JPH07210577A - Information access device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the information access device for easily performing repeated access to any specified information file. CONSTITUTION:The image of a form sheet read from an image input part 1 or the like is fetched into a form sheet analystic part 2, and image processing such as the skew correction of the image or the correction of enlargement/ reduction or analysis is executed. As a result of analysis, the information file requested by a user, the contents of its access, the destination of transmission and whether it is necessary to prepare the form sheet or not are specified. When the preparation of the form sheet is indicated in the case of access to the information file at the lowest layer of tree structure, a form sheet preparation part 5 prepares a cover sheet to be utilized as the form sheet and it is outputted through an image output part 6 together with the information possessed from an information filing part 4 by a file access part 3. Concerning access after the next time, the access is enabled only by inputting the cover sheet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information access device for accessing information in a file system or information data system by using paper as one of interface media of the file system or information data system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a mark or symbol is manually written on a specific form sheet, and the system is made to read the mark or symbol so that the system can perform various document services (copy, copy,
A system for performing file, print, facsimile, etc.) has been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-191
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 598 discloses a system in which data desired by a user is searched by painting numbers on a sheet and the result is sent by facsimile.

Generally, a document file system, an information database system, and the like contain enormous amounts of information. In order to obtain the data desired by the user from this enormous amount of information,
For example, a keyword search is performed. In keyword search, some search conditions are used in combination,
Perform a search. However, in some cases, the desired data may not be reached at one time, and it is necessary to repeatedly search for the desired data by using the keyword. On the other hand, there are cases where a huge amount of information is organized, classified, and organized in a tree structure. In a system having such a tree structure, in order for the user to reach the necessary information file, it is necessary to search the lower hierarchy gradually from the upper hierarchy of the tree structure.

Such a plurality of times of information retrieval processing can be realized by the document service as described above. For example, in a tree structure system, when searching from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy,
First, in order to know the contents of the upper layer, the user writes a symbol (OMR, check box, etc.) on the form sheet, and sends it through a facsimile or image scanner.
Let the system analyze and perform the search. As a result, the contents of the next layer can be obtained. The user refers to this content, creates a form sheet for obtaining the content of the lower hierarchy again, and executes the search. This operation will be repeated.

However, when the hierarchy of the tree structure is deep, the user repeatedly requests the system to output the structure of the lower hierarchy and select the file of the lower structure. Since input / output at this time is performed by image data, repeated input / output of image data consumes a lot of time and output paper. In particular, in applications where information is frequently updated, it is expected that the user will repeatedly access the same information file or the like. For example, various information files such as two-uses in a specialized field, a weather forecast for a specific area, a stock market, a product list / price handled, a work progress report, an order / sales status, and the like can be considered.

The operation of searching the tree structure will be described based on a specific example. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the hierarchical structure of the information file. In the tree-structured system, for example, the news information file may be hierarchized in the configuration shown in FIG. Here, consider a case where a file of new product information of a personal computer (PC) is accessed.

First, the field of the first layer is selected and the information of the lower layer is obtained. Here, a mark is added to the form sheet so that the information regarding the “product news” can be provided, and the system is made to execute the search. Then, a list of items of the second layer can be obtained. The user refers to the obtained list of items of the second layer, adds a mark to the form sheet so that the information regarding the "new product" can be provided, and causes the search to be executed. Then, a list of items in the third layer can be obtained. In addition, mark the form sheet so that you can receive new product information about "Computer" as a product, perform a search, and use the form sheet to obtain "PC" information from the obtained fourth layer information. Mark and execute search. As a result, the new product information of the target personal computer can be finally obtained. When the hierarchy is deeper, it is necessary to repeat such an operation.

As described above, in a system in which form sheets are used to sequentially search the hierarchy toward the finer parts, the deeper the hierarchy, the more complicated. Further, in the current access method, even if it is desired to continuously collect information on a specific item of interest, it is necessary to search the lower item from the upper item each time. Therefore, in order to obtain the new product information of the personal computer as in the above example, it is necessary to access four times each time, and the operability is poor.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to easily repeatedly access a specific information file in a document service system using a form sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information access device that can be used.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in an information access apparatus for accessing an information file by inputting an image of a predetermined form sheet including information file designation information and access type information, the input form sheet is Form sheet analysis means for analyzing image data and outputting the information file designation information and access type information as code data; file access means for performing a file access operation based on the code data output by the form sheet analysis means; It is characterized by further comprising form sheet creating means for receiving the code data output by the form sheet analyzing means and generating at least the form sheet in which the information file designation information is entered.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the access information to the information file can be output in the same form as the form sheet used when accessing the file. Therefore, when the user accesses the same information file, By accessing the information file using the output form sheet, the information in the information file can be easily obtained. For example, even with a tree-structured file system, the output form sheet can be filled with information file specification information that allows you to access the target information file at one time, and can be output. Even if it is an information file that has been created, it can be accessed once from the next time. Therefore, repeated access to a specific information file can be easily implemented.

[0012]

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information access device of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image input unit, 2
Is a form sheet analysis unit, 3 is a file access unit, 4
Is an information file section, 5 is a form sheet creation section, and 6 is an image output section. The image input unit 1 reads image data to be registered in the form sheet and the file system. The form sheet analysis unit 2 analyzes the input image, and when the image is a form sheet, recognizes the content instructed on the form sheet. The file access unit 3 is
A predetermined file is accessed based on the instruction on the form sheet recognized by the form sheet analysis unit 2. The information file section 4 stores the information data itself of the file. The form sheet creation unit 5 creates the content of the executed file access as a new form in the form of a form sheet. The image output unit 6 outputs the form sheet generated by the form sheet creation unit 5 and the data of the file for which information has been searched.

In the above-mentioned structure, the image of the form sheet is not input from the image input unit 1 but is sent from an external system or a facsimile to a network or a public line.
It can also be configured to be sent via a dedicated line. Further, instead of outputting from the image output unit 6, the image can be sent to an external system, a facsimile or the like through a network, a public line, or a dedicated line.

3 to 5 are explanatory views of an example of the foam sheet. In the figure, 11 is a registration mark, 12 is a check box, 13 is a form ID, 14 is a current file position field, 15 is an access content designation field, 16 is an information menu field, 17 is a form sheet creation confirmation check box, and 18 is information. A destination field, and 19 is an information display field. The form sheet shown is an example, and other formats may of course be used.

The registration mark 11 is a mark for correcting the skew of the foam sheet and the distortion of the image,
L-shaped marks with different shapes are placed at the four corners of the foam sheet. The registration marks 11 need not be four if the image can be corrected. Also,
The shape is not limited to the L-shape, but may be another type of mark. Further, various forms can be used, for example, a structure in which timing marks are provided on the left and right or top and bottom of the foam sheet, and timing marks are added to each check box. By using the L-shaped mark shown in the figure, skew and distortion can be corrected, and the upside-down of the sheet and the rotation of 90 ° can be detected and corrected. If such correction is unnecessary, it is possible to configure without the registration mark 11.

The check box 12 is a field in which a check mark is entered when the user selects the item. A variety of writing methods can be used to write the check mark. For example, as used in FIG.
In addition to the commonly used check mark with a check mark, the check box 12 can be filled in and various marks such as "/", "\", "○", and "×" can be used for entry. .

The form ID 13 is a predetermined number for specifying design information regarding the arrangement of each field in the form sheet. The arrangement position of the form ID 13 on the form sheet is predetermined, and when the form sheet analysis unit 2 analyzes the form sheet, the form ID 13 is read to recognize the position where other information is entered. This form ID13 has
Although the numbers are printed in advance, the user may manually write the numbers. Of course, it is also possible to configure so that characters other than numbers can be entered.

The current file position field 14 shows the position information of the files of the information menus listed in the information menu field 16 of the form sheet to be used. The current file position field 14 indicates the current file position by characters and codes. The display of the file position by characters is for the user, and each layer is separated by "/". This display is called a path name in the tree-structured file system. The display of the file position by the code is used by the file access unit 3 to access the file, and a code uniquely determined for each file is entered. This code is automatically filled in, for example, when the form sheet is created by the form sheet creating unit 5. Alternatively, it may be printed in advance. Alternatively, the user may fill in by handwriting. Instead of displaying the code numerically, it is also possible to use the character file position display as it is for recognition.

The access content designation field 15 is a processing content (access content) that can be designated by the user for the file displayed in the information menu field 16.
This is an area in which a check box for selecting is placed. Here, it is possible to specify four types of access: information acquisition, information addition, information deletion, and information update. Of course, other access may be designated, or deletion or update of information may be prohibited and these check boxes may be eliminated. The user may check the check box 12 corresponding to the access content.

The information menu field 16 is an area in which check boxes for selecting the information at the current file position displayed in the current file position field 14 are arranged. In this example, check box 1
2 and each file name are arranged as a set. The user may check the check box 12 corresponding to the desired file.

In this example, the access content designation field 15 and the information menu field 16 are constructed by arranging the check boxes 12, but one entry field is provided to enter numbers and characters corresponding to the access content and the information menu. It is also possible to configure so as to specify.

Since the lowest layer is the information file itself, the information display field 19 is printed instead of the information menu field 16 as shown in FIG. The information display field 19 displays the attribute information of the information file such as the number of pages and the date of registration or update. This information is displayed for the user to grasp the outline of the information file. It is also possible to provide the information in the information file without creating the form sheet shown in FIG.

The form sheet creation confirmation check box 17 is a check box for designating whether or not the user's access is output again in the form of a form sheet. When this check box is checked, the form sheet creating section 5 creates and outputs a form sheet with the accessed file as the current file.

The information delivery destination field 18 is an area where the access result and information for delivering the generated form sheet are entered. As information of the information destination,
It can be configured to enter a FAX number, a user ID and the like.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a form sheet generated as a cover sheet. In the figure, 21 is a system information area, 22 is a search information attribute display area, and 23 is an access status display area. When the contents of the lowermost information file are ordered, the cover sheet shown in FIG. 6 can be output prior to outputting the contents. In addition to the information that the user can use as the cover sheet of the document, this cover sheet describes the information for the same access to the corresponding file in a form that can be analyzed by the system, and is used as the form sheet as it is. be able to. When the user needs the latest new product information of the latest PC, the user can use the cover sheet as a form sheet and request the system to obtain the latest information.

In the example of the cover sheet shown in FIG. 6, the cover sheet is composed of three areas: a system information area 21, a search information attribute display area 22 and an access status display area 23. The system information area 21 is an area in which information required by the system is coded and printed in the next information access, and is a form ID for obtaining design information as a form sheet, and a file ID indicating the position of the corresponding file. , Indicating the date when the file was registered or changed. Date, S.D. indicating the date of this search. It is composed of Date, a user ID indicating the searched user, and the like. The search information attribute display area 22 is an area in which the attributes of the searched information are shown as a cover sheet in a user-readable form. The access status display area 23 is
This is an area showing the status of access this time. here,
The contents of access, the presence / absence of form sheet creation, and the information destination data are printed. The access status display area 23 is an area that the user can change in the next access. If it is desired to change it, for example, a double line may be overwritten and another mark or number may be newly written in another check box or entry field so that the printed check or entry number is invalidated. For example, if you would like to request information only when the data has been changed since the last access as the access content, click "Request Information".
You can disable the mark and check the "Order only when changing" check box. The file access unit 3 executes the S.S.D. Whether or not the data has been changed is determined by comparing the data, and if the data has been changed after the search date, the content is output.

The operation of one embodiment of the information access apparatus of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case where the user performs an access operation to an information file having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. When the user accesses the information file for the first time, like the conventional system, the user name is registered, the form sheet in which the upper file information menu as shown in FIG. 3 is described is received, and the access contents and necessary information are stored in the system. Need to give to the side. Alternatively, a top-level form sheet as shown in FIG. 3 may be prepared in advance.

In the form sheet shown in FIG. 3, when the user wants to obtain information on "Merchandise News", he / she checks the "Merchandise News" check box and the "Request for information" access content, and creates a form sheet check box. Check 17 and write, for example, a facsimile number in the information destination, input as an image, and issue a request to the system. Then, the form sheet analysis unit 2
Then, the image of this form sheet is analyzed, and the file is accessed by the file access unit 3, but since it is not the lowest layer, the form sheet creation unit 5 displays "Product News".
Create a similar form sheet using the menu in the lower hierarchy of and send it to the destination indicated in the information delivery destination. As a result, the information access form sheet as shown in FIG. 4 is sent to the user. In Figure 4, "Product News"
Since this file is the current file, the code identifying this file is currently printed in the file position field 14.

Further, when the user needs the information of "new product", the output form sheet shown in FIG. 4 is used, and the check box of "new product" in the printed information menu is used as described above. Check the box, check the access contents, the check box for creating the form sheet, check the information destination, and enter the number, and submit the request to the system. Form sheets similar to those in FIGS. 3 and 4 are also sent to the other layers. By repeating such an operation, it is possible to reach the layer in which desired data is stored.

Upon reaching the bottom layer, the foam sheet shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In this example, the new product information data of the PC is reached. Since there is no lower layer, a summary of file contents is printed in the information display field 19 instead of the information menu field 16.

Here, when the user wants to obtain a copy of this file (stored document), he enters a check in the "Request information" check box in the access content field 15 of the form sheet shown in FIG. However, you can order the document by filling in the information destination and requesting the system. Further, when it is expected that the user will repeatedly request new product information of the PC in the future, the user enters a check in the form sheet creation confirmation check box 17. When the form sheet creation is instructed, the form sheet creation unit 5 creates a cover sheet as shown in FIG. 6 and sends it as a cover sheet of the corresponding data (document).

When it becomes necessary to access the same information file from the next time onward, this cover sheet is used as a form sheet to make a request. This allows
The data in the required information file can be obtained by one access without performing access sequentially from the upper hierarchy.

Next, an example of the operation on the side of the information access device that receives the request will be described. For example, consider a case where the form sheet as shown in FIG. 5 is input from the image scanner of the image input unit 1, a facsimile, or the like. The read image is taken into the form sheet analysis unit 2 and analyzed. The registration positions of the registration mark 11 and the form ID 13 are assumed to be fixed or given to the system in advance. The form sheet analysis unit 2 first detects the registration mark 11 and performs skew correction of the image, correction of enlargement / reduction, and the like. For this correction, for example, the methods described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-121934 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-168388 can be used.

Next, the form ID 13 having a predetermined positional relationship with the registration mark 11 is extracted and the data of the form ID is obtained by the technique of recognition of printed characters. If the image of the registration mark 11 or the form ID 13 is not found at this processing stage, it is determined that the read image is not a form sheet. In order to further improve the detection accuracy of the foam sheet, for example, a logo mark or the like may be placed on the foam sheet for collation. On the other hand, form sheet design data such as arrangement information of check boxes on the form is held in advance in the system, and form sheet design data can be obtained based on the obtained form ID. The position of each field is recognized based on this design data.

Next, the number currently written in the file position field 14 is converted into code data by using the printed number recognition technique. In this example, it is assumed that the files in each layer are represented by three-digit numbers. The news file is 012, the product news file is 004, the new product file is 003, and the computer file is 002. The access contents and the check boxes for creating the form sheet can be detected, for example, by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-180710. Further, the contents described in the information destination field 18 are recognized. For this recognition, it is possible to read using a handwritten numeral recognition (OCR) technology.

As described above, it is possible to specify the file requested by the user, the contents of the access, the destination, the necessity of forming the form sheet, and the like. When the specified access content is information request, the file access unit 3 accesses the information file stored in the information file unit 4. Further, when a form sheet creation request is made, the form sheet creating unit 5 creates a cover sheet as shown in FIG. Then, the data taken out from the information file unit 4 is sent to the destination via the image output unit 6 together with the generated form sheet.

When the access contents are information addition, the image read by the image input section 1 together with the form sheet is added to the corresponding file. Similarly, when the access content is information update, the current information file is replaced with the image read together with the form sheet by the image input unit 1.
If the access content is information deletion, the corresponding file is deleted. Even when adding, updating, or deleting, if a form sheet or the like needs to be output, it is appropriately performed. The process of adding information, updating information, and deleting information is performed by the file access unit 3.

Even if the access content is information addition or information update, if there is an instruction to create a form sheet, as shown in FIG.
However, the search date column (S.Date) in the system information area 21 is not necessary. Further, the search information attribute display area 22 is changed to information indicating addition or update contents. The access content area is a check box for adding information or updating information. When the access content is information deletion, only the content indicating the deletion content is sufficient, and it is not necessary to form the form sheet. This is because it is not deleted repeatedly.

As a form sheet, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the case of a file position other than the lowest file will be described. In this case as well, the input form sheet image is analyzed by the form sheet analysis unit 2 and the instructed information file, access contents, presence / absence of form sheet creation, destination, etc. are specified. When the access content is the information order request, the information of the current information file position is generated based on the information selected by the selection item of the information menu. Specifically, the sequence from the top of the hierarchy to the selected file and its code information are described in the field of the current information file position.

Further, based on the information of the selected information file, the file access section 3 searches the information file section 4 to obtain the lower layer file name. Then, those file names are arranged as an item of the information menu together with the check box. If the selected file is the lowest,
Instead of the information menu, the file contents as shown in FIG. 5 are acquired from the file access unit 3 and described. In this way, a new form sheet is created.

When a form sheet creation request is made at a file position other than the lowest file, it is considered that the purpose is to search for another file in the lower hierarchy based on the current file position. Therefore, for example, the form sheet may be created by adding the user ID of the system information shown in FIG. 6 to the form sheet shown in FIG. 4 and further entering the information destination. By using this form sheet, you can enter the user ID and search 1
It can be performed with a single foam sheet. You can also add / change the specified files with this form sheet.
All you need to do is prepare the document data to be deleted.

Form layout data is used when creating the above-mentioned form sheet. This form layout data is stored inside the system in association with the form ID. In each process, the form ID to be used is preset, and a form sheet having a layout suitable for each process is generated. Further, by changing the form layout data, form sheets having various layouts can be created.
It is also possible to add a mark or the like to the generated form sheet so that the user can easily recognize the generated form sheet according to the creation request.

Even when the form sheet generated as the cover sheet as shown in FIG. 6 is re-input to the system, the same processing as the input by the normal form sheet is performed. At this time, the cover sheet already contains a series of information necessary for the system to perform processing. Therefore, when the user accesses the cover sheet, it is not necessary to newly add to the items to be described. Can be done. In addition, since the user ID is also described, there is no need to separately enter the time.

In the example of the cover sheet shown in FIG. 6, an item "order only when changing" is added to the access contents. If this is selected, the F.S. Date and S.M. By referring to information such as Date and the like, if the modification date of the file stored in the file storage unit is the same, it is possible not to output the information.

If there is a change in the check box of the form sheet, by overwriting the long vertical line,
The check box may be unchecked. When the form sheet analysis unit 2 detects a long vertical line in the check box, the form sheet analysis unit 2 treats the check box as unchecked. As a method of detecting a long vertical line, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-18071
The method described in No. 0 can be used.
In addition, when changing the fields such as the destination to be filled with numbers, the same method or a method of drawing a horizontal line over the whole,
Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-191598, a method of painting numbers to make them unrecognizable is used.
It is possible to invalidate the current description. The new destination can be set by filling in another field.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an information file to be accessed and the contents of access are generated in the form of a form sheet including a cover sheet, so that a tree structure is created. Even in a file system having a large number of hierarchies, it is possible to easily access the file of the lowest hierarchy without performing a sequential search to the lower hierarchy every time. When the information is updated frequently and the data of the same file is repeatedly read out, the data can be easily read out only with this form sheet, and the time required for the search and the output paper can be reduced. Further, even when new data or progress needs to be reported on a regular basis, it is possible to easily register by simply attaching the form sheet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information access device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a hierarchical structure of an information file.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a foam sheet in the first layer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a foam sheet in the second layer.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a foam sheet in the lowermost layer.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a foam sheet generated as a cover sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image input section, 2 form sheet analysis section, 3 file access section, 4 information file section, 5 form sheet creating section, 6 image output section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information access device for accessing an information file by inputting an image of a predetermined form sheet including information file designation information and access type information, analyzing the input image data of the form sheet, and analyzing the information file. Form sheet analysis means for outputting designation information and access type information as code data, file access means for performing file access operation based on the code data output by the form sheet analysis means, and code output by the form sheet analysis means An information access device comprising a form sheet creating means for receiving data and generating a form sheet in which at least the information file designation information is entered.