JPH11161660A - Document managing method an implementation system thereof, and medium stored with processing program for same is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technology which can improve the performance of the document management system by reducing the frequency of connection with a document space and shortening the connection time. SOLUTION: A for the document managing means which menages documents stored in document spaces of document space apace actualizing means 300, document space metadata 310 showing attribute information of respective document spaces and document metadata showing attribute information of documents managed in the document spaces are acquired from the respective document space actualizing means and managed together as global data in the document space managing means 300, list data on the document spaces and the global data are acquired from the document space managing means 300, and a specific object document space of document processing of a client is selected from the list and global data; and the document space actualizing means 300 which manages the selected specific document space and client 100 are connected to perform document processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document management system for storing and managing digitized documents using a computer system, and more particularly to a document management system for storing and managing a plurality of documents as a document set in a plurality of document spaces. And effective technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet and WWW (World)
With the spread of Wide Web, the number of digitized documents created and distributed in a network environment is increasing, and the need for a document management system for storing and managing these documents is increasing.

A conventional document management system employing a client server system in a network environment employs an architecture based on a so-called three-layer model, and includes a display layer, a function layer, and a data layer.

[0004] AIIM (The Associate)
n for Information and Ima
Ge Management International
al) task force, DMA (Documen)
t ManagementAlliance), the application programming interface (AP) of the document management system based on such an architecture.
I: Application Programming
An interface and a document object model, the DMA middleware specification, have been proposed. It should be noted that the URL (Unifo
rm Resource Locator is http
p: // www. aim. org / dma.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional DMA specification architecture. The DMA compliant application program 400 is a program compliant with the interface of the DMA middleware, that is, the API 411 and the SII 421. The DMA system 410 is a system that manages documents based on DMA specifications.

The API 411 is an interface between the DMA-compliant application program 400 and the DMA system 410. The document space 420 is a space in which a document object model managed by the DMA system 410 is implemented.

The SII 421 is an interface between the DMA-compliant application program 400 and the document space 420. The repository 430 is a file system or a database system that stores and manages document entities, document objects, and metadata in the document space 420.

[0008] In the DMA architecture, the document management system is composed of the following layers. (1) DMA-compliant application program 400 (2) DMA system 410 (3) Document space 420 (service element integration module) (4) Repository 430.

Here, the following are defined as DMA middleware. DMA-compliant application program 400 and DM
Interface with the A system 410-Interface between the DMA-compliant application program 400 and the document space 420-Object classes in the DMA system 410 and interfaces defined in the classes-Object classes in the document space 420 and interfaces defined in the classes DMA-compliant application programs 400 and D
Interfaces to the MA system 410 and the document space 420 are API 411 (Application), respectively.
n Programming Interface) and SII421 (Service Integrated).
on Interface).

The API 411 is actually a DMA system 41.
0 is a set of interfaces defined for all object classes inside the document space 420, and the entity of the SII 421 is a set of interfaces defined for all object classes inside the document space 420.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the definition of the term "interface", the interface between the DMA-compliant application program 400, the DMA system 410 and the document space 420 is defined by APIs 411 and S, respectively.
II421, and the interface defined in the object class is described as “class interface” or “object interface”. Hereinafter, each of the above layers will be described.

(1) DMA-compliant application program 400
A middleware interface, API 411
And a program conforming to SII421 and DMA
The system 410 or the document space 420 is accessed via the API 411 or the SII 421. Repository 4
30 is hidden by the document space 420, and is not directly accessed from the DMA-compliant application program 400.

(2) DMA system 410 The DMA-compliant application program 400 uses an API.
Access the DMA system 410 via 411.
The substance of the API 411 is a class interface of a class defined in the DMA system 410 and a method attached to the class interface.

[0014] DMA-compliant application program 4
00 can access an object (an instance of a class) of the DMA system 410 via the API 411. Also, you can call methods of the object interface attached to the object.

[0015] DMA-compliant application program 4
00 is the method dmaConnect prepared as a library
Call SystemManager to get the entry point to DMA middleware. As a result, the DMA-compliant application program 400 first
Get a pointer to the r object. This is DMA
The compliant application program 400 is SystemManage
r This means "connected" or "connected" to the object.

The SystemManager object is used by the DMA-compliant application program 400 to store the DMA system 4
Provides a method that returns a pointer to 10. This is D
It is an entry point to connect to MA middleware. As described above, the DMA-compliant application program 400 can connect to the DMA system 410 after connecting to the SystemManager object.

The DMA system 410 has a plurality of document spaces 4.
20 can be managed. These document spaces 420
To access internal documents, the DMA compliant application program 400 must first connect to the DMA system 410.

If necessary, the DMA-compliant application program 400 can request the DMA system 410 to list a plurality of document spaces 420 managed by the DMA system 410. The user selects a document space 420 to be used from among them and connects it.

The DMA system 410 also provides a search function over a plurality of document spaces 420. This is referred to herein as the global search function. With this global search function, it is possible to issue search requests to a plurality of document spaces 420 at once and integrate search results.

(3) Document Space 420 (Service Element Integration Module) The document space 420 is a layer in which a document object model is implemented. DMA compliant application program 400 requests DMA system 410 to display a list of document spaces 420 that it manages,
A desired document space 420 is selected and connected to the document space 420. Alternatively, if the document space 420 to be connected is determined in advance, it is possible to immediately connect to the document space 420 without requesting a list display.

DMA-compliant application program 4
00 is the service integration interface (S
Access the document space 420 via II421).
The entities of the SII 421 are the interfaces of the classes defined in the document space 420 and the methods attached to the interfaces.

Once connected to the document space 420, D
MA-compliant application program 400
Various objects existing inside the document space 420 can be accessed via I421. You can also access the properties and other objects by calling the methods of the object interface attached to the object. From the DMA-compliant application program 400, the SII 421 is also an API 411.
You can access it as it is, and you do not need to be particularly aware of the difference.

In the document space 420, documents can be managed using hierarchical folders. A hierarchical folder is realized by combining a container object corresponding to a folder and a relationship object for performing a hierarchical association between the container objects. Each folder stores a lower layer folder or document object.

A document object is a group of objects used to store one document in a plurality of expression formats (creation application, file format, etc.) and to manage a series of versions of the document. Even if multiple expressions and versions exist, if they are logically one registered document,
1 from the DMA-compliant application program 400
A document object is configured to look like one document.

A document object that is prepared for each storage unit of a document entity and provides an access control method for the document entity is uniquely associated with the document entity. D
The MA-compliant application program 400 can acquire and refer to a target document entity in a target expression format by referring to the document object.

The DMA-compliant application program 400 can access the document entity in the document space 420 by the following two methods.

Navigational access to reach a target document while traversing a hierarchical folder. Access by search that issues a query as a search expression and collectively obtains documents that meet desired conditions.

(4) Repository 430 The repository 430 stores and manages document entities, document objects, and metadata in the document space 420. The metadata includes document space metadata relating to the entire document space 420 and document metadata relating to individual documents.

In many cases, a file system or a database system is used as the repository 430. D
The access to the repository 430 from the MA-compliant application program 400 is hidden, and when accessing the document object in the document space 420, the access to the repository 430 is performed as an extension of the processing.

Next, the DMA-compliant application program 400 is connected to the document space 420 via the DMA middleware.
The procedure for accessing the internal document is described below.

First, the procedure in which the DMA-compliant application program 400 connects to the document space 420 and accesses the document entity navigationally is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conventional process in which a DMA-compliant application program 400 accesses a document entity in a document space 420.
In step 1501, the DMA-compliant application program 400 calls the DmaConnectSystemManager method, connects to the SystemManager object, and acquires the object interface IdmaSystemManager.

Next, in step 1502, IdmaSystemManage
r :: ConnectSystem method is called to connect to the DMA system 410 and the object interface Idma
Get System.

In step 1503, IdmaSystem :: Enumerat
By calling the eDocSpace method, a list display of the document spaces 420 is obtained, and in step 1504, the document space 420 to be connected is selected from the list of the displayed document spaces 420.

In step 1505, IdmaSystem :: ConnectD
The ocSpace method is called to connect to the selected document space 420 and obtain the object interface IdmaDocSpace of the document space object.

In step 1506, the highest level node of the container object constituting the hierarchical folder of the document space 420 is obtained, and the hierarchical structure is sequentially traced. If a container object storing the document object of the target document entity is found, Proceeding to step 1507, if not found, returning to step 1504, select another document space 420 and reconnect.

In step 1507, IdmaDocSpace :: Co
Call the nnectObject method to get the document object in the container object. A target document entity is acquired by selecting and calling a method for acquiring the document entity from the object interface provided by the document object.

Next, a procedure in which the DMA-compliant application program 400 searches for and obtains a document in the document space 420 will be described. For document search, local search that limits the search to the interior of each collection space,
There is a global search for performing a collective search over a plurality of document spaces 420. First, the local search procedure is shown in Fig. 1.
6 will be described.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conventional local search processing. Steps 1601 to 1605 are steps 1501 to 15
This is the same as the access of the document space object in step S05.

In step 1606, IdmaDocSpace :: Ge
Call tScope method and fetch object interface IdmaScope of Scope object required for search.

In step 1607, the Q describing the Query
constructs a uery object, and in step 1608,
Query object that describes ery as a parameter, Id
Call maScope :: ExecuteSearch method to instruct search execution. Fetch object interface IdmaEnumerateOfObject of ResultSet object corresponding to search result set as search execution result. If the target search result is obtained and the search is successful, the process proceeds to step 1609. If the search fails, the process returns to step 1604, and another document space 420 is selected and reconnected.

In step 1609, IdmaEnumerateOfObjec
By calling the t :: GetNext method, a ResutlRow object corresponding to each search result is obtained, and an identifier (id) of the document object described therein is obtained.

In step 1610, the document object in the document space 420 is obtained by calling the IdmaDocSpace :: ConnectObject method using the identifier as a parameter. A target document entity is acquired by selecting and calling a method for acquiring the document entity from the object interface provided by the document object.

Next, a global search procedure in which the DMA-compliant application program 400 performs a batch search over a plurality of document spaces 420 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conventional global search processing. Step 1701
Step 1501 to Step 1 up to Step 1702
This is the same as the access of the document space object of 502.

In step 1703, IdmaSystem :: CreateSc
Call ope method to get Scope object for global search. In step 1704, the Query
Construct a Query object that describes.

In step 1705, the Q describing the Query
With the uery object as a parameter, IdmaScope :: Execu
Calls the teSearch method to instruct the execution of the search, and the object interface IdmaEnumerat of the ResultSet object corresponding to the search result set as the search execution result
Get eOfObject.

Next, it is checked whether or not all the global searches have been completed. If the search in all document spaces 420 has been completed, the process proceeds to step 1706. If there is any document space 420 that has not been searched yet, After returning to step 1705, another document space 420 is connected and search is performed again.

In step 1706, IdmaEnumerateOfObjec
By calling the t :: GetNext method, a ResutlRow object corresponding to each search result is obtained, and an identifier of the document object described therein is obtained.

In step 1707, the IdmaDocSpace :: ConnectObject method is called using the identifier as a parameter to acquire a document object in the document space 420. A target document entity is acquired by selecting and calling a method for acquiring the document entity from the object interface provided by the document object.

According to the above procedure, the conventional DMA-compliant application program 400 connects and accesses the plurality of document spaces 420 in order, and
It becomes possible to search and acquire the document managed in 20.

[0052]

In the above conventional document management system, an application program selects and uses a document space suitable for the purpose from a plurality of document spaces managed by the document management system. First, it is necessary to individually connect to each document space and refer to the document space metadata to confirm whether or not the document space is the target document space. Therefore, the application program must connect to all the sentence spaces managed by the document management system.

That is, when accessing the documents and document objects in the document space in the above-described document management middleware, a connection to the document management system and a connection to a plurality of document spaces are required. This causes the following problem.

An increase in overhead due to the necessity of processing for connecting to a plurality of document spaces. An increase in resources used in the entire system due to connection to both the document management system and the plurality of document spaces.

Further, since connection to the document space is required in all processes for documents or objects in the document space, the following problem also occurs.

The increase in the load on the document space due to the steady connection from a plurality of clients. The limitation on the number of simultaneous connections to the document space due to the limitation of resources. Alternatively, it is assumed that several hundred document spaces are managed. In addition, the number of concurrent users is considered to be in the same order. Therefore, it is easily anticipated that the system performance is greatly deteriorated by the above problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a technique capable of improving the performance of a document management system by reducing the number of times of connection to a document space and the connection time.

[0058]

According to the present invention, there is provided a document management method for managing documents stored in a plurality of document spaces. In the document management method, a specific document to be connected is managed by global metadata for collectively managing metadata of a plurality of document spaces. Document processing is performed by selecting a space.

In the document space management method of the present invention, copies of metadata managed in each document space are integrated and held in the document management system as global metadata.

Before connecting to the document space, the application program accesses the metadata of the corresponding document space existing in the global metadata of the document management system, and checks whether the document space is the target document space. Is performed.

As a result, if the document space is a target document space, the document space is recorded as a target of connection, and the document entity or document object in the document space is first accessed when it becomes necessary to actually access the document space. Connect to space. If the document space is not the target document space, there is no need to connect. Therefore, the connection to the document space can be omitted.

Since the unnecessary connection to the document space can be omitted by the document space management method of the present invention, the number of times of connection to the document space in the entire document management system is reduced. Also, since it is possible to check in advance whether or not the document space needs to be connected without actually connecting to the document space, the connection to the target document space is actually accessed by the document object or the document entity. It is possible to limit the period. This makes it possible to reduce the connection time during which the application program connects to the document space.

As described above, by reducing the number of times of connection and the connection time to the document space, the amount of resources used by the server on which the document space is mounted is reduced, and the number of simultaneous connections to the document space is also reduced. . As a result, the load on the document space is reduced, and the performance of the document management system can be improved.

As described above, according to the document management system of the present invention, since the metadata of a plurality of document spaces is collectively managed as global metadata, the number of times of connection to the document space and the connection time can be reduced, and the document management system can be reduced. Can be improved.

[0065]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A document management system according to an embodiment in which metadata stored in a plurality of document spaces of a plurality of document space management servers is collectively managed by a global document space management server will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the document management system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the document management system according to the present embodiment includes a client computer 100, an application program 110, a document space management unit 200, a global metadata management unit 210, a global metadata storage control unit 220, a global Metadata storage means 230, global metadata 2
40, document space realizing means 300, metadata managing means 310, storage controlling means 320, metadata storing means 330, and document space metadata 340.

The client computer 100 is a computer in which the application program 110 is installed. The client computer 100 acquires list data of a plurality of document spaces and global metadata 240 from the document space management means 200, and acquires the acquired list data and global metadata 240. Is a means for selecting a specific document space to be subjected to document processing from, and connecting with the document space realizing means 300 for managing the selected specific document space to perform document processing.

The application program 110 is a program for performing document processing such as registration or reference of the document entity, document object, document space metadata, and document metadata stored in the metadata storage unit 330.

The document space management means 200 is means for managing the document space of the plurality of document space realizing means 300. The global metadata management unit 210 is the document space management unit 2
00, the document space metadata indicating the attribute information of each document space of the plurality of document spaces and the document metadata indicating the attribute information of the document managed in the document space are acquired from each document space realizing means 300. Global metadata 2
This is a means for collective management as 40.

Global metadata storage control means 220
Is a means for controlling processing for storing metadata from the global metadata management means 210 to the global metadata storage means 230 and processing for reading metadata from the global metadata storage means 230 to the global metadata management means 210.

The global metadata storage means 230 is a means for storing the global metadata 240. The global metadata 240 is data that stores metadata 340 (document space metadata and document metadata) of the document space managed by each document space realizing unit 300.

The document space realizing means 300 is means for managing a document entity, a document object, document space metadata and document metadata stored in the document space, and accepting access from the application program 110.

The metadata management means 310 exists in the document space realizing means 300, and updates the metadata 340 of the document space when a document is registered and deleted. The storage control unit 320 stores the document entity, the document object, the document space metadata, and the document data from the document space realizing unit 300 to the metadata storing unit 330. This is a means for controlling the reading process.

The metadata storage means 330 is a means for storing a document entity, a document object, document space metadata and document metadata managed by the document space realizing means 300. The document space metadata 340 contains the relevant fields of the document,
These are document space metadata indicating the source of the document, the document creation period, the number of registered documents, the search index, the number of documents, the average size of the document, and the like, and document metadata indicating the size of the document, included words, and the like.

The document management system of this embodiment is assumed to be implemented in a general network environment, for example, an Internet environment. Although FIG. 1 is configured by three client computers 100 and three types of document space realizing means 300, the number of both can be essentially any number and can be configured independently of each other. The number of the client computers 100 and the document space realizing means 30
It can be expected that the greater the number of 0s, the greater the effect of the document management system of the present embodiment.

Here, the document entity is an electronic document registered in the document management system, the document object is a group of objects that express and manage the logical structure of the document, and the document space metadata is the document space. Data representing attribute information on a document space composed of a set of entities, and document metadata are data representing attribute information of each document entity described above.

The application program 110 of the client computer 100 first executes the document registration, reference, and search processes, and the like.
And request a list of a plurality of connectable document spaces.

The document space management means 200 manages a plurality of connectable document spaces, and presents a list of connectable document spaces in response to a request from the application program 110.

The application program 110 acquires a list of a plurality of connectable document spaces, selects the document space realizing means 300 to be connected, and registers and refers to the document to the document space realizing means 300. That is, the application program 110 accesses the document entity, the document object, the document space metadata, and the document metadata stored in the metadata storage unit 330 via the storage control unit 320 inside the document space realization unit 300.

At the time of document registration or update in the document space realizing means 300, the metadata managing means 310 reads out the document space metadata from the metadata storing means 330, updates it, and stores it in the metadata storing means 330. Also, the metadata management unit 310 notifies the document space management unit 200 that the update of the document space metadata has occurred.

When the document space management means 200 receives from the document space realizing means 300 a notification indicating that the update of the document space metadata has occurred, the document space management means 200 requests the transfer of the updated metadata or the difference information before and after the update. Realization means 30
Return to 0. In response to this, the document space realizing means 300 transfers the updated metadata or the difference information before and after the update to the document space managing means 200.

When the document space management means 200 receives the transfer data, the global metadata management means 210 updates the global metadata 240 stored in the global metadata storage means 230.

That is, global metadata management means 2
10 accesses the global metadata storage means 230 via the global metadata storage control means 220,
The global metadata 240 is read, the global metadata 240 is updated using the acquired data, and the result is written back to the global metadata storage unit 230.

Next, a process in which the client computer 100 registers a document (hereinafter referred to as a registered document) in the document space realizing means 300 will be described. For simplicity, a case where a document is registered from the first client computer 100 to the first document space realizing means 300 will be described as an example.

Note that the registration can be performed in exactly the same manner when the second or third client computer 100 or another registration-only client (not shown) is used.

The first application program 110 existing on the first client computer 100 is:
First, a connection is made to the document space management means 200, a list of connectable document space realization means 300 is obtained from the document space management means 200, and the document space realization means 3 to be connected is obtained.
Select 00. Here, the first document space realizing means 30
It is assumed that 0 is selected.

Next, the application program 110 connects to the selected first document space realizing means 300, transfers the registered document to the first document space realizing means 300, and performs a process for perpetuating them to the document space realizing means 300. Means 300
To ask.

The document space realizing means 300 passes the registered document and an object for managing the registered document in the document space to the first storage control means 320 and instructs the first storage means 330 to register the object. .

As a result, the registered document and the object are stored in the first metadata storage means 330. At this time, the metadata 3 of the first document space is stored in the first metadata management unit 310 of the first document space realizing unit 300.
Forty updates are made.

The metadata management means 310 requests the first storage control means 320 to send the first metadata storage means 33
Then, the document space metadata stored in “0” is read out, the content is updated, and then the storage control unit 320 is again requested to store the metadata in the metadata storage unit 330.

Alternatively, the document space metadata read out by the metadata management unit 310 is stored in the metadata management unit 310 in advance.
The metadata storage unit 330 updates the cache data when there is an update.
May be updated.

When document space metadata is updated in the first metadata management means 310, this event is notified to the global metadata management means 210 existing in the document space management means 200.

The global metadata management means 210 requests the first metadata management means 310 for the updated metadata or the difference information between the metadata before and after the update, and acquires it.

When the updated metadata is acquired, the acquired updated metadata is stored in the global metadata storage means 230 via the global metadata storage control means 220.

When the metadata difference information before and after the update is obtained, the global metadata storage control means 22
The corresponding metadata is read out from the global metadata storage means 230 via 0, the content is updated, and then the global metadata storage control means 220 is requested again and stored in the global metadata storage means 230.

Alternatively, the global metadata management means 21
The metadata which is read by 0 is cached in the global metadata management unit 210 in advance, and when the cache data is updated, the global metadata 240 stored in the global metadata storage unit 230 is updated. You may go.

Next, a process in which the client computer 100 refers to a document (hereinafter referred to as a reference document) of the document space realizing means 300 will be described. First for simplicity
An example in which the first document space realizing means 300 is referred to from the client computer 100 will be described.

The first application program 110 existing on the first client computer 100 is:
First, a connection is made to the document space management means 200, a list of connectable document space realization means 300 is obtained from the document space management means 200, and a request is made to the global metadata management means 210 to refer to the global metadata 240.

The global metadata 240 includes the related field of the document managed by each document space realizing means 300, the source of the document, the document creation period, the number of registered documents, the full-text search index, and the like.

By referring to the global metadata 240, the application program 110 omits the connection and access to the document space realizing means 300 which stores and manages documents in fields unrelated to the reference document.
As a result, it is possible to connect only to the necessary document space realizing means 300.

By referring to the global metadata 240, the field of the reference document referred to by the application program 110 is changed to the second and third document space realizing means 3.
If it is clear that 00 is completely different from the field of the managed document, it is sufficient to connect only to the first document space realizing means 300. Second and third document space realizing means 3
There is no need to connect to 00.

As a result, the number of connections and the connection time to the document space realizing means 300 are reduced, the amount of resources used in the document space realizing means 300 is reduced, and the number of simultaneous connections to the document space realizing means 300 is also reduced. . As a result, the load on the document space realizing means 300 is reduced, and the performance of the document management system can be improved.

Next, a full-text search for documents managed by the document space realizing means 300 will be described. For the sake of simplicity, a case where a local search is performed from the first client computer 100 will be described as an example. Although a full-text search for searching all sentences in a document is described here, the present invention may be applied to other search processes.

The first application program 110 existing on the first client computer 100 is:
First, a connection is made to the document space management means 200, a list of connectable document space realization means 300 is obtained from the document space management means 200, and a request is made to the global metadata management means 210 to refer to the global metadata 240.

The global metadata 240 includes the related field of the document managed by each document space realizing means 300, the source of the document, the document creation period, the number of registered documents, the full-text search index, and the like.

By referring to the global metadata 240, the application program 110 can narrow down the document space realizing means 300 to be subjected to full-text search. Further, a search process is performed with reference to the full-text search index of the corresponding document space realizing means 300. Thereby, without connecting to the document space realizing means 300,
It becomes possible to acquire the search result of the local search.

The application program 110 examines the result of the local search to identify the document whose document entity needs to be acquired, and then connects to the document space realizing means 300 storing the document to acquire the document entity. Good.

Similarly, when performing a global search, a full-text search is performed by referring to a full-text search index, which is metadata, after connecting to the document space management means 200. As a result, it is possible to obtain the search result of the global search without connecting to the document space realizing means 300.

The application program 110 examines the result of the global search, specifies a document whose document entity needs to be acquired, and then connects to the document space realizing means 300 storing the document to acquire the document entity. Good.

Thus, the number of times of connection and the connection time to the document space realizing means 300 are reduced, the resource usage in the document space realizing means 300 is reduced, and the number of simultaneous connections to the document space realizing means 300 is also reduced. . As a result, the load on the document space realizing means 300 is reduced, and the performance of the document management system can be improved.

Next, a more specific system configuration of the document management system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the document management system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the document management system according to the present embodiment includes a registration client 101, a reference client 102, a search client 103, a global document space management server 201, document space management servers 301 to 303, a network 16, have.

The registration client 101 holds the registered document, makes an inquiry to the global document space management server 201, checks the available document space management servers 301 to 303, determines the registration destination of the document, and then via the network 16. This is a computer that transfers a registration document to the registration target document space management server and requests registration processing.

The reference client 102 is a computer that requests a reference process from the document space management server in which the reference document is registered, acquires the reference process via the network 16, and refers to the request. The search client 103 requests the global document space management server 201 for a search process, determines a reference document according to the result of the search process performed using the search index included in the global metadata 240, and Is requested to the document space management server in which is registered, and the network 1
6 is a computer that obtains and refers to this via the Internet.

The global document space management server 201 is a computer that collects document space metadata and document metadata of the document space management servers 301 to 303 and collectively stores and manages them as global metadata 240.

The document space management servers 301 to 303 are computers for registering, referencing, updating, deleting or retrieving these data in response to requests from the registration client 101, reference client 102 and search client 103.

The network 16 is the registered client 10
1, reference client 102, search client 10
3. A communication line such as a LAN, a WAN, or the Internet that connects the global document space management server 201 and the document space management servers 301 to 303 to enable communication in an arbitrary combination.

Here, each client in FIG. 2 corresponds to the client computer 100 in FIG. 1, the global document space management server 201 corresponds to the document space management means 200, and the document space management servers 301 to 303 correspond to the document space realization means 300. Is equivalent to

The document space management servers 301 to 303 store and manage documents in response to a request from the registration client 101. At the time of document registration, a document entity, a document object, document space metadata, and document metadata are registered. You.

The document space management servers 301 to 303 register, refer to, update, delete or search these data in response to a request from each client, and register the document.
When the document space metadata and the document metadata are updated with the update and deletion, the update is notified to the global document space management server 201.

The global document space management server 201
The document spaces of the plurality of document space management servers 301 to 303 are grouped and managed, and a list of available document space management servers 301 to 303 (document spaces) is transmitted via the network 16 in response to a request from each client. I do.

The global document space management server 201
Collects the document space metadata and the document metadata of the document space management servers 301 to 303, and collectively stores and manages them as global metadata 240.

Further, the global document space management server 201
Are registered in the document space management servers 301 to 303,
When updating the document space metadata and the document metadata accompanying the update and deletion, the corresponding document space management server 30
After receiving the notification from 1 to 303, the updated document space metadata and document metadata are acquired, and the global metadata 240 is updated.

The global document space management server 201
Receives the global metadata reference request from each client, and transmits the contents of the global metadata 240 via the network 16.

Furthermore, the global document space management server 201
Includes a search index as one item of the global metadata 240, performs a search process such as a full-text search in response to a request from the search client 103, and transmits a search result.

Although FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which each of the registered client 101, the reference client 102, and the search client 103 is one, each client may have a configuration of two or more. Further, one client may be configured to have a plurality of functions such as registration and reference.

The document space management servers 301 to 303,
The global document space management server 201 may be mounted on the same computer, or these servers and clients may be mounted on the same computer.

Further, in the document management system of the present embodiment, various commands and data are exchanged via the network 16. However, various commands and data are exchanged using a portable medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an optical disk. May be exchanged.

Hereinafter, the registration client 101 of the document management system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the registration client 101 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the registration client 10 of the present embodiment
1, a keyboard 10, a display 11, a central processing unit 12, a floppy disk drive 13, a floppy disk 14, a communication control device 15, a main memory 17, a magnetic disk device 18, a system bus 19
, A system program 20, a work area 21,
And a registered document storage area 124.

The keyboard 10 is a device for inputting a command or the like for instructing execution of a document registration process. The display 11 is a device that displays the execution status of the processing and the like. The central processing unit 12 is a device that executes various programs for performing the above-described processing and the like.

The floppy disk drive 13 is a device for reading and writing data on the floppy disk 14. The floppy disk 14 is a medium in which a registration document to be input to the client is recorded in advance. The communication control device 15 is a device that controls command and data communication performed with another computer via the network 16.

The main memory 17 is a device for holding various programs and temporary data for executing the above-mentioned processing and the like. The magnetic disk device 18 is a storage device for storing the various programs and data necessary for processing the programs.

A system bus 19 is a signal line for connecting the various devices. The system program 20 is a program that provides basic functions necessary for executing the various programs on a computer, such as inputting and outputting data to and from peripheral devices.

The work area 21 is an area for storing data that is temporarily required when executing the various programs. The registered document storage area 124 is the document space management server 3
This is an area in which registered documents for 01 to 303 are prepared and stored in advance.

The registration client 101 includes a document registration control program 111, a global document space management server connection program 120, a document space list acquisition program 121, and a document space management server connection program 122.
And a document registration request program 123.

The document registration control program 111 controls the execution of the global document space management server connection program 120, the document space list acquisition program 121, the document space management server connection program 122, and the document registration request program 123. A processing unit for registering a document in 303.

The global document space management server connection program 120 is a processing unit for establishing a connection between the registration client 101 and the global document space management server 201. A processing unit that requests the global document space management server 201 to transmit list data of the document space management servers 301 to 303 under its management to the registration client 101 and obtains the document space list acquisition program 121. It is.

Document space management server connection program 122
Are the registration client 101 and the document space management server 301
Is a processing unit that establishes a connection with the ３０３303. The document registration request program 123 is a processing unit that requests the document space management servers 301 to 303 with which the registration client 101 has established a connection to perform document registration processing.

The document registration control program 111, the global document space management server connection program 120, the document space list acquisition program 121, the document space management server connection program 122, and the document registration request program 123 for causing the registration client 101 to function as the processing section.
Is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The medium for recording the program is a CD-ROM.
A medium other than the ROM may be used.

In the main memory 17, a document registration control program 111, a global document space management server connection program 120, a document space list acquisition program 121, a document space management server connection program 122, a document registration request program 123, and a system program 20 are stored. The work area 21 is stored.

The document registration request program 123 requests document registration processing from the document space management servers 301 to 303 with which the registration client 101 has established a connection. In response to this, the document space management servers 301 to 303 register the document as a document entity, generate a new document object and document metadata, and update the document space metadata.

In the document management system of the present embodiment, the registered document stored in the floppy disk 14 is input and read. However, the document management system may be configured to read from another portable medium such as a magneto-optical disk or an optical disk. It is also possible to input a document transferred via the network 16.

Further, in the document management system according to the present embodiment, the registered document is transferred to the document space management servers 301 to 303 via the network 16, but instead, the floppy disk 14, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk or the like can be used instead. It is also possible to use a medium.

Hereinafter, the reference client 102 of the document management system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the reference client 102 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the reference client 10 of the present embodiment
2, a document reference control program 112, a global document space management server connection program 130, a global metadata reference program 131, a document space management server connection program 132, and a document reference request program 1.
33.

The document reference control program 112 includes a global document space management server connection program 130, a global metadata reference program 131, a document space management server connection program 132, and a document reference request program 1.
33, and controls the document space management servers 301 to 30
3 is a processing unit for referring to the document in 3.

The global document space management server connection program 130 is a processing unit for establishing a connection between the reference client 102 and the global document space management server 201. The global metadata reference program 131 is a processing unit that requests the global document space management server 201 to transmit the global metadata 240 to the reference client 102 and obtains it.

The document space management server connection program 132
Is the reference client 102 and the document space management server 301
Is a processing unit that establishes a connection with the ３０３303. The document reference request program 133 is a processing unit that requests the document space management servers 301 to 303 with which the reference client 102 has established connection to perform document reference processing.

A document reference control program 112, a global document space management server connection program 130, a global metadata reference program 131, a document space management server connection program 132, and a document reference request program 133 for causing the reference client 102 to function as the processing unit. Is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The medium on which the program is recorded may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

The magnetic disk device 18 of the reference client 102 has a reference document storage area 134. The reference document storage area 134 stores the document space management servers 301 to 303.
Area for storing the reference document transferred from the.

In the main memory 17, a document reference control program 112, a global document space management server connection program 130, a global metadata reference program 13
1. A document space management server connection program 132, a document reference request program 133, and a system program 20 are stored, and a work area 21 is held. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the registration client 101.

The document reference request program 133 requests the document space management servers 301 to 303 with which the reference client 102 has established a connection to perform document reference processing. In response, the document space management servers 301 to 303 take out the stored document entity and transfer it to the reference client 102 via the network 16.

In the document management system of the present embodiment, the reference document is transferred from the document space management servers 301 to 303 via the network 16. However, the reference document may be transferred to a floppy disk 14, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or the like. It is also possible to use a medium.

Hereinafter, the search client 103 of the document management system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the search client 103 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the search client 10 of this embodiment
3 is a document search control program 113, a global document space management server connection program 140, a global metadata reference program 141, a document space management server connection program 142, and a document search request program 1.
43.

The document search control program 113 includes a global document space management server connection program 140, a global metadata reference program 141, a document space management server connection program 142, and a document search request program 1.
43, and controls the global document space management server 2
The processing unit performs a search process such as a full-text search for documents in the document space management servers 301 to 303 by referring to the global metadata 240 in the document space management server 301.

The global document space management server connection program 140 is a processing section for establishing a connection between the search client 103 and the global document space management server 201. The global metadata reference program 141 is a processing unit that requests the global document space management server 201 to transmit the global metadata 240 to the search client 103 and obtains it.

Document space management server connection program 142
Is the search client 103 and the document space management server 301
Is a processing unit that establishes a connection with the ３０３303. The document search request program 143 is the global document space management server 201 with which the search client 103 has established a connection.
This is a processing unit for requesting a document search process to the.

The document search control program 113, the global document space management server connection program 140, the global metadata reference program 141, the document space management server connection program 142, and the document search request program 143 for making the search client 103 function as the processing unit. Is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The medium on which the program is recorded may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

The magnetic disk device 18 of the search client 103 has a search result storage area 144 and a search expression storage area 145.

The search result storage area 144 is an area for storing search results transferred from the global document space management server 201. The search expression storage area 145 is an area in which a search expression that specifies a search condition when requesting a search process is stored in advance.

In the main memory 17, a document search control program 113, a global document space management server connection program 140, and a global metadata reference program 14
1. The document space management server connection program 142, the document search request program 143, and the system program 20 are stored, and the work area 21 is held.

[0160] The floppy disk 14 stores a search formula for designating a search condition when requesting a search process, and uses the search formula for input to the client. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the registration client 101.

The document search request program 143 requests the global document space management server 201 with which the search client 103 has established a connection for a document search process. In response, the global document space management server 201
Performs a search process using the search index in the stored global metadata, and transfers a search result set to the search client 103 via the network 16.

In the document management system of the present embodiment, the retrieval formula stored in the floppy disk 14 is input and read. However, the configuration may be such that the retrieval formula is read from another portable medium such as a magneto-optical disk or an optical disk. It is also possible to input a search expression transferred via the network 16.

Further, in the document management system according to the present embodiment, the search result is transferred from the global document space management server 201 to the search client 103 via the network 16, but instead, the floppy disk 14,
It is also possible to use a portable medium such as a magneto-optical disk or an optical disk.

Hereinafter, the global document space management server 201 of the document management system according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 shows the global document space management server 20 of this embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the global document space management server 201 of this embodiment includes a global document space management program 211, a storage control program 150, and a global metadata management program 15.
1 and a metadata acquisition program 152.

Global document space management program 211
Are the storage control program 150, the global metadata management program 151, and the metadata acquisition program 15.
2 and controls the global document space management server 20
1 is a processing unit that manages the global metadata 240 and the document space management data.

The storage control program 150 is a processing unit for controlling the input and output of data between the magnetic disk device 18 and the work area 21. The global metadata management program 151 collectively manages document space metadata and document metadata collected from the document space management servers 301 to 303 as global metadata 240,
A processing unit that controls reference, update, deletion, and search, performs a search using a search index in global metadata in response to a search processing request from the search client 103, and transfers the search result to the search client 103. It is.

The metadata acquisition program 152 is a processing unit that requests the document space management servers 301 to 303, which have notified the update of the document space metadata and the update of the document metadata, to acquire the changed metadata and obtains them. is there.

A global document space management program 211, a storage control program 150, a global metadata management program 151, and a metadata acquisition program 152 for causing the global document space management server 201 to function as the processing unit are recorded on a CD-ROM or the like. After being recorded on a medium and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is assumed to be loaded into a memory and executed. The medium on which the program is recorded may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

For performing these processes, the global document space management server 201 has the following interface. (1) At the time of a metadata reference request from the reference client 102, at least the metadata item referred to by the reference client 102 and the pointer to the reference document storage area 134 for transferring the contents of the metadata item to the reference client 102 An interface that specifies and correspondingly stores the contents of the metadata item of each registered document space in the reference document storage area 134 and returns a result.

(2) At the time of a search processing request from the search client 103, at least the document space name or its identifier for the search client 103 to specify the target document space, a search condition expression or search specified at the time of the search processing A pointer to the search expression storage area 145 storing the conditional expression;
A pointer to a search result storage area 144 for acquiring a search result set is designated, and in response to this, a search process is performed using the search index of the designated document space and the search condition expression. Is an interface for storing the search result in the search result storage area 144 and returning the result.

(3) Document space management servers 301 to 303
An interface that specifies at least the identifier of the document space management server, the name or identifier of the metadata in which the update has occurred, and notifies the update when the document space metadata and the update of the document metadata are notified from the server.

The magnetic disk device 18 of the global document space management server 201 stores the document space management data storage area 1
53 and a global metadata storage area 154.

The document space management data storage area 153 is an area for storing data related to the document space management servers 301 to 303 managed by the global document space management server 201, and stores a list of connectable document spaces. Is the area to be used.

The global metadata storage area 154 is an area for collectively managing and storing document space metadata and document metadata collected from the document space management servers 301 to 303 as global metadata 240.

In the main memory 17, a global document space management program 211, a storage control program 150, a global metadata management program 151, a metadata acquisition program 152, and a system program 20 are stored, and a work area 21 is held. . The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the registration client 101.

The document space management servers 301 to 303 of the document management system according to the present embodiment will be described below. Since all of the document space management servers 301 to 303 have the same configuration, the description will be made by taking the document space management server 301 as an example.

FIG. 7 shows the document space management server 3 of this embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 01. As shown in FIG. 7, the document space management server 301 according to the present embodiment includes a document space management program 311, a storage control program 160, a metadata management program 161, and a metadata change notification program 162.

The document space management program 311 is a processing unit that controls the execution of the storage control program 160, the metadata management program 161 and the metadata change notification program 162, and manages documents in the document space management server 301.

The storage control program 160 is a processing unit for controlling the input and output of data between the magnetic disk device 18 and the work area 21. The metadata management program 161 is a processing unit that manages document space metadata and document metadata, and controls registration, reference, update, deletion, and search thereof. The metadata change notification program 162 is configured to update the document space metadata and the document metadata when updating occurs.
This is a processing unit that notifies the global document space management server 201 of this.

A document space management program 311, a storage control program 160, and a metadata management program 1 for causing the document space management server 301 to function as the processing unit
61 and the metadata change notification program 162
-After being recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is loaded into a memory and executed. The medium for recording the program is a CD-ROM.
Other media other than the above may be used.

The magnetic disk device 18 of the document space management server 301 includes a document entity storage area 163, a document object storage area 164, and a document space metadata storage area 1
65 and a document metadata storage area 166.

The document entity storage area 163 is an area for storing the entity of the document. The document object storage area 164 is an area for storing a document object for managing a document. The document space metadata storage area 165 is an area for storing document space metadata which is attribute information on the document space. The document metadata storage area 166 is an area for storing document metadata which is attribute information of the document entity.

In the main memory 17, the document space management program 311, the storage control program 160, the metadata management program 161, the metadata change notification program 1
62 and the system program 20 are stored, and the work area 21 is held. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the registration client 101.

The document management system of this embodiment has three clients and three document space management servers 301 to 303.
However, the number of both may be essentially any number, and they can be configured independently of each other.
The number of clients and the document space management servers 301 to 30
It can be expected that the greater the number 3, the greater the effect of the document management system of the present embodiment.

Next, registration of a document in the document space management servers 301 to 303 in the document management system of this embodiment will be described. For simplicity, the registered client 101
A case where a document is registered from the document registration control program 111 to the document space management server 301 will be described as an example.

The document registration control program 111 existing in the registration client 101 first connects to the global document space management server 201, and acquires a list of connectable document space management servers 301 to 303 from the global document space management server 201. Select the document space management servers 301 to 303 to be connected. Here, it is assumed that the document space management server 301 is selected.

Next, the document registration control program 111 connects to the selected document space management server 301, transfers the registered document to the document space management server 301, and requests the document space management server 301 to perform processing for making these permanent. .

The document space management server 301 passes the registered document and an object for managing the registered document by the document space management server 301 to the storage control program 160, and instructs the registration in the magnetic disk device 18. Thus, the registered document and the object are stored in the magnetic disk device 18.

At this time, in the metadata management program 161 of the document space management server 301, the metadata of the document space management server 301 is updated.

The metadata management program 161 requests the storage control program 160 for the document space metadata and the document metadata managed by the document space management server 301, reads them out of the storage in the magnetic disk device 18, and updates the contents. After that, the storage control program 160 is again requested to store it in the magnetic disk device 18.

Alternatively, the metadata management program 161
The metadata read by is stored in the work area 21 in advance, and when the cache data is updated, the document data stored in the document space metadata storage area 165 of the magnetic disk device 18 is updated by updating the cache data. It is also possible to take a procedure of updating the document metadata stored in the document metadata storage area 166.

When the metadata is updated in the document space management server 301, the document space management program 311 sends this event to the global metadata management program 151 existing in the global document space management server 201 by the metadata change notification program 162. Notify to.

Global Metadata Management Program 15
Numeral 1 requests the metadata management program 161 to obtain the updated metadata or the difference information between the metadata before and after the update by the metadata acquisition program 152 and acquire the metadata.

When the updated metadata is acquired, the acquired updated metadata is stored in the storage control program 1.
The data is stored in the magnetic disk drive 18 via the control unit 50.

When the metadata difference information before and after the update is obtained, the global metadata 2 stored in the magnetic disk device 18 via the storage control program 150 is obtained.
The corresponding metadata is read out from the storage device 40, the content is updated, and then the storage control program 150 is again requested and stored in the magnetic disk device 18.

Alternatively, the metadata read by the global metadata management program 151 is stored in the work area 2 in advance.
1, the global metadata 240 stored in the magnetic disk device 18 can be updated by updating the cache data when there is an update.

FIG. 8 shows the document space management server 3 of this embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of document space metadata No. 01. The full-text search index 351 is an index used when performing a full-text search of a document in the document space management server 301.

The document space metadata example 350 is a full-text search index used as a document space metadata item when performing a full-text search on the related field of the document in the document space management server 301, the source of the registered document, and the registered document. 35
1 storage position information.

As shown in FIG. 8, the document space management server 301 in the document management system of this embodiment is a “database”.
And these documents are found to be "conference papers".

Further, the search client 103 refers to the full-text search index 351 based on the storage position information of the full-text search index 351 and can execute the full-text search of the document space management server 301.

FIG. 9 shows the document space management server 3 of this embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of document space metadata No. 02. The full-text search index 361 is an index used when performing a full-text search of a document in the document space management server 302.

The document space metadata example 360 is composed of the same items as those of the document space metadata shown in FIG. 8, and the document space management server 302 stores documents related to “metallic material”. Turns out to be a “conference paper”.

The search client 103 refers to the full-text search index 361 based on the storage position information of the full-text search index 361, and can execute the full-text search of the document space management server 302.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the document space metadata of the document space management server 303 according to the present embodiment. The full-text search index 371 is stored in the document space management server 303.
This is an index used when performing a full-text search of the documents in.

The document space metadata example 370 includes the same items as those of the document space metadata shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the document space management server 303 stores documents related to the “database”. Turned out to be an “in-house report”.

The search client 103 refers to the full-text search index 371 based on the storage position information of the full-text search index 371, and can execute the full-text search of the document space management server 302.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the global metadata 240 of the present embodiment. The full-text search indexes 241 to 243 are used when performing a full-text search on documents registered in the document space management servers 301 to 303.

The global metadata 240 is an integration of the document space metadata and the document metadata of the document space management servers 301 to 303. As the items of the global metadata 240, the fields related to the document in the document space, It is configured from storage location information of full-text search indexes 241 to 243 used when performing full-text search on the document source and the registered document.

The global document space management server 201
Refers to the full-text search indexes 241 to 243 of the document space management servers 301 to 303 based on the storage position information of the full-text search indexes 241 to 243. Thus, the full-text search of the document space management servers 301 to 303 can be executed only by referring to the global metadata 240.

Next, a process of referring to the document space management servers 301 to 303 using the global metadata 240 will be described. Reference client 102 for simplicity
Will be described with reference to the document space management servers 301 to 303 as an example.

FIG. 12 shows a reference client 1 according to this embodiment.
02 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a process of accessing the document entity of the document space management servers 301 to 303. In step 1201, the document reference control program 112 existing in the reference client 102 firstly receives the DmaCon
Call the nectSystemManager method to call the SystemManager
Connect to the object and fetch the object interface IdmaSystemManager.

Next, in step 1202, IdmaSystemManage
The r :: ConnectSystem method is called to connect to the global document space management server 201 and acquire the object interface IdmaSystem.

In step 1203, IdmaSystem :: EnumerateDoc is executed by the global metadata reference program 131.
By calling the Space method, a list of connectable document spaces is obtained from the global document space management server 201.

In step 1204, the global metadata 240 is requested by referring to the global metadata management program 151, and a document space to be connected is selected from the list of document spaces.

The global metadata 240 includes fields related to the documents managed by the document space management servers 301 to 303,
The source of the document and the full-text search indexes 241 to 243 are included.

By referring to the global metadata 240, the document reference control program 112 can omit connect and access to a server that stores and manages documents in fields unrelated to the reference document. Therefore, it is possible to connect only to a server that stores and manages necessary documents.

For example, if the field of the reference document referred to by the document reference control program 112 is related to the “database”, the global metadata 240 is referenced to connect the document space management server 301 and the document space management server 303. You can see what you should do. As a result, there is no need to connect to the document space management server 302.

Further, in the case where the document reference control program 112 refers to “conference paper” related to “database”, it is sufficient to connect only to the document space management server 301.

In step 1205, the document space management server connection program 132 executes IdmaSystem :: ConnectDocSpac
The e-method is called to connect to the selected document space of the document space management server 301, and obtain the object interface IdmaDocSpace of the document space object.

In step 1206, the highest level node of the container object constituting the hierarchical folder of the document space of the selected document space management server 301 is obtained, the hierarchical structure is sequentially traced, and the document object of the target document entity is stored. Container object.

In step 1207, the document reference request program 133 calls the IdmaDocSpace :: ConnectObject method to acquire the document object in the container object. A target document entity is acquired by selecting and calling a method for acquiring the document entity from the object interface provided by the document object.

As is apparent from the document management system of the present embodiment, by referring to the global metadata 240, the document reference control program 112 limits the connection to the document space management servers 301 to 303 to only necessary ones. be able to.

As a result, the document space management servers 301 to 301
03 and the connection time to the document space management servers 301 to 303 are also reduced, and the document space management servers 301 to 303 are also reduced.
03 is also reduced. As a result, the load on the document space management servers 301 to 303 is reduced, and the performance of the document management system can be improved.

Next, the global metadata 24 for the documents managed by the document space management servers 301 to 303
The local search using 0 will be described. For the sake of simplicity, a case where full-text search is performed from the document search control program 113 of the search client 103 will be described as an example.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the full-text search processing according to the present embodiment. In step 1301, the document search control program 113 existing in the search client 103 first calls the DmaConnectSystemManager method using the global document space management server connection program 140, connects to the SystemManager object, and connects to the object interface IdmaSystemManage.
Get r.

Next, in step 1302, IdmaSystemManage
The r :: ConnectSystem method is called to connect to the global document space management server 201 and acquire the object interface IdmaSystem.

In step 1303, the global document space management server 201 uses the global metadata reference program 141 to execute IdmaSystem :: EnumerateDocSpace.
The method is called to obtain a list of connectable document space management servers 301 to 303.

Next, in step 1304, the global metadata management program 151 is requested to refer to the global metadata 240 and select a document space for full-text search from the list of document spaces.

The global metadata 240 includes fields related to documents managed by the document space management servers 301 to 303,
The source of the document and the full-text search indexes 241 to 243 are included. By referring to the global metadata 240, the document search control program 113 can first narrow down servers to be subjected to full-text search.

Next, in step 1305, the global metadata management program 151 is requested by the document search request program 143, and a search process is performed by referring to the full text search index 241, 242, or 243 of the selected document space. Thereby, the document space management server 301
It is possible to acquire the search result of the local search without connecting to the steps 303 to 303.

In step 1306, the search client 10
3 is to confirm the result of the local search and identify the document for which the document entity needs to be acquired, and then connect to the document space management server 301, 302 or 303 storing the document to acquire the document entity only. Should be done.

Similarly, when performing a global search, the full-text search index 24 which is the global metadata 240 after being connected to the global document space management server 201.
A full-text search is performed with reference to 1 to 243.

At this time, a plurality of full-text search indexes 241 to 241 of the target document space management servers 301 to 303 are set.
A global search can be executed by continuously referring to H.243. As a result, it is possible to acquire the search result of the global search without connecting to the document space management servers 301 to 303.

With these processes, the document space management server 3
01-303, the number of connections and the connection time are reduced, the resource usage in the document space management servers 301-303 is also reduced, and the document space management server 3
The number of simultaneous connections to 01 to 303 is also reduced. As a result, the load on the document space management servers 301 to 303 is reduced, and the performance of the document management system can be improved.

As described above, according to the document management system of the present embodiment, since the metadata of a plurality of document spaces is collectively managed as global metadata, the number of times of connection to the document space and the connection time can be reduced to reduce the number of times of connection. It is possible to improve the performance of the management system.

[0236]

According to the present invention, metadata of a plurality of document spaces is collectively managed as global metadata.
It is possible to improve the performance of the document management system by reducing the number of connections and the connection time to the document space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a document management system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a document management system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a registration client 101 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a reference client 102 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a search client 103 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a global document space management server 2 of the embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 01.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a document space management server 301 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of document space metadata of the document space management server 301 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of document space metadata of the document space management server 302 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of document space metadata of the document space management server 303 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of global metadata 240 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a process in which a reference client 102 according to the present embodiment accesses a document entity of the document space management servers 301 to 303.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a full-text search process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional DMA specification architecture.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a conventional DMA-compliant application program 400 to access a document entity in a document space 420;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conventional local search process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conventional global search process.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 client computer, 110 application program, 200 document space management means, 21
0: Global metadata management means, 220: Global metadata storage control means, 230: Global metadata storage means, 240: Global metadata, 300
... Document space realizing means, 310 ... Metadata managing means, 3
20: storage control means, 330: metadata storage means, 3
40: Metadata of document space, 101: Registered client, 102: Reference client, 103: Search client, 201: Global document space management server, 301
-303: Document space management server, 16: Network,
Reference Signs List 10 keyboard, 11 display, 12 central processing unit, 13 floppy disk drive, 14 floppy disk, 15 communication control device, 17 main memory, 18 magnetic disk device, 19 system bus, 2
0: System program, 21: Work area, 124
... Registered document storage area, 111 ... Document registration control program, 120 ... Global document space management server connection program, 121 ... Document space list acquisition program, 122 ...
Document space management server connection program, 123: document registration request program, 112: document reference control program, 1
30 Global program space management server connection program
131: Global metadata reference program, 132
... Document space management server connection program, 133 ... Document reference request program, 134 ... Reference document storage area, 113
... Document search control program, 140 Global document space management server connection program, 141 Global metadata reference program, 142 Document space management server connection program, 143 Document search request program, 14
4 ... search result storage area, 145 ... search expression storage area, 21
1: Global document space management program, 150: Storage control program, 151: Global metadata management program, 152: Metadata acquisition program, 153
... document space management data storage area, 154 ... global metadata storage area, 311 ... document space management program,
160: storage control program; 161, metadata management program; 162: metadata change notification program;
163: document entity storage area, 164: document object storage area, 165: document space metadata storage area, 16
6 Document document storage area, 350 Document space metadata example, 351 Full text search index, 360 Document space metadata example, 361 Full text search index, 3
70 ... example of document space metadata, 371 ... full text search index, 241-243 ... full text search index, 40
0 ... DMA-compliant application program, 410 ...
DMA system, 411 API, 420 document space,
421 ... SII, 430 ... Repository.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsu Wakayama 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Software Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd. No. Public Information Division, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A document management method for managing documents stored in a document space of a plurality of document space realizing means, comprising: document space metadata indicating attribute information of each document space of the plurality of document spaces; The document metadata indicating the attribute information of the document being acquired is acquired from each document space realizing means and collectively managed as global metadata by the document space managing means, and the list data of the plurality of document spaces and the global metadata are stored in the document space. Obtained from the document space management means, select a specific document space to be subjected to document processing of the client from the obtained list data and global metadata,
A document management method, wherein a document space realizing means for managing the selected specific document space is connected to a client to perform document processing. 2. A method of selecting a specific document space to be subjected to a document registration process from the acquired list data and global metadata, and performing a document registration process by connecting to the selected specific document space. The document management method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A method for selecting a specific document space to be subjected to document reference processing from the acquired list data and global metadata, and performing document reference processing by connecting to the selected specific document space. The document management method according to claim 1, wherein: 4. Collectively managing search indexes of a plurality of document spaces in the global metadata, selecting a specific document space to be searched for documents from the acquired list data and global metadata, A search process is performed by referring to a search index in the global metadata of the selected specific document space, and a document that needs to obtain a document entity is determined from the result of the search process, and then connected to the specific document space. 2. The document management method according to claim 1, wherein the document entity is obtained by performing the following. 5. A document management system for managing documents stored in a document space of a plurality of document space realizing means, comprising: document space metadata indicating attribute information of a specific document space; and a document managed in the document space. A plurality of document space realizing means for managing document metadata indicating the attribute information of the document space; a document space metadata indicating the attribute information of each document space of the plurality of document spaces; and the attribute information of the document managed in the document space. A document management system comprising: document space management means for acquiring document metadata to be indicated from each document space realization means and collectively managing the metadata as global metadata. 6. A document management system for managing documents stored in a document space of a plurality of document space realizing means, wherein a document indicating a list of a plurality of document spaces and attribute information of each document space of the plurality of document spaces. Space metadata and global metadata representing document metadata indicating attribute information of a document managed in the document space are acquired from the document space management unit, and a document processing target is obtained from the acquired list data and global metadata. A document management system, comprising: a client for selecting a specific document space to be processed and performing document processing by connecting to a document space realizing unit that manages the selected specific document space. 7. A medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a document management system for managing documents stored in a document space of a plurality of document space realizing means, wherein attribute information of each document space of the plurality of document spaces is stored. Functions as a document space management unit that obtains from each document space realizing unit the document space metadata indicating the document space and the document metadata indicating the attribute information of the document managed in the document space and collectively manages the global metadata. A medium characterized by recording a program for causing a program to be executed. 8. A medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a document management system for managing documents stored in a document space of a plurality of document space realizing means, wherein: a list data of a plurality of document spaces; Document space metadata indicating attribute information of each document space of the document space and global metadata indicating document metadata indicating attribute information of a document managed in the document space are acquired from the document space management unit, and the acquisition is performed. A computer as a client that performs document processing by selecting a specific document space to be subjected to document processing from the list data and global metadata that has been selected, and connecting to a document space realizing unit that manages the selected specific document space. A medium in which a program for causing the program to function is recorded.