Apparatus and method for searching files

• US 20020169766A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Original Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Inventors: Aoyama, Yoshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/941 Human sciences
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A searching apparatus and a method thereof using a management table. A hierarchical structure of directories is created in a recording medium. With respect to at least one directory to be considered, the management table is associated with a list of contents of another directory other than the directory to be considered. In searching for a file, it is not necessary to move from the directory to be considered, and any directories or files which satisfy a specified searching condition are retrieved by looking up the management table of the directory to be considered.

Claims

1. A file searching apparatus, comprising:

storage means for storing files, a hierarchical structure of directories of said files, and a management table;

input means for entering a searching condition;

searching means for searching said storage means to retrieve a matching file corresponding to said searching condition by using said hierarchical structure of directories and said management table,

wherein said management table is associated with a particular directory within said hierarchical structure of directories, and includes a list of contents of a directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory.

2. A file searching apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory is a directory located at least two classes apart from said particular directory, and said management table includes a list of contents of said directory.

3. A file searching apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said management table includes a first management table associated with said particular directory and having a list of contents of a first directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory, and a second management table associated with said first directory and having a list of contents of a second directory located in a class different from the class of said first directory.

4. A file searching apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein both said first and second management tables are located in one directory within said hierarchical structure of directories.

5. A file searching apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said first management table is located in said particular directory of said hierarchical structure of directories, and said second management table is located in said first directory of said hierarchical structure of directories.

6. A file searching apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said one directory is a root directory.

7. A file searching apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein said particular directory is a root directory, and said first directory is a subdirectory of said root directory.

8. A file searching apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said list of contents includes an identifier and an address of a file which belongs to a directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory.

9. A file searching apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said list of contents of said first directory includes an identifier and an address of a file which belongs to said first directory, and said list of contents of said second directory includes an identifier and an address of a file which belongs to said second directory.

10. A file searching apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein said searching means selects a matching directory corresponding to said searching condition from the list of contents of said first management table, and acquires the list of contents of said second directory from said second management table corresponding to the selected directory, to thereby retrieve a matching file corresponding to said searching condition.

11. A file searching apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein said file is a medical image file;

said hierarchical structure of directories includes a root directory, a patient identifier directory, an imaging date directory, a test identifier directory, and image data files;

said first management table is associated with said root directory and includes a list of contents of said imaging date directory located two classes lower than said root directory;

for each directory of said imaging date directory, said second management table includes a list of contents of the image data files located two classes lower than said imaging date directory; and

when a particular imaging date is entered as the searching condition, said searching means looks up said first management table to select a matching imaging date directory, and further looks up said second management table corresponding to said selected imaging date directory to retrieve a matching image data file.

13. A method for searching files stored in a storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

when a new file is to be stored in said storage medium, updating said management table based on a position where said new file is stored.

14. A method for searching files stored in a storage medium according to claim 12,

wherein said directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory is a directory located at least two classes apart from said particular directory, and said management table includes a list of contents of said directory.

15. A method for searching files stored in a storage medium according to claim 12,

wherein said management table includes a first management table associated with said particular directory and having a list of contents of a first directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory, and a second management table associated with said first directory and having a list of contents of a second directory located in a class different from the class of said first directory.

17. A storage medium for storing files according to claim 16,

wherein said directory located in a different class from the class of said particular directory is a directory located at least two classes apart from said particular directory, and said management table includes a list of contents of said directory.

18. A storage medium for storing files according to claim 16,

wherein said management table includes a first management table associated with said particular directory and having a list of contents of a first directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory, and a second management table associated with said first directory and having a list of contents of a second directory located in a class different from the class of said first directory.

19. A storage medium for storing files according to claim 18,

wherein said list of contents of said first directory includes an identifier and an address of a file which belongs to said first directory, and said list of contents of said second directory includes an identifier and an address of a file which belongs to said second directory.

20. A storage medium for storing files according to claim 18,

wherein said files are medical image files,

wherein said hierarchical structure of directories includes a root directory, a patient identifier directory, an imaging date directory, a test identifier directory, and image data files,

wherein said first management table is associated with said root directory and includes a list of contents of said imaging date directory located two classes lower than said root directory, and

wherein said second management table includes a list of contents of an image data file located two classes lower than said imaging date directory for each directory of said imaging date directory.

12. A method for searching files stored in a storage medium, comprising the steps of:

(a) entering a searching condition; and

(b) searching and retrieving a matching file corresponding to said searching condition by using a hierarchical structure of directories and a management table stored in said storage medium,

wherein said management table is associated with a particular directory within said hierarchical structure of directories and includes a list of contents of a directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory.

16. A storage medium for storing files, said storage medium being accessible by a computer, comprising:

file data;

data of a hierarchy of directories describing a hierarchical structure of directories of said file data;

management table data associated with a particular directory within said hierarchical structure of directories and describing the contents of a directory located in a class different from the class of said particular directory.