JPH1115724A - Method and device for managing document - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce communication load and to freely construct the hierarchical structure of a document. SOLUTION: A document that is registered by a client is stored in a database 6 and managed with a document management server 5, and its hierarchical structure is constructed by creating a setting file which is described through an HTTP(hypertext transfer protocol) server 3 in an HTML(hypertext markup language) format. When a client reads a document registered on the database 6 as a hierarchical structure, he accesses the server 3 from a WEB browser 1, acquires a setting file and shows a hierarchical structure. When the client changes the hierarchical structure of a document, he operates the browser 1 and changes description of the setting file. Also, when document content is shown as an image, the server 3 accesses the server 5, acquires a registered document file, converts it into an HTML format, sends it to the browser 1 and shows it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a document management method and apparatus which can be accessed by a Web browser.
The communication load is reduced by storing information about the document once accessed on the HTTP server side, and the HTTP
The present invention relates to a document management method and apparatus capable of freely constructing a hierarchical structure of a registered document by describing a hierarchical structure of the document on a P server side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional network type document management apparatus registers a document created by a client in a document management server via a unique network, and when a client needs the registered document, a dedicated application is used. Is used to retrieve a document from the server.

In such a conventional document management apparatus, a document registration database is provided in a document management server, and a document created by a client is stored in the database. In addition, this document can be registered hierarchically. In this case, the client defines a folder or a cabinet for hierarchically storing the document for each document and stores the document in the database.

A document management apparatus having the above configuration is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-243018. In this document management apparatus, a document created by a client is stored in a medium such as a magneto-optical disk connected to the base server by accessing a base server as a document management execution mechanism from a dedicated client application. . At this time, if the document is stored in a cabinet or the like and a hierarchical structure is constructed, the document is stored together with the cabinet.

Further, a document management apparatus disclosed in JP-A-6-243018 has a storage device for storing a search table defined by a client and a database server for searching for a document stored in the medium based on the search table. Is provided, and a search function of a managed document is realized.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-21697 discloses a method in which a document created by a client using a word processor or the like from a document creation processing unit is temporarily expanded into bitmap information.
A document management apparatus is disclosed which transmits the bitmap information to a database management system and registers the bitmap information in a magneto-optical disk drive.

In this document management apparatus, the display speed can be increased by directly displaying the bitmap information without activating the document creation processing unit.

When searching for a document registered in the document management apparatus, a search condition specified by the client is transmitted to the database management system, and the database management system performs a magneto-optical operation based on the transmitted search condition. The disk device is searched and the corresponding bitmap information is transmitted to the client.

On the other hand, with the spread of the Internet in recent years, a network-type document management apparatus using a Web browser has been provided in place of a client application dedicated to each document management apparatus.
TP (Hyper texttransfer pro
tocol) server and the server of the document management apparatus as described above are connected by a gateway, and the client is a WE
By accessing the HTTP server from the B browser, documents managed by the document management apparatus can be handled.

[0010]

However, a network-type document management apparatus using a Web browser as described above has a problem in that the network-type document management apparatus uses a Web browser and an HTTP server.
Since it is necessary to perform data communication between the P server and the server of the document management apparatus, if the conventional document management apparatus is configured to be accessible by a Web browser, the communication load will inevitably increase.

In particular, in the invention described in JP-A-6-243018, the hierarchical structure of a cabinet or the like and search data are stored in a storage device provided in the document management apparatus. In order to retrieve or retrieve a document, it is necessary to access the server of the document management apparatus, which increases the communication load.

According to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-216978, bitmap information is created for all documents, so that even a document with a low access frequency occupies a certain storage area. .

[0013] Further, although the hierarchical structure of the document is originally constructed to enhance the convenience of the use of the client, the WEB browser side transmits the document constructed in the storage device in the document management apparatus. There is also a problem of lack of usability because it is not possible to define a hierarchical structure.

Accordingly, the present invention is a document management method and apparatus which can be used in a web browser, and which has a low communication load and can freely construct a hierarchical structure of registered documents. The purpose is to provide.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first method for storing and managing information relating to a document created by a client in a database constructed in a first storage device. Is connected to a second server accessible by a web browser,
In the document management method for displaying information on the document on the web browser, the second server accesses the first server according to an instruction of the web browser, and retrieves information on the document stored in the database, It is characterized in that a management structure for information on the document is independently constructed, and the management structure is displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the management structure is a management structure constructed by generating a setting file described in an HTML format. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the information on the document is character information represented by characters, image information represented by an image, or the first server or the first server. It is characterized by link information to the second server or a combination thereof.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the second server is configured to execute a process when any of the layers described in the setting file is accessed by the web browser. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not there is image information in the layer, and if there is no image information, the image information is generated and added to the layer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the second server is instructed to acquire a list of documents stored in the database from the web browser, , Instructing the first server to read the IDs of all the documents stored in the database, and receiving the instruction, the first server reads the IDs of all the documents from the database and reads them. Transmitting the list of identification IDs to the second server,
Server searches the setting file using the individual IDs of the transmitted list of IDs as search keys, and if there is no corresponding character information in the setting file, the ID is stored in the setting file. It is characterized by additional description.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the second server is configured so that any one of the link information described in the setting file is the WE.
When accessed by the B browser, if the link information is an instruction to retrieve any document stored in the database, the first server is instructed to read out the document, and the first server is instructed to read out the document. Server reads the document from the database, sends the read document to the second server, the second server creates a document image of the received document, and stores the document image in the second
The link information is changed to access to a document image stored in the storage device, and the document image is transmitted to a web browser.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the second server is instructed by a conditional expression to search for a document stored in the database from the web browser, Searches the document search table provided in the second server using the conditional expression as a search key, and when no corresponding record exists, the date and time when the search was instructed and the conditional expression Stored in a storage device provided in the second server, transmits the conditional expression to the first server, and instructs the first server to search for a document stored in the database; The database is searched by the conditional expression, the search result is transmitted to the second server, and the second server receiving the search result stores the search result in the storage device, and stores the search result in the storage device. Can be sent to the web browser. The features.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the second server searches the document search table with the conditional expression, and when a corresponding record exists, Transmitting the conditional expression and the search date and time of the record to the first server,
Server compares the search date and time with the contents of the latest registration date and time storage table that stores the registration date and time of the most recently registered document registered in the database. If the search date and time are newer, Instructs the second server to access the document search table, and the second server searches the document stored in the record having the conditional expression as a field value among the records of the document search table. It is characterized in that the result is read and transmitted to a web browser.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eighth aspect, the first server compares the content of the latest registration date and time storage table with the search date and time,
If the date and time of the search is older, the database is searched using the conditional expression and the registration after the search and the search date as a search key, and the search result is transmitted to the second server. Receives the search result, adds the search result to a search result stored in a record having the conditional expression as a field value among the records of the document search table, and adds the added search result to the WEB. It is characterized in that it is transmitted to a browser.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first server for storing and managing information relating to a document created by a client in a database constructed in a first storage device, and a first server accessible by a web browser. In the document management apparatus connected to the second server, the second server has access means for accessing the first server, and a hierarchy for independently constructing a hierarchical structure of information on documents stored in the database. And a structure construction means.

The invention according to claim 11 is the first invention.
0, the management structure constructing means includes an HT
It is characterized by including a setting file generating means for generating a setting file described in the ML format to construct a hierarchical structure.

The invention according to claim 12 is the first invention.
2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information on the document is character information represented by characters, image information represented by an image, link information to the first server or the second server, or a combination thereof. And

The invention according to claim 13 is the first invention.
2. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the second server comprises: a setting file changing unit for changing the setting file; and an image information adding unit for adding image information to a document in a hierarchy accessed by a web browser. Features.

The invention according to claim 14 is the first invention.
3. The identification database according to claim 3, wherein the database stores an identification ID of a document stored in the database.
Field, wherein the first server is an ID reader for reading an ID stored in the database, and an ID transmitter for transmitting the ID acquired by the reader to the second server. Means, the second server comprising: a setting file search means for searching for the setting file using the identification ID as a search key; and a search result obtained by the setting file search means, wherein no corresponding character information is found. New ID adding means for including an identification ID in the link information to the database.

[0029] The invention according to claim 15 provides the invention according to claim 1.
In the invention described in Item 4, the first server includes an identification ID search unit that searches the database using the identification ID as a search key, and a document corresponding to the identification ID obtained as a result of the search by the identification ID search unit. Document transmitting means for transmitting to the second server, wherein the second server instructs the identification ID searching means to search when the identification ID included in the link information is accessed by a web browser. ID search instructing means, document image generating means for generating a document image of the document acquired by the document transmitting means, a document image storage table for storing the ID of the document and the document image,
Means for adding, to the link information, document image access information for executing access to the document image stored in the document image storage table;
Document image transmitting means for transmitting to the B browser.

[0030] Further, the invention according to claim 16 is based on claim 1.
3. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the second server is configured to execute the first server
Search instruction means for instructing the server to search for a document based on a conditional expression specified by a web browser, and a document search table for storing the search result and the date and time when the search for the document was instructed as a search date and time Wherein the first server comprises: condition search means for searching the database in accordance with an instruction from the document search instruction means;
A search result transmitting unit for transmitting a result searched by the condition searching unit to a second server.

Further, the invention according to claim 17 is based on claim 1
6. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the second server includes: a search date / time transmitting unit that transmits the search date / time to the first server; and a conditional expression search unit that searches the document search table using the conditional expression as a search key. And a search result transmitting means for transmitting the search result obtained by the conditional expression search means to a Web browser, wherein the first server registers the latest registered document among the documents registered in the database. A latest registration date and time storage table for storing the date and time,
And a search date / time comparison means for comparing the search date / time with the contents of the latest registration date / time storage table.

The invention according to claim 18 is the first invention.
7. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the first server retrieves the database using the conditional expression and registration after the retrieval date and time as a retrieval key, and a result retrieved by the additional registered document retrieval unit. Search result transmitting means for transmitting the search result to the second server, wherein the second server includes a search result adding means for adding the search result transmitted by the search result transmitting means to the document search table. It is characterized by having.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a document management method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document management apparatus according to the present invention uses a WE used by a plurality of client machines.
B browser 1, an HTTP server 3 capable of communicating with the WEB browser 1 by HTTP, a storage device 4 connected to the HTTP server 3, an HTTP server 3, and a CGI (Comm.
on a Gateway Interface), a document management server 5 for managing a document created by a client, a database 6 connected to the document management server 5 for storing the document, and a plurality of client machines connected to the document management server 5 And a document registration application 2 used in.

The web browser 1 shown in FIG.
HTML (HyperText M) provided by the server 3
arkup Language) can be used by referring to the information created by arkup Language. This information is stored in the storage device 4 connected to the HTTP server 3, and the WE
When the B browser 1 refers to the information, the URL (Un) that designates the path of the storage device 4 in which the information is stored
if Resource Resource Locator is H
HTT that transmitted to TTP server 3 and received the URL
The P server 3 reads the information from the storage device 4 and the WEB
Send to browser. Here, WEB browser 1 and HT
Communication with the TP server 3 is performed by HTTP as described above.
It is performed according to.

The document management server 5 has a filing application for storing and reading out a document created by the client in the database 6, and executes the document management by activating the filing application on the operating system. .

This filing application can be started from another server via CGI,
The HTTP server 3 has a CGI for using the CGI.
A program is provided. This CGI program may be provided on the document management server side.

The document management server 5 and the document registration application 2 are connected to a LAN (Local Area Network).
rk) and the like, and communication between them is performed by a unique dedicated protocol.

The document registration application 2 sends the document created by the client as a file to the document management server 5 using the dedicated protocol, and upon receiving the document, the document management server 5 activates the filing application and stores the document in a database. Register in 6. The database 6 is provided with a document registration table that stores an identification ID for each registered document and stores information about the document such as a document file and the name of the author of the document. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the document registration table.

As shown in FIG. 2, the document registration table 10
Is an ID field 11 for storing an identification ID assigned to each document, a NAME field 12 for storing a file name of the document, and an SIZ field for storing the size of the file.
E field 13 and D for storing the date when the document was registered
It is constructed as a set of records having an ATE field 14 and an AUTHOR field 15 for storing the name of the creator who created the document.

This record is created when the client uses the document registration application 2 to send the file name of the document and the name of the client to the document registration server 5 and instructs the registration of the document.

In this case, the document management server 5 activates the filing application, instructs the document registration table 10 to add a new record, and adds the ID obtained by adding 1 to the ID of the previous record. Stored in the ID field 11 and set the date of that day to DATE
In the field 14, the file name of the document transmitted from the client is stored in the NAME field 12, and the name of the creator is stored in the AUTHOR field 15.
After that, the size of the file is checked and stored in the SIZE field 13.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the document registration table 10 created in this way. As shown in FIG. 1, the document registration table 10 stores three records with IDs 1 to 3, and the ID of each record stores integer numeric data without duplication. , This number is counted in the order in which the records were created.

The NAME field 12 stores character strings designated by the client, such as "DOC1,""DOC2," and "DOC3." This character string can also have a file extension added.

The size of the document file, such as “200”, “300”, and “100”, is stored in the SIZE field 13 as numerical data. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the unit is set to “kilobytes”. . This unit can be changed freely.

In the DATE field 14, "90/01/01", "90/02/01", "90
The date on which the document was registered, such as “/ 03/03”, is stored as a character string, and each character string is “January 1, 1990”, “February 1, 1990”, and “March 1, 1990”, respectively.
Day ”. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the value stored in this field is only the date, but it can be set to store the time.

In the AUTHOR field 15, "SAKAKI", "ESATO", "HORIGA"
A character string such as "NE" specified by the client when registering a document is stored.

The document management device according to the present invention constructs the hierarchical structure of the document registered in the database 6 as described above by generating a setting file in which the document is described in the HTML format, and displays it on the web browser 1. It is characterized by being able to do. Hereinafter, the “structure and generation example of the setting file” will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

[Structure of Configuration File and Example of Generation] FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a setting file generated by the HTTP server 3. As shown in FIG.
Describes a header description area 21 that describes information about the configuration file, a background information description area 22 that describes background information of a window displayed by the web browser 1, and information about a hierarchical object that is a basic component of each hierarchy. Layer A description area 23, layer B description area 24,
.. Is composed of a hierarchical Z description area 25.

The header description area 21 indicates that the hierarchical structure constructed by the setting file 20 is an icon format,
A display format of a hierarchical structure displayed on the web browser 1 such as a list format is described, and attribute information such as a date when the setting file 20 is generated and a file size are described.

In the background information description area 22, drawing information of the window such as the size and background color of the window of the WEB browser 1 or additional information such as a title is described.

Layer A description area 23, Layer B description area 2
4,... The hierarchical Z description area 25 contains the name and link information of each hierarchical object and the hierarchical object A
Describes information on hierarchical objects and documents positioned below. These description areas are generated by the number of hierarchical objects created by the client.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the description area when the lower level structure of the layer A description area 23 is described. In the figure, a hierarchy A has a hierarchy AA, a hierarchy A
B, document A, and document B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the layer A description area 23
Is a layer AA description area 31 that describes information about the layer AA, a layer AB description area 32 that describes information about the layer AB, and document information A that describes information about the document A.
A description area 33 and a document information B description area 34 for describing information relating to the document B are provided. These description areas include the names or names of the respective hierarchical objects or the respective documents, similarly to the respective hierarchical description areas shown in FIG. Link information and information of a hierarchical object or a document positioned below each hierarchical object are described.

These description areas are also generated by the number of hierarchical objects created by the client or the number of documents positioned at each hierarchical level.

In the setting file 20 having the above-described structure, by changing the type of information described in the hierarchical description area (22 to 25, 31, 32) or the document information description area (33, 334), the Web browser It is possible to change the display format when displayed in 1. Hereinafter, an example of a case where the hierarchical structure of a document is displayed in an icon format and a case where it is displayed in a list format will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the document information A description area 33 is described in an icon format, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which one setting file described in the format is displayed on a web browser. is there.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the document information A description area 3
3 includes a character information description area 41 for describing an identification ID and a file name of the document, an image information description area 42 for describing an icon image of the document, and a link information description area 43 for describing access information to the document. Is provided,
The corresponding information is described. Note that the hierarchical description area is described in the same structure.

Here, in the image information description area 42,
If the object to be described is a document, describe the image file name of the document icon and the path where the file is stored. If the layer is a hierarchy, describe the image file name of the folder icon and the file if the hierarchy is a folder. Is described, and for a cabinet, the cabinet icon image file name and the path where the file is stored are described.

If the object to be described is a document, the HTTP server 3
A description is given in which a command for instructing access to the document registered in the database 6 using the CGI program is added to a URL indicating the address of the HTTP server 3 when the object is a hierarchical object. Is added to the URL indicating "." And a command instructing access to the hierarchical description area of the hierarchical object is described.

When the layer A description area 23 is described in the icon format as described above and displayed on the web browser 1, the result is as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, a window 60 displayed by the WEB browser 1 has a folder icon 61 indicating that the hierarchy AA and the hierarchy AB are folders, and indicates that the document A and the document B are documents. A document icon 62 and a name text 63 indicating the name of each object by a character string are displayed.

When the client clicks the folder icon 61, the document icon 62, or the name text 63 displayed in the window 60 using a pointing device such as a mouse, the WEB browser 1 transmits the link information of the clicked object to the HTTP. Server 3
To obtain information about the object.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the document information A description area 33 is described in a list format, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which one setting file described in the format is displayed on a web browser. is there.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the document information A description area 3
3 includes an ID description area 51 for describing a document identification ID.
And a NAME description area 52 for describing the file name of the document, a SIZE description area 53 for describing the size of the file, and a DA describing the date when the document is registered.
A TE description area 54, an AUTOR description area 55 that describes the name of the creator who created the document, and a CO that describes information about commands for executing acquisition and deletion of the document.
An MMAND description area 56 is provided, and corresponding information is described. Note that the hierarchical description area is described in the same structure.

Here, the ID description area 51, the NAME description area 52, the DATE description area 54, and the AUTOR description area 55 correspond to the respective fields provided in the document registration table 10 of the database 6. , Values obtained from the respective fields are described as they are.

In the COMMAND description area 56, "GET" which is a command for acquiring information on a document or a hierarchical object is provided. The link information of "GET" includes HTTP if the object to be described is a document.
A URL indicating the address of the server 3 is described by adding a command for instructing access to the document registered in the database 6 using a CGI program. If the object is a hierarchical object, HTT is used.
A URL indicating the address of the P server 3 with a command for instructing access to the hierarchical description area of the hierarchical object added thereto is described.

In the COMMAND description area 56,
“DELETE”, which is a command for deleting information on a document or a hierarchical object, is provided.
In the link information of "TE", a URL in which a delete command is added to the IP address of the HTTP server 3 is described. When the client executes the "DELETE" command, the HTTP server 3 transmits the document specified by the client from the setting file 20. Or, delete the description about the hierarchical object.

When the layer A description area 23 is described in a list format as described above and displayed on the web browser 1, FIG.
become that way.

As shown in FIG. 8, in a window 70 displayed by the web browser 1, information on each object is displayed in a list format. Here, "GET" and "DELETE" displayed with an underline have link information respectively as described above,
When the client clicks the relevant portion using a pointing device such as a mouse, the WEB browser 1
Shows the link information of the clicked object as HTT
The information is transmitted to the P server 3 and information about the object is acquired.

Whether the setting file is generated in the icon format or the list format can be determined by the client describing the display format in the header description area 21 of the setting file.

When describing the contents of the setting file, the HTTP server 3 first checks the header description area 21 and generates the setting file in the icon format, the list format, or another format based on the description content. .

The setting file generated as described above is updated by the HTTP server 3 accessing the document management server 5 as needed and acquiring a list of documents registered in the database 6.

Hereinafter, the "execution procedure when the document management apparatus according to the present invention acquires a list of documents registered in the database 6" will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the setting file is generated in an icon format.

[Execution Procedure when Acquiring List of Documents Registered in Database] When the client operates the web browser 1 to instruct acquisition of the list of documents registered in the database 6, the web browser 1
The command “cgi.e” instructing the IP address of the P server 3 to execute the CGI program and obtain a list of documents is provided.
xe? URL with "list" added to the HTTP server 3
(Step 100). Here, “cgi.e
“xe” indicates a CGI program, and the HTTP server 3 executes the CGI program when receiving “cgi.exe”. “? List” indicates an argument to be passed to the CGI program.

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Executes the CGI program (step 101),
Instruct the document management server 5 to start the filing application via the GI.

The filing application reads the IDs of all the records stored in the ID field 11 of the document registration table 10 constructed in the database 6 (step 102), and uses the IDs as a list as H
The data is transmitted to the TTP server 3 (step 103).

The HTTP that has received the list of the IDs
The server 3 searches the character information description area 41 of each document described in the setting file 20 for each identification ID, and checks whether the corresponding character information is described (step 104).

If the corresponding identification ID is not described in the setting file 20, a new document information description area is provided and the identification information is stored in the character information description area of the area.
D is described, an access method to the document registered in the database 6 is described in the link information description area (step 105), and list acquisition completion information indicating that the document has been added is transmitted to the web browser 1. (Step 10
6).

When the corresponding identification ID is described in the setting file 20, list acquisition completion information indicating that the document has not been added without updating the contents of the setting file is transmitted to the web browser 1. (Step 106).

The web browser 1 displays on the window that a document has been added to the setting file or that no document has been added, based on the received list acquisition completion information.

In the document management apparatus according to the present invention, by operating the web browser 1, a hierarchical structure can be freely constructed for the list of documents acquired as described above.

Hereinafter, an example of an operation when a hierarchical structure is constructed on a WEB browser will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 and FIGS. 15 and 16.

[Example of Operation When Building Hierarchical Structure on Web Browser] FIGS. 9 to 13 show the hierarchical structure constructed by the operation described below in a tree diagram. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document management apparatus according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, the setting file generated by the HTTP server 3 includes an update folder 81 and a use folder below the root folder 80.
It is assumed that a hierarchical structure in which the rA folder 82 is located is described. And the update folder 81
In the document A, the document A is obtained by the document list obtaining procedure shown in FIG.
83, a document B84, a document C85, a document D86, and a document E87 are stored.

First, when the client operates the WEB browser 1 to instruct display of the contents of the root folder 80, the WEB browser 1 sets the IP address of the HTTP server 3 in the description area of the root folder 80 in the setting file <root. > (Hereinafter, similarly to <root>, when indicating a description area in a setting file, an object name is indicated by <> enclosed in <>.) A URL to which a command “open? Root” added to acquire the object name is added HTTP
The data is transmitted to the server 3 (step 200).

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Transmits <root> to the web browser 1 (step 201), and upon receiving this, the web browser 1
The contents of the root folder 80 are displayed on the window based on the contents of "auto>" (step 202). Then, the update folder 81 and use are displayed in the window.
The folder icon 61 and the name text 63 of the rA folder 82 are displayed.

Subsequently, the client sets the Web browser 1
Is operated to display the contents of the update folder 81, the Web browser 1
The URL in which the command "open? Update" for instructing the acquisition of the description area <update> of the update folder 81 in the setting file is added to the P address to H
The data is transmitted to the TTP server 3 (step 203).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the URL
Checks whether icon information is described in the <update> image information description area 42 (step 204), and if not, generates an icon image file and sets the path of the file to the It is added to the image information description area 42 (step 205), and <u
pdate> to the WEB browser 1 (step 206).

If there is a description, <update>
Is transmitted to the web browser 1 as it is (step 20).
6).

The web browser 1 having received the <update> updates the web browser 1 based on the content of the <update>.
The contents of the te folder 81 are displayed on the window (step 207). Then, the document A83,
Document B84, Document C85, Document D86, and Document E87
Document icon 62 and name text 63 are displayed.

Subsequently, the client sets the Web browser 1
To operate document A83, document B84 and document C85.
Is instructed to move to userA folder 82, WE
The B browser 1 sends, to the IP address of the HTTP server 3, a command “move? A, B,
The URL with "C to userA" added is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 208).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the URL
Deletes information on document A83, document B84 and document C85 from <update> (step 20).
9) Add it to <userA> (step 210), and send <update> from which the respective documents have been deleted to the web browser 1 (step 211).

The web browser 1 having received the <update> updates the web browser 1 based on the description contents of the <update>.
The contents of the te folder 81 are displayed on the window (step 212). Then, the document icon 62 and the name text 63 of the document D86 and the document E87 are displayed on the window.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16, when the client operates the web browser 1 to instruct the display of the contents of the userA folder 82, the web browser 1
In the IP address of the TTP server 3, u
A URL to which a command “open? userA” for instructing acquisition of the description area <userA> of the serA folder 82 is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 21).
3).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the URL
Checks whether or not icon information is described in the image information description area 42 of <userA> (step 214). If the description is not found, an icon image file is generated and the path of the file is set to the relevant file. It is added to the image information description area 42 (step 215), and <us
erA> to the web browser 1 (step 21).
6).

When the description is made, <userA
> To the WEB browser 1 as it is (step 2
16).

The web browser 1 receiving the <userA> displays the contents of the userA folder 82 on the window based on the description contents of <userA> (step 217). Then, in the window, document A83, document B
The document icon 62 and the name text 63 of the document 84 and the document C85 are displayed.

Subsequently, the client sets the Web browser 1
And userB under userA folder 82
When an instruction to create a folder is issued, the web browser 1
A URL in which a command “create? UserB” instructing execution of the creation is added to the IP address of the TP server 3 is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 21).
8).

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Is the character information of the userB folder in <userA>,
<UserB describing image information and link information
> (Step 219), and then <userA>
Is transmitted to the web browser 1 (step 220).

The WEB browser 1 having received <userA> displays the contents of the userA folder 82 on the window based on the description contents of <userA> (step 221). Then, in the window, document A83, document B
84 and the document icon 62 of the document C85, the name text 63 and the folder icon 6 of the userB folder
1 and the name text 63 are displayed.

Then, the client is the web browser 1
And userB of document D86 and document E87
When an instruction to move to the folder is issued, the web browser 1 displays H
The command “move? D, E to user” instructing the IP address of the TTP server 3 to execute the movement is performed.
The URL appended with "B" is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 222).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the URL
Is the document D86 and the document E87 from <update>.
The information about the <use> is deleted (step 223).
rB> (step 224), and transmits <update> from which the respective documents have been deleted to the web browser 1 (step 225).

[0104] Upon receiving the <update>, the web browser 1 updates the web browser 1 based on the content of the <update>.
The contents of the te folder 81 are displayed on the window (step 226). Then, the window is in a state where no object is displayed.

FIG. 11 shows a tree diagram of the hierarchical structure constructed by the above operations. 15 and FIG.
By repeating the operation shown in FIG. 7, the document F89, the document G90 and the document H91 are further stored in the database 6.
, And stored in the update folder 81 (FIG. 12), and the respective documents can be stored in the userC folder 92 generated below the root folder 80 (FIG. 13).

As described above, in the document management apparatus according to the present invention, a free hierarchical structure can be constructed by operating the web browser 1, and the display icons of the objects are displayed only when the folder is opened. For addition, for a document that is not accessed, image information having a relatively large file size is not described in the setting file.

In the document management apparatus according to the present invention, the hierarchical structure constructed according to the above-described procedure is displayed on the web browser 1,
When the client calls the link information attached to the document in the hierarchical structure, the file of the document is obtained from the database 6 and the image of the document is displayed on the web browser 1.

Hereinafter, using FIGS. 17 to 19,
An operation example in the case where the document management apparatus according to the present invention acquires a document file from a database and displays it on a web browser will be described.

[Example of Operation when Acquiring Document File from Database and Displaying It on Web Browser] When the operation of acquiring a document file from the database and displaying it on the Web browser is enabled, the document management apparatus according to the present invention is required. Is stored in the storage device 4 connected to the HTTP server 3 in FIG.
The document image storage table 400 shown in FIG.

The document image storage table 400 is
An ID field 401 for storing an identification ID of a document registered in the database 6 and a document image field 402 for storing a display image file of the document are provided. Here, in the document image field 402,
Instead of a display image file of the document, an image file for printing may be stored. Further, a field for storing a display image file and a field for storing a print image file may be separately provided in the document image storage table 400.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show an operation example when the client clicks the document icon with the identification ID of 1 and calls the link information to the document file with the identification ID of 1 registered in the database 6. I have.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the link information is called by the client, the WEB browser 1
Transmits to the HTTP server 3 a URL to which the command "cgi.exe? ID = 1" for instructing the execution of the CGI program to acquire the document file with the identification ID of 1 is added to the IP address of the HTTP server 3 (step). 30
0).

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Executes the CGI program (step 301),
Instruct the document management server 5 to start the filing application via the GI.

The filing application searches for a record whose identification ID is 1 stored in the ID field 11 of the document registration table 10 constructed in the database 6 (step 302), and retrieves the document stored in the NAME field 12 of the record. The file is read (step 303), and this document file is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 304).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the document file creates an image of the document by converting the document file into the HTML format (step 305). Then, the HTTP server 3 stores the document image storage table 4
00, the identification ID of the document is stored in the ID field 401, a new record storing the image as a file is created in the document image field 402, and the document image is stored (step 306).

Thereafter, the HTTP server 3 rewrites the link information of the document whose identification ID is 1 to the path of the document image file (step 307), transmits the document image to the web browser 1 (step 308), and
It is displayed on the B browser 1 (step 309).

When the client clicks again on the document icon whose identification ID is 1, as shown in FIG.
The EB browser 1 sets the IP address of the HTTP server 3
The URL to which the command “read? ID = 1” for instructing the retrieval of the image file of the document is added to the HTT
The data is transmitted to the P server 3 (step 350).

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Reads the image file of the document from the document image storage table 400 (step 351), and
The document is transmitted to the browser (step 352), and the image of the document is displayed (step 353).

As described above, in the document management apparatus according to the present invention, for a document whose document file has been once obtained from the database, the image file of the document is stored in the document image storage table, and the document file is again stored by the client. When acquisition is instructed, the image file is accessed without accessing the document management server.
Display on B browser.

Next, the document management apparatus according to the present invention “operation example when searching for a document registered in database 6”.
Will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Example of Operation for Searching Document Registered in Database] When a search for a document registered in the database 6 is enabled, the document management apparatus according to the present invention is connected to the HTTP server 3. 24 in the storage device 4
A document search table 600 as shown in FIG.

The document search table 600 includes a search expression field 601 for storing a search condition designated by the client, and a search result file field for storing a result of executing a search of a document registered in the database 6 with the search condition. 602 and a search date field 603 for storing a date when the search is executed. Here, the search date field 603 may store the time together with the date.

Further, the database 6 is provided with a latest registration date and time storage table storing the latest date and time when the document was registered by the client.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the client
When the B browser 1 is operated to request transmission of a search page, the WEB browser 1 sends a command “view” instructing the IP address of the HTTP server 3 to transmit the search page.
? URL with "search" added to the HTTP server 3
(Step 500).

The HTTP server 3 that has received the URL
Transmits a search page having a field for inputting search conditions to the web browser 1 (step 50).
1), and display (step 502).

The client retrieves the search condition “size> 100” on the search page (for example, a case where the client extracts document files of 100 or more will be described).
Is input, and the execution of the search is instructed.
Is a command "search? Siz" instructing the IP address of the HTTP server 3 to execute a search under the search condition.
The URL with "e>100" is transmitted to the HTTP server 3 (step 503).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the URL
Searches the search expression field 601 of the document search table 600 using "size>100" as a search key (step 504), and determines whether there is a record in which "size>100" is stored (step 505). .

If “size> 100” does not exist, as shown in FIG. 21, “size> 100” is set as the value of the search formula field 601 in the document search table 600, and the date at that time is set in the search date field 603. Is added (step 506).

Thereafter, the HTTP server 3 executes the CGI program and transmits “size> 100” to the document management server 5 (step 507), and upon receiving this, the document management server 5 converts “size> 100”. The document registration table 10 is searched as a search key (step 50)
8).

The document management server 5 obtains the above search results in the form of a list (step 509), and transmits this to the HTTP server 3 (step 510).

The HTTP server 3 receiving the search result
Creates a search result image as a file by converting this into HTML format (step 511), and “size
> 100 "is stored in the search result file field 602 of the record stored in the search formula field 601 (step 512).

Then, the image file is transmitted to the web browser 1 (step 513) and displayed on the web browser 1 (step 514).

When the HTTP server 3 finds “size> 100” in step 505 (when the document search database 600 stores the record shown in FIG. 24), the HTTP server 3 sets the CGI as shown in FIG. Run the program to get “size> 100” and “size> 10
“05/05/96” stored in the search date field 603 of the record storing “0” is transmitted to the document management server 5 (step 515).

The document management server 5 which has received the message "9"
6/05/05 "and the value of the latest registration date and time storage table (step 517).
If the date is older than 5 days, it is assumed that the search results stored in the document search
The server 3 is instructed to read the search result.

The HTTP server 3 receiving this instruction sets
The search expression field 601 of the document search table 600 is searched using “size> 100” as a search key (step 518), and the image file stored in the search result file field 602 of the corresponding record is read (step 519). Then, the image file is transmitted to the web browser 1 (step 520), and the web
It is displayed on the browser 1 (step 521).

In step 517, the latest registration date and time is 1996
If the date is newer than May 5, the document search table 60
Judge that the search result stored in 0 has changed,
As shown in FIG. 23, “date> 96/05/05”
Then, the document registration table 10 is searched using “size> 100” as a search key (step 522), and the result of searching only documents registered since the previous search was executed is obtained.

The search result is stored in the HTTP server 3
(Step 523), and the received HTTP
The server 3 searches the search expression field 601 of the document search table 600 using “size> 100” j as a search key (step 524), and reads the image file stored in the search result file field 602 of the corresponding record (step 524). 525).

Thereafter, the retrieval result received from the document management server 5 is converted into the HTML format and combined with the read image file to generate a new image file (step 526). Thereafter, the image file is stored in the search result field 602 of the record (step 527), and the image file is transmitted to the web browser (step 528).

The web browser 1 receives the image file and displays it on the window (step 52).
9).

As described above, in the document management apparatus according to the present invention, the result of the search once executed is stored in the document search table 600 as an image file, and the client instructs the search again under the same condition. If there is no newly registered document in the database 6, the search of the database 6 is not performed and the document search table 60 is not executed.
Web browser 1 directly saves image files saved in
To be displayed.

Even if there is a newly registered document, only the newly registered document is searched again, and only the search result is transmitted to the HTTP server 3. It is added to the image file stored in the table 600. Then, the newly created image file is displayed on the web browser 1.

[0142]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the hierarchical structure of the document registered in the database is described in the setting file, the hierarchical structure can be displayed in a desired format by changing the description format of the setting file.

Further, since the hierarchical structure described in the setting file can be freely changed by the web browser, the client does not need to access the database, and the communication load between the document management server and the HTTP server is reduced.

According to the present invention, when a list of documents is obtained from the database, only character information and link information are generated without generating an icon image having a relatively large file size. Since the icon image is generated, the capacity of the storage device can be saved.

Further, according to the present invention, for a document whose document file has been once obtained from the database, the image file of the document is stored in the document image storage table, and the document file is instructed again by the client. Since the image file is displayed on the web browser without accessing the document management server, the communication load between the document management server and the HTTP server can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, the search result of the search once executed is stored in the document search table as an image file, and the client instructs the search again under the same condition, and the newly registered search is performed in the database. If the document does not exist, the image file saved in the document search table is not directly executed on the web
Since the document is displayed on the browser, the document management server does not execute the same search many times, and the processing efficiency of the document management server can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if there is a newly registered document at the time of the above search, only the newly registered document is searched again and only the search result is HT.
It is sent to the TP server and added to the image file saved in the document search table in the previous search. Then, the newly created image file is displayed on the web browser. That is, in the present invention, since the result of the previously executed search is effectively used and only the minimum necessary search is executed,
The efficiency of the processing of the document management server can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a document management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of a database document registration table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a setting file generated by the HTTP server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a description example of a hierarchy A description area shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a description example of a setting file when displaying information on registered documents in an icon format.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a description of a setting file when information about registered documents is displayed in a list format.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen when a setting file is described in an icon format and a hierarchy A described in the setting file is displayed by a web browser.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen when a setting file is described in a list format and a hierarchy A described in the setting file is displayed by a web browser.

FIG. 9 is a tree diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure constructed by a setting file.

FIG. 10 is a tree diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure constructed by a setting file.

FIG. 11 is a tree diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure constructed by a setting file.

FIG. 12 is a tree diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure constructed by a setting file.

FIG. 13 is a tree diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure constructed by a setting file.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure for acquiring a list of documents registered in the database shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when the hierarchical structure shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 is constructed by describing a setting file.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when the hierarchical structure shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 is constructed by describing a setting file.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1 is displayed as an image on the web browser 1.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1 is displayed as an image on the web browser 1.

FIG. 19 is a view showing the configuration of a document image storage table constructed in the storage device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when searching for a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when searching for a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when searching for a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an execution procedure when searching for a document registered in the database shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration of a search table constructed in the storage device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Web browser, 2 ... document registration application, 3 ... HTTP server, 4 ... storage device, 5 ... document management server, 6 ... database, 10 ... document registration table,
11 ... ID field, 12 ... NAME field, 1
3 ... SIZE field, 14 ... DATE field,
15 AUTHOR field, 20 setting file,
21 ... header description area, 22 ... background description area, 23 ...
Hierarchical A description area, 24 ... Hierarchical B description area, 25 ... Hierarchical Z
Description area, 31: Hierarchical AA description area, 32: Hierarchical AB description area, 33: Document information A description area, 34: Document information B
Description area, 41 ... Character information description area, 42 ... Image information description area, 43 ... Link information description area, 51 ... ID description area, 52 ... NAME description area, 53 ... SIZE description area, 54 ... DATE description area, 55 ... AUTOR description area, 56 ... COMMAND description area, 60 ... window, 61 ... folder icon, 62 ... document icon, 6
3 ... name text, 70 ... window, 80 ... root
Folder, 81 ... update folder, 82 ... use
rA folder, 83 ... Document A, 84 ... Document B, 85 ... Document C, 86 ... Document D, 87 ... Document E, 88 ... userB
Folder 89, Document F, 90 Document G, 91 Document H, 92 UserC folder, 400 Document image storage table, 401 ID field, 402 Document image field, 600 Search table, 601
... search formula field, 602 ... search result file field, 603 ... search date field.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A first server for storing and managing information relating to a document created by a client in a database constructed in a first storage device, and a second server accessible by a web browser, In the document management method for displaying information on the document on the web browser, the second server accesses the first server according to an instruction of the web browser, and retrieves information on the document stored in the database, A document management method characterized by independently constructing a management structure for information on the document and displaying the management structure. 2. The document management method according to claim 1, wherein the management structure is a hierarchical structure constructed by generating a setting file described in an HTML format. 3. The information on the document is character information represented by characters, image information represented by an image, link information to the first server or the second server, or a combination thereof. 3. The document management method according to claim 2, wherein 4. When any one of the layers described in the setting file is accessed by the web browser, the second server determines whether or not there is image information in the layer. 4. The document management method according to claim 3, wherein when there is no image information, the image information is generated and added to the hierarchy. 5. The second server, when instructed by the WEB browser to obtain a list of documents stored in the database, sends all documents stored in the database to the first server. The first server having received the instruction reads the identification IDs of all the documents from the database, transmits a list of the read identification IDs to the second server, The second server communicates the individual identification IDs in the list of transmitted identification IDs.
5. The document management method according to claim 4, wherein the setting file is searched using a search key as a search key, and if there is no corresponding character information in the setting file, the identification ID is additionally described in the setting file. . 6. The second server, when any of the link information described in the setting file is accessed by the web browser, the second server stores any of the link information stored in the database. When the instruction is to retrieve the document, the first server is instructed to read the document, the first server reads the document from the database, and transmits the read document to the second server. Then, the second server creates a document image of the received document, stores the document image in a storage device provided in the second server, and stores the link information in the storage device. 6. The document management method according to claim 5, wherein access is changed to a document image, and the document image is transmitted to a web browser. 7. When the second server is instructed to search for a document stored in the database by a conditional expression from the web browser, the second server stores the conditional expression as a search key in the second server. Searching the provided document search table, and when there is no corresponding record, stores the date and time instructed to perform the search and the conditional expression in a storage device provided in the second server; The conditional expression is transmitted to the first server to instruct the first server to search for a document stored in the database. The first server searches the database using the conditional expression, and compares the search result with the first server. The second server that transmits the search result to the second server and receives the search result stores the search result in the storage device, and transmits the search result to the web browser. Document management method. 8. The second server searches the document search table with the conditional expression, and when a corresponding record exists, the second server sends the conditional expression and the search date and time of the record to the first server. The first server, which has transmitted and received this, compares the content of a latest registration date and time storage table storing the registration date and time of the most recently registered document among the documents registered in the database with the search date and time. If the search date is newer, the second server is instructed to access the document search table, and the second server replaces the conditional expression in the records of the document search table. 8. The document management method according to claim 7, wherein a search result stored in a record having a field value is read and transmitted to a web browser. 9. The first server, as a result of comparing the content of the latest registration date and time storage table with the search date and time, if the search date and time is older, the conditional expression and the search date and time The database is searched using the subsequent registration as a search key, the search result is transmitted to the second server, and the second server receiving the search result stores the search result in a record of the document search table. 9. The document management method according to claim 8, wherein the conditional expression is added to a search result stored in a record having the field value as a field value, and the added search result is transmitted to the web browser. 10. A first server for storing and managing information relating to a document created by a client in a database constructed in a first storage device, and a second server accessible by a web browser is connected. In the document management apparatus, the second server includes: an access unit that accesses the first server; and a management structure construction unit that constructs a management structure of information on documents stored in the database. Document management device. 11. The document management apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said management structure construction means includes a setting file generation means for constructing a hierarchical structure by generating a setting file described in an HTML format. 12. The information on the document is character information represented by a character, image information represented by an image, link information to the first server or the second server, or a combination thereof. The document management device according to claim 11, wherein: 13. The server according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting file changing unit configured to change the setting file; and an image information adding unit configured to add image information to a document in a hierarchy accessed by a web browser. The document management device according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The database includes an ID field for storing an ID of a document stored in the database, and the first server reads an ID stored in the database. And an ID transmitting means for transmitting the ID obtained by the ID reading means to the second server, wherein the second server searches the setting file using the ID as a search key. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a setting file search unit; and a new ID adding unit that includes, in the link information to the database, the identification ID having no corresponding character information as a result of the search by the setting file search unit. 13. The document management device according to item 13. 15. The first server, comprising: an identification ID search unit that searches the database using the identification ID as a search key; and a first server that stores a document corresponding to the identification ID obtained as a result of the search by the identification ID search unit. And a document transmission unit for transmitting the document to the second server, wherein the second server instructs the identification ID search unit to perform a search when the identification ID included in the link information is accessed by a web browser. Search instructing means, document image generating means for generating a document image of the document obtained by the document transmitting means, a document image storage table for storing the ID of the document and the document image, Added document image access information for accessing document images stored in the document image storage table That means a document management apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a document image transmission means for transmitting the document image to the WEB browser. 16. The second server, comprising: a document search instructing unit instructing the first server to search for a document based on a conditional expression specified by a web browser; and a search result and the search of the document. A document search table that stores a designated date and time as a search date and time, wherein the first server retrieves the database according to an instruction of the document search instruction unit, 14. The document management apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a search result transmitting unit configured to transmit a search result to the second server. 17. The second server, wherein: a search date and time transmitting unit that transmits the search date and time to the first server; a conditional expression search unit that searches the document search table using the conditional expression as a search key; The search result obtained by the conditional expression search means is W
A search result transmitting unit for transmitting to the EB browser, wherein the first server stores a registration date and time of a latest registered document among the documents registered in the database; 17. The document management apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a search date / time comparison unit that compares the date / time with the contents of the latest registration date / time storage table. 18. The first server, further comprising: an additional registered document search unit that searches the database using the conditional expression and registration after the search date and time as a search key; and a search result obtained by the additional registered document search unit. A search result transmitting unit that transmits the search result to the second server; and a search result adding unit that adds the search result transmitted by the search result transmitting unit to the document search table. 18. The document management device according to claim 17, wherein