JPH07182355A - Information storage and retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently store a large amount of information and make it possible to perform speedy retrieval by digitizing a large amount of information that plural users have, storing the information thorugh a server for retrieval, and connecting user terminals to the server for retrieval through a communication line. CONSTITUTION:A data entry means 1 reads and digitizes a list from a high- speed data input means 11, sends an image information part and a character information part to the server 21 for retrieval, and learns the character information part to generate a learning file. Then, the learning file and a file for unprocessed information are stored in a storage device 22b from the server 21 for retrieval through a server 22a for data management. When the list is required, a user terminal 3 sends a message to the server 21 for retrieval and then the server 21 for retrieval commands a data storage means 22 to take the list out. The server 22a for retrieval reads the data file of the list, etc., out of the storage device 22b and retrieves the learning file to read out the list.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information storage / retrieval system capable of storing digitized information and allowing a user to retrieve necessary information at any time, and particularly to store a large amount of information held by a plurality of users. The present invention relates to an information storage / retrieval system capable of storing and promptly searching or transferring files.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Finance / insurance companies, credit companies, etc. have a large amount of customer data, contract documents, etc., and airline companies, etc. have a large amount of passenger lists. On the other hand, some of these become unnecessary as time passes. As a result of the yearly accumulation, the amount of unnecessary data, documents, etc. held by financial and insurance companies is enormous.

By the way, these data and documents may need to be used again in-house after a while, and those documents and others must be submitted upon request from a public institution. It may not be necessary in some cases. In such a case, it is not only a waste of space to keep all the documents etc. in-house, but there is also a problem in terms of disaster countermeasures. Therefore, conventionally, a warehouse having a structure excellent in fire resistance is provided in a place geographically distant from the office to store these documents and the like.

[0004]

However, if a large amount of documents are stored in the warehouse as they are, the space efficiency in the warehouse is inferior, and it takes a lot of time and effort to find a required document. On the other hand, it is difficult to digitize all the data in-house. Further, in the case of confidential information such as customer data and contract documents, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the storage method.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can efficiently store a large amount of information and can quickly retrieve or transfer files even when necessary. The purpose is to provide a search system. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information storage / retrieval system that efficiently digitizes information. Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide an information storage / retrieval system capable of storing / retrieving information while ensuring the confidentiality of information and further transferring files.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the information storage / retrieval system of the present invention provides a data entry means for digitizing a large amount of information held by a plurality of users and a digitized information. It is characterized by comprising a data storage means for storing it via the search server and a user terminal connected to the search server via a communication line. As the data entry means, it is preferable to provide high-speed data input means separately from the user terminal. Furthermore, as a search server,
Data learning means for learning digitized information in advance and sending it to the data storage means, and / or index creation means for creating an index of the digitized information and registering it in the data storage means Is preferred. Further, the search server preferably has a fuzzy search function and / or an encryption means for encrypting the read information. Correspondingly, it is preferable that the user terminal has a decryption means for decrypting the encrypted information transmitted from the data storage means via the search server.

[0007]

The information digitized by the data entry means is sent to the search server, via which the information is sent to the data storage means and stored therein. At this time, if a search server having a data learning means is used, the information is learned and then sent to the data storage means. If a search server having an index creating means is used, an index corresponding to the information is created. Then, the information is registered in the data storage means. When the user needs specific information, the user terminal accesses the search server and reads the specific information from the data storage means via the search server.

If high-speed data input means is used as the data entry means, a large amount of information can be digitized quickly. If a search server having a fuzzy search function is used, a predetermined search can be performed even if the input data is not perfect. Further, as a search server, it has an encryption means for encrypting the read information,
If a user terminal having a decryption means is used, the confidentiality of information is improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The information storage / retrieval system of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information storage / retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a data entry center, 2 is a data storage / retrieval center, and 3 is a user terminal.

The data entry center 1 comprises a high speed data input means 11 which is a data entry means. The high-speed data input means 11 is a means for reading and digitizing character information and graphic information displayed on a large amount of forms and the like entrusted by a plurality of users at high speed, and high-speed OCR or the like can be used.

Since this high-speed OCR processes a large amount of information, it is preferable that it can be read as fast as possible, and if it can be read at high speed, it is not always necessary to read all the character portions accurately. For example, the entire information including figures and characters is read as an image, and then the character portion is read as the character information, that is, the image information portion and the character information portion are separately read, What can send the part and the character information part together to the search server 21 (for example, the product name "TOM / BANCTEC 5000 series (model 5500 manufactured by Toyo Officemation Co., Ltd.)
/ 5700) ”or“ Scan-Optics series 9000 ”) enables high-speed reading. In addition, if the one having the fuzzy search function or the like is used at the time of searching, no trouble will occur at the time of searching.

Specifically, the search server 21 described later,
When searching based on learned text information, if it has a fuzzy search function, it is possible to search for certain information even if the read text information is not accurate. By displaying not only the image information but also the image information, the user can check not only the character information but also the entire image information to determine whether or not the information is the target information.

As described above, it is preferable that the data entry means has a high speed. However, if the data entry center 1 has a sufficient processing time,
It is needless to say that a normal OCR or key input means may be used, and these may be used together with the high speed data input means 11 as required.

The data entry center 1 is provided at a location independent of the user terminal 3 because a plurality of users make information digitization requests. However, there is no problem even if it is provided on the same site or building as the data storage / retrieval center 2 provided in a warehouse or the like independent of the user terminal 3.

Further, if each user has a processing capability,
Data entry center 1 having data entry means
Even if it is not provided separately, each user terminal 3 or another computer owned by the user is used as a data entry means, information is input from each user terminal 3 etc. and digitized, and a data storage / retrieval center is provided. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the data is directly transmitted to the communication device 2.

The data storage / search center 2 comprises a search server 21 and a data storage means 22, and is provided separately from the user terminal 3 as described above. The search server 21 of the present embodiment has a data learning means for learning the whole sentence of the character information part of the information read from the high-speed data input means 11, and the learning file and the data file created after learning are It has a function of sending to the data storage means 22 and a function of searching the information stored in the data storage means 22. It is preferable that the search server 21 has a function capable of searching a large amount of information at high speed. Further, as described above, the character information read from the form or the like by the high-speed data input means 11 may be incomplete in some cases, and therefore, it is more preferable that the fuzzy search function be provided. As the search server 21 that satisfies these conditions, for example, a server equipped with the ultra-high-speed full-text search software “NSEARCH” (trademark) manufactured by Nippon Steel Corporation can be used.

When the search target item is not the full text but can be limited to a specific item, as the search server 21,
Instead of the above-mentioned data learning means, there is provided one having an index creating means for creating an index for the information sent from the data entry center 1 and then having a function of registering the information in the data storage means 22. You may use. It goes without saying that the search server 21 may be used which has both the data learning means and the index creating means and can use either means by selection. Also, if the user has already created the index,
The index and information are read by the search server and registered in the data storage means 22.

Further, as the search server 21,
It is preferable to have a function of encrypting character information and image information after learning or creating an index. As a result, it is possible to prevent the information from being stolen or falsified by a third party. The encryption means is not particularly limited, and an arbitrary encryption program may be incorporated in the search server 21, or the random number used in this encryption program may be different each time encryption is executed. An encryption device (not shown) having such a function may be externally attached. The encryption device may be, for example, a product name “SC” manufactured by Laurel Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd.
D "can be used.

The data storage means 22 is a search server 21.
And a data management server 22a for exchanging information, and a storage device 22b for storing a large amount of data. The data management server 22a is the search server 2
It has a function of receiving a data file or the like sent from the storage device 1 and storing it in the storage device 22b, and manages the storage location of the data file or the like in the storage device 22b. An example of the data storage means 22 having such a function is a product name “Stor” manufactured by Japan Storage Technology Co., Ltd.
ageTek "can be used. According to this device, a large amount of information sent from the search server 21 can be stored and processed at high speed.

The user terminal 3 owned by each user is
As described above, connected to the search server 21 via a communication line, having a function of transmitting a search message of necessary information to the search server 21 and receiving information obtained as a result of the search. Is. In addition, since the search server 21 has an encryption means and the information may be transmitted in an encrypted state, in that case, the search server 21 has a decryption means capable of decrypting the encrypted information. There is a need. As the decryption means, it is necessary to use an encryption program or an encryption device similar to those installed in the search server 21. The user terminal 3 is, as described above,
In some cases, it can also function as a data entry means.

Reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1 indicates a storage warehouse for documents and the like. The storage warehouse 4 is a data entry center 1 or a user terminal 3 or a computer owned by a user, which stores documents after inputting predetermined information in response to a request from the user. It is used as backup for emergencies. Since the storage warehouse 4 needs to fulfill such a function, it is installed in a place away from the user's office or the like in consideration of a disaster or the like.

The information storage / retrieval system of this embodiment operates as follows. The user requests the data entry means 1 for information, for example, entry of a passenger list for one year. In the data entry means 1, this list is read and digitized by the high speed data input means 11,
Search server 21 for image information part and character information part
Send to. The search server 21 learns the read character information portion and generates a learning file. When the encryption means is provided, the raw information is encrypted after the learning file is generated. When encrypted, naturally the raw information is deleted.

Next, the learning file and the encrypted or non-encrypted raw information file from the search server 21 are transferred to the data management server 22a of the data storage means 2.
It is stored in the storage device 22b via. The data management server 22a manages the storage location in the storage device 22b.

When the predetermined user needs the list of the predetermined days out of the passenger list for one year, the user terminal 3 sends a message to that effect to the search server 21. In the search server 21, the passenger list for one year including the list of the corresponding date is
The data storage means 22 is instructed to take out the data. The data management server 22a follows this instruction and
The data file and the learning file of the passenger list are read from the storage device 22b and sent to the search server 21. The search server 21 performs a full-text search of the learning file and reads a list of predetermined days from the data file.
At this time, if the information is encrypted, it is read in the encrypted state. The result is transmitted to the predetermined user terminal 3 through the communication line. When the received information is encrypted, the user decrypts it using the decryption means. This allows the user to obtain the list of predetermined days.

When the information is read in the encrypted state, the information is not transmitted to the user as it is, but is decrypted by the search server 21 and displayed in the decrypted state on the user terminal 3. Good.

In this case, if the search server 21 that can display not only the character information part but also the image information part as the search result on the user terminal 3 is used, the user can search for a predetermined date. Whether or not it is a list can be surely confirmed.

Further, according to the user's request, after performing a file search in the data management server 22a, the desired information is transferred to the user terminal 3 in file units without being searched in the search server 21. The configuration may be such that the user searches using his / her terminal 3 or another computer.

[0028]

According to the information storage / retrieval system of the present invention, a large amount of information can be efficiently stored, and when necessary, the information can be retrieved quickly and the file can be transferred. Further, the information can be efficiently digitized by separately providing the data entry means. Further, by providing the search server and the user terminal with the encryption means and the decryption means, it is possible to store and search while maintaining the confidentiality of information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing information storage and storage according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a search system.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 data entry center 11 high-speed data input means 2 data storage / search center 21 search server 22 data storage means 22a data management server 22b storage device 3 user terminal

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A data entry unit for digitizing a large amount of information held by a plurality of users, a data storage unit for storing the digitized information via a search server, and a communication line to the search server. An information storage / retrieval system, characterized in that it is configured to have a user terminal unit connected by the above. 2. The information storage / retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said data entry means comprises high-speed data input means provided separately from the user terminal. 3. The information storage / retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the search server has a data learning unit that learns digitized information in advance and sends it to the data storage unit. 4. The information storage / retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein the search server has an index creating unit that creates an index of digitized information and registers it in a data storage unit. . 5. The information storage / retrieval system according to claim 3, wherein the retrieval server has a fuzzy search function. 6. The retrieval server has an encryption means for encrypting the read information.
Information storage and retrieval system described in. 7. The information storage / storage as claimed in claim 6, wherein the user terminal has a decryption means for decrypting the encrypted information transmitted from the data storage means via the search server. Search system.