JPH0359772A - Method for retrieving document - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain also the successive retrieval of respective pages by using a sequential position determined by quickly searching a retrieval starting position in a retrieval condition found out by the combination of transition between hierarchies, a retrieval sort and a retrieving sequence direction as a start point to retrieve a document. CONSTITUTION:When a retriever selects arrow keys added to a table key 22E, a document key 22F and a page key 22G, a control part decides the selection as order specification, searches and retrieves a data base control table from a retrieval starting position in the specified sequence direction in accordance with the retrieval sort of that time and displays the retrieved result. Since a sequence specification key can execute one retrieval by one specification, successive retrieval can be executed by repeating the key specification. In addition, the retrieval starting position can be changed in accordance with the retrieved result based upon sequence specification. Consequently, the successive retrieval of respective pages can be attained by three operations of inter- hierarchy transition, the retrieval sort and the retrieval sequence direction and the quick detection of the retrieval starting position for determining the sequential position for starting retrieval.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field to which the Invention Pertains) The present invention relates to a document retrieval method for retrieving document data with simple operations in a document retrieval device that stores, retrieves, and displays document data. .

(Prior Art) When searching for one piece of document data in a document search device that stores, searches, and displays document data, it is normal.

Desired document data is obtained by inputting keywords from a keyboard, displaying keywords on a display, and selecting keywords using a mouse.

Such a search method using keywords is an effective method for efficiently obtaining desired document data from a large amount of document data, but it is important to always add keywords when storing document data. When searching, it is necessary to know which keyword the document you want to search belongs to.

However, especially in personal document search devices, it is troublesome to assign keywords, so if you want to accumulate document data without assigning keywords, or if you have not clearly decided on the document data you want to obtain, one person may file a file. There are cases where you want to look at document data by flipping through it, and in such cases, the keyword method is not suitable.

Further, even if you forget the keyword to which the document data you want to obtain belongs, the method using keywords is inconvenient in terms of operation.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the conventional document retrieval methods described above and to provide a retrieval method that allows document data to be retrieved with simple operations.

(Structure of the Invention) (Characteristics of the Invention and Differences from the Prior Art) The present invention hierarchizes search keys, gives an order relationship to the search keys in the same hierarchy, and organizes document data according to the hierarchical structure and order relationship. Based on the search conditions determined by a combination of three operations: transition between hierarchies, search type, and search order direction, the order position determined by the operation to quickly find the search start position is determined using the document data management. It is characterized by searching as a starting point. Due to this,
In addition to regular searches that specify search keys sequentially.

It differs from conventional methods in that it allows users to easily flip through and search through files.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a block configuration diagram of a document search device in which the present invention is implemented, and in the figure, 1 is an input unit (A) consisting of a pointing device such as a tablet or a mouse for issuing search instructions, etc. , 2 is a display section that displays document data etc. of search results, 3 is an input section (B) consisting of a personal computer, scanner, facsimile, etc. for inputting existing magazine 1 literature, etc.;
4 is a storage section for storing document data etc. input from the input section (B) 3; 5 is for displaying the document data on the display section 2;

A screen processing unit has a function of performing image processing such as enlargement, reduction, scrolling, etc. of document data at high speed; 6 is a bus for transferring document data; 7 is a transfer control unit that controls transfer of the bus 6; 8 is a Controls the entire device, registers document data,
This is a control unit that has database processing functions such as search.

The operation of registering document data in the storage section 4 of the document search device shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

The input document to be registered is inputted from the input section (B) 3.

If the input document to be registered is already written on paper, such as magazine 1 literature, the input section (B) 3 is configured with a scanner, facsimile, etc., and is in character code format created with a computer, word processor, etc. In the case of documents, it is constructed using a computer or word processor itself.

The transfer control unit 7 is activated by the control unit 8 for the document input from the input unit (B) 3, and the document data stored in the storage unit 4 is registered in the database via the bus 6. In order to do this, the transfer control section 7 is activated, the document data is read from the storage section 4, and is transferred at high speed to the one-image processing section 5 via the bus 6.

This screen processing section 5 converts the format of the document data inputted from the input section (B) 3 into a dot-bang format and displays it on the display section 2.

The registrant instructs enlargement, reduction, scrolling, rotation, etc. from the input section (A) 1 and confirms the input document data 1
Arrange the format of document data. The instruction information is analyzed by the control unit 8 based on the position information specified by the pointing device of the input unit (A) 1 and sent to the screen processing unit 5.
Image processing is performed according to the instruction information.

Image processing in the screen processing section is executed at high speed to improve the man-machine interface. Once the document data has been confirmed and corrected, the registrant assigns a search key to the document data.
Register.

As a method of assigning a search key, a keyboard is added to the document search device shown in FIG. 2, and a character code string input from the keyboard is used as the search key ID.

A keyboard is displayed on the display section 2 without adding a keyboard, and a character code string obtained by selecting the corresponding key with the pointing device of the input section (A) 1 is used as the search key ID, or the input section (A) 1 It can be added by inputting handwritten characters and using them as a search key.

In addition, in the case of an assignment method using handwritten characters, for example,
In the order of registration of search keys, 1, 2, 3. An integer value is given as follows, and this value is automatically given as a search key ID. Furthermore, if the registrant finds it troublesome to assign a search key, the search key is not assigned and is automatically registered as a search key without a search key.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hierarchical structure of search keys, with a main heading 30, a middle heading 31, and so on. Subheading 32, document 33,
It consists of 34 pages. This page 34 corresponds to the actual document data itself, and a plurality of pages form one unified document.

Furthermore, by assigning an order relationship to each search key in the hierarchical structure, it is possible to uniquely determine the order position in the entire file and in each hierarchy for each document data, and the search is based on the order relationship. It is possible to search by flipping through the pages.

When registering a search key in a desired hierarchy, use the search operation described below to display a list of search keys that have already been registered in the relevant hierarchy, and add a new search key between the registered search keys and the search key. When inserting or registering a document,
Registration can be achieved by simultaneously specifying the order relationship by flipping through the documents, displaying and inserting the document up to the order position desired to be registered using the search operation described later.

When the search key assignment is completed as described above, the control unit 8 updates the database management table illustrated in FIG. 4, starts the transfer control unit 7, and transfers the document data to the screen processing unit 5.
The data is then transferred to the storage unit 4 via the path 6 and stored therein. In addition, the search key is also stored in the storage unit in the same way as the document data.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a database management table when the search keys are hierarchical as shown in FIG. Middle heading table 41. It is composed of a middle heading table 421, a document table 43, a page table 44, a file management table 45 for managing storage information of one document data in the storage section 4, and a head table 46.

Each search key is distinguished by a search key ID, and the hierarchical structure and order relationship of each search key is expressed by the link information of each table. The page number of one document data is determined by the number of search keys and pages in each table. . To add, delete, or change a search key, use the link information of each table, search key ID,
This is done by updating the number of search keys, number of documents, and number of pages.

A document retrieval method according to an embodiment of the present invention for the document data registered in the storage unit 4 as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

In response to an instruction from the searcher to start a search operation, the control unit 8 initializes the hierarchical state (hierarchical level of search key, order within the same hierarchy), search type, and order position at which to start the search (Sl in FIG. (Drawing numbers are omitted below).

As an initial value, the highest level (third
In the illustrated example, the main heading 30) is set, the search type is set to list search, and the search start position is set to the first page of main heading 30 (the first page of the entire file).

Here, as the search type, a list of search keys is displayed, and by selecting a search key, a list of search keys in the next hierarchy is displayed, and the operation of selecting a search key is repeated.

Through this repeated operation, it is possible to perform the above-mentioned list search to obtain desired document data, and to display only the first page of the document sequentially in the specified order direction from the specified search start position. This allows document searching to obtain desired document data.
Epages are sequentially displayed on the display unit 2 in the specified order direction from the specified search start position.

This allows page search to obtain the desired document data, and only the first page of the document can be searched from the specified search start position in the specified order direction. or 1
Specific document search that searches page by page and displays them sequentially. Enter a keyword and search for document data that matches the pre-assigned keyword from the specified search start position in the specified order direction using the document search or page search described above. to search only the first page of the document or one page at a time,
There are keyword searches that can be displayed sequentially.

When the initial setting of the search state is completed through the above initial setting S1, the database management table (Fig. 4) is searched based on the search state to execute the search (S2), and the results are displayed on the display unit 2. (S3).

That is, when the hierarchical structure of search keys is as shown in FIG. 3, a list of major headings 30 is displayed on the display section.

In addition, in order to inform the searcher of the search status at that time, the first layer status, search type, and search start position are displayed on the display unit 2 (
S4).

Here, an example of the layout of the display screen 20 of the display section 2 is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the search results are displayed in the search result display area 21, and the search status is displayed in the search operation area 22. Ru.

In the example of Fig. 5, it was assumed that the search status would be displayed using text such as search type 22A, hierarchy status 22B, document number 22G, and page number 22D. It is also possible to display the information in a way that is easier for searchers to understand.

The searcher specifies a desired operation key in the search operation area 22 of the display section 2 using the input section (A) 1 in order to perform various search operations. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation keys for specifying search rice harvesting include - List key 22E for specifying list search; Document key 22F for specifying document search;
, a page key 22G for specifying page search, and a special search key 22H for specifying other search types.

When this special search key 22H is specified, a menu list of search types other than the above, such as specific document search and keyword search, is displayed, and the searcher can specify the desired one from among them. Select search type.

List search 1 Document search and page search 1 Since these are the most basic and frequently used searches in the present invention, operation keys 22E for each search type are displayed on the display screen.
By displaying 22F and 22G individually, 2.
It becomes possible to specify the search type in one operation instead of specifying it in multiple operations, and the operability of the search operation can be improved.

In addition, by adding an arrow key indicating the order direction of the search to each of the document search and page search keys, searches can be performed within adjacent ranges, making operations easier and more convenient. Improvements can be made.

The quick-out key 22I in FIG. 5 is an operation key for quick-starting the search start position. By specifying the quick-out key, the search start position automatically moves in the direction of the arrow. The document number and page number on the display screen change. This quick entry key is also an important operation key in the search of the present invention, and by displaying it individually on the display screen so that it can be operated immediately, the operability can be improved.

Further, the end key 22J in FIG. 5 ends the search operation,
This is a key for transitioning to the initial state.

Now, returning to FIG. 2, when the searcher specifies an operation key using the input section (A) 1, the control section 8 analyzes the operation designation information from the input section (A) 1 to obtain the operation type. The search condition is determined from the search condition at that point in time, the database management table (FIG. 4) is searched based on the search condition, and the current search condition is changed according to the search result.

The control unit 8 activates the transfer control unit 7, reads the search results from the storage unit 4, transfers them to the screen processing unit 5, performs processing such as enlargement or reduction as necessary, and displays them on the display unit 2. At the same time, the changed current search status is displayed on the display section,
Waits for operation from the next searcher.

By repeating the above operations, searches can be performed in accordance with various operations. As described above, since the search operation differs depending on each operation type, the search operation for each operation type will be described in detail below.

When the searcher selects a desired search key from among the search keys listed on the display screen 2o in FIG.
Then, the process branches depending on the operation type (S5), determines that it is a transition between layers, and searches for each search key in the next layer that belongs to the selected search key based on the database management table. (S6).

In the example of FIG. 3, for example, a desired key (main heading 30
If you specify i), each subheading 31 (subheading 31 11..., subheading 31 ij,..., subheading 31 1ni) is specified as the search key for the next hierarchy.
is searched.

In addition, by providing a special upper layer transition key as a search key and displaying it in a list together with the normal search key for selection, it is possible to transition to a higher layer with the same operation as transitioning to a lower layer. Operation can be unified.

The search keys, which are the search results, are sequentially read out from the storage section 4 and displayed in list form on the display section 2 (s7). The control unit 8 changes the first layer state according to the search result, and further changes the search start position to the first page of the first document in the transitioned hierarchical state (in the above example, the first page of 11 of 31). do(
S8), (S9), Change the display of the hierarchical status 1 document number and page number on the display section according to the change result (S4
).

When the searcher selects the list key 1 document key, page key, or special search key, the control unit 8 selects the list key 1 document key, page key, or special search key.

It determines that the search type is specified, searches the database management table based on the search start position, executes the search for the specified search type, and displays the search results (810-51).
2).

When the search type is a list search, if the list display state is displayed when the search type is specified, nothing is done and the search state remains unchanged, and if the search state is 1 document data display state, it is set to 1.
Each search key belonging to the hierarchy above the displayed document (subheading 32 in the example of FIG. 3) is searched and displayed in a list.In the example of FIG. .

If a search key is not assigned, the dates accumulated in the storage section 4 are displayed in a list), and the hierarchical state is changed (
S13).

Also, if the search type is document key, the first page of the document at the search start position is the page key, and if the search type is a special search key, the first page of the document at the search start position is The first page of the document that matches the search condition closest to the search condition is searched forward and displayed. 5 If the search type is specified and the list is displayed, the search start position The first page belonging to the key is searched and displayed, and the hierarchical state is changed to document (S13). The change result of the hierarchical state is displayed on the 1 display section 2.

When the searcher selects the arrow key added to the list key 22E, document key 22F, and page key 22G,
The control unit 8 determines that the order is specified.

From the search start position, depending on the search type at that time.

The database management table is searched in the specified order direction, and the search results are displayed (S14).

(S15).

With the order designation key, you can search for the steps with one designation, and flip through them by repeating the key designation. The search start position is changed according to the search result based on the order specification (S16).

If the list is displayed when the order specification key is specified, each search key in the same hierarchy as the displayed list, a different upper hierarchy, and the closest in the specified order direction. is searched and displayed in a list.

In the example of FIG. 3, for example, a list of subheadings 31 belonging to i of main heading 3o (11 of subheading 31...
Subheading 31 lj+..., subheading 31 1
When the forward order designation key is designated while ni) is being displayed, the subheadings 31 belonging to the major heading 30(i+1) are retrieved and displayed as a list.

As mentioned above, if the list is displayed when the order specification key is specified, the hierarchical state is changed and the search start position is changed to the first page of the searched list (S1
6), (S17), the search state display on the display unit 2 is changed according to the change result of the search state.

When the searcher selects the early search key 22I, the control unit 8 determines that the search start position is specified for early search, and automatically starts the search in the specified order direction while the specified key is pressed. The position is stepped and changed to high speed (S18).

By changing the document number and page number displayed on the display unit 2 in conjunction with the change in the search start position,
Improves operability. If the list is displayed when the quick output key is specified, the specified It is automatically moved in the order direction and the hierarchical state is changed at high speed (S19). By changing the value of the hierarchy status and the value of the search start position (the first page of the first document of the hierarchy) on the display unit 2 in conjunction with the change of the hierarchy status, the operability can be improved as described above.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, there are three types of transitions between layers that determine search conditions, reaping of the search, and order direction of the search.
By using two operations and an operation to quickly select the search start position, which determines the search start position, it is possible to improve the operability not only for searches in which normal search keys are sequentially specified, but also for flipping searches that people perform when examining files. This method has the advantage of providing an excellent document retrieval method using a man-machine interface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an operation flow according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the block configuration of a document retrieval device in which the present invention is implemented, and FIG. 3 is an example of a hierarchical structure of search keys. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a database management table for managing document data in the control section 8 of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is a diagram showing an example of a screen layout. 1...Input section (A), 2...Display section, 3
. . . input section (B), 4 . . . storage section, 5. -- screen processing section 56 . . . bus, 7.・Transfer control unit,
8...control unit, 20...display screen of display unit 2, 2
1...Search result display area, 22...Search operation area, 4o...Large heading table, 41...Middle Jl table, 42...Small heading table, 43...Document table, 44...page table, 45...
File management table, 46...head table.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a document retrieval device having a document data storage and display unit, a means for managing document data in a hierarchical structure and order relationship by structuring search keys in a hierarchy and giving an order relationship to the search keys in the same hierarchy; a first operation means for selecting a transition between the search types; a second operation means for directly selecting a frequently used one when selecting a search type; and a fourth operation means for directly selecting a fourth operation means; , a third operation means for specifying the order direction of the search, a fourth operation means for quickly determining the order position at which the search is to be started, and each time the operation of any one of the first to third operation means is performed. using the document data management means to perform a search using the ordinal position specified by the fourth operation means as a starting point according to the search conditions determined by the combination of the first to third operation means;
means for reading the search results from the storage section and displaying them on the display section; and means for displaying the current search state (hierarchy, search type, ordinal position) determined by the first to fourth operating means on the display section. A document retrieval method characterized by comprising: