JPS62123567A - Information furnishing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To furnish a pair of descriptive information and picture information by securing such a system where an information retrieving means retrieves the designated information CPU based on the corresponding retrieving file after selection of the prescribed conditions and then an information visualizing means visualizes said CPU. CONSTITUTION:A descriptive information memory means 1 stores only the descriptive information W in response to a prescribed designated information CPU# out of a pair of the descriptive information W and the picture information P which are related with each other. While a picture information memory means 2 stores only the picture information P is response to the same CPU# as the related information W. The retrieving files 3 are produced against the prescribed conditions for the CPU# corresponding to the paired information stored in both means 1 and 2. An information retrieving means 4 retrieves the CPU# coincident with the selected conditions based on the corresponding file 3. Then an information visualizing means 5 reads out both information W and P, i.e., the retrieving results of the means 4 and visualizes them.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides image information such as photographs and drawings listed in product catalogs, etc., and descriptive information such as explanations of the photographs and drawings to users. Regarding information provision system.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a system of this kind, for example, there is a system that records information such as a product strength catalog on a video disk or the like, and visualizes the stored information by displaying it on a CRT display or the like according to the user's specifications. . This basically means that the information in the product catalog, that is, photographs, figures, characters, etc., is all treated as image information.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the conventional information providing system as described above is not easy to use in cases such as product catalogs that require search approaches from various aspects.

This is because ordinary video disc devices cannot perform searches that combine various factors (keywords, etc.), and only have a simple search function for recorded video information (analog signals).

On the other hand, it is difficult to apply this method to cases such as product catalogs, where changes in descriptive information such as changes in prices and specifications are more frequent than changes in image information such as photographs accompanying changes in product design.

This is because descriptive information that changes frequently and image information that changes relatively infrequently are stored as a pair on the same storage medium. That is, even when the descriptive information is changed, even the paired image information must be newly stored.

Furthermore, when using a video disk as a storage medium, it has a relatively large storage capacity and is easy to handle. If there is a change in price, etc., in order to deal with the change, new video discs must be created each time the change occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable various search processes and to avoid any influence on image information when changing descriptive information.

[Means for solving the problems] The technical means for solving the above problems are as shown in Figure 1, mutual! ! Descriptive information storage means 1 for storing only descriptive information W out of a pair of descriptive information W and image information P given in series in association with predetermined designation information CPU#
and the pair of information (W.

P), image information storage means 2 stores only image information P in association with the same designation information CPU# as related descriptive information W, and a pair of information (W , P), and the search file 3 created based on the predetermined conditions for the specified information CPtJ# corresponding to information retrieval means 4 for retrieving based on the information retrieval means 4; and information visualization for retrieving and visualizing descriptive information W and image information P corresponding to the specified information CPU#, which are the search results of the information retrieval means 4, from each of the storage means 1 and 2. It is equipped with means 5.

The following are possible embodiments of the descriptive information storage means 1 and the image information storage means 2.

■ The descriptive information storage means 1 is configured on the host device side, and the image information storage means 2 is configured on the information usage terminal device side that is connected to the host device by line.Here, the host device and the information usage terminal device are connected. The line tJ may be a public line such as a telephone line or a private line such as a private line.

■ The descriptive information storage means 1 is made up of a magnetic recording medium, and the image information storage means 2 is made up of an optical recording medium. Here, the magnetic recording medium may be a magnetic disk device, a magnetic tape, etc. Furthermore, an optical recording medium is a recording medium that is based on an optical reading method, and may be an optical disk device or the like. This optical recording medium is characterized by a very large storage capacity ω.

(2) The descriptive information storage means 1 is constituted by a CD-ROM. Here, the CD-ROM is one in which a compact disk as a recording medium is used as a ROM (read only memory). The storage capacity of this CD-ROM is also very large at present.

For example, the above search file 3 may be created based on classification in a predetermined system, or when targeting information on product catalogues, created based on product company, product price range, etc. It is something that will be done.

[When the acting co-user selects a predetermined condition, the information search means 4 searches for specified information CPU# that matches the condition based on the search file 3 corresponding to the condition. Then, the information visualization means 5 selects the designated information CPU obtained by the search result +i.
Descriptive information and image information corresponding to # are read out from each information storage means 1.2 and visualized. This provides a pair of descriptive information and image information to the user who needs it.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 5 are basic configuration diagrams showing an example of an information providing system according to the present invention.

In this example, the descriptive information storage means is configured on the supernatant device side,
Image information storage means is configured on the terminal device side connected to this host device via a line.

Further, the information to be provided is assumed to be, for example, product catalog information related to "construction work."

First, a database of information to be provided is created as follows.

Collect information about product catalogs from each manufacturer.

This information is collected separately for descriptive information and image information. Regarding descriptive information, the following information is collected: product name, company name, intended use, product number, delivery address, phone number, shape and dimensions, basic material certification mark, price, etc. On the other hand, regarding image information, individual products or construction examples corresponding to the above descriptive information are collected as color slides. The descriptive information is stored in the magnetic disk device of the host device in association with predetermined designation information CPU#, while the image information collected as the color slide is the same as the paired descriptive information. An optical disc (for example, Pioneer's "Laser Disc") is associated with the specified information CPU#.
will be recorded in. This optical disc is distributed to users who use terminal devices connected by line to the host device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing the basic configuration of the host device of the system. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an overall control unit that performs overall control of the entire host device, and is usually composed of a large-sized computer. 11 is a disk controller, 12 is a magnetic disk device, and in this magnetic disk device 12, descriptive information about the aforementioned product catalog is stored in a form associated with predetermined designation information CPU#, which will be described later. A search file like this has been constructed. Then, under the control of the general control unit 10, the disk controller 11 controls the magnetic disk device 1.
2 is accessed. 13 is a tape controller; 14 is a magnetic tape device; the magnetic tape device 14 is accessed by the tape controller 13;
serves as a backup for the magnetic disk device 12. On the other hand, 15 is a line controller,
Reference numeral 16 denotes a collective modem that performs modulation and demodulation for a plurality of public lines (for example, telephone lines), and the central control unit 10 controls terminal equipment 200 and various terminal devices via the public line based on the line controller 15 and the aggregate modem 16 of 1 m. Information is being exchanged. A terminal device 201 is also installed in the center where the host device is installed, and this terminal device 201 is connected to the control unit 10 via a line within the center and a line controller 15. It has become.

To explain the search file built horizontally in the magnetic disk device 12 as described above, this search file is, for example, 1. Classification files in accordance with the "One-company construction standard classification separately proposed by the inventors of this application" (supervised by the Housing Bureau of the Ministry of Construction, published by the Housing Industry Foundation), as well as descriptive information and image information about the product. It is roughly divided into specifying information CPU# and a product file indicating a correspondence relationship between a classification number, a company name, a price range, or a predetermined keyword.

As shown in Figure 3 of the above-mentioned "Standard Classification of Construction Work", it has a dendritic (tree-like) structure of major classification, medium classification, and small classification, and each school of major classification, medium classification, and small classification. is assigned a 6-digit classification code. Here, in the 6-digit classification code, the first two digits substantially represent the major classification, the middle two digits represent the medium classification, and the last two digits represent the minor classification. For example, major classification: 150,000/interior/exterior work: 152,100
/ Paper board 152300 / Synthetic resin/rubber floor tile sheet 152
500 / Flooring 152700 / Tatami flooring 152900 / Carpet etc. For example, the middle classification 152900 / Carpet is further divided into 152901 / Dantsu 1529051 Tapestry 152907 / Karami weaving 152909 / Other machines. It is made up of subcategories such as Wilton 152911/Wool 1529/Blend.

The classification file according to this "Architectural Work Standard Classification" also reflects the above-mentioned dendritic structure, and the correspondence relationship between each major classification code and medium classification code, and the correspondence between each medium classification code and minor classification code. This is a file that shows each correspondence.

In addition, the product file, for example, shows the correspondence between the descriptive information stored in the magnetic disk device 12 and the designation information CPU# that specifies the image information paired with this descriptive information and the classification code. As shown in FIG. 4, the designation information CPU# for specifying a certain product is listed up for each subcategory that characterizes the product.

In the example shown in Figure 4, the hand-woven carpet is 15,290 mm.
1/Dantsu” has 50 items, “1529051 tapestry” has 80 f[,” 152907/karamiori°
indicates that the specification information CPU# that specifies 10 products is associated with it.

The same holds true for product files that associate company names, price ranges, predetermined keywords, etc. with designated information CPU#. That is, for example, a certain company name is associated with designation information CPU# that specifies a product made by that company.

The basic configuration of the terminal device side is shown in FIG. 5, for example.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a terminal control device that performs overall control of the entire terminal device, and a normal personal computer or the like is used. 21 is a keyboard device through which the operator inputs information; 22 is a modem that modulates and demodulates signals when exchanging information via a line with a host device installed in the Kenta 100 (see FIG. 2); 23 is a floppy disk device that functions as an auxiliary memory for the terminal control device 20. Further, 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d are video disc players, respectively, and 26 is a multiplexer. Access processing is now possible. Each of the video disc players 25a to 25d is set with an optical disc distributed to the user Q', that is, an optical disc containing image information such as a photograph of a product catalog associated with the designation information CPLJ#. In addition, the correspondence table between the specified information CPU# and the disk #/frame # (disc M number/frame number) is stored in advance on the host device to determine which frame of the distributed optical disk contains image information regarding which product. will be created.

27 is a video switcher 1 for selecting a predetermined one from the four video disk players 25a to 25d;
28 is a super-impose control device; 29 is a color CRT display device; the super-impose control device 28 converts a digital signal corresponding to characters from the terminal control device 20 into a video signal; The video signal is synthesized with a video signal corresponding to the image from the video disk player selected by the video switcher 27, and the synthesized video signal is provided to the color CRT display device 29. Then, images and characters corresponding to the provided video signal are displayed on the color CRT display device 29.

30 is a text printer that sequentially prints out print data related to descriptive information from the terminal control device r120. Further, numeral 31 is a color printer, and this color printer 31 prints out still images displayed on two color CRT display devices. Next, the operation of the system will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, on the terminal device 200 side, when the power is turned on by the operator, internal initialization processing is performed. Then, when the operator makes a call to the center 100 and the line is connected, a line opening request is made from the terminal device 200 side, and the upper level device receives the line opening telegram via the T1 talk line. Start the opening process. In the course of this line establishment process, the host device transmits a display message etc. to the terminal device side, and when the line can be established, transmits an establishment response message to the terminal device 200 side. Here, when the terminal device 200 receives the establishment response message from the higher-level device side via the telephone line, the entire system (both the higher-level device side and the terminal device side) enters a state in which products can be searched.

When a product search is started, a message is first displayed on the color CRT display device 29 of the terminal device 200 that specifies the search method. Search methods include ■Narrowing down by classification code■Specifying company code■ ...... etc. For example, assume that the user selects ``Classification Code Narrowing'' regarding ``Baka-Pet''.

When the operator selects ``■ Classification Code Narrowing'' by operating the keyboard device 21, the search selection message is transmitted to the higher-level device, and the higher-level device that receives this message prepares for the ``Classification Code Refinement'' search. process(
When preparations are complete, the display message and selection response message are returned to the terminal device.

Thereafter, the process moves to actual search processing.

First, on the color CRT display device 29 on the terminal 'A E 200 side, each school in ``major classification 1'' is displayed along with its classification code as shown in Figure 3.The operator selects ``15/Interior and exterior construction''. In other words, the operation message is transmitted to the higher-level device, and the higher-level device that receives the message refers to the classification file, reads out the "middle classification" corresponding to "15/Interior/Exterior ■ Matters", and applies the information to this [middle classification]. Each branch information to which it belongs is sent back to the terminal device 200. At this point, each school in the "medium classification" is displayed on the color CRT display device 29 together with its classification code (see FIG. 3). Then the operator'
When you select 152900/curve 1-'',
This operation message is transmitted again to the higher-level device, and the higher-level device that receives the message refers to the classification file in the same way as above, reads the corresponding "minor category," and reads each branch information belonging to this "minor category." Terminal device! Return to 200. As a result, each school in subclass J is displayed on the color CRT display device 29 along with its classification code (see FIG. 3). Here, the operator weaves the hand-woven carpet'
If you want to see about
When you select "Karamiori," the corresponding operation message is transmitted to the higher-level device, and the host device that receives this message then refers to the product file (see Figure 4).In this case, "Karamiori" is selected. A message appears on the terminal device 2 indicating that there are 70 pieces of information about ``Hand-Woven Carbella J-''.
Transmit to 00. Although it is possible to end the search process when there is, for example, 70 items of information, it is also possible to further narrow down the conditions. Examples of narrowing down conditions include company, price range, and other keywords such as color and size. This condition narrowing process is similar to the above. Based on the conditions specified by the operator from the terminal device side, the host device refers to the product file and sends a message to the terminal device, indicating the number of product information items with the corresponding conditions. We will send them back sequentially.

Furthermore, in relation to the said “Classification Coco Narrowing down”,
It is also possible to directly specify the minor classification by directly searching for the 6-digit classification code corresponding to the branch (minor classification) to which the desired product belongs from the above-mentioned "Standard Classification of Building Works" and inputting this classification code. It is.

When the search process is completed under the conditions desired by the user as described above, the results are displayed on the color CRT of the terminal device 200.
It is displayed on the display device 29. The search results are displayed, for example, as follows: ``How many companies' information and how many f1'' are the information under the specified conditions.

Subsequently, the operator inputs an operation related to a request for product information, and when the information request message is transmitted from the terminal device 200 to the higher-level device, the higher-level device performs a process of reading out the product information. That is, the host device holds designation information CPU# of information corresponding to the above search results, and this designation information CPU
The descriptive information (catalog data) corresponding to # is read from the magnetic disk device 12, and the specified information CPU
The disc # and frame # of the optical disc corresponding to # are read out with reference to a predetermined table. The host device then transmits the read descriptive information, disk #, and frame # to the terminal device 200 along with the designation information CPU#. The terminal device 200 stores each piece of information transmitted from the host device in the floppy disk device 23 (stored in the FD).

When the product information is stored in the floppy disk device 23 in this way, when the operator performs an image display command operation,
The terminal device 200 shifts to image display processing.

That is, the optical disc set in a predetermined video disc player is accessed based on the disc # and frame # stored in the floppy disc device 23, and image information corresponding to the specified information CPU# is read out. This image information and some descriptive information stored in the floppy disk device 23, such as "company name" and "(
superimpose control device 28, and the synthesized image is displayed on the color CRT display device 2.
Display on 9. At this stage, the operator displays the exterior photographic image, construction example photographic image (image information), company name, and price of the product that satisfies the conditions specified by the operator on two color CRT display devices. If more detailed information about the displayed product is not required, a request for information about the next product is made, and a request is made between the terminal device 200 and the host device.
The same operations and processing as described above are performed.

In the process of repeating the above operations and corresponding processing, color C
If more detailed information about the product displayed on the RT display device 29 is required, the operator performs a text print request operation. Then, the specified information CPU#
Descriptive information specified by is read from the floppy disk device 23, and this descriptive information
will be printed out. For example, the state of this printout is as follows. The information printed out is the information provided by the manufacturer, in other words, the information listed in product catalogs, etc. At this stage, the operator will be required to confirm the items listed in the product catalog, as well as confirming the product photo above. Together, we will conduct a detailed study of the product17.

At this point, the color printer 31 prints...C
It is also possible to print out a still image of the product displayed on the RT display device 29.

Product name: Wooden ** Book ＊＊＊＊＊ Company name: ABC Kogyo Co., Ltd. Name/Application: Carpet products M -X X Y Y Z 2 Place of delivery
...ABC Kogyo Co., Ltd.Address...1-1-1 Hon*cho, Minato-ku, TokyoTelephone number...(13-4*3-1234)Shape/dimensions...l
:5mm (pile length)Basic material...Wool certification mark...Woolmark price, -V12000 Overview...Description of product features, etc.'''Product information requests as above, product image processing and pudding if necessary [-Ara 1] Once the processing has finished after all the products corresponding to the above search results have been searched, at this point, if you want to search for other products, start the product search. By performing this operation, the system enters the search start state. From then on, the same search processing as described above is performed. On the other hand, to end the search processing, the operator performs the end operation. Then, the terminal device 200 The end message is sent from the terminal device 200, and the higher-level device that receives this message returns a transmission end response message.
When the 11m message is sent and the host response message is sent back from the host device that executes the line closure process along with a display message indicating that the line will be closed IA=J, the connection state of the line is severed at that point, and the terminal The processing in device 200 ends.

After the so-called online processing via the line is completed as described above, the terminal device 200 side stores the floppy disk device 2.
Since descriptive information etc. are stored in the color CRT display device 29 based on the stored information,
Image display and text printing of the corresponding catalog data can be performed in offline processing. In addition, in the process shown in Figure 6, the product information is checked for each item and requested to the host device, but in addition, for example, for all the target products obtained as a result of the search, It is also possible to store the product information in the 70-tube disc storage 23 all at once, and then perform image display and text printing processing off-line.

As described above, according to this embodiment, among the information regarding the product catalog, descriptive information such as company name, price, product characteristics, etc. is stored in the magnetic disk device 12 on the center side; , image information such as external photos and drawings of the product are recorded on an optical disk in association with paired descriptive information, and the optical disk can be used by users who have a terminal Vk location, so the description regarding the product) It is possible to easily change the image information without affecting the image information, and the change is efficient because it means a batch change for all users. In addition, since image information is also recorded on the optical disc, it is possible to sufficiently cover the recorded amount at present.

For example, it becomes possible to more quickly and accurately provide information on products that the user truly needs out of a huge amount of products related to "construction work" and the like.

Furthermore, the provided catalog data can be used in a variety of ways. For example, in the case of product information related to "construction work," it is conceivable that the data can be used not only by product purchasers but also at the design stage.

In addition, by using a database that follows a uniform classification system within the industry, such as the "Standard Classification of Construction Works," information exchange within the industry can be unified and more efficient. It becomes possible to do the same thing.

As mentioned above, in addition to the mode in which descriptive information is collectively stored by a host device and used by each terminal device connected to a line, there is also a mode in which descriptive information is also stored on the terminal device side. Conceivable.

In this case, the storage capacity of the medium that stores descriptive information, search tables, and various processing programs becomes a problem, and at present, a CD-ROM (compact disk) or the like is an example of a medium that can achieve this.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, various search processes are possible, and when changing descriptive information, image information is not affected in any way. Become. As a result, even in cases such as product catalogs, where changes in descriptive information such as changes in prices and specifications are more frequent than changes in image information such as photographs due to changes in product design, the application of the information provision system can be done easily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the information providing system according to the present invention, focusing on the basic configuration of the host device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the host device. FIG. 1 shows an example of classification, FIG. 4 shows an example of a product file, FIG. 5 is a book diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal device, and FIG. 6 shows flowchart 1 showing the flow of processing. [Explanation of symbols 1 1...Descriptive information storage means 2...Image information storage means 3...Search file 4...Information search means 5...Information visualization means 10...Supervising control unit 12... ... Magnetic disk device 15 ... Line controller 16 ... Collective modem 20 ... Terminal control device 21 ... Keyboard device 22 ... Modem 25a, 25b, 25C, 25d ... Video disk player 2 days ...2 superimpose control devices...30 color CRT display devices...text printer

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Descriptive information storage means for storing only descriptive information out of a pair of descriptive information and image information given in relation to each other in association with predetermined designated information; and image information out of the pair of information. image information storage means for storing only the relevant descriptive information in association with the same designated information, and a search created for predetermined conditions regarding the designated information corresponding to the pair of information stored in each of the above storage means. a file, an information retrieval means for retrieving specified information that matches a condition selected from the above predetermined conditions based on the corresponding search file, and a descriptive information corresponding to the specified information that is the search result of this information retrieval means. An information providing system comprising: information visualization means for reading information and image information from each of the storage means and visualizing the information. (2) The descriptive information storage means is arranged on the host device side, and the image information storage means is arranged on the information utilization terminal device side connected to the host device through a line. The information provision system described in Section 1. (3) Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the descriptive information storage means is constituted by a magnetic recording medium, and the image information storage means is constituted by an optical recording medium. information provision system. (4) The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the descriptive information storage means is constituted by a CD/ROM.