JPS6261169A - Image information retrieving network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute rapidly the edition/output processing of an intrapage image outputted on a display screen by providing an image buffer having capacity larger than an output picture of a terminal equipment and a means for partially outputting the image in the buffer. CONSTITUTION:An image program is divided into three phases consisting of a main program and two subprograms (namely, a file driver and a print driver) and processing from the reading of image data up their output is simultaneously executed to speed up image processing. Namely, the file driver out of the two subprograms enters an page to be outputted and pages before and after the page (three pages in total) into an image file 31 during the initial display of the main program to shorten the processing time. The print driver prints out images simultaneously during the execution of image processing to make the image output processing efficient.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image information retrieval network system in which an image filing device using an optical disk as a recording medium is shared by a plurality of image retrieval terminals via a communication line.

[Technical Overview of the Invention and its Problems] In recent years, image filing devices using optical disks as recording media have become widely popular and used.

This type of image filing device has a so-called stand-alone configuration in which each device is used independently because the purpose is to store a large amount of images and search and output them at high speed. Therefore, in cases where the above devices are used frequently in relatively distant locations, such as in an office, it is necessary to place the above devices separately in each location, which reduces installation space, cost, and operational costs. Various problems arise in terms of efficiency, etc.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to share a single image filing device with image search terminals placed in multiple locations, and to use a single image filing device in multiple relatively distant locations. The image retrieval terminals can commonly search for and supply images that are two-aisled to the image retrieval device, and the image retrieval terminals can smoothly supply images by minimizing the frequency of access to the image retrieval device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information retrieval network system that can be secured and can quickly perform editing and output processing of images within a page to be output on a display screen.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention connects an image filling device using an optical disk as a recording medium and a terminal control device via a communication line, and allows the terminal control device to compress/receive images transmitted and received on the communication line. The image processing device that performs decompression processing, the image search conditions specified by the terminal device, and the above image file? an image directory that corresponds to an image number that manages file images of the filing device, and the terminal control device refers to the image directory to obtain the image number of the image filing device, and based on the image number, An image information retrieval network system that obtains image information from the image processing device, processes the image information using the image processing device, and outputs the image information to a corresponding terminal device, wherein the terminal control device outputs the output of the terminal device. This device has an image buffer with a capacity larger than the screen, and has a means for partially outputting the images in the buffer.This allows one image filling device to be placed in multiple locations. Image search terminals can be shared, and each of the above image search terminals can commonly receive the search and supply of images filed in one image filing device at multiple relatively distant locations. Smooth image supply can be ensured by minimizing the frequency of access of the image search terminal to the image filing device, and editing and output processing of images within a page to be output on the display screen can be executed at high speed.

[Embodiments of the invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image information retrieval network system according to the present invention.

In Figure 1, 1 is an image filing device (IFD) shared by multiple image search terminals, which stores registered images (image data) on an optical disk and stores search information for each image on a magnetic disk. do. 2, 2...
are a plurality of high-performance workstations (AWS') that share this image filling device 1, and are herein referred to as image search terminals. 3, 3... is the same image search terminal 2.2
It is a distributed processing computer (DF) that controls . . . and is herein referred to as a terminal control device. 4 is image search terminal 2
, 2, . . . and the image filling device 1.
).

5 is an image processing device (IIP) provided in a predetermined specific terminal control device 3, and 6 is a file directory (FID), both of which are configured to be shared by each terminal control device 3. There is.

Here, the configuration of each of the above parts will be explained.

The image filing device 1 includes a controller (CTL) 11 that controls the entire device, a CRT display 12 that is used for image display/operation guidance/'trouble display, etc., a numeric keypad and cursor keys for inputting various data, and an image filing device 1. Keyboard with function keys, etc. (enlarge/reduce/rotate/reverse etc.)
KB) 13, a scanner (SCN) 14 that reads the original to be a file, a printer (PRT) 15 that prints out images and lists, an optical disk drive unit 16 that records images, and images registered in this optical disk drive unit 16. It consists of a magnetic disk device (DISK) 17 for storing search information, etc., and an optical disk storage for storing optical disks.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image search terminal 2 includes a microprocessor (μCPU) 21,
A memory 22 that stores image data of a specified page to be output.
, CR7 display section 23, microprocessor 21 and CR7
A graphic display controller (GDC) 24 composed of an LSI (for example, μPD 7284 manufactured by NEC Corporation) that controls the interface with the display unit 23 is displayed on the display screen of the CR7 display unit 23 under the control of the graphic display controller 24. Bitmap memory that stores display image data for one screen (partial area within a page)
8MM) 25, a goto mover (8MM) 2 that controls high-speed transfer of image data cut out from the memory 22 to the bitmap memory 25 according to the address specification of the microprocessor 21.
G, an arithmetic circuit 27 for performing dot operations on the image data on the bitmap memory 25, a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit (P/5) 28 for converting the image data read from the bitmap memory 25 into a bit-serial video signal; consists of components such as an input device 29 consisting of an operation input section such as a keyboard <KB) and a mouse, and its controller (KBC).

The terminal control device 3 receives input from the corresponding image search terminal 2 (
The image data of a multi-page valve is read out from the image filing device 1 using the specified image search condition (data that should be a keyword, or data that corresponds to a keyword) as a parameter, and an image that will be described later is read out via the communication line (LAN) 4. It is in charge of a series of controls that are imported into a file, and here it is configured by a distributed processing computer (for example, DPlo). Each of the terminal control devices 11 and 3 includes an image file section (IF: hereinafter referred to as an image file) 31 that stores multiple pages of image data read out from the image filing device 1, and various types of information for search processing. It has an external storage (for example, a magnetic disk) having a file system (CF: hereinafter referred to as screen information file) 32 which stores display screen information, etc., and an image file 31 of the external storage or an image search terminal 2. memory 2 in
The printer has an image printer (GP) 33 that prints out the image data stored in the image search terminals 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 33, which print out image data stored in the image search terminals 2, 2, . . . An image data file area for three pages (the page to be output processed and the pages before and after it) is provided for each page. These terminal control devices 3, 3
... is communication control TL equipment @ (E CP: eth
ernetCO+nmt+n1CatiOn proc
essor) to a communication line (LAN) 4. Further, the specific terminal control bag M3 contains an image processing device (
I IP) 5, and file directory (FID)
6 is provided.

The image processing device <IIP) 5 is read out from the image filing device 1 and stored in the image file 31 of the terminal control device 3 &! After being stored, memory 2 of image search condition 2
It processes the output image portion of the output target image data stored in the image search terminal 2, and is shared by the image search terminals 2, 2, . . . connected to the communication line (LAN) 4. This image processing device 5 includes an encoding/decoding processing mechanism for compressing/expanding image data, a density conversion mechanism for converting dot density, an enlargement/reduction processing mechanism for enlarging/reducing images, and an optional image processing mechanism for image data. It has an extraction mechanism for extracting image data, and an image buffer for storing image data processed by each of the above mechanisms, and its specific structure and operation are disclosed in a patent application filed by the same applicant as this invention. Publication No. 59-228528 and patent application No. 59-22
Since it is disclosed in Publication No. 8530 "Image Data Processing Apparatus", detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here. This image data processing device includes an image data decoding unit that expands input compressed image data into uncompressed image data, and a conversion control unit that performs density conversion, enlargement, and reduction processing of this expanded image data (uncompressed image data). an input image data converting section including an image cutting section for cutting out a specified range of the converted image data; an image cutting section for cutting out the specified range of the image; and an image cutting section for cutting out the specified range of the image; an output image data converter including a conversion controller that performs density conversion, enlargement, and reduction processing, an image data encoder that compresses the converted image data in a predetermined compression format, and a kanji code. It has a character and graphic generation section that patterns code information, and performs expansion/compression processing of input/output image data, and extraction/cutting of output target images (images developed on the bitmap memory 25).
Performs various data processing processes such as enlargement/reduction processing.

Also, the above file directory (FID) 6
i, it has a table structure that corresponds to the image search conditions specified by the image search terminal 2 and the image numbers that manage the file images of the image filing device 1. Does it fall under various search conditions (which may be classification designation, item designation, H-attached designation, screen designation, etc., specific examples will be described later)? Image number information for several pages or a single page is obtained and sent to the terminal control device 3 corresponding to the image search terminal 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the constituent elements of the above-mentioned image search terminal 2. Since each constituent element has already been described in detail, its explanation will be omitted here.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the processing state in the above embodiment. Here, the image program is divided into three phases consisting of a main program and two subprograms (namely, a file driver and a print driver), and the image processing is performed by simultaneously executing processing from image data reading to output. We are trying to speed up the process. That is, of the above two subprograms, the file driver (F
ILE DRIVER) aims to shorten the processing time by importing the output target page and the pages before and after it (total of 3 pages) into the image file 31 during the initial display period of the main program. Also, print driver (PRINT
DRIVER) aims to improve the efficiency of image output processing by performing print output in parallel while image processing is being executed. These two subprograms allow smooth image processing.

FIG. 4 shows a function selection menu 5 displayed on the screen orientation M (here, at the right end of the screen) of the CRT display section 23 of the image search terminal 2.
1, and a diagram showing display point guidance 52,
Here, the corresponding function key (PFl) is selected based on the display contents of the function selection menu 51.

PF2. ), you can select any one of 12 functions with a single touch.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the display of the display point guidance 52 and its in-page display area. Here, the display surface of the display point guidance 52 is divided into 9 sections divided into 3 vertically and horizontally as shown by broken lines in the figure, and the current image data of one page of image data stored in the memory 22 of the image search terminal 2 is displayed. The display position within the page (the shaded area in the figure) is simply and clearly expressed in black (the shaded area in the figure).

Figure 6 shows image search 5 in the above embodiment! ! This figure shows a specific screen-based processing flow for explaining the first step, and here seven types of screens (A) to (G) are shown, taking patent information search as an example.

Of these seven types of screens <A) to (G), (A) to (E)
(F) and (G) are screens developed based on the code-based display screen data read from the screen information file 32 of the terminal control device 3, and (F) and (G) are the screens developed from the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1. This is a screen that has been superimposed and aged based on the image-based image data that has been read out and the code-based display screen data that has been read out from the screen information file 32. To give an overview of these screen displays, image-based image data that corresponds to the search conditions specified by the input device 29 of the image search terminal 2 is sent from the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image 7 Eyring device @1. Three pages including the specified page (however, only for the first time, a total of two pages, the first page and the next page) are read in advance and filed in the image file 31 via the communication line (LAN) 4, and the output target of these is read in advance. After the image data of the page is stored in the memory 22 of the image search terminal 2 that started the image search, the image data for one screen to be displayed is decompressed by the image processing device 5 to restore the image. After being expanded on the bitmap memory 25 under the control of the bit mover 26, it is displayed on the CR7 display section 23.

In addition, the screen information file 32 is stored under the control of the terminal controller @3.
The code-based display screen data including character codes read from the character code is converted into an image by the image processing device 5, and then developed (overwritten) on the bitmap memory 25 under the control of the bit mover 26.

Here, the image search processing operation of the above embodiment will be explained according to the screen processing flow shown in FIG.

A menu selection screen as shown in FIG. 6(A) is displayed on the CR7 display section 23 of the image search terminals 2, 2 as an initial screen. That is, after the system start-up process, the terminal control device @3 reads out the display screen data for menu selection from among the code-related display screen data blocks stored in the screen information file 32 as the initial screen display. The same screen data is input to the image processing bag H5, code/image converted, and the image data is sent to the image search terminal 2.2 to be controlled. When the microprocessor 21 of the image search terminal 2 receives the display screen data, it transfers control to the bit mover 26, and under the control of the bit mover 26, an image according to the display screen data is developed on the bitmap memory 25. The image data developed on the bitmap memory 25 is supplied to the CR7 display section 23 via a parallel-serial conversion circuit 28 under the control of the graphic display controller 24. As a result, a menu selection screen as shown in FIG. 6 (A>) is displayed on the CRT screen of the CR7 display section 23 as an initial screen.

This menu selection screen here consists of a selection item for search classification and a selection item for processing selection. It will be done. That is, by operating the return key on the input device 29 after selecting the search classification item, the next item selection for processing selection becomes possible, and by specifying the item selection for processing, the message at the bottom of the screen is displayed. The message shown in the diagram will be displayed in the display area, and the message "Yes J" will prompt you to move to the next screen according to the message.
By selecting (yes), the next screen is displayed on the CRT screen. At this time, if the item "Special/Actual Publication Publication" is selected in the search category item selection, "Direct Search" can be specified in the next function search item selection, and also, in the search category item selection, "Special/Actual Publication Abstract"
When the item is selected, it becomes possible to specify "direct search" or single function search in the next function search item selection.

If the "Direct Search" item is selected here, a message prompting you to specify the announcement number will be displayed, and if the "U Function Search" item is selected, a message will be displayed prompting you to set the search conditions.
The "Function search specification item" screen shown in Figure (B) is displayed.

Furthermore, for example, when a technical term (AAB in the figure) is set by an input operation on the input device 29 on the "Function search specification item" screen in FIG. 6(,B), the message shown in the message display area is displayed. is displayed, and by selecting "yes" prompting you to move to the next screen according to the message, a list of publications corresponding to the designated technical term (AAB) as shown in Figure 6 (C) will be displayed. Displayed on the CRT screen.

At this time, if you wish to refer to the list of technical terms, applicants, etc., select the technical term specification or applicant specification item, and then operate the help key (HELP) on the input device @29. The technical term list as shown in Figure 6 (D) or the applicant code list as shown in Figure 6 (E) is CR.
displayed on the T screen. The display screen data reading and image development processing at this time are the same as the above-mentioned menu selection screen display processing, so the explanation thereof will be omitted here.

When the sequence number (SEQ) corresponding to the desired technical term is specified from the input device 29 of the image search terminal 2 and the return key is operated in the screen display state shown in FIG. 6(C) above, the third The image program shown in the figure is activated and image search processing is started. In this image search process, the terminal control device 3 first refers to the file directory 6 and specifies the sequence number (
SEQ) as a search key, the image number of the corresponding image registered in the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1 is searched, and the image number information is used to search the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1.
is accessed, and the registered image data corresponding to the above image number is read out.

In this case, when the specified material (that is, the patent publication according to the specified sequence number here) is displayed on the screen for the first time, the first page (first page) and the next page (page 1) of the material are displayed first. 2 pages) in total are read out uniquely. Here, an abstract page is added to each publication that should be the original material, and this is used as the first page of the material, so first the image data of the abstract on the first page is read, and then the second The image data of the page publication is read out.

Also, while the image filing device 1 is reading image data, the message ``Image reading in progress'' is displayed in the message display area of the CRT display section 23 of the image search terminal 2.

As described above, the image data read from the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1 is input to the terminal control device 3 via the communication line l1l (LAN) 4, and the same terminal system! ! ! ] is stored in the image file 31 under the system 1 of the device 3.

Of the two pages worth of image data stored in this image file 31, the image data of the first page is first sent to the image search terminal 2 that initiated the image search, that is, issued the image search instruction. , are stored in the memory 22 under the control of the microprocessor 21 of the ipsilateral limit search terminal 2.

Further, the image data stored in the memory 22 is read out under the control of the microprocessor 21 in a cutout area of one screen based on the upper left corner of the page, and is read out by the image processing device under the control of the terminal control device 3. The compressed image data input to the image processing apparatus 5 is decompressed and then temporarily stored on an image buffer within the image processing apparatus 5.

Decompression processing W of compressed data by this image processing device 5
During AB, a message "N IP processing in progress" is displayed in the message display area of the CR7 display section 23 of the image search terminal 2.

When the image processing bag Wt5 finishes expanding the image data for one screen, the image data stored on the image buffer in the image processing device 5 is sent back to the image search terminal 2. The microprocessor 21 of the image search terminal 2 uses the focus mover 2 to receive the image data expanded by the image processing bag M5.
Pass control to 6. Thereafter, the image data is developed on the bitmap memory 25 under the control of the bit mover 26.

When this image data development process is completed, the terminal control device 3 reads out the display screen data of the function withdrawal menu 51 and point guidance 52 shown in FIG. After the conversion, the image data (here, abstract image data) on the bitmap memory 25 is overwritten (or written). The image data developed on the bitmap memory 25 is displayed on the CR7 display section 23 under the control of the graphic display controller 24.

As a result, the CR7 display section 23 displays the abstract as shown in FIG. 6(F), the function selection menu 51 shown in FIG.
and point guidance 52 are displayed. At this time, the point guidance 52 includes the memory 2 of the image search terminal 2.
It represents the positional relationship between the image data of one page area stored in 2 and the screen to be output processed, that is, the area of one screen displayed on the CR7 display section 23 of the image search terminal 2. A specific display example is shown in FIG. Here, the display surface of the guidance 52 to the display point 1 is divided into three vertically and horizontally as shown by broken lines in the figure, and the current display position within the page (the diagonally shaded part in the figure) of one page of image data stored in the memory 22 is shown. ) are expressed concisely and clearly in black (hatched areas in the figure).

In this way, image data corresponding to the search conditions specified by the input device 29 of the image search terminal 2 is sent to the optical disk drive unit 1 of the image filing device 1.
6"; m ¥1 page including the specified page (here, 2 for the first time only)
page, 3 pages thereafter) is read ahead, and communication time 11 (LAN
After the image data of the page to be outputted is stored in the memory 22 of the image search terminal 2 that started the image search,
One screen worth of image data to be displayed is decompressed by the image processing device 5, and image restoration processing is performed.
bitmap memory 25 under the control of bitmover 26;
After being expanded upward, it is displayed on the CR7 display section 23. Further, the code-based display screen data including character codes read from the screen information file 32 under the control of the terminal control device 3 is converted into an image by the image processing device @5, and then processed by the control of the pin 1 to the mover 2G. Pi1 under the? Tsubu memory 25
It is displayed on the CR7 display section 23.

Furthermore, on the screen shown in FIG. 6(F), in order to refer to the displayed function selection menu 51 and retrieve the publication corresponding to the abstract displayed at the same time, press the function key (PF1).
When 3) is operated, the display screen of the CR7 display section 23 will be
The screen shown in FIG. 6(F) switches to the screen shown in FIG. 6(G).

That is, in this case, the image data (first publication image data) of the next page (second page) that has already been read in advance from the image file 31 under the control of the terminal control 21I device 3.
is read and the same data is used as an image search terminal? transferred to
One page of image data stored in the memory 22iC of the image search terminal 2 and to be output is replaced. That is, the page to be processed is updated. Furthermore, this updated memory 22
A part of the image data of the page to be processed above is cut out (here, if +, lt double-sided position, enlargement/reduction, etc. are not specified, 1 is predetermined based on the upper left corner of the page).
The cut out image data is input to the image processing device 5, where the image is expanded. Then, this decompressed one screen worth of gazette image data is developed as an image on the bitmap memory 25 under the control of the pin 1 to mover 26 in the same manner as described above, and the image is developed on the bitmap memory 25 under the control of the graphic display controller 24.
It is displayed on the display section 23.

Furthermore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the image file 31 is updated in parallel with the above display process. , the image data of the next page (third page) is read out from the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1 and stored in the image file 31 under the control of the terminal system device 3.

That is, at this time, under the control of the terminal ii control device 3, the optical disk drive unit 1 of the image filing device 1
6 was accessed and the page that is currently being output (
Image data for the next page (third page) after the second page) is displayed one after another.
After being received by the terminal control device 3 via the communication line (LAN) 4, it is first read into the image file 31. As a result, the image file 31 stores image data of the page to be processed and a total of three pages before and after it for each image search terminal.

Further, on the publication display screen shown in FIG. 6(G), if the function key (PF3) for specifying the next page is operated from the displayed function selection menu 51, the page has already been displayed at the above interval. The image data of the next page (third page) that has been read in advance in the image file 31 is read out, transferred to the image search terminal 2, transferred to the image search terminal 2, and stored in the memory 22 in the image search terminal 2. The image data for one page to be outputted is rewritten, and the page to be processed is updated. Furthermore,
This updated image data of the page to be processed on the memory 22 is stored in a portion thereof (for example, as above, the image data is
Display screen area) is cut out, and the cut out image data is input to the image processing device 5 and the image is expanded.Then, this expanded image data for one screen is converted into the above-mentioned image data. Similarly, Bitmover 26's system (
The image is developed on the map screen 25 and displayed on the CR1 display section 23 under the control of the graphic display controller 24.

Furthermore, in this case as well, as shown in FIG. 3, the image file 31 is updated in parallel with the screen display ff1ll, and here, the processing target page (
For the third page), the image data of the next page (fourth page) is read out from the optical disk drive unit 16 of the image filing device 1, and is stored in an image file 31 under the control of the terminal system device 3. Can be stored.

In this way, the image file 31 always stores the image data of the page to be processed and a total of three pages before and after it for each image country search terminal, excluding the first image data file, and always puts the image data first. By reading and reading, simultaneous parallel processing of display double-sided processing and image file processing becomes possible.

Image search processing as described above is performed at each image search terminal 2,
2..., each uses the image processing device 5 and the file directory 6 to independently enlarge, reduce, and enlarge the screen displayed on the CR1 display section 23.
To change the cutout position (top, bottom, left, right), etc., refer to the function selection menu 151 displayed at the fixed position on both sides of the CRT (in this case, on the screen) and press the function key (PFl) specific to the switching screen.

PF2. ...) is executed by selectively operating. That is, you can use function keys (PFI) to enlarge or reduce the screen, change the cropping position, etc.

PF2. ), the image data to be processed stored in the memory 22 is subjected to image processing in the image processing device 5 in accordance with the instruction input, and the image processed data is sent to the Got Mover 26. The image is developed on the pit map memory 25 under the control of
It is displayed on the CR1 display section 23. Incidentally, various display forms of the in-page display area of the point mill guidance 52 accompanying the screen switching at this time are shown in FIG.

Also, when printing is designated by referring to the mode selection menu 51 displayed on the CRT screen, the CR1 display section 23
A print processing selection screen is displayed, and the image of each page or part of it is displayed on the image printer 3 according to the selection.
3, the printing is completed from 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the print processing at this time is performed by the printer 1 to the driver independently of the image processing and double-sided display processing.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the plurality of image search terminals 2, 2, . are shared, but each terminal control device 3 may have one or both of them.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image file 31 and the screen information file 32 are provided separately for each of the plurality of terminal control devices 3, but both the image file 31 and the screen information file 32, or A configuration may also be adopted in which one of them is shared by a plurality of terminal control devices 3.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, an image data area of three pages is secured for each image search terminal 2 in the image file 31, and one page is stored in the memory 22 of the image search terminal 2. It can be set arbitrarily in page units taking into account memory capacity, etc. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, image data before restoration (that is, compressed data before decompression processing) is stored in the memory 22 of the image search terminal 2. It may also be configured to store subsequent page-by-page image data (expanded image data).

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the image information retrieval network system of the present invention, an image filing device using an optical disk as a recording medium and a terminal control device are connected via a communication line, and the terminal control device is connected by a communication line. The II device includes a FIM image processing device that compresses/decompresses images sent and received on the communication line, and a correspondence between image search conditions specified by the terminal device and image numbers that manage file limits of the image filing device. The above-mentioned terminal control device is
obtain the image number of the image filing device by referring to the image directory, obtain image information from the image filing device based on the image number, process the image information with the image quick-embedding device, and process the corresponding terminal. It is an image information retrieval network system that outputs a device'\ratio and controls the above-mentioned terminals! The II device has an image buffer with a larger appearance than the output screen of the terminal device described in -F, and has a means for partially outputting the image in the buffer, so that one image A filing device? ! ! The image retrieval terminals placed at the damaged location can be shared, and each of the image retrieval terminals can commonly search for and supply images stored in one image filing device at multiple relatively distant locations. In addition, it is possible to reduce the frequency of access to the image filing device by each of the image search terminals to ensure smooth image supply, and to quickly edit and output images within a page that are output on the display screen. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image search terminal in the above embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a processing state in the above embodiment. An explanatory diagram, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of the adult selection menu and point guidance in the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining various display forms of point guidance in the above embodiment. 6 are diagrams showing the processing flow on a screen basis in the above embodiment. 1... Image filing device (IFD), 2...
Image search terminal (AWS), 3...Terminal control device ([
]P), 4...Communication line (LAN>, 5...Image processor (IIP), 6...File builf 1 helicopter (FID), 11...Controller (CTL) ,
12... CRT display, 13... Keyboard (KB), 14... Scanner (SCN), 15...
Printer (PRT), 16... Optical disk drive unit, 17... (DISK),
21... Microprocessor (μCPU), 22...
・Memory, 23... CRT display unit, 24... Graphic display controller (GDC), 25...
・Bitmap memory (BMM), 26...Pip 1~
Mover (BMV), 27... Arithmetic circuit, 28... Parallel-serial conversion circuit (P/S), 29... Input device, 31... Image file, 32... Screen information file, 33 ...Image printer, 51...
Function selection menu, 52...display point guidance. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 4
G 6"I!f"-6B1!1Mu'ge'J's official tuition fees Dokou-dono 1, display of matter i'1 1, 'I application 1986-2021068 2, name of invention Gap information search net ~Relationship with Work System Det\3, Nyamasagi Person↑11il 6. Revised 34-elephant drawing Plane 7. Contents of N City J

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A communication line connects an image filing device using an optical disk as a recording medium and a terminal control device, and the terminal control device compresses/receives images transmitted and received on the communication line.
The terminal control device includes an image processing device that performs decompression processing, and an image directory that makes correspondence between image search conditions specified by a terminal device and image numbers that manage file images of the image filing device, and the terminal control device controls the image directory. An image that is referenced to obtain an image number of the image filing device, obtains image information from the image filing device based on the image number, processes the image information with the image processing device, and outputs it to the corresponding terminal device. In the information retrieval network system, the terminal control device has an image buffer having a capacity larger than the output screen of the terminal device, and has means for partially transmitting an image in the buffer to the terminal device. An image information retrieval network system characterized by: (2) The image information search network system according to claim 1, wherein the image buffer stores image information processed by the image processing device. (3) The image information read out from the image filing device is directly stored in the image buffer, and the image information is processed by the image processing device at the time of output.
Image information retrieval network system described in Section 2. (4) The image information search network system according to claim 3, wherein the terminal device is provided with an image processing mechanism for decompressing image information to be output. (5) The image information retrieval network system according to claim 1, further comprising input means for specifying a cutting range for partially cutting out the image in the image buffer.