JPS62108365A - Compound image filing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To couple a microfilm and an optical disc, to attain a consolidated file management, and to obtain the security of a bit of retrieval information by providing a backup floppy disc for a bit of microfilm retrieval information. CONSTITUTION:In a system consisting of an optical disc file 40 which performs the read, etc., of an image, a microfilm file 50, and a work station 10, a hard disc is provided within the work station. At the hard disc, the bit of retrieval information having a common format for the file 40 and the file 50 is stored at every image. Also, a floppy disc 3 for the backup of the bit of retrieval information on the disc corresponding to the file 50 is connected to the hard disc. Thereby, plural microfilms and optical discs are coupled organically, and the consolidated file management can be obtained, and also, the security of the bit of retrieval information can be attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a composite image file system consisting of, for example, a microfilm file and an optical disk file,
In particular, it relates to backing up composite image file systems.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a microfilm system has been used as a system for managing and utilizing an extremely large amount of non-code information (image information). Microfilm is excellent in terms of economy, storage stability, resolution, etc., and has the advantage of being able to make large numbers of copies at high speed with high manual labor, making it ideal for efficiently storing and managing file information that is increasing year by year. Are suitable.

However, on the other hand, office automation has progressed rapidly in recent years, and there is a growing tendency for computers to be introduced into office equipment and for devices to be interconnected through communication circuits. In order to respond to such trends in computerization and communication, it is desirable that the information handled be stored in the form of electrical signals as much as possible. Therefore, electronic file systems have been attracting attention in recent years. Because electronic file systems store information in the form of electrical signals, they have features that microfilm systems do not have, such as high-speed retrieval and high-speed transmission. On the other hand, electronic file systems also have the potential to diminish the advantages of traditional microfilm systems.

The disadvantages are that when inputting information, it is not possible to convert images in one shot through a lens system like in a microfilm system, and the input speed is slow because raster scanning is performed one by one. Copying cannot be done quickly and economically, there is no track record of sufficient long-term storage stability compared to microfilm, which has a long-term storage stability of 100 years, and the legal evidence that microfilm has is insufficient. These are things that are not being considered.

An even bigger problem is that when an electronic file system is introduced, the databases and information that were built up using conventional microfilm systems can no longer be utilized.

As already mentioned, both microfilm and electronic file systems have their advantages. In light of recent trends in office automation, electronic file systems have many disadvantages, but it is clear that microfilm systems cannot be ignored. Therefore, users are forced to choose between the two systems, or are forced to use two systems simultaneously, which is extremely inconvenient.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, a composite image file system that combines a microfilm system and an optical disk file system is being developed. A file system that combines such different types of recording media is not just a combination, but an organic combination is desired. Furthermore, in an image file system that combines microfilm and one or more optical disks, considering the amount of image files, it goes without saying that the amount of search information for searching those image files becomes enormous. A major challenge is to ensure the integrity of this huge amount of search information and to make it easier to manage. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to combine microfilm and one or more optical discs, to enable unified file management, and to maintain the integrity of the enormous amount of search information. The purpose of the present invention is to propose a composite image file system that secures the image data and facilitates its management.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The four components of the composite image file system of the embodiment shown in FIG. It consists of a microfilm file 50 and a workstation 10 for reading data from the microfilm file 50 . The workstation 10 is equipped with, for example, a hard disk (HD) 2 as a storage means, and the HD 2 stores search information for file searches, which has a common format for microfilm files and optical disk files, for each image. stored in each. The workstation 10 further includes an H.
Back up the search information on the DZ, for example, on a floppy disk (FPD) 3.

[Operation] Under the above structure, the search information has a structure as shown in FIG. 4(b), for example, and this format is common between the microfilm and optical disk media. Generally, since the amount of microfilm image files is large, the amount of search information on the HD2 is also large. A copy of this large amount of microfilm search information is the FPD.
3. By ensuring the security of having a backup in case of an emergency, and by having a backup,
You can easily delete search information on the HDZ temporarily.

(The following is a margin) [Example] Hereinafter, an example according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(External appearance of the embodiment) Fig. 2(a) shows the external appearance of the embodiment.The external configuration of this embodiment according to Fig. 2(a) can be broadly divided into workstation 10.Reader/printer section 30, an optical disc file 40, a microfilm file 50, etc.

The workstation 10 is equipped with auxiliary storage means such as a hard disk (hereinafter abbreviated as HD) 2, a floppy disk (FPD) 3, and a computer capable of directly viewing high-definition images.
It consists of an RT 4, a keyboard (KBD) 6, a pointing device (PD) 5, a control section 1 (FIG. 3), and the like.

The optical disk file 40 has a recording medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk, and is an image file in which a large amount of image information can be written and read.
It has z. Incidentally, the image file referred to in this embodiment is one that naturally includes character information in addition to a pure image, and WS 1
This is because 0 also aims to have word processing functionality.

The microfilm file 50 includes a microfilm scanner (hereinafter abbreviated as MS) 51 that converts image information on the microfilm into electrical signals using an image sensor such as a 36,000-bit CCD, and an autochanger (hereinafter referred to as MS) that automatically exchanges the microfilm cartridge. (hereinafter abbreviated as MA) 52.

The reader/printer unit 30 includes an image scanner (Is) 31 that converts image information of a document placed on a document table into an electrical signal using an imaging device such as a CCD, and records an image on a recording material based on the information converted into an electrical signal. An image printer (IP) 32 such as a laser beam printer is used.

To explain the components in more detail, the CRT4 is l531
And image information read photoelectrically by the MS 51, system control information, operator input, etc. are displayed.

Note that the CRT 4 may have a color display so that it can handle color processing. Also, by operating the KBD 6, system operation commands, etc. are issued. Also, to BO2
In combination with a CRT4, it has functions such as a word processor and an office computer. Also, PD5 is CRT4
This is a point device for inputting coordinate information such as icon (pictogram) instructions on the screen and cutting out the screen.
Move the upper cursor in the X and Y directions, select the command image on the command menu, and issue the command.

(Configuration of the Embodiment) FIG. 2(b) is a diagram illustrating the configuration of FIG. 2(a) above from the viewpoint of signal connections.The workstation 10 surrounded by a one-dot line is a controller for the complex file system of the present invention. As explained in FIG. 2(a), WSlo includes a reader/printer unit 30, abbreviated as WS10 hereinafter, and
Optical disk file 40, microfilm file 5
0 is connected. The HD2 in WSlo is a relatively large-capacity, high-speed magnetic disk, and has important roles in this embodiment, such as storing control programs and storing search information for file searches, as will be described later. That is, H
D2 stores the search information of the optical disk file 40 and the microfilm file 50 as described later, and stores the search information of the WSI
Stores, updates, etc. the search information in response to requests from O. still,
The HD2 can be replaced with a hard disk, such as magnetic bubble memory, wire memory, or battery-backed CMOS memory, as long as it is non-volatile and relatively fast.FPD3 can also be used to back up search information for microfilm files. It is a storage place for. Of course, the FPD 3 is also used to read a program (IPL) for starting WSIO, etc. WSI
There is a control section 1 at O, the configuration of which is shown in detail in FIG.

Explaining according to FIG. 3, the control section 1 is the main control section of WStO and has the following configuration. A microprocessor (MPU) 7.8 that controls memory and instructions to each I10 is an HD/FP interface for HD2 or FPD3.
DIF, 9 is WSIOL: f)! PMEM9, which is a program storage memory (PMEM) that controls lJ work, is a program memory composed of, for example, RAM, etc.
7 reads a program into the PMEM 9 from the HD 2 storing a control procedure program according to the embodiment such as a flowchart shown in FIG. 8, which will be described later, and executes the program. 11 is a memory (IMEM) mainly for temporarily storing image information, and l531. MS51. for input image information from the optical disc file 40; IP3
This is for writing to, outputting, etc. 12 is an interface (ODIF) for the optical disk file 40;
3 is a communication interface (
COM I F), LAN, FAX, and HO
This is an input connection section for communication connected to an ST computer, etc. 14 is KBD6. Interface for PD5 (K
BDIF), 19 is an interface (1101F) that controls the input of image information from the 1531 and MS51 and the output control to IP32, and 16 is an interface (1101F) that controls the input of image information from the MS51 and controls the output of image information to the IP32. Functions that control calculation processing for displaying and moving the cursor in response to instructions from the PD5, rotation, enlargement, and reduction of image information, and DMA9 operations between information on PMEM9 and IMEMI1 and each I10. 15 is an interface (CRTIP) with built-in VRAM (video RAM) for displaying image information, 1B is for compressing image information,
Image compression unit (ICU) performs decompression.
), which mainly functions to compress and expand image information in order to increase the number of stored image information when transmitting and receiving information with 0D41.42.43 via IMEMI1 and 0DIF13. 20 is a data memory (DMEM), M P
It stores flags and the like used by U7 when executing the control program.

DMEM20 may be provided within DMEM9.

<HD2 memory map) FIG. 4(a) is a hard disk memory map.

It is. Its contents are a program area and a search information record storage area. FIG. 4(b) shows the format of the search information record stored in the HD 2. The HD 2 contains images stored in the optical disk file 40 as described above, and images of each frame of the microfilm in the microfilm file 50. It should be noted that the search information for different media of the optical disc file 40 and the microfilm file 50 are stored together (see FIG. 5), and that the search information corresponding to the optical disc file 40 and the microfilm file 50 have a common format as shown in FIG. 4(b). It is. By having a common format, management of search information on different storage media becomes efficient and easy. However, from the perspective of uniformly managing image files, it is not necessary to insist on having a common format; it is important to be able to distinguish between recording media.

As shown in Figure 1 explaining the format of the search information record in Figure m4 (b), this format is divided into six fields. In the field 61, an identification mark (DEV-ID) indicating whether the image corresponding to this search information record exists in the optical disk file 40 or the microfilm file 50 is set. "1", the optical disc image "
Address information ADD on the medium on which the image corresponding to this search information record is recorded is set in the field 62. If it is an optical disc, this ADD is the drive number and the address information in the optical disc. It includes the absolute address, etc., and if it is a microfilm, the cartridge number and frame number of the microfilm file are stored.

In the field 63, the size (p-s i z) of the image corresponding to this search information record is set. This indicates, for example, whether the output image is A4/A3, etc. In the field 64, resolution information P-RES of the image corresponding to this search information record is set.

In this example, the resolution is 400/300 at the time of input (registration).
/200dpi. field 65
The ODD contains various other related information such as compression ratio and positive/negative discrimination information regarding the image corresponding to this search information record.
is set as necessary. In the field 66, keyword information (KW) of the image file corresponding to this search information record is set. KW may be written in numbers, letters, or symbols.

When the operator stores a desired image in the optical disk file 40, these search information records are input into the workstation 10 using the BD 6 in correspondence with the image and written into the HO2. In addition, if you have an outsourced company record a large amount of images on optical disks or microfilm, have the outsourced company write the search data to a floppy disk using a computer or the like in accordance with a predetermined format. The search data is transferred and stored from the FPD 3 to the HO2.

(Relationship of search information between each storage medium) Search information records for each image stored in the optical disk file 40 and the microfilm file 5'0 are as shown in FIG. are mixed and stored in HO2 according to the format. In the figure, "M" indicates a microfilm, and "OD" indicates an optical disk file. Figure 5 shows a method for backing up search information records on HO2. That is, the backup of the search information record of the microfilm is stored in the FPD 3, and the backup of the search information record of the optical disk file 40 is stored in the optical disk drive.
Apart from the individual backup method for each recording medium shown in the figure, an embodiment of a backup method for backing up all search information records on HO2 into a backup-only optical disk will also be disclosed (described below in Figure 17). .

The order of explanation of the examples below is first! S31 or MS51
An explanation of the operation for registering an image from the computer, an explanation of the operation for the registration accompanying the medium conversion from microfilm to an optical disk, and an explanation of the operation for starting or restoring based on the backup method shown in Fig. 5. Next, we will explain the backup method and operation for recovery in a system equipped with a backup-only optical disk.

<Data Structure of Optical Disc> The relationship between the media of the search information is as shown in FIG. 5, and the relationship between the image file and the search information record in the optical disk file 4o is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the optical disk file 40 stores, as an example, four image files (their keywords 66 are "parts", "parts name", "parts", and "parts catalog").These image files The ADD fields 62 are “IFFFF”, “IEFFF”, and IDFFF, respectively.
", "I CFFF". Here, for convenience, ADD 62 is 5 digits, and its MSD is the drive number of the optical disk file 40. That is, in the example of FIG. 6, the drive number is "1", the sixth In the figure, optical disk file 4
The addresses of o become higher addresses from the top to the bottom of the paper. Usually, lower addresses have higher reliability, so data necessary for ffi, such as a search information recorder, is stored. In the figure, there are two image files with the same keyword name ("parts °"), but this is because the image file with the address "I FFFF" has undergone image processing, for example, and has been given the same keyword name 6.
The optical disc of this embodiment is of the so-called write-once type, and since the old file cannot be deleted, the existence of an image file with the same keyword is allowed. The fact that optical disks are mixed together is an advantage of optical disks, as is their large capacity. In other words, the history can be traced from the search information record. To search for an image file on an optical disk, usually ID2 or all search information records on the optical disk are read, and the read search information records are transferred to a CRT.
A method is adopted in which the search information records are displayed sequentially in 4 and left to the operator's selection of search information records.

(Registration of image from 1331) Fig. 7 is a diagram explaining the concept of the operation in which a document image is read by l531 and stored and registered in the optical disk file 40.According to Fig. 7, the document read from l531 is temporarily The keyword 66 stored in i11's NS1 (IMEMll) and manually entered by the operator via KBD6 without visually checking the CRT4 is registered in ID2, and the image is stored in the optical disk file 40.At this time, HO2
A backup of the search information within is made on the optical disk file 4°.

The above is an outline of the image file registration from 1531. Next, the registration control procedure will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, examples of the screen of the CRT 4 are illustrated at steps as necessary.

N images to be registered on the optical disc! After setting in s31, a registered volume is specified in step s2. This registered volume is the ID (name) of the optical disk, etc. Next, in step s4, according to the instructions displayed on the CRT 4, select the image reading mode (image file attributes), for example, the resolution (200 dpi/300 dpi/400 dp
i) Specify the document size (A3.A4.B3.B4) using the PD5 via the menu screen. In step s6, the image is changed to fs31 according to the specified attribute.
is read from and temporarily stored in IMEMII in wsto. The data stored in IMEMII is converted for display by BMtJ16 in step S8, and then
It is stored in the (7) VRAM in the CRTIF 15 and displayed on the CRT 4. The operator visually checks the displayed image and notes whether it has been read correctly. If the image has been read correctly, the image just read is 1 in step S12.
Determine whether the page is a page or the first page of a multi-page page. This can be easily determined from the operator's instructions or the attribute designation made in step s4. The reason for making such a determination is to set the keyword 66 on the first page. Now, if it is determined in step S12 that the page is one page or the first page of a plurality of pages, a keyword 66 is set in step S14, and the manually entered keyword 66 is temporarily stored in the DMEM 20. As mentioned above, the keyword 66 is input through the PO2 or KBD6 while viewing the CRT4. After being stored in the DMEM 20, the keyword 66 is converted into the format shown in FIG. 4(b) together with other information, and a search information record is written to the HO2 in step s16, and the process proceeds to step S18. If the determination in step S12 is NO, immediately proceed to step S12.
HO2 of the search information record, proceeding to step 518.
When the storage, etc. in
The image information temporarily stored in the Mll is written to the optical disc via the ICU 18 and the 0DIF 12.

The above operation is repeated until all pages are completed (step 520).
, when all pages are completed, the search information record of the image original is saved as a backup to the optical disc file 40 and written in step S22. At this point, as shown in FIG. 6, a search information record for image file registration and backup has been stored in the optical disk file 40. Therefore, even if the search information record of the image information is destroyed due to some trouble in the HO2, since the same search information record exists on the optical disc file 40, it can be easily restored.

Other information added to the keyword 66 in the search information record includes information on whether the image information is an optical disc or microfilm, address information on where on the optical disc it is stored, and A4. Size information such as A3, resolution information, compression in rc018, etc., that is, the amount of information stored on the optical disk and whether it is negative or positive information, is determined by the WS 10 from the information in the conversation with the operator and the information from the optical disk. is added to the beginning of the search information record.

<Registration from an optical disc> The above description was about registration from the 1531, but as mentioned above, it is possible that a trader or the like registers from an optical disc on which an image has already been written. In this case, the keyword 66 may be written on the FPD or the like by the vendor in the same way as writing an image on an optical disk. In this case, in step S6 in FIG.
Load search information from PD3, and set keyword 66 and HO of search information each time it is loaded.
2 and backup to an optical disk.

<Registration of microfilm file> Registration of microfilm usually means reading the microfilm image that has already been made into film from the MS51.
A search information record including a cartridge number, frame number, etc. is created and registered on the HD 2. The outline of the operation is shown in FIG. 9.The feature of this embodiment is that the search information record is registered on the HDZ, and a backup search information record is also stored on the FPD 3.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for microfilm registration. Microfilm files can be operated in two cases: first, the operator sets each cartridge in the loading section 54 and reads it as shown in FIG. There is. Unlike optical discs, when registering a microfilm file, the frame number on the microfilm is used as an absolute address. Therefore, the cartridge number, frame number, etc. are input to the ADD 62 added to the search information record, which becomes the search information record. Furthermore, since the microfilm files are similar files, the area of the HD 2 can be reduced by providing one search information record for a plurality of consecutive frames of microfilm that should have the same keyword 66.

The control procedure when the MA 52 is not used will be explained according to FIG. First, a microfilm cartridge containing image information for which the keyword 66 should be registered is set in the loading section 54, and the image reading mode (image attributes) is instructed in step S30, similar to the image scanner (IS) input described above. do. Reading is started in step S32, and the read image information of one frame is temporarily stored in IMEMII, and displayed on the CRT 4 in step S33. Check whether the reading was normal in the same way as when registering from l531 (step 534), step S
36 is the image file! Determine whether it is a frame or a continuous frame. In step S40, the operator issues a keyword 66 instruction, and in step S42, the search information record is stored on the HD 2. In step S44, the search information record is backed up on the FPDB.

For the first image information, the operator specifies the frame number of the microfilm, and if the information is to be registered sequentially, step S30 is performed.
All you have to do is advance the microfilm by one frame by adding +1 to wsiO in the ADD field 62, and to record the search information of the input image intermittently, specify the frame number each time. Once registered in the HD 2, all search information records are managed by ) 102, similar to the optical disc described above.

<Registration of composite image> Next, according to FIGS. 11(a) to (d), the image read from the microfilm and the image read from the optical disk file are combined, and the combined image is registered and the search information record is backed up. I will explain about it.

First, in step S50 of FIG. 11(a), an image is input from the microfilm, and then, in step S52, an image is input from the optical disk file 40. Step S
50 and step S52 are subroutines whose details are shown in FIGS. 11 (d)) is executed.

The search subroutine searches the HDZ for a search information record having the specified keyword 66 (step 5).
80). The searched search information code is stored in the DMEM 20 (step 582), and in step S84 it is determined whether the image is in the microfilm file 50 or the optical disk file 40 based on the value of DEVID 61 in the search information record.

If the value of the identification mark DEV-ID61 is "1", it is assumed that the image is recorded in the microfilm file 50, and the address information ADD62 of the search data is
Accordingly, the microfilm file 50 is searched for a corresponding image frame (step 588), and the image of the searched microfilm frame is read (step 588). If the DEV-ID 61 is "0" and it is ivy, the address is Optical disc file 40 according to information ADD
(Step 590), and the image file is read (Step 592).

The image information read from the microfilm file 50 or the optical disk file 40 is sent to the workstation 1.
One page is stored in IMEMII 0 (step 594
), this ends the search subroutine.

y511 Return to step S54 in Figure (a), and
Process the two images in II. This processing is 8M
016. If this processed image needs to be registered, the process advances to step S60, and a keyword 66 is set in order to create a new search information receipt. The processed image is stored in the optical disk file 40 in step S62, a new search information record is stored in the HD 2 in step 364, and a backup of the search information record is stored in the optical disk file 40 in step S66. If the operations shown in FIGS. 11(a) to 11(d) are performed in accordance with FIG. 6, for example, the image file "component" from the microfilm and the image file "component name" from the optical disk file 40 are combined. Thus, a new image file "parts catalog" is created on the optical disk file 4o (FIG. 12).

Incidentally, in the above explanation, the combination of images on a microfilm and an optical disc was explained, but it is also possible to transfer an image from a microfilm to an optical disc in the same way.

Backup file load> Backup file load means, for example, when the search data on the HD 2 is destroyed due to a failure or the like, or during the initial processing of the JOB program in the embodiment described later, the backup file load is performed from the optical disk file 4o and FPD 3 as shown in FIG. As <H
This refers to the operation of reconfiguring search information records on the DZ.

FIG. 13 shows the concept of its operation. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the control procedure.

According to FIG. 14, first, in step 5100, the optical disk and FPD 3 to be restored are set in the drive. In step 5102, all search information records of the set optical disc are read and stored on the HDZ. This operation is performed for all optical disks that require restoration. Next, in step 3106, the search information record of the microfilm file 50 is similarly restored from the FPD 3. In this way, search information records can be restored extremely easily.

<Deleting and restoring search information records> The above control procedure shows how to restore all search information records, but it is extremely difficult to specify a specific keyword 66 and restore only the search information records that have that keyword 66. It is a hour wheel. An example of this is deletion of a portion of a search information record and restoration of the deleted search information record from a backup. FIG. 15 shows an example of deletion. It goes without saying that the deletion in this case refers to the deletion of only the search information record on the HD2. Figure 16 (a
) and (b) show flowcharts of control procedures for deletion and restoration of search information records, respectively. To give an overview of the search information records to be deleted, first set a keyword 66 on the CRT 4, display the search information records in the HDZ with that keyword 66 on the CRT 4, and then the operator selects the desired search information record. Delete (16th
Figure (a)). Similarly, the search information record obtained from the keyword 66 is searched for and restored in the optical disk file 40 or FPD 3 by setting the keyword 66 to restore the deleted search information record (see FIG. 16).
b)).

(Effects of the above embodiment) In this way, the format of the search information record for the optical disk file 4o and the microfilm file 50 is made common, and the search information records for both files are mixed and stored in the common HD 2, so that image search is possible. The operator who performs this search can search for keywords corresponding to the image to be searched without considering the file to be searched for.
By inputting 6, the desired image information can be obtained.

That is, since the file (medium) in which the image is actually recorded and the address within that file are managed in the search information record, the operator does not have to be aware of the composite medium when searching for an image. This makes it easier to search for images centrally.

You can also back up your search information on an optical disk or FPD3.
Since the search information is prepared for, it is easy to restore the search information, and management is ensured by distinguishing the backup media.

Furthermore, by having a backup, you can safely delete information that is infrequently used or search information that is outdated, so you can secure free space on your hard disk and search for keywords for new image information. can be registered.

<Composite image file system with a backup-only optical disk> In the image file system explained above, the backup of the search information records on microfilm is performed on the FPD3.
The backup of the search information record of the optical disk file 40 was stored in the optical disk. In the single file system described below, the above-mentioned search information records (including the search information records for both the aL number of optical disks and microfilm) are stored in a backup-only optical disk. The advantages of providing such an optical disk exclusively for backup are as follows. Of course, it goes without saying that images and image files can also be stored on this backup-only optical disk.

As the scale of the composite file system increases, the number of optical disks and microfilms naturally increases.

In such cases, the optical discs and microfilms used are often separated by job (JOB), and the optical discs and microfilms used for each job are often used. Furthermore, the same J
Even in the case of OB, if there is an 8th or monthly job, it may be desirable to perform the job with the latest date and time or monthly file structure.

Furthermore, there are cases where it is desired to restart a JOB on a specific date. This takes advantage of the characteristic of optical discs that image files are stored one after another without being updated.

In such a case, if the search information records for each job or date and time (monthly) are backed up on a backup-only optical disk, the operator will not have to worry about which optical disk and microfilm are required for each job. The search information on the backup-only optical disk can be read out and processed. Furthermore, if the program of the relevant JOB is also stored on a backup-only optical disk, only the initial start program needs to be resident on the HO2, making it easy to start the JOB at the desired time.
You can restart OB.

Further, in a normal image file system, as described above, it is essential to register keywords of image files. Since this registration work is a large amount, usually once registration is made on the HDZ, various JOB programs share and use the search information on the HO2.

Since the files are shared, it becomes difficult to manage files for each JOB program and each date as described above.

Further, these search information are not stored in an equivalent system, but are simply stored in the order of registration.

(Outline of JOB program) A backup-only optical disk is proposed based on the above requirements. Therefore, the JOB program for the composite image file system proposed in this embodiment has an outline as shown in Fig. 24. As shown in FIG. 24, it is assumed that a backup file of search information for microfilm and optical disk image files has already been created in each of the FPD 3 and the optical disk backup area for image files according to the method of the embodiment described above. First, the JOB program copies these backup files onto the HO2 as search information used by the JOB program. When the JOB program ends, all search information on the HO2 is copied again to the backup-only optical disk. The copied backup files are stored as search information belonging to that JOB program. Such backup files for each JOB program are stored one after another on a backup-only optical disk each time a different JOB program is run. Optical disks have a large capacity. Therefore, it can withstand storing such backup files.When running the same JOB program, the JOB file is stored from the backup optical disk.
The search information having the B program name is called up on HO2, and the image file is searched and reprocessed according to the search information.

Here, if we explain according to the flowchart in Fig. 23,
In step 5170, the search information storage area on HO2 is cleared. In step 5172, it is determined whether the JOB program is an initial start. If it is an initial start, the process of loading the backup file described above (FIG. 14) is executed in step 5174. In step 5100 of this backup file load, the relevant JOB
Just load the necessary floppy disks and optical disks into the drive. With this backup file load
Search information in units of OB programs is reconstructed on the HDZ. Using this search information, the relevant business process is performed in step 3178, and in step 5180, the latest search information that is developed on the HDZ is copied to the backup-only optical disk (Figure 20) (details of this flow). (will be described later), therefore, when restarting the JOB program, the result in step 5172 is NO.
At step 5176, an ohm restart (FIG. 22) is performed. As will be described later, this warm restart reconstructs the search information on the HDZ from the backup file on the backup-only optical disk.

<Configuration of backup-only optical disk> Ml Figure 7 (a
) to (e) show examples of record formats written on this backup-only optical disk. Figure 17 (
a) shows a format common to each record. In the figure,
70 is a record type. Record type 70 is “
There are four types, 0'' to 3.Records of each type are shown in FIGS. 17(b) to 17(e), and FIG. 17(b) is a disk type record.Record type 70 of the disk type record. When the disc type 71 is "0", it means that the optical disc is a backup-only optical disc, and when it is "1", it means the above-mentioned normal optical disc.

FIG. 17(C) is a JOB record. The record type 70 for the JOB record is "1", the field 72 contains the JOB name, and the field 73 contains the JOB name.
The date on which the B record was written to the backup-only optical disk is stored in the field 74, and the volume name of the optical disk or the like used for the job is stored in the field 74. 'tS17 figure (
d) is a search information record. Its record type is '2'', and the search information shown in Figure 4(b) is stored in field 75. Figure 17(e) shows a program record, its record type 70 is 3''. be. If a program is paged or segmented, it can be stored in a backup-only optical disc with a predetermined record length.

FIG. 18 shows an example of the arrangement of the records shown in FIGS. 17(a) to (e) within the backup-only optical disc. The disc type record 80 indicates that this optical disc is a backup-only optical disc, and the search information record 82 and subsequent records following the JOB record 81 contain all the search information for the optical disc file or microfilm used in the JOB. JOB program 83 has the relevant J
The OB program is stored. JOB record 84 indicates that another JOB record and search information record newly follow.

<Storage on a backup-only optical disk> Storage of backup files on a backup-only optical disk is performed taking priority into consideration.

FIG. 19(a) shows the numbers of each drive of the optical disk connected to this composite image file system. The total number of optical disks connected to this composite file system is, for example, eight at maximum. FIG. 19(b) shows flags in the DMEM 20, and each flag indicates whether or not the corresponding optical disk drive is currently being used.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the order of determining in which drive a backup-only optical disk is loaded under the optical disk configuration shown in FIG. This is because the operator's usability is taken into consideration when there are many connections as shown in the figure.
The SIO independently determines the drive into which the backup-only optical disk is to be loaded at the most convenient position from the operator's point of view, displays the drive number on the CRT 4, and prompts the operator to load the backup-only optical disk.

First, in step st to, it is checked whether all drives are empty. If all the drives are empty, a message is displayed on the CRT 4 in step 5112 saying, ``Load a backup-only optical disk into drive No. 0''. “0
``Pick the numbered drive because it is closest to the operator.''

If the backup-only optical disk is loaded into the drive numbered “0”, a subroutine for saving to the backup-only optical disk is executed in step 5126. If any optical disk is in use in step 5110, it is checked in step 3116 whether all optical disk drives are in use. If all the drives are in use, for the same reason, a message "Replace drive number 0" will be displayed on the CRT4 in order to load the backup optical disk into drive number O. . In step 5116, if any drive is free, identify the drive closest to the operator (the drive with the lowest number), and
Load a backup-only optical disk into the drive.'' is displayed on the CRT4. All of the above judgments are made with reference to the flags in FIG. 19(b).

FIG. 21 shows details of step 3126 of FIG. 20, which is the save subroutine. First, in step 5128, it is determined whether the loaded optical disc is a backup-only optical disc. This is a disk type record (first
This can be seen by examining Figure 7 (b)). A JOB record (FIG. 17(C)) is set in steps 5130 to 5134, and the JOB record is written to the backup-only optical disk in step 5136. Next, step 51
38. In step 5140, a search information record (FIG. 17(d)) and a program record (FIG. 17(e)) are written, which is different from the embodiment of FIG. 5 in that a microfilm search information record is also written. The difference is as mentioned above.

<Warm restart> Warm restart reads the JOB record, search information record, etc. from the backup optical disk.
The job is expanded on the HDZ and the job is restarted. This restart is suitable for a system that uses different optical discs or microfilms for each job. The operator of that JOB can call up all search information from the backup-only optical disk using the JOB record corresponding to the JOB. Since this search information is backed up, there is no need to re-register the search information for each job, and the image file system can be easily used. It is also effective when data on the HDZ is unreliable.

FIG. 22 shows a flowchart of the warm restart control procedure. This control program is stored in HD2 and is called from HO2 to PMEM9, but HO2
The information is stored in advance in a ROM (not shown) or the like in consideration of the possibility that the reliability of the information may be compromised. First, in step 5150, the drive number of the optical disk in which the backup-only optical disk is loaded is specified from the CRT 4. After confirming that the optical disc loaded in the drive is a backup-only optical disc (step 5151), in step 5152, the user enters the 508 name and date for restarting. The JOB record corresponding to the 508 people input in step 5154 is searched in the backup-only optical disk, and if found, the search information record following the JOB record is read out and developed on HO2 in step 5156. If necessary, the program is also read out and developed on HO2 in step 3158. In this way, the search information record can be very easily restored with a desired system configuration that matches the JOB. The operator displays the volume name in the JOB record on the CRT4 and selects the job.
Since you can know what kind of optical discs and microfilms are needed for the purpose, you can prepare the optical discs or microfilms according to the instructions.

Effects of the embodiment having a backup-only optical disk> As explained above, by using the backup-only optical disk and the image file system, (1) all search information and even programs can be stored.

(2) Since the file structure of the image file system is not reconstructed from a copy of the search information managed in the JOB record in the backup-only optical disk, it is possible to manage the JOB=file for each job and for each date. That is, JOB
It becomes possible to systematize program-oriented file management.

(The following is a blank space) [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a composite image file system in which a microfilm and one or more optical disks are organically combined can be proposed, and furthermore, it is possible to search microfilm image files. Since the information is backed up on another storage stage, such as a floppy disk, the integrity of the retrieved information in the microfilm file is ensured and its management is facilitated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is an external view of the composite image file system of the embodiment, and FIG. 21Δ(b) is a two-dimensional diagram of the composite image file system of the embodiment. Figure 3 is a circuit configuration diagram of the control unit, Figure 4 (a) is a hard disk memory map diagram, Figure 4 (b) is a format diagram of search information records, and Figure 5 is a diagram of the format of files, search information, and backup files. Figure 6 is a diagram explaining the relationship between search information in an optical disk file and image files; Figures 7 and 8 are conceptual diagrams of operations for registering image files from an image scanner; The control flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 are conceptual diagrams of the operation for registering image files from the microfilm scanner, and the control flowcharts of FIGS. 11(a) to (d) and 12 are respectively. A control flowchart and its conceptual diagram when combining an image from a microfilm and an image from an optical disk, Fig. 13 is a conceptual diagram of restoring search information from a backup stored in an optical disk or FPD, and Fig. 14 is a conceptual diagram. Flowchart of normal restart, Figure 7JS15 is a conceptual diagram of deleting search information only from the hard disk. FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) are control blow cheats for deleting search information on the hard disk and restoring the deleted search information on the hard disk, respectively. Figures 17 (a) to (e) are a format diagram of each record of a backup file stored on a backup-only optical disk, an example diagram of a stored backup file, and Figure 19 (a).
) and (b) are diagrams showing the maximum configuration of the original disk drive, and the flag D representing the usage status of each drive.
The configuration diagram in MEM L, Figure 7JtJ20 is a control flowchart when saving backup files while taking priority into consideration on a backup-only optical disk. FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the one-step subroutine of FIG. 20, FIG. 22 is a flowchart of warm restart, and FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the processing outline of the JOB program of the embodiment. FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram of processing of the JOB program of the embodiment. In the figure, l: control unit, 2: hard disk, 3: floppy disk, 7: MPU, 10: work stage, 31: image scanner, 32
...Image printer, 40...Optical disc file, 50...Microfilm file, 51...
It is a microfilm scanner. Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 4 (a) Figure 4 (b) Figure 11 (0) Figure 11 (b) Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16 (0) Figure 16 (b) Figure 3421 〆1 line
/”%0.0 Figure 22 Figure 23

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) It has one or more optical disks and a plurality of microfilms on which image files are recorded, and a workstation that registers, searches, and processes the image files on the optical disks and microfilms, and the workstation is equipped with an optical disk and a plurality of microfilms. A first storage means for storing search information for uniformly managing the image files among films, and a backup of the search information on the first storage means corresponding to the image files recorded on the microfilm. A composite image file system comprising a second storage means in the workstation. (2) The search information for specifying an image file includes at least information indicating the medium type (microfilm or optical disk medium), the media number of the optical disk and the physical address within the optical disk for an optical disk file, and the information for a microfilm file. The composite image file system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system includes information specifying a cartridge number and a frame number, and a name of the file. (3) The composite image file system according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means is a hard disk or a battery-backed CMOS memory, and the second storage means is a floppy disk.