JPH03504546A - Highlinking method to form hypermedia information management tools - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Forming a hypermedia information management tool/%Ilink method (technical field) The present invention relates to computer-based information management tools, and in particular to forming such tools. and a tool formed thereby.

(Background technology) Most of the application programs running on computers today are Assist with one or more information management tasks.

These application programs perform information retrieval (IR) and information processing. IP functions and features are often required. Such a big app application programs are often referred to as IR and IP systems respectively. ing.

Information management tools include management information systems (MIS), along with certain IR and IP functions. ), database management systems (DBMS), decision support systems (DSS) and It provides functionality that is often considered part of a question and answer system (QA). child These different information system types are G, 5alton and M, 1lc. Written by Gill [INTRODUCTION To MOD ERN INFOR ＾-TION RETRIEVAL) J (McGr Chapter 10 of aw-trill Book Company, published in 1983) , pages 7 to 10. Information management tasks are diverse and deep and the tools that meet the needs of the people who perform these tasks are based on a tradition of tool formation. evaded attempts. To comment on this, Salton and and McGill motivate the need for mixed information retrieval systems. Ru. In this literature, the functionality of information management tools is defined by mixed information retrieval systems. may contain suggested functionality.

Typical IR and TP tools are applications that enable the functionality of the tool. - It is configured as shown in FIG. 2A together with the program 100. These The program may communicate with the pond program and may include direct input/output (110) devices and May communicate with driver 110 as well as database 120. However, In this case, the interface program code is the application's code. Easily ported to different plant forms due to its very tight connection to Can not.

This separates the application code from the interface code. It means that it is very difficult to

Porting the application program to other I10 devices and databases In order to do this, you generally have to rewrite a lot of code . Interfaces to I10 devices and databases are Different abricane yongs are closely tied to the yon chord, so Common high-level database and/or operator interface cannot be easily shared.

Today, based on the content of information systems research (with increasing emphasis on document handling), be. In particular, automatically extract content information from many types of documents for later use. organize this information, store it in a useful and effective way, and retrieve this information. and how to present information that meets specific needs to a wide variety of users. Much effort has been put into finding improvements to provide. Demand for this technology The point is clear.

Already in the average office environment, there are There is much more data than applications, often available Even the data most easily collected are not the most important for later use. It is something that can be done. A further problem is that developments in media technology are Increasing availability of data for media (e.g. audio, images, video) is becoming possible. Clearly, better information management tools can address these trends. required depending on the direction.

Typically, IR and IP systems require extensive and costly development efforts. and require ongoing high-cost maintenance. IR of such a system and IPfi capabilities are difficult to integrate and generally lack a common interface. .

These systems are also often platform dependent. today The types of data (media) being processed are much more diverse than in the past. I'm reading. Audio, video and graphics require special storage, processing, retrieval and This is an example of a media that requires an interface mechanism.

These issues are compounded by the increasing complexity and functionality demands mentioned earlier. More serious.

A major problem with these information management tools is ``hypermedia This is a new technology called ``. The term "hypertext" refers to the space between pieces of text. It is used to mean a general expression of an associative link. computer use Recent advances in technology have led to the development of "hypertext" and its more general A form of "hypermedia" is materialized by a computer program. It's here. Recently, hypermedia has become associated with objects in databases. A window on a computer screen, i.e., these databases. support for linking between and interacting with objects in Restricted in definition to mean a mechanism that provides capabilities to users. No\i For a description of pertext and hypermedia, see J.

Conklin rHypertext:　^n　Introductory　 5urveyJ (IEEE COMPUTER, September 1987), and r Communications of the ACljJ (Vol. 31, No. 7) , July 1988), special issue on hypertext.

A programming environment particularly suited to working with database objects is There are a number of well-known advantages to object-oriented programming.

B. Cox rOBJEcT 0RIENTED PROGRAMMING: ^n　EvolutionaryApproachJ　(Addison-f Esley, 1986) describes these benefits and provides substantial Introduces object-oriented programming concepts.

As an information management tool, hypermedia technology uses input devices such as a mouse. User (from the display, windows containing graphics, etc.) A simple user-machine interface based on the user's ``select'' interface conflict icons. provides an interface paradigm. Links associated with the selected icon is used to search for relevant data.

Furthermore, hypermedia technologies are being developed for handling various media. Ru.

Hypermedia refers to computer-assisted writing, computer-aided writing, to name a few. Problem areas include computer-assisted collaboration, information retrieval, and computer-assisted education. applied to the area. Despite its success, hypermedia is generally has not been effective in many information management tools.

There are several reasons for this. Among the most permedia tools ever Little familiar and more expensive to form and maintain than many traditional tools. Ru. Simple interface scenarios overcome limitations in power and flexibility I got it. In most cases, links between objects in a database are Before the tools were available, it was a manual process, and the detections found in IR tools were No search function was found. Furthermore, hypermedia tools are standalone. tend to lack integration with other tools, and are tied to proprietary data structures. It is. Another disadvantage of today's No1 Ino(-media system) is that Network of unreliable heterogeneous structure J (F, G, 1lalasz r R reflectionsonnotecards:　5evenlssues　f or the Next Generation ofllypervedia SystemsJ (COMMUNrCATIONS of the ACM .

31, No. 7, July 1988)).

Finally, some hypermedia tools have programming languages associated with them. However, there is little support for the formation of information management tools. For example, today's hyper Even if media definitions do not fully support the need for information management tools, these tools tools can greatly benefit from the features and functionality of hypermedia. .

As mentioned above, hypermedia technology will play an important role in future information management tools. This will likely play a major role.

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate hypermedia technology with traditional IR and IP technology. Problems that provide a method for forming a hypermedia information management node that integrates The goal is to solve the problem.

(Summary of the invention) The present invention forms a hypermedia information management node for retrieving, processing, and displaying information. We solve the above problem by providing a method called highlink to create Ru. Since this high linking method is related to IR and IP demand, this technique provides a means for applying specialized features and functionality associated with the technology.

This high-linking method allows application creators to use existing databases and standardized application programs, alternative forms of presentation As well as encouraging the creation of tools that incorporate media and selection devices. , program reusability, customizability, distributed processing and user interface. This emphasizes the simplicity of the interface.

This high-linking method ensures that future information management tools will require a wide range of media and data formats. It is anticipated that the affected by

This hyperlinking method is used in object-oriented programming environments to selection/output interpreter (Sol) and an object called a hyperstructure Generate a hypermedia information management tool using SOl is the display eye An object with a data structure containing a hyperstructure index table that associates a controller with a hyperstructure. It is an object. This Sol data structure also allows display icons to be hyperstructured. Displays the steps associated with hyperstructures and specific data formats in indexed tables. Define the steps and selection/context to call display icons and associated hyperstructures. including instructions for.

The hyperstructure is used to hold instructions for processing icons and associated contextual information. context - the identifier table, the table holding the data to be displayed, and the pointer to Sol. It is an object that has a data structure that includes a data structure. This hyperstructure data The data structure also describes the steps to process the context-identifier table and find the data to be displayed. and calling Sol to display the data.

Generate SOI instances, generate functions to form hyperstructure examples, and display devices Generate functions that define output formats for formats and display device formats. By creating a function that defines the input formanod and initializing the display example, It is formed by Once this is done, the user can interact with the system and run the script. Interacting with the system and receiving data information objects and relationships are generated within the system. This allows users to provides further opportunities for searching and manipulating data in different formats from sources. provide This allows the system to interact with the system by the user. grow (filled with data) in a way that suits the special needs of

The present highlinking method is a simple user-friendly method that enables user-centered system design. – provides a machine interface paradigm. This further increases the development cost Libraries with reusable components allow for a common user machine. Facilitate the use of online interfaces. This method combines hypermedia with other information. Integrates with information management technology and enables the use of various media such as data provide the means.

Independent applications and data resources are relatively platform dependent Easily integrated with application code that can be

Integration of IR and IP functionality through hypermedia technology This is achieved without relying on the data structure.

Hypermedia enhancements include hypermedia links and applications Dynamic generation of extensibility, as well as increased functionality of information management tools while reducing development effort. improve performance.

(Brief explanation of the drawing) Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall view of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an architectural diagram of the information management tool. Figure 3 is a comparison diagram of the features used to form a hypermedia information management tool. Flowchart of the highlink method, Figure 4 shows the handling of the selection for the display. Schematic diagram showing the process, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the process generated for each SOl that handles user selection; Figure 6 shows the EP-L INKN log display, and Figure 7 shows the EP-LINK log display. Figure 8 shows one of the top layers in EP-LINK. EP-LINK display showing information retrieval task showing extended text on next page Ray, Figure 9 shows extended text on the primary plane of the top layer in EP-LINK. an EP-LINK display showing information management tasks; Figure 10 shows a menu giving the user media options for displaying information. EP-LINK f' isplay showing FIG. 11 is an EP showing an information retrieval task showing automatic generation of text on the primary plane. - LINK display, Figure 12 shows assembly layer and graphics side 7 1 illumination and the construction element object in this graphics plane. EP-LINK display, Figure 13 shows the assembled graph ink just before selection using the pointing device. EP-LINK display showing identification number highlighting; Figure 14 shows how to access text information related to the assembly displayed in the assembly layer. EP-LINK data showing an assembled text overlay window for Figure 15 shows the information in the assembled text overlay window. EP-LINK display showing access to information; Figure 16 shows the information filtering and assembly text overlay window. An EP-LINK display showing dynamic link generation of parts list information in Figure 17 shows several element window collections in the element layer. EP-LINK display, Figure 18 shows information from the command plane in the element layer EP-LINK Display Showing Access Mode Selection, Figure 19 Element Layout EP showing the searched and formatted information shown on the object plane in the -LINK display, Figure 20 shows selected information in the assembled text overlay window. EP-LINK display showing access mode; Figure 21 is influenced by the ECO information menu selection and the selected ECO. An EP-LINK display showing the first light element in the assembled graph ink. Figure 22 shows the EP-LINK data showing the display filter for the assembled layer. display, Figure 23 shows the EP-LINK display showing the acoustic display icon for the assembly layer. play, Figure 24 shows the text display icon and the editing of the text display in the assembly layer. The EP-LINK display showing the collection, Figure 25 shows the notebook side, type-in side and EP-LINK display showing the history screen in the top layer and top layer, FIG. is the new email display and the note bar so on the top side. EP-LINK display showing file list; Figure 27 is a diagram showing different layers in EP-LINK, Figure 28 is EP-1 , functional diagram of the top layer in INK, Fig. 29 is a functional diagram of the assembly layer in EP-L INK, and Fig. 30 is a functional diagram of the assembly layer in EP-L INK. It is a functional diagram of element layers in L INK.

(Description of the invention) A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains subject matter for which copyright protection is claimed. Author Copyright owners object to copyright in patent documents and copying of patent disclosures Kotonahana0 reserves all other rights.

1 Introduction This high-linking method uses object indexes that form hypermedia information management rules. Requires a programming environment for

Object-oriented programming is based on the representation of "objects". , each containing a local state (data) and a code of procedures that allow things to be computed. (referred to as method). An object calls its associated method. The "message" you send will be sent. "Class" represents the data format of an object. Was. An object-oriented programming environment is a computer hardware and a suite of software that supports the process of object-oriented programming. It's a combination.

An example of an object-oriented language is Smalltalk.

F　I　avo　s, C++, Object C and CommonLoo There is a ps. This hyperlinking method is found in object-oriented programming. Depends on the concept, but is not limited to any particular object-oriented language. Some parts are high EP-LINK hypermedia information management described below formed by link method The tools and certain hyperlink structures are compatible with the programming language Common L. i5p and TI Li5p extended version and MIT Flavor object is implemented on a plant form that includes a client-oriented programming system.

In the case described below, the present highlinking method Explorer II from NTS (Texas rnstruments) trademark) was carried out on the workstation. According to the drawing, ie, Figure 1, the hardware The wear includes a visual display (CRT) 10, a keyboard 12, and a pointer. an operator interface comprising an operating device 14 (three-button mouse); an audio processing module including a microphone, and a digital and a speaker for reproducing digitalized audio.

This hardware also has a large capacity memory, disk 16, and an object Flavors22 and Common, a client-oriented programming language system CPU and main memory 18 running Lisp programming system 20 including.

The resulting highlink software from this highlink method is 5OI 24. Hyper structure 26.) Function to form hyper structure example 28. Output format Includes a function 30 for defining a mat and a function 32 for defining an input format. . Sol associates display icons with l\iber structures/Tameinokuichi structure index An object that has a data structure that includes a table.

This SOI data structure also allows the display icon to be instructions for associating with hyperstructures, displaying specific data formats, and selecting - Steps for defining the context and invoking the innovation structure associated with the display icon. include.

The hyperstructure holds instructions for processing icons and associated contextual information. context - the identification table, the table holding the data to be displayed and the point to Sol It is an object that has a data structure containing data. The data structure of this hyperstructure It also includes procedures for processing the context-identifier table, finding the data to be displayed, and Contains a call to Sol to display the data.

The hardware components of the workstation are connected by a bus 34.

A schematic diagram of the hypermedia information management tool formed by this hyperlinking method. In FIG. 2B, the present high linking method is applied to the I10 device and driver 130. It can be seen that the use of a sender list to communicate with data 160 is encouraged. child These specialists use the Select/Output Interpreter (Sol) 140 and High par structure 150, database 160, I10 device 130, and Communicate with recovery program 170. SOI 140 is an application Manage tool interfaces to application programs and manage hyperstructure 150 is a database access to the application program 170. manage links, link following, and coordination tasks.

This high-linking method has a wide range of applications and user interfaces. This results in simplification of the process.

The method provides information management while providing the features needed to capture a wide range of functionality. Facilitate the process of forming a physical tool. One area where brevity plays a role is , in the description of the tool interface. A tree formed using the high link method. User manual interaction scenarios (such as EP-LINK) for the user can use an input device such as a pointing device to This tool interprets this selection and performs the appropriate action. calls, responds to the user (by displaying data), and makes further selections. be able to do so. All user input is treated as a selection.

Figure 4 shows a selection-handling process representing a tool created using the present hyperlinking method. Showing Seth. After the user selects a display icon using an input device, SOI instance processes selection 40 by determining the selected icon type 42 and finds the icon's associated hyperstructure 44. If successful, the selection-context The hyperstructure formed 46 and identified is called up 48 and selected using the select icon. and send to selection context.

The hyperstructure then processes 52 the context identifier table stored in the hyperstructure. The intent of the selection is determined 50 by doing so.

If data to be displayed exists, a suitable SOI case will be found and displayed. 56° where data, context and display actions are sent to this Sol instance. In the Sol reception case, an appropriate hyperstructure is formed62, and this is used as a hyperstructure search. The data itself is associated with a string (called a print name) in the lookup table. The data is displayed 60 by displaying 66 a suitable icon representing the body. Ru.

2 Overview In Figure 3, hyperlinks for forming a hypermedia information management tool are shown. The law is the collection of demands jJ30. Interpretation of selection/output for all displays (Sol) 32 , generation of a function for forming a specific hyperstructure example 34, function of defining an output format generation 36, input format definition function generation 38, and display example at least one initialization 39 step of.

The requirements gathering step 30 is left to the designer, where the high linking method There is also no regular support provided. However, the high link method is for the requirement capture step of the designer. without limiting the specific efforts.

The highlink method Sol represents an abstract concept of display. Sol is This is an example of the Sol class. One or more associated 801 clicks with different names Russ can exist.

This SOI class includes associated representations of descriptive information as well as hyperstructure index tables (hereinafter referred to as Contains data structures for holding descriptive information about (described below). Sol Kura The display icon format also specifies the associated display format of the display icon. Displays the data format and displays the selected display icon as a hyperstructure index table. selection is made from its associated representation of the display icon. It has a procedure for defining the context in which it is used. Each display format (e.g. graphics, window, text window, text window with scrolling behavior (text windows with annotations, etc.), the tool Virzo is 2. Generate the following procedures and generate instances of the Sol class (called instantiations). this One advantage of object-oriented endeavors like this is that the Sol class can be reused, copied and be editable.

Hyperstructures are used as intelligent linking mechanisms between data.

Data is an object in the object-oriented programming sense. That is, it is a data format. The hyperstructure defines the meaning of the user's selection of certain display icons. A data structure with a context identifier table to hold instructions for interpreting a diagram. This is an example of a hyperstructure class. The display icon is Sol's hyper Associated with hyperstructures in structure index tables. Hyperstructure is a selection statement It mainly depends on data representing pulse. The hyperstructure data structure is also , holds the data to be displayed as a result of context/identifier processing, and also It may hold functions that can be used to find such data. Also, this de There is also a pointer to the SO that is called to display any of the data. C Iper structure class should be displayed, the procedure for processing the context/identification thousand table Steps to find the data, and how to call the SO case to display the data. It has procedures for

Hyperstructures are generated to represent the functionality of application tools.

Bilzo generates functions that form a specialized No. 1 IPer structure instance. this The generation of functions is based on context/identifiers according to certain guidelines that Bilzo describes below. request to specify. Once these! ’%iper structure forming function is generated. These functions can then be called by Sol. Sol uses these machines. function to display icons and their associated hierarchies in their own hyperstructure index table. Generate an iper structure.

The ability to define output format 36 and input format 38 is provided by Sol. the actual display(s) and actual input device(s), respectively. plural). These functions use abstract operations at 50 levels. Translate to device-level behavior for a specific device (and vice versa) do. These functions can be either low-level (such as device drivers) or high-level (such as device drivers). For example, high-level standard packages such as GKS or C0RE graphics standards. ). Above the level of these functions, the high link method formation The tool is dependent on the specific platform for the functionality of its interface There's nothing to do.

A step is required to initialize at least one of the display examples 39, but this user can make a selection (because there must be some visible icon) Ru. Additionally, at least one) 1-iper-structure instance is generated to process the selection. There must be. Initialization occurs in one of three ways.

The first is to send Sol some data to display (i.e. some data to display Sol) to make it look like a one-by-one structure case). The second is hyper – discover or schedule some other data that the structure will send to the SOI for display; Send some data and a predefined selection context to the hyperstructure so that it can be calculated (i.e., pretending to be a Sol that handles selection by invoking some 7% Iper structure) Is Rukoto. A third attempt is to use a predefined hyperstructure index table to reduce Both download one Sol and then add the ability to display certain display icons. (i.e., pretending to be an SOI displaying data).

Once the display case is initialized, the user can interact with the system to perform information management tasks. Can interact. Interacting with the system and receiving data is based on information objects. have the system generate objects and related items. This is because the user is using other sources. Provide further opportunities to search and manipulate data from other sources and in different formats . In this way, the user's interaction with the system allows the system to grow (filling with data) in a way that suits your needs.

3 Selection/Output Interpreter (SOI) As far as the final user is concerned, No\Ilink Interfaces to tools created by other methods There is no difference between the two. This hyperlinking method limits the scope of display or interaction modalities. Never. However, in tool builders, this method is ・Interface by using M<Sol as an interface to the program. Simplify the face forming process. This applies to the application program By treating all input to as an interface icon selection Make it easy. In doing this, the programmer must consider the selection itself, the selection context, and the interface. A common display for linking to the hyperstructure of each interface icon. You can take advantage of it.

Sol is a class that supports two things. First, this SOI data and interprets it as the user's selection of an icon from the output device. a The icon's printed name is stored in the Sol data structure. Used to find hyperstructures in constructed index tables.

The hyperstructure performs operations that interpret the intent of the user's selections. Compatible with Sol The second thing to do is to use the data given to this by the hyperstructure displayed. This is what I mean. This specifies what data needs to be displayed. generate display icons for this data and select which display icons are available. Determine the structure to be displayed, associate the structure with these display icons, and display the table. displaying a display icon on its associated display.

3.1 Output device Output device refers to a logical or physical device on which data is displayed. Noriyoshi Typographically, an output device is a visual (for text, graphics, and images) A physical device such as a video display terminal or speaker (for audio or voice) Pointing to vice. The development of a window system involves the development of video This allowed each part of the display to have very different characteristics and behavior. these Windows are of different types, just like physical devices, and this makes them different It can be considered a logical output device.

Within this disclosure, the term "output device" refers to the physical and logical used to refer to secondary output devices.

The terms "display device" and "output device" are also used interchangeably.

The term display refers to the representation (display) of data on the output screen throughout the text. (also called an icon) is used to mean an icon. The data includes audio, audio data The representation of is called a representation.

3.2 801 class object SOI is a class with two general functions. First, this SOI output data and interpret this as a user selection of an icon from an output device. Ru. The icon's print name is stored in the SOI data structure. l) It is used to find the Iper structure in the Nokuichi structure index table.

The hyperstructure performs the operations of interpreting the intent of the user selection.

Within SOl (and across 301), many display icons are associated with the same hyperstructure. Can be linked. Additionally, several different display icons can be used to display the same data. Displays the same/% ino (- can be used to refer to a structure.

SOI maintains its own index table for this purpose, and index table from transient closure of S01 via PARENT-8o I slot can be taken over. This is because the hyperstructure index table captures contextual information. Since it is one method, it is very effective. This means that the same data is different from 5ol ( Therefore, it can be associated with different hyperstructures in different displays). It is. Hyperstructures have different instructions for processing data when it is selected. Since it represents a set, this means that one choice will produce different results under different circumstances. effectively means that If a hyperstructure is found, this selection statement Data representing context is packaged as instances of selection/context objects. Selection The hyperstructure associated with the selected display icon is together with an icon called an argument.

The modularity of hyperstructured index tables provides several advantages. Primarily, SOI is a dedicated table that affects the functionality of Sol but does not interfere with the contents of other tables. It can be downloaded or removed using the converted index table. this is It is also a way for SOrs to share hyperstructured index tables. Furthermore, this attempt adds complex table selection functionality that changes SOI behavior depending on state data. make it possible.

A process is created for each Sol to monitor input events.

A typical process is shown in FIG. This process allows the user to It is recorded as being in a standby state until the icon 210 is selected. described. When this condition occurs, 200 separate processes are created to handle the selection, The wait state is re-entered until there is more input. A separate process is not required, but sometimes The tool is capable of producing responsiveness.

The second function of Sol is to prepare the data given by the hyperstructure to be displayed. It is to be. This is what needs to be displayed, where this should be displayed and and which of the displayed icons should be selected. Including deciding. Define the output format to display the display icon. function is used. Data is selected before the display icon is available for selection It requires an associated hyperstructure to perform the appropriate operations. This section Linking is performed before displaying an icon for data.

As shown in Figure 4, this is the hyperstructure heading or includes generation 62 and print names for the data in the hyperstructure index table. An association 64 with a hyperstructure in . To this end, SOI must first Find a suitable hyperstructure in the index table. If not found, SOI generates a hyperstructure using information about the data and the context of previous selections . This process has great flexibility, but this is due to the tool forming process. During the second step 32, which type of hyperstructure is generated by SOI generation? Contains a generation function that determines whether to associate with any data.

In FIG. 3, the second step 32 using the highlink method is to The first step is to generate an SOI instance for the source.

Given a collection of existing Sol class descriptions, this simply tells the programmer This is an example of a suitable SOI class that has already been defined. In other circumstances, appropriate SOI classes need to be generated by the programmer. Sol example is , as well as providing the necessary specialization for specific display devices.

Similarities between devices (e.g. windows of different formats) are noted in the Sol class. provides a mechanism for reusing and/or copying descriptions, thereby reducing development time. Encourage the use of a common user interface.

4 Hyper structure Hyperstructure objects select appropriate actions when a user selection is made. This is an example of a hyperstructure class that is executed as follows. Hyperstructures are called by SOI. the context given by Sol (in the form of a selection/context object instance) Along with the information, the selected display icon data is used to inform the information management tool. Interpret the choices you make. The range of possible processing operations is limited in any way to the hyperstructure. is not limited by.

Interpretation of selections may be based on specific application program invocations, local or identifies and/or retrieves data from remote databases, It may include packaging the data in a form that provides an appropriate response to user selections.

The hyperstructure also identifies the appropriate SOI to send any data to be displayed. Ru. Regarding hypermedia, hyperstructure also handles the process itself. Represents a complex link with information about how to manage The hyperstructure is Integrate the application's responses to user selections in applications.

There are three main advantages to hyperstructures. First, these hyperstructures Can be shared. Different display icon selections open similar application responses. (e.g. following the same link format), the Sol hyperstructure index table can be associated with the same hyperstructure. The second advantage is that these Versatile application programs (text editors, data analysis programs) ram, expert systems, email, etc.) as well as remote databases and/or foreign databases, thereby providing The goal is to connect the world of information to hypermedia information management tools. Thirdly, this These hyperstructures are clearer, easier to understand, and allow for greater reuse. It is a high-level implementation of applied knowledge that provides

The hyperstructure instance is generated and the display icon printer displayed by SOI. linked to the target name. This link is the hyperstructure index for each Sol. Stored in a table.

Using hyperlinking tools with common hyperstructure class descriptions Designers of hypermedia information management tools need to understand what each hyperstructure case looks like. You have to indicate what it is. Next, the programmer will install the various machines used by Sol. functions to form a specific hyperstructural instance. This is shown in Figure 3. 3, step 34. These features are available for application tools. Represents different types of fiber structure. Different hyperstructures can be used for other applications. data that can be used to process the option program and/or display icon selection It contains clues to the query and search capabilities of

A small number of different hyperstructures are required to support complex applications It's nothing more than that. The EP-11NK hypermedia information management tool described below is We demonstrate this by having only three different hyperstructure types.

Defining different hyperstructures becomes a major part of the tool formation process. Hyper The structure is itself a hyperstructure library and a special-purpose hyperstructure formation. It is useful for support from tools.

The currently desirable hyperstructure class data structure (Flavor definition) is as follows: It is shown in Table 1. Methods associated with hyperstructure classes are presented in Annex I. has been done.

Table 1 - Hyperstructure F I avo r definition (RELEV^Fff-FOR; Th1s Ls Ihc Coalcxl-1ndicalor ubk io ditating7hal actions to Lake once th e hypcrstructure Ls f+voked.

REFERRED-To-rNsTANcE; Th1s is lbe 1ns tance or Ibe clag bring referred to byHlhe 5ekcred display 1coa.

HTbe fouwing 5 lots IIre l’led by t he 5cjions takc+> when;lhc RELEVAMr- FOR51011is procased upon 5ekcv! on.

(LOCATE-^C'nON n1l) ;^runcjiofilhat, When 1 nvoked, finds Ibe das = @1bal lol Il! ;be displayed.

(DISPLAY-^CTTON:display-1ext);^runc lioa (actually Mt. Ibe) that mll do theacfua! ;dtspLayi++g or the data ( deraul ruoc+ion = 10 dispL+y; the da ta　u　text).

(10) A Ding A friend 1; summer); Th1sLslbedaLaIobedLspla ycd.

S(M; Tbts is m pointer 101he sot 1bal　Ibe　data　and　theidtspLa7　requests t are sen■o.

:5eltable-inslance-variables) hyperstructure is When called, the calling SOI and its rRELEVANT-FORJ slot The selection/context sent to it by the context/identifier table found in the determine what, where, when and how it should be interpreted. This is the selection data corresponds to determining how complex links associated with should be examined. if If data is retrieved for display, the hyperstructure stores this in its rDATAJ Place it in the slot. After finding a suitable SOI for displaying this data, A pointer to the Sol slot is placed in the Sol slot. If no 1 (- structure is data the way it is displayed (e.g. text display as opposed to graph ink format). If a decision is made, this is recorded in the rDIsPLAY-ACTTONJ front. be done. If the data is not retrieved by the time it should be displayed, use the access function. r　LOCATE-DATAJ slot.

In the following, the rRELEVANT-FORJ slot will be explained in more detail. . The value of this rRELEVANT-FORJ slot is It is a context/identification table that holds instructions. One way to achieve this is (see below) Represent context/identification tables using an associated list data structure (as described in the following). Related keys (listed below) indicating the nature of their associated feature values. have Once called, the /%ever structure is rRELEVANT-FORJ Test the conditions held by the context/identifier keys in the slot to determine the appropriate relationship. Call a linked function.

Table 2, along with instructions on how to use it, is provided in the RELEVANT-FORJ slot Lists the currently preferred context/identifier keys found in

Table 2 - Bunsou G-E Besshi key ms the first Ihing done when Ihe byp erstrucjurcthe 5 selected<onlcxl is eq ual to 0(le or these <exact-conjerts b.

oo, - groan - - Kazuichi, Shinko, - +++++ + + + + + + + + + + + + - RELE VANT-FOR slots are handled in the following manner. (Note 2 “Function call ” actually uses the selection/context and the structure itself as arguments. means to call. ) If there is an ALWAYS-BEFORE entry If so, call the function associated with this. Next, EXACT-CONTEXT Starting from the bird, select the first member of any pair (as shown in Table 2). The value of C0NTEXT in the context of

If either condition is true, call the associated function.

If successful, process the ALWAYS-AFTER entry and stop.

MoL unsuccessful naraha, C0NTEXT-DEPENDS-ON-FLAVOR case Process and stop. Otherwise, the first call to FU returns true. Look for function pairs in the NCTION entry. If successful, related members call the bar function, process the ^LWAYS-^FTER entry, and stop. most Later, if the conditions in the previous three entries are not true, the default entry is Call the function in If the ^LWAYS-AFTER entry exists , calls the function found there.

ALfAYS-BEFORE and ^LfAYS-AFTER functions are always performed. However, EXACT-CONTEXT, C0NTEXT-DEPENDS-ON - Only one of the FLAVORSFUNCTrON or DEFAULT entries (and these are tested in turn). context/knowledge Changes to a separate child table and the way it is processed can be modified to obtain specific functionality. can be changed. The structure and process described here have been proven effective. This is the only case in which

The use of Viber structures reduces the following disadvantages of today's hypermedia systems: do. These include the replayability of the node network, navigation, and node replication. compatibility, extensibility and adaptability. The next section discusses these issues.

The EP-LINK tool created using the high-linking method of the present invention We show how links are dynamically formed by the present highlink method. The link is Sol Recognizes the format of the displayed data and generates an appropriate hyperstructure example for the user. generated when interpreting this data when selected by the user.

The hyperstructure uses contextual information to determine what the displayed data is linked to and Decide how to traverse these links.

The node network is constructed with hypotheses shown as artifacts of the interpretation of selections in It is imaginative. This application uses dynamic link generation (or This figure shows one attempt to improve the reproducibility of workpieces. This is a large accessible There are varying amounts of data, but all of this data is clearly organized into a small number of object formats. It was extremely successful because of its association with

For example, one of these types is an electronic assembly. For general electronic assembly After defining an object description (with respect to customer sales), remote data Much of the data retrieved from the base partially fits cases of this type. assembly The body object puts the structure into the data and uses the object's attributes to create the data. determine how to be used. The EP-LINK tool uses this high-linking method dynamically. We show that it can be used to test different approaches to link generation.

As mentioned earlier, one drawback of today's hypermedia systems is that This is a problem of moving in a network J with an unfamiliar heterogeneous structure. Hyper It is useful to define structures to recognize specific parts of these networks. Ru. Each hyperstructure represents an error when following a particular link and retrieving a particular form of information. It can be a kiss pert. The hyperstructure acts as a filter for the user, Make the network seem familiar and well-structured. Furthermore, the hyperstructure is Linking and navigation are possible because they are linked with dynamically displayed objects. Adapt search and search methods to user context and application complexity. You can choose to

Furthermore, true navigation provides a more direct way to access search. You can use content-based queries to open. The node network is virtual The content exploration capabilities used can be adapted to the source data itself because (and sometimes already exists). Hyperstructures greatly reduce content-based query attempts. It is easily acceptable and S01 can easily handle input in the form of questions.

The hyperstructure is can capture the same information that already exists without the overhead of implementing it. . Influenced by the characteristics of dynamic link generation, the links formed using the high link method Many nodes found in the pool are virtual. In other words, these nodes are not represented by a fixed node data structure. In most cases, this is Because they are virtual in nature, there is no need to maintain a clear node composite data structure. Eliminate the essentials. But if the tool requires distinct nodes and compound nodes Then, the present highlink method solves this by using some simple methods that support such a node structure. Tolerates very well in simple hyperstructure form. F l a representing an information node Define a hyperstructure that handles vo r objects and object expected to be found in a hypermedia node's data structure. The type and type are very good (similar).

The present hyperlinking method directly supports conformity and extensibility.

The very nature of both hyperstructures and SOI is that they are modular and additive. is intended to make both of these easier.

5　EP-LINK Hypermedia Information Management Tool 5.1 Information Problems The EP-LINK tool solves information management problems for organizations manufacturing electronic assemblies. was formed to decide. Is this demand a very common situation within large corporate organizations? This is the result of this. Due to the need for a wide variety of functions, disparate compilers A collection of computer hardware and software tools acquired over the years It was done. This is due to data redundancy, heterogeneous data models and database references. system, a wide range of machine-to-machine communication systems, and whatever data is present. where it is, when it is used, and how to access it. This leads to inefficiencies arising from lack of knowledge (on the user's part).

5.2 Solution provided by EP-LINK Solution provided by EP-LINK tool is an existing system that provides a single point of entry for a disparate collection of information sources. It is to place a ``shell'' around the system.

Shell systems, including certain features of hypermedia, By providing a perspective that integrates the entire information space that meets user requirements, can go beyond simply granting access to other systems across the network. like this This approach is called an "intelligent shell system" solution.

In the above shell solution, the main beneficiary is the You are the individual requesting access to the information. In the case of manufacturing electronic equipment, Activities that require access to data from sources in the Technical Design Change Directive ( ECO). Origin and organization of ECO (a very common phenomenon) Large amounts and large numbers of data across and across many computer systems process. Manufacturing processes (to name just a few) , test programs, material invoices, and scheduling data for specific assemblies. and update it.

A large number of people need to be notified and a wide variety of information is needed to make a particular change. must be available for download. The EP-LINK tool connects users and their Shorten the sensory distance between essential information.

5.3 EP-LINK Interface Paradigm This high-linking method is It was used for the formation of the P-LINK tool. The system uses this specifically adapted to the needs of It's not something you can do. However, it shares many characteristics of hypermedia and This is an example of a hypermedia information management tool.

EP-1, INK is a collection of data residing on several different computer systems. A unified interface that provides transparent access to data present.

It provides an interface with the look and feel of an electronics manufacturing business, and provides a user interface. When a user selects an icon (e.g., string, graphic object) from the display, the interface where you are given information related to these icons within the context of your selection. Use the face paradigm. E　PL　IN　K is the retrieved data. filter and combine data to best fit your needs. have the ability to

This means that the tool automatically identifies objects (nodes) for data that fit the description. Key business objects that can be found in the data so that they can be identified and generated This is done by defining a description of the object (assembly, ECO, etc.). This is Presents the ability to automatically generate links between related data at runtime. in general , users can move freely between related data without getting lost in the exploration process The EP-LINK interface node can be configured by the user. Provide many ways to reach the same information from a different perspective.

In addition to making it hypermedia-like, this interface is layered and Follow a structured organization metaphor to make it easier for users to avoid getting “information lost” . Users consider different forms of information access in light of the EP-LINK layer .

The increase in information management applications is similar to the increase in layers.

A history mechanism between layers allows you to track what users have done and perform information management tasks. Don't lose track of where you were.

The EP-LINK tool currently has three layers as shown in Figure 27. Ru. This layer consists of [top layer I 100J, [assembly layer 1102J and and [component layer 1104J.

Each of these layers uses a collection of windows to present information to the user. use A collection of these windows is called a frame. During information management tasks , one or more frame instances can be used in the assembly and component layers.

Use these numerous frame examples to explore different electronic assemblies and assembly elements and their Display related information for each. The top layer uses only one frame instance. use Frames are functionally and logically connected windows (also called surfaces). It consists of An illustration of the frame format for a specific layer is shown in Figure 27. As shown, the highest layer frame 1106, the assembly layer frame 1103 and and component layer frame 1105.

The "top layer" provides access to general information through a number of means. This Mogami Rei The user provides the main entry point for user information. To a wide variety of information In addition to accessing provide several methods for The assembly layer is a access information on the branch. Furthermore, the assembly layer corresponds to assembly element information. Perform access to the component layer.

Users may move between these layers several times during information access sessions. This is recorded in the history plane 1106 in the top layer. The user may By selecting a certain layer in history or by selecting EXPLORER from 71 companies. frame using any of the means provided by the II window manager. to specific layers and frames by directly selecting (and thus layers) can go.

5.4 EP-LINK architecture EP-11NK is based on Ike's information processing method. Hybrid information management formed by using this high-linking method in conjunction with It's a tool. This EP-LINK architecture is based on the layers mentioned above. It is described as follows. The basic block diagrams shown in FIGS. 28 to 30 are respectively Support is shown for the top layer, assembly layer and component layer. E P-LINK owed much to parallel development efforts. Those with tools are It was formed using the Ilink method, but the pond part was not formed using the Hilink method. . This high-linking method allows these parts to be easily integrated. Figure 28 In Figures 30 to 30, the dashed line blocks are those developed using the high link method. The solid line represents a machine developed using traditional software development methods. It shows ability. The features indicated by solid blocks are those that the highlink method Because it was developed before it became available, it was developed without using the highlink method. Please note that This means that the highlink method can be integrated with traditional methods. This indicates ease of use. In addition, functions developed using conventional methods can be applied to the high link method. You should know that you can easily replace it with more developed functionality.

In FIG. 28, the processing 1200 on the top surface is the text/icon display 12. 02. Tracking the mouse input device 1204. Tracking the icon pointed to by the mouse. Highlight display 1204 and display icon mouse selection processing 1206 ( It consists of functions for (called mode selection processing).

Main surface processing 1208 formats and displays text icons 1210 , processing 1212 of user selection of these icons with the mouse, in the window It consists of a function for scrolling 1214 of text. icon is displayed Because of the way it is done, mouse tracking and highlighting is done using T1's EXPLOR Processed by ERII system software.

Type-in surface processing 1216 includes character input berth 1218 and type character input berth 1218. Echo 1220, Inspection of parsing results in command table 1222, Matsuchin execution of a programming function 1222 and text output 1224 in response to an input string It consists of the following functions.

Note surface processing 1226 includes a notification function 1228 that notifies the user of new mail. , a menu function 1230 that allows the user to select a mail mode, and a note function 1230 . Includes icon selection function 1232.

The mode menu is a note generation mode that allows the user to write notes on the note surface. support code 1234. Newly generated notes are held in the note buffer. It will be done. Additionally, users can send notes to another user or to a constructed object. There is a note transport mode 1236 that allows for. File mode 1238 the user (in the note buffer) into the user's note file area. clearly stored in the area. Edit mode 1240 is for editing on the note surface. Let the user select notes from the note buffer. The heading mode 1242 is Find the note stored in the note file area and save it as note l<,, file. and edit it on the notebook side. The evacuation/storage mode 1244 is A selection menu that allows the user to discard or save notes in the note buffer. Give the new information to the user.

History surface processing 1246 is a unit that captures actions performed by the user to move between layers. It consists of a display 1248 of the user's operation history.

The history icon selection process 1250 selects the state (and changes the display to reflect the

In FIG. 29, the processing 1300 of the assembly layer function includes the display of function icons. 1302, Associated Assembly Graphic Frame and Graph Ink Operations 1 304, ECO information file processing 1306, and annotation filter processing 130 It consists of 8 functions.

Graph ink surface processing 1310 includes assembly graphics and assembly components. Display of graph ink icon 1312, definition of +R component object instance +314, Mouse Input Device Tracking 1316, Icon Directed by Mouse highlighting 1316, handling mouse selection of component icons 1318, and and Manage Assembly Information Text Window 1320 functions.

Processing 1322 of a command includes displaying a command icon 1324 and using a mouse input device. Various aspects of the mode selection process 1326 as a result of the user's command icon selection by the Contains features.

In FIG. 30, the object surface processing 1400 of the component layer is Formatting and displaying component object information as icons 14 02. Processing of user selection of these icons by mouse 1404. Object Includes functionality for scrolling 1406 text in a window. icon Due to the way it is displayed, mouse tracking and lighting 1;! T1 company Processed by EXPLORER II system software.

Command surface processing 1408 is similar to the command surface processing described above for the assembly layer. includes a command icon display processing function 1410 and a mode selection processing function 1412. I'm reading.

The following part is formed for E P − L I N K using the high link method. We describe the Sol and hyperstructure for the constructed components.

5.41 Selection/Output Interpreter Data accessed by EP-LINK may be transferred to electronic assemblies in any way. Or it is related to ECO. The retrieved data includes electronic assemblies and EC It is composed and represented by examples of the definition of the O class. This is around the object instance form a dynamic concept that links the products that make up the retrieved data. These o The structure of the object is displayed in the display (via the defined/Xino structure). Displays the method to be processed if selected from . to these objects The limited number of classes for SOI makes it easy to interpret for display.

Except for audio output devices, indications requiring SOI in EP-LINK are , is a window of some type. Many windows have the same characteristics; This is reflected in the SOI description. The differences in Sol are shown in the table the specific nature of the displays and their use to select icons from within these displays. This is due to the input device that can do this.

The SOI class definition for EP-LINK is found in Annex i. In Figure 5 The SOI definition for the left-L window (-next plane 530) in The results are shown in Table 3 using the standard Fl avo r method to illustrate the results. Fifth Sol definitions for the above and other aspects of the diagram can be found in (=f Genus Old Book 4) Ru.

Table 3 - Selection/Display Ikuniburita IJ l a v-o r definition (make-i nstaacv’Sol:0UTPUT-TYPE:accordion+ 47pe; Tbe display is m scrolling extHwindow that allows text 1cons I.

;be expanded (or confacted) by the;5 selection or Ihose icow wilb Ibe:DISP LAY-OBJECT 'object-scroll-wh+dow ;T h1s is mountaine Flavor clan o Chichi@whicb ;Ibe dispLa7 window is an 1stance.

:0VrPVr, rNsTkNcE primary-pane HThe :0VrPU GolN5T^NCE ii Mountain e 5ct float≠■ HBavor 1nstaace for lbe dkspLay;wind ow.

:5ELECT1ON, DEVICE'(:mouse) ;The only 1 opu+ dmce reeognized; by tbis S ol rot tbis display 1i (list “prIrnwy -hyper-tmktsu　;Th1s　Ls　the　hypcrRructu re　1lookup　tab■ ; that this Sol 5tsru with.

:PARENT-5olframe-soi));ko'11(sisthepa rentSOI.

The main structure of Sol is not shown in Table 3. This is related to the SOI class description Exist in method. In the Sol description in Table 3, "accordion-type" and “Handling-Mouse-Selection” are special for EP-LINK applications. is the name of a method defined in , and specified in Annexes 1 and 5, respectively.

5 5.4.2 Hyper structure EP-LINK has three hyperstructures forming three different hyperstructure formats. It has a formation function. One is for command objects (e.g. for assembly layers). pan, scroll, zoom). Another feature solves assembly component selection. The third one is for general-purpose case handling. object The functions for generating node-like structure cases that handle the interpretation of case examples are shown in Table 4.

Table 4 - Function to generate hyperstructure example (derutsbuild-get+ cral-hyper-struc+urcQ(make-instance 'byper-structure:rcferred-to-insumouthcc nil:relevao for (neotsu ;If thc 5 selected ohJecr Ls m string, mad there is a value tar ■ ;:REFERRED-To-n'JsTANcE, thea　m2ke　1h at thedaLi Iobedisplayed an■ ;sel Ibe display rut+c! ion to be: DI SPLAYJNC;T^NCL(use (COIllj #’(Lambda(contexthyper)(+IIjlId(sjr ingp (send context: 5elccled-object) ) (send hyper: rcfcrred・to-ins-ncc))) #’(Lambda (contexthyper) (send byper: 5et-ouIpur-port　(elend　context　:ou+p uto41)); If the 5 selected object is ass ocmred with a runc+iot+to make *;re molecmufordlllJ,makeIhccalllandexpect that whatisreturnedis m object 1nstan ce which is made the referred-to4nsL aoce or electric h■ Hselected object, On 5ubsequent 5ekc mouth ons, the remote call ks no<Hmade.

(co rule #'(lambda (context hyper)(and(slrf+g p(sendcontext:5elec+cd-objhni0)(as&oc (sznd C0Dlerl:5elected-Object)’ret nolc-daLa-alisl”: Iest #’strLog-equa l))) #’(lambda (conIext hyper) (lcl”) ((obj-oatoc (send co-erl: Selected-O bject))(remoce-fun (cdr (assoc obj-name “remote4ata-aus+”:te st #’5trtog-equal))))(scnd hyper associate bS O1 (send context: 5OI)) (send hyper: 5 et-display・Ktion: dfplay-instance))) ) (acans’a1ways-iroer; IT there area 5 everal ways lo display L)+e data, fi nd the Hsppropriale one (perhaps by a skin the user).

#’llambds (context hyper) + 1et (ldala (send hyper:data)l)(cood((xd+insja ncepdatm) (> (length) (send data; devi ces)) 11) (send hyper:5et-output-por t(find<orrecl-oujpul-port dati conle xf hyper)))))) nill)l) This hyper structure definition function in EP-LINK and the two hyper structures of the song The morphogenetic features are specified in Appendices 4 and 5.

5.5 Features and Information Access Execution EPi, INK Tools Such annotated representations can be found in FIGS. 6-26. This section covers E P-L Describes the specific functionality provided by the INK tool.

This description describes when a typical user uses tools for information management tasks. Constructed to match display.

Login prompt 400 in login display 410 (Figure 6) After logging your username into the EP-LINK tool by typing it in the main window The user will see the display shown in FIG. 7, except that the contents of window 530 are empty. Ray 490 is presented. This so-called top layer frame is where the user receives information. Contains a window where you can access. Each of these windows It has a Sol instance associated with it to interpret the input to c.

Top level window 500 accesses information in EP-LINK Give the user three choices.

These selections represent information access modes and affect the contents of the main window. and also change the information of a certain EP-LINK state. Furthermore, E P -L To end I N K Se Sung Yong, the user selects the end display icon 520 and reset the state information to display the login prompt in the login display. . Selection is made by pressing the pointing device (in this case the 3-button button) on the displayed icon. display selections (in this case, press the left mouse button) (by pressing). In Figure 7, the user can Icon 510 was selected.

As a result of selecting the assembly icon, several text icons 540, 580. 590 is displayed in the main window 530. These items are in the top window By selecting the assembly icon from Users can access information about C0J and “Manufacturing Engineers”. Display against. The user can update by selecting one of these icons. You can request different information or return to the top-level window and The mode can also be changed by selecting an icon other than 3D.

In FIG. 7, a user uses a pointing device as indicated by arrow 600. on the text icon "Business Line" 540. Pointing device When the text icon is over this text icon, this text icon Note that it is highlighted in

The other windows on the display in Figure 7 are the interface to the mail function. This is a note window 560 that provides a resource. The history window 550 Keep a record of your actions. This will be discussed below. type In window 570 displays the user typed as input to EP-LINK. Allows you to enter commands, queries, and data.

The main window provides basic information access based on the elaborate display of selected display icons. provide access. When the user selects one of the icons in the window, the EP-L INK assumes that the user requests more detailed information about it. which choice The selection is also interpreted by the SOI of the main window, and the )1inokuichi structure is can be responded to for retrieval of relevant data in the context of the previous selection. Ru. This search process consists of retrieving information from a remote data base, compressed related File searched data for information or select icons It may involve a simple search for the object it represents. At this time, the eye in the main window If the retrieved data is text, it is related to the structure If so, try to display this data in the main window again.

When an icon in the main window is selected, it is "enlarged" and the elaborate display data is data is searched or calculated and displayed directly below the selected icon with a slight indentation. be done. The text below the selected icon will contain the text that results from the enlargement. is shifted down just enough to do so. The icon is enlarged Once selected, it is "retracted" when the previously enlarged text is removed from the display.

The main window displays more data than can fit inside the display window itself. Has scrolling ability for times shown. Figure 8 shows the “business” shown in Figure 7. This shows a state in which the user has enlarged the "industry category" icon 540. of this icon An extension is a list of members of a business line collection. "Business type" icon After enlarging, the user enlarges the copy (copy result) icon 610 and finally clicks r. 612 is enlarged.

This process continues by retracting the user's ``1 Copy Results'' icon; [Multi-disc player, model 5V-7500J appliance] as shown in FIG. Enlarging the icon 620 and attempting to select the "Motor Speed Control" icon 622 . Figure 1O shows the user displaying enlarged data for the "Motor Speed Control" icon. A selection in the form of a menu 630 is shown to be provided. This situation! Meal , the motor speed control is an electronic assembly and the user has its text description or board This is possible because it can be presented in any form. Figure 11 shows the icon presentation extension. It also shows the presentation formatting characteristics to be displayed in the main window.

The descriptive text 640 for the selected icon fits either this or the main window. It will be automatically formatted to make sure it is.

If the user selects ``Graphic Display'' from the display selection menu 630 (Figure 10). option, the user can click the left side of the frame for a graphical ink display of the assembly. Asks whether to select (with pointing device) the top and bottom right corners. It will be done. This is moved by the user to the assembly layer.

In the assembly layer, there is a frame for each displayed assembly shape; The number depends solely on the memory available to the user on the Explorer system. limited. Each frame consists of a window (or surface) as shown in Figure 29. ). One such frame and assembly diagram is shown in FIG. be done.

When searching for this board graphic, the parts list for the assembly is searched. Configuration essentials Element objects are defined for each component of an assembly, and each component Icons can be selected. When the user clicks one of the assembly component icons This icon becomes highlighted and the user can view further component information. You can select this to search for information.

FIG. 12 shows a pointing diagram indicating the highlighted component 652. Showing a device icon.

Each frame in the assembly layer has a text icon 654.656.65 8.660.662.664 has a command plane that crosses the Hirain window.

The user does this to set the mode of information access about the assembly object. These icons can be selected. This will be discussed below.

Each frame also has a functional surface along the left side. User pans the shape image (666, 668), scroll (670, 672) and zoom (674, 675, 678). Assembly layer frame shape There is a shape modification window icon 680 that is used to change the shape.

The filter icon 682 allows the user to add something called a filter to the graphical display. allow you to add. One such filter is the text Annotation filter.

The last icon is the ECO pending icon 684, which indicates that the assembly being displayed is Informs that CO is continuing.

Figure 13 attempts to select assembly number 690 from within the assembly graph ink. Shows the user. This is done by creating a graphical window as shown in Figure 14. overlay a text window on top of the window. This window Although not shown in the frame diagram in Figure 27, it is part of the assembly layer frame. be. The text window is similar in function to the main window 530 of FIG. resemble The user selects the assembly number 702 in this text window. It can be expanded by doing this. Figure 15 shows what is displayed when this is done. A description 710 is shown. If the user selects the parts list icon 712 For example, this parts list is searched, and FIG. 16 shows that only part of the parts list 20 is actually Indicates that it will be displayed. This makes the EP-LINK tool suitable for specific needs. Demonstrate the ability to adapt the presentation of data to suit.

Since the ECO is pending 722, the user is unsure how this will affect the assembly. I would like to know if I will receive it. The part in question is the result of a pending ECO. It is something that is added or deleted.

You can select these component icons and be interested in the description of one of these. The user can select these directly. Assembly components also include manufacturing, product Contains information on quality, testing, purchasing, scheduling, and sales, but this information is This information is different from that of A special component display window is generated to display component information. Display information. Figure 17 shows two of these window collections 730 and 732. , and this collection represents the frame in the component layer at this time. one 734° with a description in which a resistor with the reference symbol r34 is displayed. Component layer frames have different modes that can be selected. Figure 18 shows Schedule planning mode 740 is selected and related data is displayed below component data be done. When the user selects the supply/request icon 742, the supply and request data data 744 is retrieved and displayed as shown in FIG.

Figure 20 shows the results after manufacturing process information has been retrieved and test process information has been retrieved. , shows an assembly test overlay window 746.

Figure 21 shows what is displayed when the ECO icon (684 in Figure 12) is selected. The menu 750 shown in FIG. This menu can be accessed by the user Allows you to see affected new, deleted, and modified parts.

The user previously selected new part icon 752 and selected new part icon 754. is displayed and temporarily highlighted.

Figure 22 shows a filter that allows the user to select annotations for the assembly graph ink. A menu 760 is shown. The annotation filter displays annotations associated with assembly graphics. indicate. Users can continue to comment on this annotation (or listen to it), write it, or can be edited. This means that annotations can be used in this context. This is just one example of how to do this.

Audio annotation is illustrated in FIG. 23 by an icon depicting a hand-held horn 770. child These icons are always highlighted when directed by the user. E Annotations in P-LINK are recorded digital representations of digitized audio. It is a digital audio signal. These are generated by audio input devices and audio output "visible" by the device.

Text annotations are easy to visualize, and an example is shown in FIG. this text This annotation is represented by an icon shaped like a pen 780. The user Text annotations can be generated whenever text annotation mode is on, and text In a location in the GraphInk window that is not already occupied by a text annotation. A selection is made. Assembly components themselves cannot be selected while in text annotation mode . When generating a text annotation, an empty text scrolling annotation window 784 is displayed. Users can type text into this window and Hit the <END> key on the keyboard. Annotations are stored for which the icon is generated.

FIG. 24 shows the currently selected text icon 782 and the current window 784. Indicates the text annotation being displayed.

Returning again to the top layer, Figure 25 shows the typed email message 790, Dress menu 792, typed inquiry cuff 94 and historical data 796 An example is shown below. Figure 26 shows email notification 800 and note buffer list. 802 is shown.

Finally, Figure 26 also shows a good example of dynamic link generation. Manufactured by user Selecting the engineer icon will send manufacturing data text files to a remote location. Retrieved from a computer system. The EP-LINK tool object known in the current state of EP-LINK while executing the file Search for a text string pointing to .

In other words, the tool uses objects generated as a result of previous information accesses. Find a string that matches the text.

In this case, strings representing business line names are recognized and these can be selected. It has become. In the figure, an electronic photograph 810 is selected (enlarged), and the user The same information accessed in Figure 9 can be accessed.

In Figure 1, EP-LINK is the same It can be realized on the platform. In this example, this is the disk It is an effective tool for managing and searching information stored in 16. Its usefulness is a data conversion module 1000 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1) and Communication interface 1002 is connected to multiple applications 1004, 1006 . 1008 so that it is stored on multiple disparate computer systems. It will be expanded to manage and search the information.

Data conversion module 1000 is configured to connect multiple disparate computer hardware and The format of the data retrieved from the software system and object data format used by the tool. this is , which has a different data format than that used by the information management tool. Creating individual data translators for each computer system You can do more.

The communication module 1002 communicates with information management tools and multiple disparate computer hardware. transfer of data and instructions (electronic) between hardware and software systems. ) to enable and manage movement. In information management tools, communication ability is the key to accessing information. necessary to access and run applications on other computer systems. It is essential. One way to provide such communication is to ET (Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox) and Transmis sion Control Protocol/rinternet Proto local area network (LAN) specifications such as col (TCP/IP) is to use. This TCP/IP is a computer that supports TCP/IP. provides an interface for file transfer between data systems. ETI In addition to IERNET and TCP/IP, communication modules can be may contain programs that format and interpret instructions sent between data systems. Wear.

Application 1 (1004) runs the VMS operating system. Digital Equipment Co., Ltd., which runs an inventory management system. VAX: I computer (VAX and VMS are Digital Equipme nt company trademark). Application 2 (1006) is for CAD circuit design and HP engineering workstations running It's fine.

Application 3 (1008) runs the UNIX operating system. Can be any SUN workstation running the manufacturing resource management tool (U NIX is a trademark of AT&T).

advantage The Highlink method is a simple user/computer method that guides system designers and manufacturers. Hypermedia information management tool by supporting computer interaction scenarios facilitates the formation of

This tool facilitates the design of a common user interface and Enables reuse of flexible interface software. This high link method is Build tools around your current application and database tools form. This method provides time and cost savings and is a form of reuse. It can be regarded as.

This hyperlinking method does not bind designers and manufacturers, and does not apply to existing hyperlinks. hypermedia by requiring the use of media features and techniques; This makes it easy to add features to the information management console. This high linking method is now Steps to alleviate some of the problems that exist with Hypermedia 7 Stem Provide steps. The highlinking method shows that the tool exhibits reconfiguration capabilities and requires extensive training. We support various ways to navigate the heterogeneous structure of networks and provide information support the creation and management of a complex of information nodes, and the extensibility and adaptability of the tool. This makes it possible to provide the following.

One way to navigate a large network of unfamiliar and heterogeneous structures is to By using content-based user queries. Hyperstructure is an attempt like this. SOI can easily handle query-style input.

The present hyperlinking method directly supports conformity and extensibility.

Both hyperstructures and Sol are modular in nature; and additive, it is intended to further facilitate both.

This high linking method provides users with the integration of various features of IR and IP abstractions. support in a transvalent way. The high-linking method requires extensive design and information management nodes created using the highlink method without the need for Designers can easily integrate and test new I10 devices used in make it possible to do so. Furthermore, the present high-linking method is useful for sole designers and manufacturers. can incorporate specialized functionality and existing application/programs. and make it easier. This is done through slight sole redesign and reconfiguration. Can be done. Finally, the method can be applied to new and/or different data sources and and/or databases in the same way as the specialized functionality described above. It is something that can be done.

FIG.3 C “D FIG. 5 ! Special table Hei 3-504546 (24) FIG. 28 FIG. 30 international search report Hitomi - ^, Yu. 9, +i-PCT/υS 90101045In+*,,,+.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Hypermedia information management tools for finding, processing, and displaying information. In an object-oriented programming environment, a. An example of one Selective Output Interpreter (SOI) for one display format. the SOI is an object having a data structure; The SOI includes (1) a hyperstructure index that associates display icons with hyperstructures; including tables and procedures, the procedures: (a) How to associate display icons with hyperstructures in the hyperstructure index table In order, (b) Call a function to form a hyperstructure example, and convert the hyperstructure example to the By associating it with the display icon in the hyper-structured index table, Steps for displaying specific data types according to format and (c) defining selection/context and calling a hyperstructure associated with the display icon; (d) invoking functions that define input formats for display device formats; handles user-selected input according to the specific input format for the format. including steps to The hyper structure is i. A context/identifier table that holds instructions for processing icons and associated contextual information and, ii. a table holding data to be displayed; iii. Points for one SOI and a procedure, the procedure comprising: i. a procedure for processing a context/identifier table; ii. How to find the data that should be displayed and iii. calling an SOI and displaying the data; b. generating functions forming a hyperstructure instance; c. Display device format Generate a function that defines the output format, d. Generate functions that define input formats for display device formats, e. Initialize the display example A method comprising steps. 2. The object-oriented programming environment is CommonLisp and M Assachusetts Institute of Technology (MI 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a flavor system of T). 3. The SOI data structure further includes a list of valid input device types. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: 4. characterized in that said SOI data structure further includes a description of its output device format; 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The SOI data structure further includes information for a parent SOI. The method according to claim 1. 6. The SOI procedure further includes a hyperstructure table and a previously associated hyperstructure. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: 7. The hyper-groove table surrounds the SOI or the PARENT- of the SOI it surrounds. Claim 6, characterized in that it is from an SOI in a transition closure of an SOI. How to put it on. 8. The procedure for displaying specific data formats determines which data conforms to the user's selections. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of specifying whether or not the information is to be used. 9. The procedure for displaying a specific data format is to display the SOI output device format. specified that it includes steps to match valid output device formats for data structures to be used. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: 10. The steps to display a specific data format are specific to the specific data format and associated tables. A request characterized in that it includes a procedure for calling a procedure generated for the indicated device type. The method described in claim 1. 11. Data for which display device format is required is selected/contextualized and displayed. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data format is extracted from a data format to be stored. 12. The selection/context is an object with a data structure, and the data structure is , a. a table holding input device-specific data resulting from user input; b. a pointer to the display icon selected by the user; c. Context of user input a table holding data defining the d. a pointer to the SOI; e. a pointer to the input device format; f. Input device format-specific data 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: a table holding the . 13. The data structure of said hyperstructure further provides a mechanism for finding data to be displayed. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a table holding pointers to functions. 14. The data structure of the hyperstructure further has the ability to display a specific data format. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a table that maintains pointers to. 15. The context/identifier in the context/identifier table is ALWAYS-BEFOR E, ALWAYS-AFTER, CONDITONAL, and DEFAULT 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: 16. The context/identifier in the context/identifier table further includes EXACT-COHT EX and CONTEX-DEPNDS-ON-CLASS 16. The method according to claim 15. 17. The above step of initializing the display example creates a hyperstructure using initialization data. 2. The method of claim 1, comprising calculating . 18. The step of initializing the display example calculates the SOI using the initialization data. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: 19. The step of initializing the display example further includes a predetermined hyperstructure index. Calling the function to download SOI by table and display display icons 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: 20. The initialization data includes a selection context and a selected icon. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein 21. Forms hypermedia information management tools to search, process, and display information In a tool that: a. CPU and object-oriented programming Time environment and user interface including input devices and displays an object-oriented programming platform that includes b. selective output interpreter (SOI) means for controlling said display; The SOI means is an object having a data structure, and the SOI is: (1) Contains a hyperstructure index table and procedures for associating display icons with hyperstructures. The procedure is (a) How to associate display icons with hyperstructures in the hyperstructure index table In order, (b) Call a function to form a hyperstructure example, and convert the hyperstructure example to the By associating it with the display icon in the hyper-structured index table, Steps for displaying specific data types according to format and (c) defining selection/context and calling a hyperstructure associated with the display icon; (d) invoking functions that define input formats for display device formats; handles user-selected input according to the specific input format for the format. including steps to A hyperstructure is an object having a data structure, and the data structure is i. A context/identifier table that holds instructions for processing icons and associated contextual information and, ii. a table holding data to be displayed; iii. Points for one SOI and a procedure, the procedure comprising: i. a procedure for processing a context/identifier table; ii. How to find the data that should be displayed and iii. calling an SOI and displaying the data; c. means for forming a hyperstructure instance; d. Output and input formats for display - a means of defining a mat; e. A means to initialize the display example and A tool characterized by the following. 22. The programming platform is Texas Instruments. Features include a Lisp machine called Explorer II from NTS (TI). 22. The tool of claim 21. 23. The platform further includes a programming language CommanLisp. and TILisp extension specifications and MITflavor object-oriented 23. The tool according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that it includes a programming system. Le. 24. The step of finding data involves retrieving data from a remote information system. 22. The tool of claim 21. 25. The above procedure for finding data may also call other application programs. and containing data resulting from a call to said information system. 25. The tool of claim 24. 26. A hypermedia information management tool formed by the method of claim 1. 27. One user interface for multiple disparate computer systems further includes a data conversion module and a communication module. 27. The hypermedia information management tool of claim 26. 28. The computer system performs CAD, inventory management, and production resource management. Claim 2 characterized in that it supports an application in a manufacturing environment including: The hypermedia information management tool described in 7. 29. A hypermedia information management tool that searches, processes, and displays information. There, a. CPU, object-oriented programming runtime environment, and input data objects including user interfaces, including devices and displays; a client-oriented programming platform, b. a plurality of selection output interpreter (SOI) means for controlling said display; and each SOI means is an object having a data structure, and the SOI is an object having a data structure. (1) Hyperstructure index table and procedure for associating display icons with hyperstructures The procedure includes: (a) How to associate display icons with hyperstructures in the hyperstructure index table In order, (b) Call a function to form a hyperstructure example, and convert the hyperstructure example to the By associating it with the display icon in the hyper-structured index table, Steps for displaying specific data types according to format and (c) defining selection/context and calling a hyperstructure associated with the display icon; (d) invoking functions that define input formats for display device formats; handles user-selected input according to the specific input format for the format. including steps to c. providing multiple hyperstructural means to control retrieval and interpretation of user selections; A hyperstructure is an object having a data structure, and the data structure is (1) A context/identifier that holds instructions for processing the icon and associated contextual information. table and (2) A table that holds the data to be displayed, and (3) a pointer to one SOI. and a procedure, the procedure comprising: (a) Steps to process the context/identifier table and (b) find the data to be displayed. and (c) calling an SOI to display the data. Hypermedia information management tool. 30. User interface to multiple disparate computer systems The information management tool according to claim 29, characterized in that it provides: a. from the data format used by said computer system. data into the object data format used by the information management tool. data conversion means for converting the data format; b. manages the communication of data and instructions between the management tool and the computer system; An information management tool further comprising a communication interface means for managing the information. Le. 31. The computer system performs CAD, inventory management, and production resource management. Claim 3 characterized in that the application supports an application in a manufacturing environment including: Information management tool described in 0.