JPH06215048A - Image information retrieving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform retrieval at a high speed by retrieving image information stored in a 1st information storage means based on the retrieval information stored in a 2nd information storage means. CONSTITUTION:Each time a user inserts a disk 24 into an automatic disk changer unit 2, the image retrieval information is transferred from the disk 24 to a hard disk 20. Consequently, when plural disks 24 are loaded in the automatic disk changer unit 2, the image retrieval information on the hard disk 20 is transferred to the every disk. Once an operator selects a specific document, a CPU 11 judges an image which starts with a specific sector from the information stored on the hard disk 20 and carries an optical disk 24 put in a disk slot No.1 by a disk conveyance part 22 to a disk drive 21. Read image information is transferred to a VRAM 14 through an interface and displayed on a CRT 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information retrieval device for image electronic files and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional well-known electronic file device for storing image data on an optical disk for storing an image stores the image data on a removable optical disk and retrieves the image data. The data is stored, and the image data is searched based on the search data.

With this configuration, even if the optical disk is replaced with another optical disk, the search can be performed based on the search data corresponding to the optical disk.

By the way, a configuration is conceivable in which a plurality of optical disks can be automatically converted by using an auto disk changer.

[0005]

However, in order to search from a plurality of optical disks, the user instructs the automatic disk changer to select an appropriate optical disk and moves the optical disk to the disk drive in the electronic file. Then, based on the search data stored in the optical disk, the image to be searched must be searched for in the optical disk. If it is determined that there is no image to be searched on the selected optical disc, the user must give an instruction to select another optical disc and continue the above-mentioned search, and there are many optical discs stored in the auto disc changer. The more it is, the more time-consuming it takes.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a first information recording means for storing image information and search information for searching the image information, and a first information recording means. A transfer means for transferring the search information stored in the first information recording means to the second information recording means when the means is loaded; and a first means based on the search information stored in the second information recording means. An image information search device, comprising: a search unit that searches image information stored in one information recording unit.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an image information retrieval apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 is a CPU for controlling the image information retrieval apparatus, which uses a general-purpose computer.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an auto change disk unit which stores a plurality of optical disks, selects an arbitrary optical disk stored and reads out information stored in the optical disk.
An internal perspective view of the auto change disc unit 2 is shown in FIG.

The automatic change disc unit 2 drives the disc 24 to read / write information, a disc slot 26 for storing a plurality of optical discs 24, and inserts / removes optical discs into / from the automatic change disc unit 2. Opening 2 for
5. It has a disc transport unit 22 for transporting an optical disc between the disc slot 26 and the disc drive 21. Further, it has an interface section 23 for controlling the disk transport section 22 and the disk drive 21 from the outside. The optical disc 24 stores image information and, as shown in FIG. 3, correspondence information between index data for searching desired image information and a storage position of the image information on the disc. FIG. 4 shows search information stored in another disc in the auto change disc unit 2.

When the user inserts the disk 24 into the automatic change disk unit 2 and gives an instruction to insert the disk from the keyboard 17, the CPU 11 receives the instruction and opens the disk transport section 22 through the interfaces 15 and 23. The optical disc 24 inserted into the optical disc 25 is instructed to be conveyed to the disc drive 21. At the same time, the CPU 11 knows which slot is currently empty by a disc detection sensor (not shown) provided in each disc slot 26, and determines which disc slot the optical disc 24 is stored in.

Immediately after the disk 24 is conveyed to the disk drive 21, the CPU 11 reads out the image search information stored in the disk 24 and transfers it to the hard disk 20 via the disk interface 19. at the same time,
The disk slot number determined earlier is written in the hard disk 20 corresponding to each document. After that, the disc 24 is transported to the disc slot determined previously.

Each time the user inserts the disc 24 into the auto change disc unit 2, the image retrieval information is transferred from the disc 24 to the hard disc 20, so that a plurality of discs 24 are stored in the auto change disc unit 2. When stored, the image search information in the hard disk 20 is spread over a plurality of disks. As shown in FIG. 5, the hard disk 20 stores the index, the position of the disk slot in which the disk in which the image is recorded is stored, and the correspondence information with the storage position of the image information in the disk. ing.

These operations are realized by the CPU 11 controlling according to the control code in the ROM 12.

When the operator searches for an image, the CPU 1
The keyboard 17 connected to is operated.

The operator inputs index information for searching as shown in FIG. 6 on the index input screen displayed on the CRT 18. “*” Means an arbitrary character string, and in FIG. 6, it is instructed to search for index information starting with “FIG_”. The CPU 11 performs the search by referring to the hard disk 20 in which the image search information of a plurality of disks as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to display on the CRT 18 the result of searching for all the discs stored in the automatic change disc unit 2 with the input index. Then, when the operator looks at the display shown in FIG. 7 and selects a specific document, for example, “FIG_400”, the CPU 11 is an image starting from the 1000th sector of the disk slot 1 from the information stored in the hard disk 20. It is determined that the optical disk 24 stored in the disk slot No. 1 with respect to the disk transport unit 22.
To the disk drive 21.

After that, the disk drive 21
The image information starting from the 00 sector is read, and the read image information is transferred to the VRAM 14 which is a memory for image display via the interface 15 and CR
It is displayed on the CRT 18 under the control of the T controller.

Since it is necessary to always keep search information for all the disks in the automatic change disk unit 2 in the hard disk 20, a specific disk is transferred from the automatic change disk unit 2 to the outside of the automatic change disk unit 2. When ejecting, the operator uses the keyboard 17 to determine which disc to eject.
If the CPU 11 is instructed to eject the optical disk 24 of the disk slot 0, the CPU 11 displays the image search information in the hard disk 20, that is, the image search information of the portion indicated by 30 in FIG. At the same time as the deletion, the disk transport unit is instructed to transport the optical disk 24 with the disk slot 0 to the opening 25.

By the control described above, the operator can display a desired image only by inputting the index information without being aware of the plurality of discs in the automatic change disc unit 2.

The search information may be stored in a memory (not shown) included in the CPU 1. In that case, a non-volatile memory such as a memory provided with a battery is preferable.

Next, a second embodiment for handling the optical disk 24 having the A side and the B side will be described.

FIG. 8 shows an external view of the optical disc 24. The optical disc 24 thus has the A side / B side.

Both the image information and the search information for searching the image information are stored on both sides A and B of the optical disc 24.

In addition, in a predetermined area of the optical disk 24, A
Information indicating whether the surface or the B surface is written. The disc drive 21 is configured so that when the disc drive 21 is loaded with the side A of the disc facing upward, the information of the side A is obtained, and when the side B is oriented upward, the information of the side B is obtained.
The automatic change disk unit 2 has a surface rotation motor 2
7 is provided, and the optical disc 24 is provided in the disc drive 21.
It is designed so that both A and B sides of can be loaded. Surface information is also stored in the hard disk 20 when the optical disk 24 is loaded.

When the optical disk 24 having sides A and B is loaded, first, the above-mentioned image retrieval information is read out in the inserted state, and at the same time, the surface information on the determined area is also stored on the hard disk 20. Write for each document. After that, the disk 24 is taken out from the disk drive 21, the surface rotation motor 27 is driven, and the opposite surface is turned to the upper side.
Export to. After that, it is transported to a predetermined disk slot.

Therefore, when a plurality of discs 24 are stored in the automatic change disc unit 2, the image search information in the hard disc 20 is spread over both sides of the plurality of discs, as shown in FIG. The index and the position and surface information of the disk slot where the disk on which the image is recorded is stored,
Further, it becomes correspondence information with the storage position of the image information in the disc.

With this configuration, when performing subsequent searches, the CPU 11 reads the image search information as shown in FIG. 9 to perform a search by using indexes on both sides of a plurality of disks. It becomes possible.

When ejecting a disc, the A of the disc to be ejected in the hard disk 20
The CPU 11 deletes the search information for B and both sides.

Here, in the present embodiment, the image search information for both surfaces is written in the hard disk 20 based on the surface information written in a predetermined area of the optical disk 24, but the information is written on the optical disk 24. If there is no such surface information, simply by inserting the auto change disk unit 2 in the initial state, the upper side / the lower side, it is possible to cover both sides of a plurality of disks as shown in FIG. The image search information may be constructed.

In this embodiment, the surface information is recorded on the disc 2
In case of having it on the disk 4, when it is stored in the disk slot, the side A must be the upper side, or in the hard disk 20, either side A / B is the upper side and the side is stored in the disk slot. Remember what you do.

If the surface information is not stored on the disk 24, when storing it in the disk slot, the upper side in the first state when it is inserted into the automatic change disk unit 2 is set to the upper side, or Alternatively, it is stored in the hard disk 20 whether the upper side in the initial state of being inserted into the automatic change disk unit 2 is the upper side and is stored in the disk slot, or vice versa.

The above-mentioned operations are realized by the CPU 11 controlling according to the control code in the ROM 12.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an image information retrieval apparatus of the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, a hard disk 28 is provided inside the automatic change disk unit 2.

According to this embodiment, since the hard disk 28 is built in the automatic change disk unit 2, all the image information and the search information can be completed in the automatic change disk unit 2.

Therefore, there is an advantage that other image retrieval information can be handled in the same manner only by exchanging the automatic change disc unit 2 itself. Also, with this configuration, confidentiality management and the like can be easily performed. Then, by adding a confidentiality function such as a well-known password method to the entire auto change disk unit 2, not only the image itself but also the search information can be easily targeted for confidentiality.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the first information recording means is loaded, the search information stored in the first information recording means is transferred to the second information recording means, and based on the search information stored in the second information recording means. Since the image information stored in the first information recording means is searched for, a plurality of first information recording means are provided, and when searching from among them, the search can be performed easily and at high speed. become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an automatic change disc unit 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing search information stored in an optical disc 24.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing search information stored in another optical disc 24.

5 is a diagram showing search information stored in a hard disk 20. FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a search information input screen displayed on the CRT 18. FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a search result screen displayed on the CRT 18. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an external view of the disk 24.

9 is a diagram showing search information stored in a hard disk 20. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an external view of an automatic change disc unit 2 of a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU 20 Hard Disk 21 Disk Drive 22 Disk Transport Section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first information recording means for storing image information and search information for searching the image information, which is stored in the first information recording means when the first information recording means is loaded. Transfer means for transferring the searched information stored in the second information recording means, and searching the image information stored in the first information recording means on the basis of the searched information stored in the second information recording means. An image information search apparatus comprising: a search unit.