 and 501).

(2) Wait for notification of selection table contents and memorize the contents (
Step 502).

(3) Notify the presentation unit 14 of the subject item and cause it to be presented (step 503).

(4) If there is a user command input (end of subject item selection or subject item selection), obtain the corresponding node ID number from the read selection table (step 504).
．． 505.506.507).

(5) Notify the readout control unit 13 of the node ID number,
The presentation is executed (step 508).

(6) If there are multiple corresponding node numbers, repeat (5) (step 509).

(7) The last presented node ID number is determined as the currently presented node ID number (step 51o).

The above (6) is the subject item 3 for node A (example)
In such cases, the sequence control unit 17 consecutively presents them as if they should be presented simultaneously.

At this time, in (7) above, the node ID number being presented is 3, which corresponds to node E.

In this way, as long as the user selects the same theme item in each step of theme selection, nodes can be presented in the sequence intended by the information creator. In this embodiment, the subject items written in the option description section are provided to the user as they are, so that it is possible to change the presented subject. For example, “summary”
Switching between "browsing" and "summary" and "example" are useful in practice.On the other hand, when a certain subject item is selected, it is possible to fix the subject item up to the final node on the option description section. (For example, A for browsing)
to K) is of course possible, and it is only necessary to fix the subject items presented to the user.

As described above, each node is presented according to the presentation sequence written in the option description section.

In this way, for hypertext, the presentation sequence intended by the information provider can be easily realized simply by creating and registering the selection file, and data can be presented effectively in terms of applications.

In the embodiment described above, examples of the most general subject items were shown, but depending on the application, subjects depending on the content may also be considered. For example, when looking at an English-Japanese dictionary as an application, the following topics can be mentioned.

Subject item Content idiom Example sentence specifically explaining the idiom
Synonyms/antonyms that specifically explain example sentences Conversation that specifically explains synonyms/antonyms Pronunciation/accent that specifically explains how to use them in conversation English-English that specifically explains pronunciation/accent Explain in English without providing explanations in Japanese In this way, "subject" is a wide-ranging attribute that can take on various realization values depending on the application, but compared to creating an attribute field called "subject" in the node record or link record, the selection file is They are great in terms of flexibility. Also, if you want to apply the theme from multiple perspectives to one hypertext (
For example, functional classification such as "Browsing,""Summary", etc., content classification such as "Grammar", "Conversation", etc., and target audience classification such as "Beginner level", "Intermediate level", etc. , etc.), you can simply prepare multiple corresponding selection files and select them.

Further, the selected file described in this embodiment is, needless to say, a text data file, and can be managed by a conventional hypertext management system. Therefore, the selected file can be incorporated into the entire existing hypertext system as a higher-level node that performs sequence management of multiple nodes. For example, in Table 1, a new node record whose node type attribute is "subject selection" is registered, and the storage area of the selected file recording unit 15 is indicated with a pointer. From the "subject selection" node, link records whose link type is "selection" are registered for each node that appears in the nodes. In this way, a function can be provided in which when one node is accessed, a plurality of subordinate nodes are presented as described in the corresponding selection file.

〔Effect of the invention〕

With the data presentation method and device of the present invention described above,
For each node in the hypertext, a combination of subject items and corresponding nodes to be selected is registered, and the user can specify the subject item when using the hypertext, thereby achieving the information creator's intention. Information presentation sequences can be easily realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a data presentation device that implements the data presentation method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a hypertext, and FIG. 3 is an item of a selected file in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the selection table creation section of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a presentation sequence control related to subject item selection of the sequence control section of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the operation of FIG. 11... Data storage unit 12... Database management unit 13... Readout control unit 14... Presentation unit 15... Selected file recording unit 16...・Selection table creation unit 17...Sequence control unit 18...Command input unit Agent Patent attorney Yoshiyuki Iwasa Figure 1 111 Parent-child relationship 1-→Context 11110 Cross-reference Fig. 2 1--→Furaunongou->Summary 1111◆Example Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Have a selection file that records the combination of subject items indicating the purpose or intention of presenting data and data presented in response to the selection of subject items, and when certain data is presented, refer to the selection file. , a selection table is created by extracting pairs of nodes corresponding to subject items for selecting data to be presented next, and when the user selects one subject item, the corresponding data is newly created according to the description in the selection table. A data presentation method characterized by presenting data. (2) a data storage means for storing a plurality of data; a database management means for managing attribute information of each data and link information between the data; a read control means for reading each of the data; and a read control means for presenting the read data. a presentation means, a command input means for inputting commands, a subject item indicating the purpose or intention of presenting the data;
a selection file recording means for recording a combination of data presented in response to the selection of a subject item; a selection table creation means for extracting a set and creating a selection table; a selection table creation means for notifying the selection table creation means of the data currently being presented to create the selection table; and receiving a subject selection command input from the user from the command input means; 1. A data presentation device comprising: sequence control means for determining data to be newly presented by referring to a selection table and causing said readout control means and presentation means to present the data when the data is presented.