Visualizable and descriptive data handling system

• US 4,752,908 A
• Filed: 01/29/1987
• Issued: 06/21/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bouillot, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US07/009,587
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 340/716, 340/717, 340/720, 340/721, 340/707, 340/710, 434/335, 434/337
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

Visualizable and descriptive data handling system including an assembly comprising a unit for reading a video disk on which images of schematic detailed layouts that can be displayed on a unit screen are recorded. A double entry table, T_xy in memory correlates each of the image divisions of coordinates x_i Y_i with a memory location which itself contains the memory location address from which the descriptive data relative to the image element occupying the square, are stored. For every image, a table T_REF of descriptive data is built through data input means, the memory address, where begin each of the descriptive data for a given image element, being recorded in table T_xy at the address correlated with x_i y_j. When pointing a light pen on to the screen, the coordinates of the selected point are sent from a mini-computer which causes the descriptive data corresponding to the selected element, to be displayed upon look-up of the tables corresponding to the display image.

Claims

1. In an information retrieval terminal of the type having an image selection input, an image display, and an image media reader for reading video images, the improvement comprising:

a partition selector for selecting one of a plurality of partitions into which the viewing screen of said display is divided, said display indicating on said display screen, which of said partitions has been selected;

a text media reader for reading correspondence tables and encoded text information from an easily changed text media;

several entries in said correspondence table related to said selected image containing a same address where the encoded text information corresponding to several partitions of said selected image being displayed in said several partitions of said screen is stored;

an entry in said correspondence table corresponding to a selected partition contains a null address character indicating that said selected partition has no corresponding text description;

a programmed computer connected to said partition selector, to said text media reader, to said image selection input, to said image media reader and to said display, said computer being responsive to a selection of one of said images by an operator using said image selection input for displaying said selected image on said display and said computer being responsive to a selection of one of said partitions by said operator using said partition selector for reading from a correspondence table related to said selected image, at an entry corresponding to said selected partition, an address where encoded text information related to the portion of said selected image being displayed in said selected partition is stored, and for converting and displaying said encoded text information as alphanumeric characters.

2. An information input terminal comprising:

an image selection input;

an image display;

an image media reader for reading video images from image media;

a partition selector for selecting one of a plurality of partitions into which the viewing screen of said display is divided, said display indicating on said display screen, which of said partitions has been selected;

a plurality of function keys for controlling text input;

a keyboard for entering text;

a text media encoder for writing correspondence tables and encoded text information onto text media;

a programmed computer connected to said image selection input, to said display, to said image media reader, to said partition selector, to said function keys, to said keyboard, and to said text media encoder, said computer being responsive to a start function key and to a selection of one of said images by an operator using said image selection input for displaying said selected image on said display and said computer being responsive to a selection of one of said partitions by said operator using said partition selector for writing into a corresponding table related to said selected image, at an entry corresponding to said selected partition, an address where encoded text information related to the portion of said selected image being displayed in said selected partition will be stored, and for encoding and storing said encoded text information as alphnumeric text characters are entered by said operator at said keyboard;

said computer being responsive to a function key to write a same address into several corresponding entries in said correspondence table when the same encoded text information corresponds to several partitions of said selected image; and

said computer being responsive to a function key to write a null address character at an entry in said correspondence table corresponding to a selected partition that has no corresponding text description so that no encoded text information corresponding to said portion of said selected image being displayed in said selected partition is stored.

3. The method of retrieving and displaying text information related to a portion of an image selected by an operator which comprises the steps of:

(1) displaying to said operator on a screen having a plurality of partitions, a first image which is a table of contents;

(2) responding to selection by said operator of one of said partitions of said screen to read from a first correlation table, the image ID of the image corresponding to the entry in said table of contents being displayed in said selected partition;

(3) reading from an image media, a selected image which is the image identified by said image ID;

(4) reading from a text media, a correspondence table corresponding to said selected image and storing said correlation table in a memory of a computer;

(5) displaying said selected image on said screen;

(6) responding to a first selection by said operator of one of said partitions of said screen to read from said correspondence table stored in said memory, an address where encoded text information corresponding to the portion of said selected image being displayed in said selected partition is stored;

(7) using said address to read said encoded text information stored at said address if said address is not a special address indicating that no description of said image is stored corresponding to said selected partition;

(8) generating alphanumeric characters descriptive of said encoded text information and displaying said characters to said operator;

(9) responding to a second selection by said operator of a second one of said partitions of said screen to read from said correlation table stored in said memory, said address where said encoded text information corresponding to the portions of said selected image being displayed in each of said first and said second selected partitions is stored;

(10) reading said encoded text information stored at said address;

(11) generating alphanumeric characters descriptive of said encoded text information and displaying said characters to said operator.