Multiple user electronic filing system for image data using a keyed hierarchical file structure

• US 5,321,831 A
• Filed: 10/30/1990
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirose, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOULES, JACK M
• Application Number:
  US07/606,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/800, 395/200, 395/425, 364/419
• US Class Current: 707/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A central control apparatus and a plurality of terminal apparatuses are connected through a line. In the central control apparatus, a plurality of images are stored in an optical disk in accordance with a hierarchical structure having four hierarchical levels of cabinet, binder, document, and page, and retrieval information constituted by a plurality of keys each for retrieving a corresponding image is stored in a magnetic disk with different title structures (key structures) in units of binders. A desired image is retrieved from the optical disk in accordance with designation of the retrieval information stored in the magnetic disk. A metabinder having a plurality of binders having the same title structure of the retrieval information has a level higher than that of the cabinet. In the central control apparatus, a title table group of the metabinders is stored in the magnetic disk independently of the binders. When an image is to be retrieved in the central control apparatus or a terminal apparatus, the title table group of the metabinders stored in the magnetic disk is retrieved.

Claims

1. An electronic filing system in which a single first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses are connected through communication lines, wherein said first apparatus registers and retrieves images, and wherein said second apparatuses retrieves the images from said first apparatus, said first apparatus comprising:

first storing means for storing a plurality of images in a first storing medium, with said images being classified according to documents and binders, wherein each document includes a collection of images corresponding to a plurality of pages, and wherein each binder includes a collection of documents;

second storing means for storing retrieval information in a first area of a second storing medium, said retrieval information being used for retrieving the images stored in the first storing medium in units of one document and having formats each of which is defined in units of one binder so that the retrieval information corresponding to documents included in each binder have an identical format;

third storing means for storing at least two retrieval information groups in a second area of the second storing medium, the first one of said retrieval information groups being a collection of retrieval information used for retrieving documents which are included in a plurality of binders whose retrieval information have the same format, the second one of said retrieval information groups being a collection of retrieval information used for retrieving a plurality of images included in one binder whose retrieval information differ in format from those of another binder;

first transmitting means for transmitting the retrieval information groups stored in the second area of the second storing medium to a first one of the second apparatuses;

retrieving means for retrieving an image from the first storing medium using the retrieval information in the first area of the second storing medium corresponding to retrieval data supplied from the first one of the second apparatuses;

designating means for designating a binder in which the image is to be stored;

first input means for inputting retrieval information in accordance with the format of the retrieval information of the binder designated by said designating means;

reading means for reading an image to be stored;

first processing means for causing the image read by the reading means to be stored in the first storing medium using the first storing means; and

second processing means for causing the retrieval information input from the first input means to be stored in the first area of the second storing medium by use of the second storing means, and each of said second apparatuses comprising;

selecting means for selecting, using data which is supplied from the first apparatus, one retrieval information group from the retrieval information groups;

second input means for inputting retrieval information in accordance with the format of the retrieval information group selected by the selecting means; and

second transmitting means for transmitting the retrieval information input by the second input means to the first apparatus.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first storing medium comprises an optical disk.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second storing medium comprises one of a magnetic disk and an optical disk.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said output means comprises one of a CRT display unit and a printing unit.

5. An electronic filling system in which a single first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses are connected through communication lines, said first apparatus registers and retrieves images and said second apparatuses retrieves the images from said first apparatus, wherein said first apparatus comprises:

first storing means for storing a plurality of images in a first storing medium, said images being classified according to documents and binders, each document being a collection of images corresponding to a plurality of pages, and each binder being a collection of documents;

second storing means for storing retrieval information in a first area of a second storing medium, said retrieval information being used for retrieving the images stored in the first storing medium in units of one document and having formats each of which is defined in units of one binder so that retrieval information for documents included in the same binder have an identical format;

third storing means for storing retrieval information groups in a second area of the second storing medium, one of said retrieval information groups includes a collection of retrieval information used for retrieving documents which are included in a plurality of binders whose retrieval information are the same in format, and another one of said retrieval information groups includes a collection of retrieval information used for retrieving a plurality of images included in one binder whose retrieval information differ in format from those of another binder;

fourth storing means for storing format data in a third area of the second storing medium, said format data including data on the formats of the retrieval information which are stored in the first area of the second storing medium in units of one binder, and data on formats of the retrieval information which are stored in the second area of the second storing medium in units of one of the retrieval information groups;

first receiving means for receiving a retrieval start instruction from a first one of the second apparatuses;

first transmitting means, responsive to the retrieval start instruction from the first one of the second apparatuses, for transmitting the retrieval information groups stored in the second area of the second storing medium to the first one of the second apparatuses;

second receiving means, responsive to the first transmitting means, for receiving a retrieval information group-selecting instruction from the first one of the second apparatuses;

first readout means, responsive to the retrieval information group-selecting instruction received by the second receiving means, for reading out the format data on the retrieval information group selected by the retrieval information group-selecting instruction from the third area of the second storing medium;

second transmitting means for transmitting the format data read out by the first readout means to the first one of the second apparatuses;

third receiving means for receiving retrieval information which is supplied from the first one of the second apparatuses in response to transmission performed by the second transmitting means;

retrieving means for retrieving an image from the first storing medium by use of the retrieval information received by the third receiving means;

first instructing means for instructing a start of storage of an image and for designating a binder in which the image is to be stored;

second readout means for reading out, from the third area of the second storing medium, format of the retrieval information of the binder designated by said designating means;

first input means for inputting retrieval information in accordance with the format of the retrieval information of the binder designated by said designating means;

reading means for reading an image to be stored;

first processing means for causing the image read by the reading means to be stored in the first storing medium by use of the first storing means; and

second processing means for causing the retrieval information input from the first input means to be stored in the first area of the second storing medium by use of the second storing means, and wherein each of said second apparatuses comprises;

second instructing means for issuing an image retrieval instruction;

third transmitting means for transmitting the image retrieval instruction issued by the second instructing means to the first apparatus;

fourth receiving means for receiving the retrieval information groups in response to transmission performed by the third transmitting means;

third instructing means for issuing the retrieval information group-selecting instruction for selecting one retrieval information group from the retrieval information groups received by the fourth receiving means;

fourth transmitting means for transmitting the instruction issued by the third instructing means to the first apparatus;

fifth receiving means for receiving format of the data retrieval information group, which format is supplied from the first apparatus in response to transmission performed by the fourth transmitting means;

second input means for inputting retrieval information in accordance with the format received by the fifth receiving means; and

fifth transmitting means for transmitting the retrieval information input by the second input means to the first apparatus.

6. An electronic filing system in which a single first apparatus and a plurality of second apparatuses are connected through lines, said first apparatus registers and retrieve images, and each of said second apparatuses retrieves the images from said first apparatus, wherein said first apparatus comprises:

first storing means for causing a plurality of images, classified according to documents and binder, to be stored in a first storage medium, each document including a collection of pages and each binder including a collection of documents;

second storing means for causing retrieval information and retrieval data to be stored in a first area of a second storage medium in units of one binder, said retrieval information including retrieval keys used for searching for the images stored in the first storage medium, said retrieval data representing a location where the images are stored in the first storage medium, and wherein the number of said retrieval keys are defined in each binder;

third storing means for causing a first and a second retrieval information group to be stored in a second area of the second storage medium, the first retrieval information group being a collection of retrieval information corresponding to binders which define the same number of retrieval keys and the second retrieval information group being a collection of retrieval information corresponding to binders which define different numbers of retrieval keys;

fourth storing means for causing retrieval key number data and retrieval key content data to be stored in a third area of the second storage medium, said retrieval key number data including data on the number of retrieval keys included in the retrieval information stored in the first and second areas of the second storage medium, and said retrieval key content data including data on the contents of the retrieval keys included in the retrieval information stored in the first and second areas of the second storage medium;

first receiving means for receiving a retrieval start instruction from a first one of the second apparatuses;

first transmitting means, responsive to the retrieval start instruction received by the first receiving means, for transmitting data on the retrieval information groups stored in the second area of the second storage medium to the first one of the second apparatuses;

second receiving means, responsive to the first transmitting means, for receiving a retrieval information group-selecting instruction and a retrieval key corresponding to a desired image from the first one of the second apparatuses;

first readout means for comparing the retrieval key received by the second receiving means with the retrieval information group stored in the second area of the second storage medium and corresponding to the retrieval information group-selecting instruction, and for reading out, from the second area of the second storage medium, retrieval information corresponding to the retrieval key received by the second receiving means;

second transmitting means for transmitting the retrieval information read out by the first reading means to the first one of the second apparatuses;

third receiving means, responsive to the second transmitting means, for receiving selected retrieval information from the first one of the second apparatuses;

retrieval means, responsive to the third receiving means, for retrieving, from said first storage medium an image shown on a page of a document corresponding the retrieval information;

third transmitting means for transmitting the image retrieved by the retrieval means to the first one of the second apparatuses;

first instructing means for instructing a start of storage of an image and a binder in which the image is to be stored;

second readout means for reading out, from the third area of the second storage medium, data on the number of retrieval keys included in the retrieval information of the binder instructed by the first instructing means;

first input means for inputting retrieval information corresponding to the number of retrieval keys read out by the second reading means;

reading means for reading an image to be stored;

first processing means for causing the image read by the reading means to be stored, using the first storing means, in the first storage medium in units of one document; and

second processing means for causing storage position data and the retrieval information input from the first input means to be stored, using the second storing means, in the first area of the second storage medium, said storage position data representing where in the first storage medium the image subjected to processing by the first processing means is stored, and

wherein each of said second apparatuses comprises;

second instructing means for issuing an image retrieval instruction;

fourth transmitting means for transmitting the image retrieval instruction issued by the second instructing means to the first apparatus;

fourth receiving means for receiving data on each of the retrieval information groups, which data is supplied from the first apparatus in response to transmission performed by the fourth transmitting means;

second input means for instructing selection of one of the retrieval information groups on the basis of the data received by the fourth receiving means, and for inputting a retrieval key;

fifth transmitting means for transmitting to the first apparatus retrieval information selected by the second input means;

fifth receiving means, responsive to the fifth transmitting means, for receiving retrieval information from the first apparatus;

selecting means for selecting one of the retrieval information received by the fifth receiving means;

sixth transmitting means for transmitting retrieval information selected by the selecting means to the first apparatus;

sixth receiving means, responsive to the sixth transmitting means, for receiving an image from the first apparatus; and

output means for outputting the image received by the sixth receiving means.

7. An electronic filing system according to claim 6, wherein said first area of the second storage medium stores data on the number of retrieval keys contained in the retrieval information and stores data representing whether the retrieval keys are numbers, English characters, or kanji characters.

8. An electronic filing system according to claim 6, wherein said second storage medium has a fourth area for storing data representing whether the retrieval information groups stored in the second area of the second storage medium should be updated immediately when an image is stored in a predetermined binder of the first storage medium and the storage contents of the first area of the second storage medium of the first apparatus is updated, whether the retrieval information groups should be updated at a predetermined time, or whether the retrieval information groups should be updated in response to an update instruction,

said electronic filing system further comprising:

updating means for updating the retrieval information groups stored in the second area of the second storage medium, wherein said retrieval information groups is updated when the data stored in the fourth area of the second storage medium represents immediate updating, and wherein said retrieval information groups are updated when the data stored in the fourth area of the second storage medium represents updating at the predetermined time, and wherein said retrieval information groups are updated in response to the update instruction when the data stored in the fourth area of the second storage medium represents updating responding to the update instruction.

9. An electronic filing system according to claim 8, wherein said second storage medium includes an optical disk and a magnetic disk, each of said optical and magnetic disks have first and second areas, said first and second areas of at least one of the optical and magnetic disks are used according to the binders and retrieval information groups, and wherein said magnetic disk has a third area for storing data representing which one of the optical disk or the magnetic disk has the first and second areas used according to the binders and the retrieval information groups.

10. An electronic filing system according to claim 8, further comprising updating means for updating the number and contents of the retrieval keys of the retrieval information of each of the retrieval information groups stored in the third area of the second storage medium, and wherein said fourth area of the second storage medium stores data representing whether the number and contents of the retrieval keys of the retrieval information of each of the retrieval information groups can be updated, and, if updating is possible, representing whether the number and contents of the retrieval keys of the retrieval information of each of the retrieval information groups should be updated automatically or selectively.

11. An electronic filing system according to claim 10, further comprising means for updating the number and contents of the retrieval keys of the retrieval information with respect to binders wherein the number and contents of the retrieval keys of the retrieval information are the same before updating, said means updating the number and contents of the retrieval keys when the number and contents of the retrieval information of each of the retrieval information groups are updated automatically.

12. An electronic filing system according to claim 6, wherein said first apparatus comprises:

third instructing means for instructing deletion of an image and indicating the binder in which the image to be deleted is stored;

third input means for inputting retrieval information corresponding to the number of retrieval keys of the retrieval information read out by the second readout means;

third readout means for comparing the retrieval information input by the third input means with the retrieval information stored in the first area of the second storage medium and corresponding to the binder, and for reading out, from the first area of the second storage medium, retrieval information corresponding to the received retrieval information;

second output means for outputting said retrieval information read out by the third readout means;

fourth instructing means for instructing selection of retrieval information to be deleted from the retrieval information read out by the third readout means; and

deleting means for deleting, responsive to an instruction from the fourth instructing means, retrieval information and its storage position data from the first area of the second storage medium.

13. An electronic filing system according to claim 6, wherein said first apparatus receives a selection instruction for selecting the retrieval information groups supplied from the second apparatuses in response to transmission performed by the first transmitting means, reads out the number of retrieval keys contained in retrieval information groups selected in accordance with the selection instruction from the third area of the second storage medium, and transmits the number of retrieval keys contained in the readout retrieval information groups to the second apparatuses, and wherein said second apparatuses transmit one retrieval information group input by the second input means to the first apparatus, receive the number of retrieval keys of retrieval information groups supplied from the first apparatus in response to transmission of said one retrieval information, and input retrieval information corresponding to the number of retrieval keys received.