JPH0738675B2 - Integrated file device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image file system, and more particularly to an image file system capable of storing and retrieving a large amount of image information.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, a microfilm system has been used as a system for managing and utilizing an extremely large amount of non-coded information (image information). Microfilm has advantages such as economy, storability, and resolution, and has the advantage of being able to input a large amount of data at high speed and to store and manage the file information, which is increasing year by year. Are suitable.

However, on the other hand, in recent years, office automation has been rapidly developed, and there is an increasing tendency for computers to be introduced into office equipment and for each equipment to be connected to each other through communication lines. In order to cope with the tendency toward computerization and communication, it is desirable that the information to be handled be stored in the form of electric signals as much as possible. Therefore, the electronic file system has been attracting attention in recent years. Since the electronic file system stores information in the form of electric signals, it has features such as high-speed retrieval and high-speed transmission that are not found in microfilm systems.

The electronic film system has the above-mentioned features and is a system that can sufficiently cope with the recent trend toward office automation. However, it cannot be said that the conventional microfilm system is sufficiently compliant, and in particular, it is a computer. It has the biggest problem that it is not compatible with office equipment and communication equipment.

A conventional microfilm system will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The electronic file system will be described in more detail.

In a conventional microfilm system, a reader printer as typically shown in FIG. 1 was used to make a hard copy. In the figure, the light beam from the light source 1 passes through the microfilm 2 and the lens 3, and is reflected by the fixed mirror 4. When used as a reader, the movable mirror 5 is at the position A, the reflected light reflected by the fixed mirror 4 is projected on the screen 6, and the image on the microfilm is formed on the screen 6. On the other hand, when used as a printer, the light reflected by the fixed mirror 4 can be applied onto the photosensitive paper 7 simply by moving the movable mirror 5 to the position B. The exposed photosensitive paper 7 is developed in the developing unit 8 and sent out as a hard copy.

However, such a method has a drawback that it takes time and the image quality is inferior. Therefore, as a method for improving the image quality, a method has also been proposed in which the reflected light of the movable mirror 5 at the position B is taken into an ordinary copying machine to make a hard copy. However, no matter which method is used, the procedure of finding out the microfilm from a large amount of film, setting it in the reader printer and making a hard copy is not changed, and therefore the disadvantage of taking a long time cannot be solved. Furthermore, when transmitting the information stored in the microfilm to another place, this method requires mailing the hard copy obtained by the above-mentioned procedure or transmitting by the facsimile, which is usually office automation. It is not possible to deal with the tendency of.

As an attempt to solve such a drawback, a microfilm file as shown in FIG. 2 has been proposed. However, as shown in FIG. 2 as an example, a fashion type is shown.
10 are stored in a predetermined order.

In order to display the frame of the microfilm on which the target document is recorded by this file system, the address A is first input from an input device such as a keyboard (not shown). The search unit 11 that has input the address A rotates the magazine 9 according to the address designation and stops it at the designated position.
Then, the drive film (not shown) removes the filter film 10 from the magazine 9 and aligns the target top. When alignment is complete, the light source
12 lights up, and its rays are the lens 13 and the film.
10 purpose spinning top, lens 14 and pass through, half mirror
Incident on 15. The light reflected by the half mirror 15 is the lens 16
Through an optical screen (not shown),
An image of the target sesame is formed there.

Next, a case where the information displayed on the screen in this way is hard-copied or transmitted to another place by facsimile will be described. The light transmitted through the half mirror 15 is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion sensor 17, and the electric signal is subjected to processing such as binarization and amplification in the signal processing unit 18, and the image data D
Is output as. The photoelectric conversion sensor 17 scans in the direction of the arrow by the scanning control unit 19 and converts the image information thereof into an electric signal over the entire area of the object. The target image data D thus obtained is sent to a hard copy section or facsimile transmission section (not shown). The photoelectric conversion sensor 17 includes, for example, a CCD.
A linear array sensor is suitable. Of course, if a two-dimensional area sensor is used, scanning drive is not necessary.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a microfilm / file in which the microfilm is a roll-shaped film.
Since the microfilm 20 is housed in the cartridge 21, the driving method for searching is slightly different, and the rest is almost the same as the microfilm full shown in FIG.

As described above, whether the roll-shaped film or the card-shaped film represented by the transfer film is used, the search, hard copy, and transmission can be performed more efficiently by the method shown in FIG. 2 or 3. It can be performed at high speed.

The microfilm system has been described in detail above,
Next, a conventional electronic file system will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electronic file system. Document reader 22, printer 2
3, the workstation 24 and the memory 26 are connected to the controller 27 to form one system.
However, the index file 25 is connected to the workstation 24.

The document reader 22 uses, for example, a charge-coupled device CCD, converts a document into an electrical signal by raster scan, performs amplification and binarization, and outputs the image data to the memory 26. And store. In addition, a document created by the workstation 24 or information input from a facsimile (not shown) can be stored. In this way, the required documents can be stored in the memory 26 one after another.

Obviously, the larger the storage capacity of the memory 26, the more suitable it is. For example, if you use an optical disk memory,
With a paper fairing on a disk with a diameter of about 30 cm
It is possible to store non-coded information for 50 books, that is, for one small bookcase. When storing a document in the memory 26, the index of the document is simultaneously stored in the index file 25.

When it is desired to output the document stored in the memory 26 as a hard copy, the workstation 24 inputs, for example, a keyword of the target document. Then, the target document in the memory 26 is read by referring to the index file 25, and the printer 23 makes a hard copy of the document.

Even if the printer 23 is an electrostatic recording type printer, a laser beam
It may be a printer. Further, instead of a hard copy, information can be monitored by a soft copy in which a target document is displayed on the display of the workstation 24.

The controller 27 manages the entire system, and includes an interface or a band compression / decompression circuit as necessary. Further, the controller 27 may be independent as shown in FIG. 4, or may be integrated with the document reader 22, the printer 23, the workstation 24, or the memory 26.

As described above, the electronic file system performs an automatic search in a short time within a few seconds according to a command from the workstation 24 in order to store a large amount of documents in the form of electric signals in the memory 26 by the document reader 22. It becomes possible. In addition, since development processing such as microfilm is not required, it has a strong advantage that it is possible to search even immediately after inputting a document.

On the other hand, there are also aspects that impair the advantages of conventional microfilm systems. First of all, when inputting information, it is not possible to convert in one shot through the lens system like the microfilm system, and the input speed will be slowed down by performing raster scan one by one,
Inability to copy less than several hundred sheets at high speed and economically, 10
There is no record of sufficient long-term storage stability compared to microfilms that have a long-term storage stability of 0 years, and the legal evidence capability that microfilms have is not recognized.

An even bigger problem is that when an electronic file system is introduced, the databases and information built up using the conventional microfilm system cannot be used. As already mentioned, both the microfilm system and the electronic file system have their respective advantages.
In view of the trend toward office automation in recent years, it is clear that the electronic film system has many advantages, but the microfilm system cannot be ignored. This either forces the user to choose between two systems, or suffers the great inconvenience of having to use the two systems in parallel at the same time.

The present invention provides an image filing apparatus in which the above drawbacks are eliminated, and image information stored in a plurality of files having different image information storage modes and read modes can be handled equivalently, and the operability for the user is improved. The object is to provide a good image filing device.

That is, according to the present invention, in order to control the search of the image information in the first and second files, the image information is stored in the first and second files.
Control unit having a storage unit for storing a flag indicating which of the files is stored and the index information of the image information, and the first file, the first unit for instructing the storage unit to output desired information, Input means for inputting search information that does not include a two-file selection instruction, and the control means matches the search information input from the input means with the index information in the storage means to match the search information. It is determined whether the image information is stored in the first file or the second file based on the flag, and when the image information is stored in the first file in response to the determination, in the first file. When the first signal for accessing the storage position is output, and the first signal for accessing the storage position in the second file is output when the first signal is stored in the second file, Comprising a second signal output, and provides the integrated file system.

Example of Invention

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the integrated file system according to the present invention. However, the partial system 28 including the controller 29 corresponds to the conventional electronic file system shown in FIG. 4 in the present embodiment, and the same device is given the same number, but the present invention is not limited to this. The features of the present invention are a disk memory 30 and a micro film 31.
And are connected to the same controller 29 and controlled equally. Another device, the Document Reader 2
2, the printer 23, the workstation 24, and the index file 25 are connected in the same way as the electronic file system of FIG. The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

A large number of documents are read by the document reader 22 and stored in the disk memory 30. As described above, the memory 30 is preferably a random access memory and a high-density and large-capacity memory, such as an optical disk, from the viewpoint of space saving. At the same time, the index of each information stored in the memory 30 is stored in the index file 25 and managed by the workstation 24.

Specifically, the microfilm file 31 is preferably a microfilm file having the automatic search function shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but the invention is not limited to this, and at least the image of the microfilm is rasterized. Any microfilm file having a means capable of exchanging electrical signals by scanning may be used. However, in this embodiment, the case of the roll-shaped microfilm shown in FIG. 3 is taken as an example.

The index of each top of the microfilm stored in the microfilm 31 is stored in the index file 25 and managed by the workstation 24 like the index of each information stored in the memory 30. The index file 25 is a magnetic disk memory, a floppy disk, or the like, and may be a semiconductor memory or the like in the workstation 24.

Now, it is assumed that the user inputs the search condition of the desired information through the input means (keyboard etc.) of the workstation 24. The workstation 24 compares the input search condition with the index stored in the index file 25 and determines whether the information is in the memory 30 side or the microfilm file 31 side. And memory
If it is on the 30 side, its track number, etc.
If it is on the file 31 side, it reads the frame number and outputs it to the controller 29.

Then, when the user gives an instruction through the input means of the workstation 24 to take out the information, the workstation 24 outputs the instruction to the controller 29. When the controller 29 receives this command, it outputs a read signal to the memory 30 or the microfilm file 31 together with the address of the information inputted before that.

If the information is stored in the memory 30, the memory 30 outputs the information to the controller 29 according to the input address signal and read signal.

If the information is stored in the microfilm file 31, the microfilm file 31 finds the top having the information recorded as described above according to the input frame number and the read signal, and outputs the two-dimensional image information. It is converted into an electric signal by raster scanning, subjected to predetermined signal processing, and output to the controller 29.

FIG. 6 is an example of a search flowchart, and this program is executed by the processor in the workstation 24. That is, the keyword of the search condition information is input by the key of the workstation 24 (step 32).
Next, the index database DB stored in the floppy disk 25 is expanded in the memory RAM of the workstation 24 to form a search table (step 33). Next, the RAM table data is searched according to the input keyword data (step 34), the number of images matching the search condition is obtained, and the index list of the images is obtained. These are displayed on the workstation 24 display. Is displayed on the screen (step 35). Next, when a desired index is input by key input (step 36), it is determined whether the image corresponding to the index is stored in the microfile or the disk (step 37). This is performed by determining whether or not the data A in the RAM is set, since the data A and B indicating what the image storage medium is as a database are stored in the RAM together with the index data.
When the data A is a set, that is, when an image is stored in the disk, the type of disk is determined next. It is RA
This is carried out by judging whether the data B of M is set (step 38-1). If it is not set to B, the desired image is stored in the small optical disk A, so the address data of the disk A is output (step 38-
2). When the data B is set, the desired image is confirmed on the large optical disc B having a large storage capacity, so the storage address data (track N _0, etc.) of the corresponding image on the disc B is output. (Step 38). If it is stored in the film, the address data (frame N _0, etc.) in the film is output (step 39). still,
In step 37, the display shows what the image storage medium is.

Next, it is judged whether or not the image read command key is input (step 40). In the case of the command key input, the command data is read by the controller 29 so that the image data is read and output from one of the film and the disk in which the desired image is stored. Is output to.

The information input to the controller 29 in this way was stored in the memory 30 or the micro film 31
Regardless of whether they are stored in, they can be processed equally. That is, the controller 29 can output the information input from the memory 30 or from the microfilm / file 31 to the workstation 24 for soft copying on the display, or for outputting to the printer 23 as a hard copy. it can.

In addition, the unit of the micro film / file 31, that is, the amount of information for one piece of the film for the film type and less than one cartridge for the roll type is read in advance from the document reader 22 and stored in the memory.
It is also possible to use it by accumulating it in 30 and using it while recording it on a microfilm when it becomes a sufficient amount. The conventional microfilm system is the FASHION film 1
Since it is uneconomical to store the information of less than one sheet or one cartridge, the information is dead until the economic unit is gathered, but in the system according to this embodiment, it is always effective by the above-mentioned usage. Information can be utilized.

Further, the file system according to the present embodiment has the advantages of the microfilm system, namely, high input speed, long-term storage stability, high-speed mass copying, and large image size, and In addition to all the legal evidence ability being recognized, the advantages of the electronic file system, that is, high-speed search, immediate search immediately after inputting information, and easy image transmission You can see that it also includes etc.

In other words, since the information in the electronic file system and the information in the microfilm system can be processed in a completely equivalent manner, a suitable storage form can be selected according to the type, frequency of use, and nature of the information, and the storage form can be easily changed depending on the situation. You can also do it.

In addition, even if the information has been managed so far using the micro film file system and the information management system that uses the new electronic file system is switched from one year, the searcher will be aware of the year when the old and new systems are being switched, and the two It is possible to perform all information retrieval with one file system according to the present invention without the trouble of using the system.

In addition, in the case of micro film file, at a later date,
Although it is not possible to change the information content, the file system according to the present embodiment can be used to add, change, or change the information content.
And the correction etc. can be easily performed. For example, if you need to change a part of the contents later on with the information stored in the microfilm, read the information on the page from the microfilm once, make the necessary additions, corrections, etc. If stored in an electronic file, information can be added and modified immediately and easily.

Further, in FIG. 5, if the information read from the microfilm file 31 is automatically recorded in the memory 30, for example, a huge amount of microfilmed information accumulated in the past during unmanned operation at night will be stored. It can be converted into electronic file information. Of course, in this case, the search management information in the index file 25 needs to be automatically rewritten.

In the case of microfilm, 2 seconds per second using the input lab
Utilizing the fact that pages can be input at high speed, a large amount of information is input in advance, and only the information with high search frequency is stored in the memory 30, for example, one disk, using the automatic conversion function. It is also possible to edit and rewrite. In this way, by collecting the information with high search frequency at one place, the search speed can be increased much more than the case where the information is distributed and stored in various media.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the first file storing the two-dimensional image information and the second file storing the signalized image information can be treated equivalently, and the user can obtain the desired image information. The desired image information can be easily obtained without worrying about which file is stored in the file.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a microfilm reader / printer, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fish-type microfilm / file, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a roll-type microfilm / file. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional electronic file system.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the file system according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an image retrieval flowchart.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of two-dimensional image information is formed into a film-like first information.
It is possible to search the second recording medium for the first file that stores the desired two-dimensional image information in an electric signal and outputs it after converting it into an electric signal. In a unified file device that manages and retrieves a second file that stores the desired signalized image information into an electrical signal and outputs the converted signal, the integrated file device stores the image information in the first and second files. A control unit having a storage unit for storing a flag indicating which of the first and second files the image information is stored and index information of the image information for controlling the search; Input means for inputting search information that does not include the selection instruction of the first file and the second file for instructing the output of the information of The index information in the storage means is collated to determine in which of the first and second files the image information matching the search information is stored, based on the flag, and in response to the determination, the A first signal for accessing the storage position in the first file is output when the data is stored in the first file, and a storage position in the second file is accessed when the data is stored in the second file. A second signal different from the first signal is output, and an electric signal output from the first or second file is input according to the first or second signal, and the first and second signals are input. An integrated file device that processes image information from files equally.