JPH02260069A - Information retrieving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the picture retrieving efficiency of a terminal equipment by retrieving an erasion enable optical storage means set at the terminal side when a picture retrieving request is produced from the terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:When a picture retrieving request is given to a center side device A from a terminal side device B, an erasion enable optical disk 28a of the device B is retrieved. Then a DRAW type optical disk 17a of the device A is retrieved if no corresponding picture information is contained in the disk 28a. Then the corresponding picture information if contained in the disk 17a is read out and sent to the device B. Thus an information retrieving process is carried out and at the same time, the relevant picture is recorded into the disk 28a under the control of a control table. As a result, no access is required to the device A as long as a desired picture is included in a disk. Thus the increase of load can be suppressed to the device A and a communication circuit 2. Furthermore the pictures can be retrieved even though the device A is kept inactive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Purpose of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is directed to the sharing of image information between the plurality of image information storage and retrieval devices connected via a communication line, for example. It relates to an information retrieval system that performs searches.

(Prior art) In recent years, scanners (
An image information storage and retrieval device reads image information using a two-dimensional scanning device), registers the read image information on an optical disk, searches for desired image information from the registered image information, and displays or prints the image information. It has been put into practical use.

On the other hand, with the development of information communication means, networking and systemization of various devices are progressing, and image information storage and retrieval devices are not only used as stand-alone devices, but also multiple image information storage and retrieval devices are connected to a LAN (LAN). Devices that aim to effectively utilize data and resources are being realized by connecting to a communication line network such as a local area network (local area network) and making it possible to register and search images between each other through mutual communication.

However, in image search processing between devices connected via LAN, etc., for example, an image information storage and retrieval device as a terminal (hereinafter referred to as "terminal side device") to an image information storage and retrieval device as a center (hereinafter referred to as "terminal side device"), for example. The image search is performed by directly accessing the center-side device (hereinafter referred to as the "center-side device"), and in this case, the center-side device must be loaded with an optical disk to be searched. If the optical disc to be searched is not loaded, image searching from the terminal device will not be possible until the optical disc is loaded and becomes operational.

On the other hand, in image search operations, it often happens that the same image as a previously searched image is searched again. Reading such frequently searched images from the center device every time via a communication line increases the load on the center device and the communication line, which reduces the operational efficiency of the entire system and causes problems as described above. If the optical disk to be searched is not loaded in the center device, a situation occurs in which image search is not possible, and the image search work of the operator operating the terminal device is extremely inefficient, and the operation rate of the terminal device is also reduced. The disadvantage was that it decreased.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, when image information is searched between devices connected via a communication line, the present invention provides that frequently searched images are sent to a center side device each time via the communication line. Reading data from the center increases the load on the center equipment and communication lines, which reduces the operational efficiency of the entire system (in addition, if the optical disc to be searched is not loaded in the center equipment, images cannot be searched). The present invention eliminates the drawbacks that the image search work of the operator operating the terminal side equipment is inefficient and reduces the operating rate, and the image search work on the terminal side equipment can be carried out efficiently. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval system that can improve the operating rate.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) An information retrieval system of the present invention is an information retrieval system in which a center side device and a terminal side device are connected via a communication line. , a first optical storage means for storing storage information, and provided in the terminal side device,
a second optical storage means for temporarily storing storage information; a first processing means for temporarily registering information read from the center side device in the second optical storage means; When a search request occurs, the second optical storage means is searched, and if the corresponding information is not found, the first optical storage means of the center side device is searched.
The apparatus is characterized in that it includes a second processing means for searching the optical storage means and registering the retrieved information in the second optical storage means by the first processing means.

(Function) The present invention provides an information retrieval system in which a center side device and a terminal side device are connected via a communication line, in which a second optical storage means is connected to the terminal side device, and information is transmitted from the terminal side device to the center side device. When a search request is made to the terminal device, the second optical storage device connected to the terminal device is first searched, and the second optical storage device is searched.
If the corresponding information does not exist in the optical storage means of the center side device, the first optical storage means of the center side device is searched, and if the corresponding information exists in the first optical storage means of the center side device, the search is performed on the terminal side. The information read out by the first processing means is read out to the device and processed for display, printing, etc.
The data can also be recorded on optical storage means. As a result, when the target image exists in the second optical storage means of the terminal side device, there is no need to access the center side device. Even if the device is in an inoperable state, for example, the first optical storage means to be searched is not loaded, it is possible to perform a search, making it possible to perform an efficient search and improving the operating rate of the terminal side device. It is possible to achieve this goal.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an information retrieval system according to the present invention. In the figure, ASB, . interconnected. In the following description, a case will be described in which the image information storage and retrieval device A is operated as a center-side device and the image information storage and retrieval device B is operated as a terminal-side device. The system of files handled by the image information storage and retrieval devices A and B is structured as follows. That is, one side of the optical disc is called a cabinet, and a plurality of binders are stored in this cabinet, and each binder is given a binder name. Further, each binder is configured to store a plurality of documents, and each document is assigned a title.

Further, each document is comprised of multiple pages, each page being capable of being displayed on a CRT display device 13.23.
This is an image of the screen.

The image information storage and retrieval device A includes a control section 11 that controls the entire device, a keyboard 12, and a CRT display device 1.
3. A magnetic disk device 14 consisting of a magnetic disk 14a and a magnetic disk drive 14b that drives it, a printer 15, a scanner 16, an optical disk device 17 consisting of a write-once optical disk 17a and an optical disk drive 17b that drives it, and an erasable The optical disc device 18 includes an optical disc 18a and an optical disc drive 18b for driving the optical disc 18a.

The optical disc device 17 is provided with an autochanger mechanism AC.

The keyboard 12 is used to input unique search codes and various operation commands corresponding to the image information stored on the optical discs 17a, 18a.

The CRT display device 13 is composed of a cathode ray tube display device, and displays image information read by the scanner 16 and optical disks 17a and 18a loaded in the optical disk devices 17 and 18.
The image information read from the terminal device B or the image information received from the terminal device B is displayed.

The printer 15 receives the image information read by the scanner 16 and the optical disk 178 loaded in the optical disk device 17.18.
．． This is to print image information read from the computer 18g, image information received from the terminal device B, image information displayed on the CRT display device 13, or the like.

The scanner 16 is composed of a two-dimensional scanning device, and obtains an electrical signal corresponding to image information on the document by two-dimensionally scanning the document with a laser beam.

The optical disk device 17 stores the image information read by the scanner 16, the image information sent from the terminal device B, or the image information read from the erasable optical disk 18a onto a write-once optical disk (hereinafter referred to as [A ODJ). ) 17a. This optical disk device 17 is provided with an autochanger mechanism AC, and a large number of recordable disks 17 are stored therein.
1 selected from a by a command from the control unit 11
optical disk drive 17b.
It is designed to be installed on the

The optical disk device 18 stores image information read by the scanner 16, image information sent from the terminal side device B, or image information read from the write-once disk 17a onto an erasable optical disk (hereinafter referred to as rE ODJ). ) 18a.

This erasable optical disc 18a, as described later,
It is used as a temporary storage device in various processes.

Further, the image information storage and retrieval device B has substantially the same configuration as the image information storage and retrieval device A, and includes a control section 21 that controls the entire device, a keyboard 22, a CRT display device 23, a magnetic disk 24a, and a drive unit for driving the same. a magnetic disk device 24 consisting of a magnetic disk drive 24b,
Printer 25, scanner 26, write-once optical disc 27a
and an optical disk device 27 consisting of an optical disk drive 27b for driving the same, and an erasable optical disk 28a.
The optical disc device 28 includes an optical disc drive 28b and an optical disc drive 28b for driving the optical disc drive 28b. Note that the optical disk device 27 is not provided with an autochanger mechanism AC.

Next, various tables used in the information search process of this embodiment will be explained. These tables are stored in the magnetic disks 14a and 24a of the center side device A and the terminal side device B.
These are provided for each.

FIG. 4 shows the "next recording start address" on the erasable optical discs 18a, 28a and the "image recording start address" of each image. address",
Information regarding "image size" and "paper size/density" is erasable optical disc 18a.

The information is recorded in correspondence with the record number on 28a.

Figure 5 shows the EOD binder management table (hereinafter r
It is abbreviated as EOD BINJ. ) shows the format. This EOD BIN is referred to during a search, and "binder name", "binder number", and "number of images" are stored in association with each other. "Number of images" above
is the number of images for each binder temporarily recorded on the erasable optical discs 18a, 28a.

FIG. 6 shows the format of the E OD/A OD record number correspondence table (hereinafter abbreviated as rE A TBLJ). This E A TBL is also referred to when searching, and the write-once optical discs 17a, 27a
The actual record number rA recorded on the OD record number and the erasable optical disc 18a, 2
Record number rE temporarily recorded on 8a
A record number on the OD is provided for each binder. In the diagram, "l XXXJ's"
"X" is a binder number.

FIG. 7 shows a registration binder management table on EOD (hereinafter abbreviated as rEOD BIN REGJ).

) shows the format. This EOD BI
N REG is used during registration, and includes "queue last" indicating the tail of the queue at the time of registration, "queue top" indicating the beginning, "binder name", "binder number",
``Number of documents'' indicating the number of titles, and ``Number of documents'' indicating the number of pictures.
number of images" are stored in association with each other.

FIG. 8 shows the format of the title Φ table (hereinafter abbreviated as rTTLJ).

This TTL is used at the time of registration, and the "title value" and the "number of pages" of the document having the title value are stored in association with each other. This TTL is provided for each binder.jT xxxJ ("XxX" is the binder number)
It is expressed as

FIG. 9 shows the format of the record table (hereinafter abbreviated as rRECJ). This REC is used during registration, and is the record number on rEOD.
is memorized. This REC is provided for each binder and is represented by "R-XxX"("XXX" is the binder number).

Next, in such a configuration, when performing an image search from the image information storage and retrieval device B as a terminal to the image information storage and retrieval device A as a center while referring to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Explain the operation.

First, the operation of the search process in the terminal device B will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, while the CRT display device 23 is in the process menu selection state, the search mode for the center device A is selected using the keyboard 22. Then, control section 2
1, the CRT display device 23 enters a binder selection state. In such a binder selection state,
By selecting a binder for image search, an open request for the selected binder is issued, and the E
OD BINT (the subscript T indicates the terminal side; the same applies hereinafter) is searched for (step SL).

When it is determined through this search that the designated binder exists on the erasable optical disc 28a (step S2)
, the control unit 21 sets the flag T used in internal processing to rT-IJ.
At the same time, the binder IXXXT is oven-baked (step S3). On the other hand, if it is determined through the above search that the designated binder does not exist (step S
2) The flag T is set to rT-OJ, and a bias I XXX is created for the search strategy processing to be performed later (step S4).

Next, a search process is performed (step S5). And r
It is checked whether the necessary image in T-IJ exists in lXXXT (step S6). If it is determined that rT-IJ and the necessary image exists in lxxx7, the information of the corresponding record number of EOD IMGT, that is, "Image recording start address", "Image size", "Paper size/ density" and read out the image from the erasable optical disc 28a of the terminal device B according to this information (step S7). Then, the read image is displayed on, for example, the CRT display device 23 (step S8). When the image search for one page is completed through the above operations, it is determined whether or not there is a next image search request (step S9). If there is a request, the process returns to step S5 and repeats the same operations as above. (Steps S5 to S9).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S9 that the image retrieval work has been completed, I If so, the number of images in EOD BINT is corrected (step 510), and the series of image search processes is ended.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that the conditions of rT-IJ and the necessary image being present in lxxx7 are not satisfied, the process moves to the process of making an inquiry to the center-side device AH. That is, first, a request is made to the center-side device A for a necessary image (step 511). There are three types of returns from the center side device A in response to this request:

(1) The designated binder is the binder in the external write-once optical disc 17a, and the binder is not loaded.

(2) The designated panda is a binder in the autochanger AC, and the binder is not loaded.

(3) The specified binder is in the external write-once optical disk 17a, and the binder is loaded.

Or it was in the erasable optical disk 18a of the center side device A. Therefore, the image was read and transferred.

Next, the process moves on to checking the mode of the return. First, it is checked whether it is an error return, that is, whether the above (1) applies (step 512). If it is determined that an error return occurs, it is recognized that the designated binder is the binder in the write-once optical disc 17a, but the binder is not loaded, and the process returns to step S5 to search for another image. On the other hand, if it is not an error return, it is checked whether the required image is in the autochanger AC, that is, whether or not it corresponds to (2) above (
step 813). Then, when it is determined that the necessary image is in the autochanger AC, an inquiry about the requested image is made from the center-side device A, and the process waits for the inquiry to arrive (step 514). This adjustment is made so that the center device A drives the autochanger AC to read all the images requested by the terminal device B from the corresponding write-once optical disc 17a, and temporarily stores them on the erasable optical disc 18a. It is something. therefore,
When the terminal side device B receives the above inquiry, it sends a request for all the images hit by the search to the center side device A (step 515). Then, since the center device A sends a completion report when all the requested images have been read onto the erasable optical disk 18a, the terminal device B waits for this completion report (step 516).

Then, when the completion report is received, the terminal device B again makes an inquiry about the initially requested image (step 517).

At this point, the necessary image is on the erasable optical disc 18a.
Since the center side device A is stored in the E OD
IMGc (the subscript C indicates the center side; the same applies hereinafter), reads the corresponding image, and sends it to the terminal side device B. When terminal device B receives the requested image, E OD IMGTSE A TBLT
At the same time, the image is registered in the erasable optical disc 28a, and the flag rT-1 is set (step 51).
8). Next, the process branches to step S8, and the received image is displayed on the CRT display device 3 (step S8).
, the search process continues in the same manner as described above.

In this way, the image search process in the terminal device B first checks whether the requested image is registered in the erasable optical disc 28a of the terminal device B, and if it is registered, accesses the center device. Since the image is immediately read out and the image is displayed, etc., without having to do anything (route (2) in FIG. 2, route (2) in FIG. 3), high-speed image retrieval is possible. Furthermore, since the operation of the communication line 2 and the center side device A is not involved, the negative CI of these can be reduced. Furthermore, if the requested image is not registered on the erasable optical disc 28a, the requested image is read out from the center side device A via the communication line 2 for the first time at that point, processing such as image display is performed, and the readout is performed. Since the image is registered on the erasable optical disk 28a of the terminal device B (route ■ in FIG. 2, route ■ in FIG. 3), the next image search will be performed on the erasable optical disk 28a of the terminal device B. It can be done from A learning effect is exerted by repeatedly performing such searches and registrations, and faster searches become possible as time passes.

Next, the operation of the center-side device A in response to the image search operation of the terminal-side device B as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is started by a binder oven request from the terminal device B.

First, when there is a binder oven request from terminal device B,
The EOD BINc of the center side device A is searched (step 520), and the presence or absence of the designated binder is determined (step 521). When it is determined through this search that the designated binder exists on the erasable optical disc 18a, the control unit 11 sets the flag T used in internal processing to r.
T-IJ and I XXXC is opened (step 522). On the other hand, if it is determined through the search that the specified binder does not exist on the erasable optical disc 18a, the flag T is set to rT-OJ, and l XXXC is set in preparation for the registration process to be performed later on the erasable optical disc 18a. Create it (step 523). The creation of this l XXXc is done on the terminal side device B.
This is done only if the binder requested for oven is in the autochanger AC. Next, an image transfer request from the terminal device B is accepted (step 524).
), it is checked whether the image specified by the request exists on the erasable optical disc 18a. That is, rT-I
It is checked whether the necessary image exists in IxxxC (step 525). Here, if it is determined that rT-IJ and the necessary image exists in lXXX(), the information of the corresponding record number of EOD IMGc, that is, "image recording start address", "image size"
, "paper size/density" and read out images from the erasable optical disc 18a of the center side device A according to these information. Then, the read image is sent to the terminal device B (step 526). That is, the image will be transferred to the terminal device B along the route shown by route 3 in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that the conditions that the image is rT-IJ and the necessary image exists in I-XXXc are not satisfied, the process moves to reading from the write-once optical disc 17a.

That is, first, it is checked whether the write-once optical disc 17a on which the designated binder is recorded is loaded (step 5).
27). When it is determined that the disc is loaded, it is checked whether or not it is the write-once optical disc 17g in the autochanger AC (step 528). If it is determined that the optical disc 17a is not a write-once optical disc in the autochanger AC, the image is transferred to the write-once optical disc 17a.
The data is read out from the terminal side device B, and is also recorded on the erasable optical disk 18a of the center side device A (step 529). Then, return to Step S24,
Accepts the next image transfer request.

In other words, the image will be transferred to the terminal device B along the route shown by route (3) in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 328 that the disc is the write-once optical disc 17a in the autochanger AC,
As explained in the operation of the terminal-side device B above, the terminal-side device B inquires about all the images requested by the terminal-side device B. When the terminal device B responds to this arrangement and returns information about all the requested images, all the requested images are transferred to the write-once optical disc 17a in the autochanger AC.
The information is read from the data and registered on the erasable optical disc 18a (step 532). That is, image registration is performed on the erasable optical disk 18a by the route (3) in FIG. When all image registration is completed, the terminal side device B is notified that the registration has been completed. As a result, the terminal device B issues the first image read request again, and performs the image search process by executing step 824 and subsequent steps. That is, the image is transferred to the terminal-side device B along route (3) in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 327 that the write-once optical disc 17a is not loaded, it is checked whether the erasable optical disc to be searched for is the write-once optical disc 17a in the autochanger AC (step 530). ). If it is determined that the disc is not the write-once optical disc 17a in the autochanger AC, the terminal side device B is notified of the error. As a result, the terminal device B cancels the search for that image and performs the next image search. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that the disc is the write-once optical disc 17a in the autochanger AC, the write-once optical disc 17a is recording the requested image by driving the autochanger AC.
Loading process a is performed (step 531). Next, in the same manner as described above, an inquiry is made to the terminal-side device B for all requested images, and the image search process is subsequently executed in the same manner. In other words, route ■ and route ■ in Figure 3
The image is transferred to the terminal using this route.

In this way, in the processing of the center-side device A, images in the autochanger AC for which a search request has been made are read out and stored in the erasable optical disk 18a, so that the next time a search request is made. Since the data is read from the erasable optical disk 18a and transferred to the terminal device B, it is possible to prevent an increase in search time caused by driving the autochanger AC, which involves mechanical operation. There is.

In the above embodiment, only the binder in the autochanger AC is registered on the erasable optical disc 18a, but the present invention is not limited to this.
a, that is, it is always erasable optical disc 18a.
It may be configured so that it is registered in .

Furthermore, the erasable optical discs 18a and 28a are
It can also be effectively used when registering images. for example,
The erasable optical disk 28a provided in the terminal device B can be used as follows. In other words, when registering images from terminal device B to center device A, the images input in terminal device B are not transferred one by one to center device A, but are stored in an eraser provided in terminal device B. By temporarily registering the image on the erasable optical disc 28g, the operator's image registration work on the terminal device B is completed, and the image stored on the erasable optical disc 28a is stored at a predetermined timing separate from the image registration work. The data is configured to be transferred to the center side device A all at once. By adopting such a configuration, it can be used even when the communication line 2 is congested and smooth information transfer is not possible, or when the center side device A is executing other processing and cannot accept a request from the terminal side device B. The image registration work on the terminal side device B can proceed, the efficiency of the image registration work can be improved, and further, the image registration work on the terminal side device B can proceed.
It is possible to improve the operating rate of

Furthermore, the erasable optical disk 18a provided in the center side device A can be used as follows. That is,
When registering images from the terminal device B to the center device A, the images sent from the terminal device B are not registered one by one on the intended write-once optical disc 17a, but are stored in the center device A. It is temporarily registered on the erasable optical disc 18a. By having a configuration in which registration is performed by transferring data from the erasable optical disc 18g to the write once optical disc 17a at a predetermined timing, even if the intended write once optical disc 17a is in the autochanger AC. , terminal side device B
Image registration work can be done smoothly.

Furthermore, by performing the transfer from the erasable optical disk 18a to the write-once optical disk 17a when the load on the center side device A is light, the load on the center side device A can be distributed. Side device A
can be operated.

As described above, in the information retrieval system in which the center side device A and the terminal side device B are connected through the communication line 2,
Connect the erasable optical disc 28a to the terminal side bag [B,
When an image search request is made from the terminal device B to the center device A, the erasable optical disk 28a is first searched, and only when the corresponding image information does not exist in the erasable optical disk 28a, the center device A is requested to search for an image. The write-once optical disk 17a of the side device 'A is searched, and if a corresponding image exists on the write-once optical disk 17a of the center side device, it is read out to the terminal side device and search processing such as display and printing is performed. , E OD BIN REG7 , T
XXX7 %RXXX7 s E Since the image is also recorded on the erasable optical disc 28g under the management of the management table such as ODIMGT, the target image exists on the erasable optical disc 28g of the terminal device B. When doing so, there is no need to access the center-side device A, and therefore an increase in the load on the center-side bag rIIA and the communication line 2 can be suppressed.Also, when the center-side device A is in an inoperable state, for example, additional information that becomes the search target Image retrieval can be performed even if the optical disc 17a is not loaded, and smooth image retrieval work can be performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform image retrieval work in the image information storage and retrieval device of a terminal, and to improve the operating rate. system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system.
3 and 3 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of the EOD image information management table.
Figure 5 shows the format of the E OD binder management table, Figure 16 shows the format of the E OD/A OD record number correspondence table, and Figure 7 shows the format of the registration binder management table on E OD. 8 is a diagram showing the format of the title table, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the format of the record table, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the search operation of the terminal side device, and FIG. It is a flowchart for explaining the search operation of the side device. A... Image information storage and retrieval device (center side device), B...
...Image information storage and retrieval device (terminal side device), 2...Communication line, 11...Control unit, 21...Control unit (first,
2nd processing means) 14.24... magnetic disk device,
14 a + 24 m...magnetic disk, 16.2
6...Scanner, 17.27...Optical disk device,
17a...Writable optical disc (first optical storage means)
, 27 a... write-once optical disc, 18.28...
Optical disk device, 18a... erasable optical disk,
28a... erasable optical disk (second optical storage means), AC... autochanger mechanism. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue E-OD image/1 angle shearing V! Figure E-〇o/A-oo Record @ No. Tape Figure Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An information retrieval system in which a center-side device and a terminal-side device are connected via a communication line, comprising: a first information retrieval system provided in the center-side device for storing storage information;
a second optical storage means provided in the terminal side device for temporarily storing storage information; and a second optical storage means for temporarily storing information read from the center side device into the second optical storage means. a first processing means for registering, and when a search request is issued from the terminal side device, searches the second optical storage means, and if there is no corresponding information, searches the first optical storage means of the center side device. An information retrieval system comprising: a second processing means for searching and registering the retrieved information in the second optical storage means by the first processing means.