JPH04273574A - Classified storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To flexible cope with the addition of a classification by providing an 8-bit area for specifying the classification, for instance, the names of newspapers and by corresponding 1-7-bit to each newspaper. CONSTITUTION:An 8-bit area is prepared as a classification table and the 1st-7th bit is corresponded to each one classification. A classification is corresponded to every bit, for instance, A newspaper is when 1 is stood as a 1st bit and B newspaper is when 1 is stood as a second bit. Thus, the classification can be made by standing 1 as the pertinent bit. As the expansion flag bit is provided in the classification table, the classification table can be expanded by standing 1 for this bit. For instance, when 1 is stood by defining the 8th bit as an expansion flag bit, the next 8-bit is secured as the area in the expansion classification table.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a classification storage device for storing classifications of information such as newspaper company names and genres.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Newspapers have traditionally been used as information transmission media, and the newspaper information published in them plays an important role as current event information. This newspaper information can be classified by source (newspaper company) of the information and into genres such as politics, economics, and sports. Therefore, in creating a database of newspaper information, it is essential to store such classifications together with the information contents.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, once such classification is determined, it is difficult to change it. In other words, if there is an addition to this classification, the overall structure of the data must be changed, and if the addition is anticipated in advance and a margin is created in the data structure, there is a problem that data processing cannot be made more efficient. There was a point.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a classification storage device that can flexibly deal with changes in classification data.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A classification storage device according to the present invention includes a classification table section having a predetermined number of bits and specifying a corresponding classification for each bit; An expansion flag bit that indicates whether or not the table has been expanded; an expansion classification table section that is provided when this expansion flag bit is set and that specifies the corresponding classification for each bit; and an expanded classification table section that identifies the expanded classification name. It is characterized by having an extended classification name storage section for storing extended classification names.

[0006]

[Operation] According to the classification storage device according to the present invention, an 8-bit area is prepared as a classification table. And the first ~
Each 7th bit corresponds to one classification. For example, if the first bit is set to 1, then A newspaper is set, and if the second bit is set to 1, it is B newspaper, and so on, each bit corresponds to one classification. Therefore, the classification can be specified by setting the corresponding bit to 1. In addition, an extended flag bit is provided in the classification table.
By setting this bit to 1, the classification table is expanded. For example, if the 8th bit is an extended flag bit and 1 is set here, the next 8 bits are reserved as an area for the extended classification table. Therefore, eight additional classifications can be specified. Further, if the 8th bit of the extended classification table is set as an extended flag bit, it is possible to add as many classification tables as necessary in groups of 7. Furthermore, since the classification name corresponding to the expanded area can be stored in the extended classification name storage section, the expanded classification can be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly respond to the addition of classifications, etc.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Schematic Structure of Information Transmission System FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the schematic structure of an information transmission system using this classification storage device. As the information publishing department, multiple newspaper companies (A~
There are 100 (6 newspaper companies in F), and each newspaper company has 100
and an information vending machine 200 are connected through a public telephone line. Although only six information vending machines 200 are shown in this figure, the information vending machines 200 are installed in stations, etc., and the number is expected to be in the hundreds of thousands.

[0009]The user inserts a recording card (IC card, especially RAM card) 300 into the information vending machine 200.
By attaching the , the two are electrically connected. Here, the user inserts money or a prepaid card into the information vending machine 200 and pays for obtaining the information. Further, the RAM card 300 is connected to a card reader 4.
00, and this card reader 400 has an LCD (liquid crystal display) as a display section.

[0010] In this system, newspaper information transmitted from a newspaper company 100 is input to each information vending machine 200 through a public telephone line and stored therein. The user attaches the RAM card 300 to the information vending machine 200 and has information written to the RAM card 300 by paying a fee. Then, by inserting this RAM card 300 into the card reader 400 and displaying the obtained information on the LCD of the card reader 400, the user can read the newspaper.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a newspaper company 100 and an information vending machine 200, which are information publishing departments.

Configuration of Information Publishing Department In FIG. 2, a newspaper company 100 has a data storage section 102 that stores newspaper information, a computer 104 that controls input/output, processing, etc. of the newspaper information, and a computer 104 that transmits necessary newspaper information through a public line. It consists of a communication section 106 that sends data to the outside. Information obtained by the newspaper company through various means is input into the computer 104 using various input devices (for example, a keyboard), and is stored in the newspaper data section 102. The computer 104 sends updated data with new content to the communication line via the communication unit 106 at an appropriate frequency (for example, every four hours). Normally, a public line is used as this communication line, so each information vending machine 200 is individually connected to the line to transmit data.

Configuration of the information vending machine The information vending machine 200 includes a memory 204 for storing newspaper data sent to a communication section 202 that performs reception processing, a ROM 206 for storing programs for various operations, and a charger. a coin mechanism section 208 that detects and stores coins, a prepaid card processing section 210 that performs payment processing for prepaid cards, and a key section 21 that is an operating means for canceling inserted charges, etc.
2. It consists of a display section 214 that displays the input amount, etc., a RAM card mounting section 216 into which a RAM card for writing data is mounted, and a CPU 218 that controls each section. Newspaper information sent from the newspaper company 100 through the line is stored in the memory 204 via the communication section 202.

Structure of Transmitted Data The data format of the newspaper information transmitted from the newspaper company 100 to the information vending machine 200 is shown in FIG. In this way, data (STX, ETX) indicating the beginning and end of the transfer data (newspaper information) is recorded in the first and last bytes, respectively.

[0015] The data length of this transfer data is recorded in the second to third (2 bytes) bytes, and date data is recorded in the fourth to sixth bytes (3 bytes). Then, in the seventh byte (1 byte) following this date data, identification data of the newspaper company is recorded.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the first four bits of this identification data indicate the newspaper company classification code; in this example, the first bit indicates general paper, the second bit indicates specialty paper, and the third bit indicates represents the block paper, and the 4th bit represents the local paper. Therefore, by setting one of the bits to 1, the classification of the newspaper company can be set. and,
The next 5 to 8 (4) bits indicate the number within the newspaper company's classification code. This makes it possible to identify 16 newspaper companies for each category. Note that in this example, the number in the classification code of the newspaper company is represented by 4 bits, but the number of bits may be increased.

Next, in the eighth byte (1 byte) following the newspaper company identification data, a genre code, which is a classification of the content of the article, is recorded. In this example, the 8 bits are 1 general, 2 political, 3 economic, 4 international, 5 social,
It is divided into 6 personnel, 7 sports, and 8 expansion bits. Therefore, by setting one of bits 1 to 7 to 1, the genre can be specified.

[0018] Here, the extension bit of this 8th bit is set to 1.
If it stands, it indicates that the next 1 byte is reserved as an area for genre code, and in this case, the area for genre code becomes 2 bytes. Then, seven additional genres can be identified using the expanded one byte. Note that the expanded 1-byte 8
The second bit is also an extension bit, which allows the genre code to be further extended.

[0019] The next two bytes of this genre code (the 9th and 10th bytes if the genre code is not extended) have a newspaper data length area, and following this, variable length newspaper data is recorded. Ru.

[0020] Here, newspaper data sent from one newspaper company often consists of a plurality of articles. In this case, if the genres of the articles are different, 1 is set for the plurality of genre codes. Then, the article data is arranged in the order of genre, and at the end of the article of one genre, a code indicating the end of the genre (for example, ETB
) and then continue with articles in other genres. This allows multiple articles to be sent at the same time, which can be recognized by the information vending machine.

Newspaper information sent from the newspaper company 100 is in the format described above, and is sent to the communication section 202 of the information vending machine 200 via a public line, and is stored in the memory 204.
is memorized.

Memory Layout of Information Vending Machine Next, the layout of the memory 204 of the information vending machine 200 is shown in FIG.
~Explained based on FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, the memory 204 has a data area of information management addresses. The structure of this information management address is shown in FIG. In this way, the information management address is
Memory 204 for service information and each newspaper article data
The data start address and end address above are each written in 4 bits. Therefore, service information and article data can be read individually using this information management address.

Furthermore, the date, informer code, and genre code are stored at the beginning of each article. This date and informant code are exactly the same as the date and newspaper company identification data shown in the data transfer format sent from the newspaper company, but the genre code is a number (1 byte) that indicates the order within the genre code. It consists of this is,
This is because a genre code is provided for each item of data in the information vending machine 200, so the genre of the information can be specified using this number.

Next, in the service information column, as shown in FIG. 7, data for specifying the newspaper and genre is stored. Further, the address of this service information is written in the start address of the first data and the end address of the first data of the information management address, and reading is controlled by this column.

[0026] That is, newspaper company name part (minimum 4 bytes)
It consists of four parts: , extended newspaper company name data section (variable length), genre section (minimum 1 byte), and extended genre name section (variable length). The newspaper company name section corresponds to the above-mentioned classification of newspaper companies, and consists of four blocks: general newspapers,
It is divided into specialty papers, block papers, and local papers, and if a newspaper company is registered, 1 is set in the corresponding bit. Furthermore, the 8th bit of each block is an extension bit, and by setting 1 to this 8th bit, the next 1 byte will represent the data of that block. Therefore, seven more newspaper companies can be registered using the 1st to 7th bits of the next byte. Note that the service information department does not record specific newspaper company names. This is because the name of the newspaper company in the first byte of each block is known in advance, so that data cannot be accessed by RO.
This is because it can be stored in advance in the M206 or the like.

However, when setting the extension bit to 1 and adding a newspaper company, the ROM20
6 cannot be stored in memory. Therefore, the expanded newspaper company in this case is recorded as the name of the expanded newspaper company in the expanded newspaper company data section.

[0028] Regarding the registration of the extended newspaper company and extended genre, when a new newspaper company or new genre article is sent, the extended data may be automatically recorded in the service information storage section. , the newspaper company or the administrator of this information transmission system transmits extended data in a specific format for updating to each information vending machine 200, and each information vending machine 200 rewrites the service information accordingly. Also good.

RAM card configuration information The RAM card 300 installed in the RAM card installation section 216 of the vending machine 200 has the configuration shown in FIG. That is, the RAM card 300 has a pin socket part 302 for connecting to the RAM card mounting part 216, a RAM 304 for storing information, and a battery circuit 306 for supplying power to maintain the memory contents of the RAM 304. This is the same size as a regular credit card.

[0030] Then, as described above, the information vending machine 2
The RAM card 300 is inserted into the RAM card mounting section 216 of 00.
By installing this, the internal data bus of the information vending machine 200 and the RAM 304 are connected. Therefore, the data output from the information vending machine 200 is stored in the R of the RAM card 300.
Written to AM304.

Here, the RAM 30 of the RAM card 300
4 stores data with a layout exactly the same as that in the information vending machine 200 shown in FIG. but,
In the case of service information in the RAM 304 of the RAM card 300, 1 is not set for registered newspaper companies and genres, but 1 is set only for newspaper companies and genres that are supplied (or received) from the information vending machine 200. Are standing. The newspaper data consists only of articles supplied from the information vending machine 200.

Note that the method of using the extension bits, storing the extended newspaper company name, etc. is exactly the same as that of the information vending machine 200. Also, the version of this service information (
(update date, etc.) is also written as part of the service information.

Configuration of Card Reader As shown in FIG. 10, the card reader 400 includes a pin socket section 402 to which the pin socket section 302 of the RAM card 300 is connected, a ROM 404 that stores programs for various operations, newspaper data, etc. RAM that stores the data of
406, a key section 408 for inputting various instructions, a display section 410 for displaying data, a battery 412 for supplying power for operation, and a CPU 4 for controlling each section.
It consists of 14.

When the user uses the card reader 400, the user first attaches the RAM card 200 to the card reader 400. The card reader 400 has a RAM
When the card 300 is installed, the internal ROM 40
Display the menu screen according to the program stored in 4. This menu screen has at least 1. Condition input 2. There are two displays, one of which is selected by operating the key unit 408.

Input of conditions When the user inputs the information he/she wants to obtain, first 1. Select condition input. As a result, the display section 410 of the card reader 400 becomes a condition input screen, and selectable newspaper company names are displayed. This is card reader 4
This is done by displaying both the pre-known newspaper company name stored in the ROM 404 in the card 300 and the expanded newspaper company name stored in the RAM 304 in the card 300. Then, by operating the key unit 408, one or more newspapers are selected. This selection sets the corresponding bit in the service information format of the RAM card 300 to 1. That is, when newspaper E is selected, the fifth bit of the first byte is set to 1. Further, the extension bit is 1, and the newspaper in the 2nd bit of the 2nd byte is registered, and when this is selected, 1 is set in that bit.

[0036] When the newspaper selection is completed in this way, the screen moves to the next genre selection screen in response to a key operation. On this genre selection screen, the genre name and RA stored in advance in the ROM 404 are displayed in the same way as in the above case.
Both extended genre names stored in M card 300 are displayed. Therefore, by selecting a desired genre in the same manner, the corresponding bit is set to 1. For example, if you want data on genre economy and society for general newspapers A and D, the first and fourth bits of general newspaper are set to 1, and the third and fifth bits of genre are set to 1 in the service information. In this way, conditions regarding the information desired to be obtained can be input and stored in the service information column of the RAM card 300.

Obtaining information from information vending machine Information vending machine 2
If you want to obtain information from 00, press R after entering the conditions.
AM card 300 is removed from card reader 400 and inserted into information vending machine 200. As a result, the information vending machine 200 recognizes the search condition from the service information data in the RAM card 300, searches the memory 204 according to this search condition, and extracts the corresponding article.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the RAM card 300 is inserted, the first
Store the byte in the work area of CPU 218. Then, for 1 byte of data in this work area, the first
It is determined whether the bit is set to 1 or not. If 1 is set, a variable indicating the corresponding newspaper name is set to 1. Furthermore, if the 8th bit is set to 1, the next 1 byte is read into the work area, and it is determined whether or not it is 1 in order from the 1st bit. And 1
is set, the corresponding array variable E(i) is set to 1. Note that i is a variable corresponding to the first to eighth bits and is an integer from 0 to 7.

In this way, the variable indicating the selected newspaper name can be set to 1. Therefore, the newspaper data having the informant code corresponding to this variable is stored in the memory 20.
By searching from 4, it is possible to extract the newspaper data of the specified newspaper. In addition, when providing information, compensation is required, so information vending machines 2
00 requires payment of fees with coins or prepaid cards. Payment of fees is detected by the coin mechanism unit 208 or prepaid card processing unit 210, and the CPU 2
18 recognizes the payment of the fee, the extracted data is written to the RAM 304 of the RAM card 300. Therefore, in the RAM card 300 after writing, only the newspaper data corresponding to the service information is recorded after the information management address. Note that the fee may be changed depending on the amount of information.

Displaying information in the RAM card The RAM card 300 with data written in this way is inserted into the card reader 400 to read the newspaper article. ．． Select display. This allows the card reader 400 to
The service information in the M card 300 is read and the information written therein is displayed on the display section 410. Then, by operating the key section 408, the stored information is sequentially displayed. If the card reader 400 is equipped with a heading display function, data sorting function, and search function, it will be possible to select and read the desired newspaper data from among the stored newspaper data. .

Rewriting of Service Information Here, the information vending machine 200 stores the version of its service information, and the version is also recorded in the service information of the RAM card 300. Therefore, when selling information, the information vending machine 200 reads the version of the service information in the inserted RAM card 300, and if it is an old version, it overwrites it with a new version. In this case, write with all bits other than the extension bits cleared. Therefore, when purchasing information, data about these new newspaper companies and genres will be automatically recorded on the card 300, and when the reader sets it in the card reader, it will be displayed as having been added. Ru. Therefore, you will be able to receive the new service from the next time onwards.

[0042]

As described above, according to the classification storage device according to the present invention, the classification table can be expanded using the expansion flag, and addition of classifications can be flexibly handled.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an information publishing department (newspaper company) and an information vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a data format transferred between a newspaper company and an information vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of identification data.

FIG. 5 is a memory layout diagram inside the information vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of information management addresses.

FIG. 7 is a layout diagram of service information.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a RAM card (recording card).

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a card reader.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of newspaper data search.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Newspaper company (information publishing department) 200 Information vending machine 204 Memory 216 RAM card mounting section 300 RAM card (recording card) 304 RA
M 400 Card reader 406 RAM 408 Key section 410 Display section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A classification storage device for storing classifications of information, comprising a classification table section having a predetermined number of bits and specifying a corresponding classification for each bit; An expansion flag bit that indicates whether or not the table has been expanded; an expansion classification table section that is provided when this expansion flag bit is set and that specifies the corresponding classification for each bit; and an expanded classification table section that identifies the expanded classification name. A classification storage device comprising: an extended classification name storage section for storing extended classification names.