JPH07325749A - Information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an information management system which can increase the information transfer speed by decentralizing the management of the on-line information, can improve the security, and also can increase the storage capacity. CONSTITUTION:In this information management system, a server 11 having an information management means 12 which registers, refers to and updates the information is connected to plural clients 17 having the information operating request means 18 which request the server 11 to perform the registration, reference, updating, etc., of the information via a network 16. Then the personal information 1a on each client 17 that is managed by the server 11 is stored in the storage means 19 and 1b which are connected to each client 17. The server 11 has a personal information management table 15 to manage the information 1a, and the table 15 is managed by the means 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to information registration, reference,
An information management system in which a server having information management means for updating and a plurality of clients having information operation requesting means for requesting registration, reference, update, etc. of information to this server are mutually connected by a network. In particular, by managing online information in a distributed manner, it is possible to improve the speed of information transmission and security, and it is possible to manage and store a large amount of data. Related information management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Each person originally managed electronic information such as word processing documents used and processed by companies. Further, when it is desired to transmit information to another person, the information is transmitted by copying the information to an exchangeable storage medium such as a floppy disk.

However, since it takes a lot of time and labor to use the exchange-type medium, in recent years, a network-based information transmission method has been used.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional client / server type information management system.

This system comprises a server 11 connected to a network 16 and a plurality of clients 17. Auxiliary storage means 13 is connected to the server 11, in which all common information 14 and personal information 1a of each person are stored.

[0006] The advantage of the information management by such a network is that, in addition to the easy transmission of information, the centralized management of information is possible, so that it is possible to obtain the necessary information from a terminal at any location. That is the point.

[0007]

However, in the conventional information management system, the auxiliary storage means 13 is always worried about the capacity shortage, and especially when the large capacity data such as image data is targeted. Becomes a shortage. There are also a large number of clients 17 simultaneously
If the connection is attempted, the load on the server 11 and the network 16 becomes very heavy.

Further, when accessing a database, if a large amount of data such as image data is included in the database, the resident amount of memory increases and the number of records that can be registered per database decreases. As a result, there arises an inconvenience that a record that should be treated as a database must be subdivided into a plurality of databases.

Further, since the information is concentrated in the auxiliary storage means 13, there is a risk that all information will be affected when it causes trouble. If the information stored in the auxiliary storage means 13 is regularly backed up, the damage will be small, but it is difficult to back it up unless all systems are used. There is also a problem that the security is not necessarily high because logical measures can be taken but physical measures cannot be taken against the acquisition or falsification of unjust information such as hackers.

The first object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional method such as the centralization of information and security in the management of online information, and the capacity of the means for storing information. It is to improve the speed of information transmission, security, and storage capacity by decentralizing information management.

A second object of the present invention is to solve the conventional drawback that the auxiliary storage means has a limited recording capacity, and thus it is possible to manage data in an almost unlimited state. Another object is to provide an information management system in which the data stored in the means can be used by another operating system (OS) or application.

[0012]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention provides a server having information management means for registering, referencing, updating, etc. of information, and information registration with this server. , An information management system in which a plurality of clients having information operation requesting means for requesting reference, update, etc. are mutually connected by a network. Then, the entity of the personal information of the client managed by the server is stored in an auxiliary storage unit such as a hard disk connected to each client, or a medium exchangeable storage unit in which an exchangeable recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disc is mounted. The server has a personal information management table which stores information such as information regarding whereabouts of the personal information or (and) attribute information for managing the personal information while storing the personal information in the storage means. Is managed by the information management means.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention is a medium exchange type storage means for storing a main body of information in an information management system having a CPU, a main memory, an auxiliary storage means and an input / output means, and the same. It is characterized by comprising auxiliary storage means for storing management information for managing information, and information management means for managing such information.

[0014]

In the first aspect of the present invention, the entity of the personal information of the client managed by the server is stored on the client side, and the server manages the location where the personal information is recorded in the personal information management table. It is possible to disperse the data, which increases the speed of information transmission and improves the security against unexpected accidents.

In the second aspect of the invention, the data specified by the large-capacity data user is stored in the medium exchange type storage means, and the management information of the data and other data are stored in the auxiliary storage means. By providing an information management means for managing the data, it is possible to manage the data in an apparently unlimited manner.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information management system according to the first embodiment.

The information management system is composed of a server 11 and a plurality of clients 17, and the respective systems are mutually connected by a network 16.
An auxiliary storage means 13 such as a hard disk is connected to the server 11, and this auxiliary storage means 13
A common information 14 of each client 17 and a personal information management table 15 in which information such as attributes and whereabouts of the personal information 1a stored in each client 17 is collected are stored.
Then, the common information 14 and the personal information management table 15
Are managed by the information management means 12 of the server 11.

On the other hand, each client 17 is provided with an auxiliary storage means 19 and a medium exchange type storage means 1b. The auxiliary storage means 19 and the medium exchange type storage means 1b store the substance of the personal information 1a of the client 17. .

When a client 17 wants to perform an operation such as referring to or changing information, the information managing means 12 of the server 11 via the information operation requesting means 18 of the client 17.
Work on. The information management means 12 has an auxiliary storage means 13.
The location of the information is checked from the personal information management table 15 stored in. The information is the common information 1 of the server 11.
If it is 4, then the requested operation is performed.

On the other hand, when the information is the personal information 1a of the client 17, the information management means 12 of the server 11 issues an information operation request to the target client 17. That is, since the location of all information is managed by the personal information management table 15 managed by the server 11, the client 17 can request the operation of information without being aware of the location of the information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the client system.

The system of the client 17 may be a personal computer (personal computer) or a workstation. However, if it is a personal computer, it is necessary to have a communication means for connecting to the server 11. The client 17 includes an auxiliary storage unit 19 and a medium exchange type storage unit 1.
b is connected. The personal information 1a is stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 and the medium exchange type storage means 1b, respectively, as described above. Which storage means should be decided by the person himself by weighting the security of the information.

If the information is very important information and is not desired to be seen by others, it is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c such as a floppy disk or an optical disk, and the information is disconnected from the network 16 and taken offline. , Security can be protected.

On the other hand, when certain information does not require much security and it is important that others can easily copy or refer to it by opening it, it is stored in the auxiliary storage means 19. As a result, the information becomes online information, which can be easily referenced and copied from other clients.

Since the information is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c, it is relatively easy to back up the information. In addition, by recording the related information for each medium, it is possible to classify and file the information of the conventional paper like the file of the king file.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, information is classified into five types, A file to E file, and stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c. Furthermore, these personal information 1a
Since the location of each is managed by the personal information management table 15 of the server 11, it is easy to search for information. Therefore, it is possible to perform a search without distinguishing whether the information is own information or information of another person. When the retrieved information is on the exchangeable recording medium 1c of another person, the exchangeable recording medium 1c is inserted into the medium exchangeable storage means 1b with the consent of the owner, so that the target information is It is possible to refer and copy as online information.

Recently, there is an increasing number of cases in which very large-capacity multimedia information such as high-definition still image information, moving image information, and audio information is handled, and no matter how large an auxiliary storage means 13 is connected to the server 11. , I'm worried about running out of space. However, by storing these multimedia information in the exchange-type recording medium 1c and storing only the location thereof as a part of the personal information management table 15, from a certain client 17, apparently,
The information management system has a large capacity with unlimited capacity.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the personal information management table 15 in the information management system.

The personal information management table 15 stored in the auxiliary storage means 13 manages information indicating the attributes and whereabouts of the personal information 1a stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 of each client 17 or the medium exchange type storage means 1b. It is a table to do.

In this system example, the client A17
~ Auxiliary storage means 19 connected to the client C17
, And the names of volume A to volume C are given respectively. The name of the volume D is given to the exchange-type recording medium 1c owned by the client A17. The client C17 includes two exchangeable recording media 1
It owns c and is given the names of volume E and volume F, respectively. The client B17 does not own the exchangeable recording medium 1c. Also, as shown in the figure,
In the first line of the personal information management table 15, the file with the file name "Document A" is recorded at "Volume A", that is,
It is described that it is stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 of the client A17.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, in the personal information management table 15, the file size, file creation date,
Attribute information such as the update date is recorded, and the personal information can be searched at high speed by these attribute information. In the second line of the personal information management table 15, the file "Image A" is displayed.
Is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c with the name "volume E" of the client C17.

In this way, the current client A17
Stores a file "document A" in the auxiliary storage means 19 and a file "voice A" in the exchangeable recording medium 1c with the name "volume D". Similarly, the client B17
In the above, files "document B" and "document C" are stored in the auxiliary storage means 19. Nothing is stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 of the client C17, and files "image A" and "image B" are stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c with the names "volume E" and "volume F", respectively. There is.

In this system example, the file "Document B"
And “Document C” are the auxiliary storage means 19 of the client B17.
, And is online connected to the client A17, the client A17 can refer to or copy these two files "document B" and "document C".

On the other hand, the files "image A" and "image B"
Is an exchangeable recording medium 1c owned by the client C17.
Since it is stored in the file C, it is impossible to refer to or copy the file until the interchangeable recording medium 1c in which the desired file is stored is inserted into the medium interchangeable storage unit 1b of the client C17.

By making it possible for the client 17 to select either the auxiliary storage means 19 or the exchangeable recording medium 1c as the storage destination of the file, the security weight for the file can be changed at the client 17's will. . If stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c, it is physically impossible to refer to or copy the file without the consent of the person. Even when stored in the auxiliary storage means 19,
It is possible to apply logical security, but it is safer if it is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c.

On the contrary, when the information is acquired very frequently or the information is required by many people, it is complicated to obtain the consent of the person each time. So in this case,
Information should be stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 at the expense of some security. However, it is possible to maintain a certain level of security by applying logical security.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The medium exchange type storage means 1b may be any medium exchange type storage means such as a floppy disk device or an optical disk device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of processing when personal information is recorded in this information management system.

In this example, the file monitoring means 52 operates on the client A17. The file monitoring means 52 has a function of monitoring all the auxiliary storage means 19 and the medium exchange type storage means 1b connected to the client A17 for processing operations in which files are recorded or deleted.

When a file is recorded or deleted, the auxiliary storage means 1 connected to the server 11
The personal information management table 15 stored in No. 3 is updated. Explaining this concretely, now, the client A1
7 is a file "image C" 51 in the medium exchange type storage means 1b.
When the file is recorded, the file monitoring means 52 recognizes that the file is newly recorded, and the personal information management table 1
A request signal is output to the server 11 so as to update 5. The same process is performed when the file is deleted or the file name is changed.

When the file monitoring means 52 is provided in this way, the personal information management table 15 is automatically updated. However, the file monitoring means 52 may be omitted. In this case, the operator of the client A17 must inform the server 11 that the personal information management table 15 will be updated after recording in the auxiliary storage unit 19 or the medium exchange type storage unit 1b. However, manipulating the personal information management table 15 manually in this way may cause troubles due to input mistakes, etc. Therefore, considering the safety of the system, the file monitoring means 5
It is preferable to have 2.

Next, an example of processing at the time of image retrieval will be described. FIG. 5 shows a screen for inputting image search conditions. Now, when it is possible to search by three items of image name, registration date, and registrant among various attribute information attached to the registered image information, a search condition input screen as shown in the figure is displayed. It Of these three search items, only the input item is valid as a search condition. When multiple search conditions are input, the product of both search conditions becomes a valid search condition. In the example of the figure, the registration date of the image is "April 1, 1993".
Only the images of "Sun" and the registrant "Maxell Taro" are searched.

The search result is displayed as shown in FIG.
On this screen, only images that match the previous selection conditions are displayed, so select the required image from these. The search processing of these images is performed by the server.

The reading process of the selected image differs depending on the recording destination of the target image. First, when the image is on the server, the server immediately reads the image from the auxiliary storage means 19 and transfers the image to the client 17 that has searched through the network 16. The client 17 receives the image and displays it.

If the image is on the auxiliary storage means 19 of the client 17 that has performed the search, the client 17 immediately reads the image from the auxiliary storage means 19 and displays the image.

On the other hand, when the image is on the medium exchange type storage means 1b of the client 17, a confirmation message is displayed as shown in FIG. When "OK" is selected here, the image is read from the medium exchange type storage means 1b and displayed.

When there is an image in the auxiliary storage means 19 connected to the clients 17 other than the client 17 that has searched for the image, the image reading side client 17 reads the image from the auxiliary storage means 19 and the network 16 is read. To transfer the image via, the search client 17 receives the image and displays it.

If you want to strengthen security here,
It is advisable to display a confirmation message before the image retrieval side client 17 reads out an image so that the image retrieval side client 17 always agrees. Further, it may be set whether or not to confirm each file or each client.

On the other hand, the client 1 whose image is searched
When there is an image on the medium exchange type storage means 1b connected to the clients 17 other than 7, it is necessary to request the image reading side client 17 to attach the exchange type storage medium 1c. There is a method of making this request verbally by telephone, but here, the image reading side client 17
A method of displaying a confirmation message on the screen of will be described.

The server first sends a message to the image reading side client 17. As a method of transmitting a message from the server to the client 17, a dedicated program may be used, but commonly used e-mail software may be used.

FIG. 8 shows a screen display example of the image reading side client 17 when a message is received from the server. After confirming that the message from the server has arrived, the client 17 must immediately start the e-mail software (or dedicated program) and read the received message.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a message from the server to the image reading side client 17. If there is no problem in referring to the image, immediately replace the target exchangeable recording medium 1c with the medium exchangeable storage means 1.
It has to be attached to b. The image reading side client 17 replaces the exchangeable recording medium 1c with the medium exchangeable storage means 1
The image is transferred to the image search side client 17 by mounting the image on the client b. If there is a problem in referring to an image, it is necessary to inform the image search side client 17 of that fact. This method has an advantage over the method using a telephone since it is not necessary for the image retrieval side client 17 to contact the image reading side client 17.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example in which the information management system is applied to the medical field. In this example, it is composed of one server 11 and three clients 17. An auxiliary storage means 13 is connected to the server 11, and commonly used images 111 for education, research, etc. are stored therein. Further, an auxiliary storage means 19 and a medium exchange type storage means 1b are connected to each client 17, and image information is stored for each patient in the exchangeable recording medium 1c.

A procedure for carrying out a usual examination will be described. Before the medical examination, an interchangeable recording medium 1c is prepared in which a patient's chart is stored together with images of the patient captured in the past. The doctor makes a medical examination by referring to the past medical history described in the medical chart and the past information stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c. In this case, the past medical history information of the patient is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c, and the medium exchangeable storage means 1 is used.
It cannot be illegally copied or read via the network 16 from a remote place unless it is attached to the device b.

On the other hand, the image information for education and research is used by a plurality of people, and it is necessary to read it out and use it easily. Therefore, if such image information is stored in the auxiliary storage means 13 connected to the server 11, each doctor can freely use the image information. However, the security is low as compared with the case where the security is stored in the exchangeable recording medium 1c.

When the image information is stored in the auxiliary storage means 19 connected to the client 17, the security is the same as when the image information is stored in the auxiliary storage means 13 of the server 11. However, there is an advantage that the load on the server 11 is lightened. In FIG. 10, in the auxiliary storage means 19 of the doctor 1 (client 17),
The image information captured immediately before the patient to be examined is transferred via the network 16 and stored therein. Further, the auxiliary storage means 19 of the doctor 2 (client 17) is frequently stored in the auxiliary storage means 13 of the server 11.
To avoid reading from the client 1
The image information for research that has been copied to the auxiliary storage means 19 of No. 7 is stored. Doctor 3 (Client 17)
The auxiliary storage means 19 of the doctor 2 (client 1
The image information transferred from 7) and requested for medical examination is stored.

The above description is one application example, and the present invention is not limited to this, and there are many other application examples and modifications.

As in the above embodiment, the medium of the personal information stored by the client is attached to the auxiliary storage means connected online and the off-line exchangeable recording medium by the intention of the client. By separately recording the information and the information, security against intentional falsification of information and an apparent storage capacity can be increased.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an information management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The present system comprises the input / output means 21 and the CPU 2
2, main memory 23, information management means 24, auxiliary storage means 25, medium exchange type storage means 26.

The medium exchange type storage means 26 stores user-specified data and large-capacity data in a form independent of the OS and system. Therefore, the data stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26 can be used by other OS and applications, and can be removed from the system and carried.

In the auxiliary storage means 25, management information 27 for the data stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26,
Data other than that stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26 is stored. When the system is operating, only the data stored in the auxiliary storage means 25 is resident in the memory. The data stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26 is read into the memory only when writing / reading the data.

Next, writing of data to be stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26 will be described. As described above, the data designated by the user and the large capacity data are written in the medium exchange type storage means 26. The substance of the data is recorded in the medium exchange type storage means 26, the management information 27 for the data is created by the information management means 24, and is recorded in the auxiliary storage means 25. Management information 27 created by the information management means 24
Contains identifier information for the data, storage location information of the data, and the like.

For reading the data stored in the medium exchange type storage means 26, the identifier information of the medium 28 in which the data is stored is obtained from the management information already loaded in the memory, and the medium exchange type of the medium 28 is read. The user is prompted to mount the storage means 26, and after confirming the mounting, the data is read.

As in the above-described embodiment, only the data in the auxiliary storage means is made to reside in the memory while the database is open, and a large amount of data is loaded into the memory as needed, thereby increasing the number of records that can be handled per database. Can be made.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the entity of the personal information of the client managed by the server is stored on the client side, and the server manages the location where the personal information is recorded in the personal information management table. The online information can be decentralized, which increases the speed of information transmission and improves the security against unexpected accidents.

In the second aspect of the invention, the data specified by the large-capacity data user is stored in the medium exchange type storage means, and the management information of the data and other data are stored in the auxiliary storage means. By providing an information management means for managing the data, it is possible to manage the data in an apparently unlimited manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a client system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a personal information management table in the information management system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of a process when personal information is recorded in the information management system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display screen for inputting image search conditions in this information management system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of image search results in this information management system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a confirmation message display screen in this information management system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen when a message is received from a server in this information management system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display screen of a message from the server to the image reading side client in this information management system.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which this information management system is applied to a medical field.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an information management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a conventional information management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a personal information 1b medium exchange type storage means 1c exchange type recording medium 11 server 12 information management means 13 auxiliary storage means 14 common information 15 personal information management table 16 network 17 client 18 information operation request means 19 auxiliary storage means 21 input / output means 22 CPU 23 Main memory 24 Information management means 25 Auxiliary storage means 26 Medium exchange type storage means 27 Management information 28 Medium 51 image 52 File monitoring means 111 Common use image

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A server having information management means for registering, referencing, updating, etc. of information, and a plurality of clients having information operation requesting means for requesting registration, reference, updating, etc. of information to the server. In an information management system interconnected by a network, the personal information of a client managed by the server is stored in a storage unit connected to each client, and the server manages the personal information. An information management system having a personal information management table managed by the information management means. 2. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit connected to the client is an online auxiliary storage unit and a medium exchange type storage unit in which an exchangeable recording medium is mounted. . 3. The non-security information and / or low security information is stored in the auxiliary storage means, and the high security information is separately stored in the exchange-type recording medium according to claim 2. An information management system characterized by that. 4. The information management system according to claim 2, wherein related information is stored separately for each exchange-type recording medium. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the client searches the personal information management table via the information management means of the server, and as a result, the personal information required by the client is stored in the exchangeable recording medium of another client. An information management system characterized in that, when stored, an exchangeable recording medium is mounted on the medium exchangeable storage means based on the consent of the other client. 6. The information according to claim 1, wherein information regarding whereabouts of personal information stored in the storage means of each client or (and) attribute information is stored in the personal information management table. Management system. 7. The personal information management table according to claim 1, wherein the information processing operation in the storage means of the client is monitored, and when the personal information stored in the storage means is changed, the personal information management table is updated. An information management system characterized in that the client is provided with information monitoring means for outputting an update request signal to the server. 8. A CPU, a main memory, an auxiliary storage means,
An information management system having input / output means, comprising: medium exchange type storage means for storing main body of information, auxiliary storage means for storing management information for managing the information, and information management means for managing the information. Information management system characterized by 9. The information management system according to claim 8, wherein the information is recorded in a form that does not depend on an operation system, so that the data has compatibility.