JPS63220365A - Image data retrieving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply constitute an image information retrieving system by directly controlling addresses on an optical disk whose image data are stored in an index data base in a host computer. CONSTITUTION:The index data base 3 is formed only in the host computer 1, a work station 5 includes only an image display program 6 and an image data base 7, a work station 8 includes only an image display program 9, and the host computer 1 includes a general image data base 2 and an information retrieving program 4. Although image data stored in the image data base 2 in the host computer 1 can be retrieved and displayed from all the work stations connected to the host computer 1 such as the work stations 5, 8, image data stored in the image data base 7 in the work station 5 can be retrieved/displayed only from the work station 5 including the image data base 7.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image data retrieval system.

[Conventional technology]

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the conventional image data retrieval system includes a host computer 16, an index database 17, and an information inspection system 18 used for literature searches, patent searches, etc., and a work stage engine ( (Only one is shown in FIG. 3) 19 includes an image database 23 stored on an optical disk and an index database 2.
1, an electronic filing system 22 for storing and searching image data on a single workstation, and an electronic filing system control program 2 for linking the information retrieval system 18 and the electronic filing system 22.
0.

The record contents of two index databases 17 and 21 residing on host computer 16 and workstation 19 are shown in FIG. 4 by reference numerals 24 and 26.

In FIG. 4, the record content 24 of the index database 17 provided in the host computer 16 consists of a detailed keyword group such as registration date, title, book number, etc., and a logical address 25 for the image database 23.

The logical address 25 is a series of addresses assigned to each image database existing in a plurality of workstations.

On the other hand, the record contents 26 of the index database 21 provided in the workstation 19 include registration date 1 title 1
It also consists of a relatively coarse keyword group such as book number 27 and a physical address 28 for the image database 23. The physical address 28 consists of a volume name, a file name, and a record number, and one piece of image data 30 on the optical disk 29 can be specified by these.

Image database 2 on workstation 19 alone
3, the index database 21 is searched using keywords as shown in the record contents 26, and the electronic filing system 22 searches for the physical address determined based on the search results.

Since the record contents of the index database 21 consist of a rough group of keywords as described above, when it is not possible to perform a good search using these keywords, the TS
S to obtain help from the host computer 16.

In this case, the information retrieval system 18 first determines the logical address 25 (for example, document number) of the desired image data by searching the index database 17 on the host computer 16. The search system 18 automatically sends this logical address 25 to the electronic filing system control program 20 on the workstation 19 side.

The control program 20 subsequently starts up the electronic filing system 22 and at the same time hands over this logical address 25. The electronic filing system 22 searches the index database 21 using this logical address 25 as a key to find the physical address of the corresponding image on the optical disk. Confirm 28. The electronic filing system 22 reads out the corresponding image 30 from the optical disk 29 using the determined physical address 28 and displays it.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional system described above, the image database exists only on the optical disk connected to the electronic filing system, so there is a problem in that it is difficult to access the image database from another workstation.

Furthermore, since an index database storing key information for searching image data is required on both the host computer and the workstation, there is also the disadvantage that there is a lot of wasted magnetic disk space constituting the index database. In particular, it is impractical to use a magnetic disk on a workstation, which has many limitations in physical capacity, as an index database when a huge amount of image data is to be processed using a collective optical disk.

[Means for solving problems]

The system of the present invention includes an image database stored on optical disks distributed in host computers and workstations, and an index provided in the host computer that comprehensively stores key information for searching image data including site identification names. a database, an information retrieval program that reads image data in an image database on a host computer or an image address in an image database on a workstation based on a site identification name obtained as a result of a search on an index database; and from the information retrieval program. It has an image data display program that searches the image database on its own workstation based on the passed image address and displays the obtained image data.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the index database 3 is provided only in the host computer 1, the workstation 5 has an image display program 6 and an image database 7, and the workstation 8 has only the image display program 7. I know what you're doing. The host computer 1 also includes a general-purpose image database 2 and an information retrieval program 4, which may be used, for example, at a company-wide level. On the other hand, the image database 7 of the workstation 5 stores local image data unique to the workstation 5, such as those used at a departmental level.

When searching the image database 2 from the workstation 5 or 8, the information search program 4 searches the index database 3 according to search conditions provided by the user.

As shown in FIG. 2, the record contents 10 of the index database 3 include the registration date 1 which serves as a search key for the image data to be searched, a title, an abstract, etc., as well as an image address 11 which indicates the location of the corresponding image data. including.

As shown in FIG. 2, the details 12 of the image address 11 include the volume type of the device that stores the image data (for example, information that distinguishes between an optical disk, a collective optical disk, etc.), and the location where the optical disk that stores the image data is connected to the host computer. A site identifier that identifies the site as being connected to a specific workstation.

It consists of a volume name, file name, and record number. It is assumed that one page of image data is stored using a plurality of consecutive fixed-length records, and the record number is the first record number.

By using the image address 11 expressed in this configuration, it is possible to access the image data 15 in the file 14 on the optical disk 13 that stores the corresponding image. Therefore, when a record in the index database 3 that satisfies the search conditions is determined, the information search program 4 uses the volume name and the file name if the site identification name in the corresponding image address indicates the image database 2 connected to the host computer. The image data is read using the name and record number as keys and is transferred to the image display program 6 running on the workstation. The image display program 6 displays the received image data on the screen.

On the other hand, if the site identification name indicates the image database 7 connected to a specific workstation, the corresponding image data can be displayed using the following procedure only when the search request is from that workstation.

When the information search program 4 recognizes that the corresponding image data exists in the image database 7 connected to the workstation, the information search program 4 sends the image address 11 to the image display program 6 running on the workstation 5.
Transfer to. The image display program 6 reads the corresponding image from the image database 7 using the volume name, file name, and record number in the received image address 11 as keys and displays it on the screen.

In this way, the image data in the image database 2 on the host computer 1 is stored on the workstation 5.
Alternatively, as in 8, the image database 7 on the workstation 5 can be searched and displayed from all workstations connected to the host computer 1.
The image data located in can be searched/displayed only from the workstation 5 where the image database 7 exists.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention directly manages the address on the optical disk where the image data is stored in the index database on the host computer. This has the advantage that there is no need to use a magnetic disk on the workstation side for display.

Furthermore, since addressing allows for comprehensive management of image data on the host computer side and workstation side, it is possible to centrally manage and operate image data that is shared throughout the company and image data that is only used locally at the department level. Another effect is that it is easy to construct an information retrieval system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a main part of this embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a conventional example, and FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a main part of a conventional example. 1.16...Host computer, 2,7.23...
- Image database, 3, 17.21... Index database, 4.18... Information search program, 5.
8.19...Workstation, 6,17...Image display program, 9,14...File, 10
...Record contents of index database 3, 11...
Image address, 12...Details of image address 11, 13.29...Optical disc, 15°30...
Image data, 20... Electronic filing system control program, 22... Electronic filing system, 24... Record contents of index database 17, 2
5...Logical address, 26...Index database 2
Record contents of 1, 27...Document number, 28...Physical address. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image database stored in optical disks distributed in host computers and workstations, and a system provided in the host computer that comprehensively stores key information for searching image data including a site identification name. an index database; and an information search program that reads image data in the image database on the host computer or image addresses in the image database on the workstation based on the site identification name obtained as a result of a search on the index database. and an image data display program that searches an image database on its own workstation using the image address passed from the information search program and displays the obtained image data.