JPH0355864B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information storage device such as an image information storage and retrieval device that can store image information such as documents and retrieve and output it as needed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for storing and retrieving document images as they are, there is a method that records reduced images as they are on microfilm. However, recently, as an alternative to this, by using photoelectric exchange technology using laser light and CCD elements, document images are decomposed into pixels and converted into electrical image signals, and these image signals are transferred onto optical disks. Devices that record using laser light and devices that store data at high density on magnetic storage media are being developed.

For example, with the latter type of magnetic storage media, thousands of A4-sized documents can be stored on an endlessly wound magnetic tape with a length of about 36 m, and it is used as a document storage system. It has become very convenient. The storage location of document images can also be stored as an index code on the same magnetic tape, and by inputting this index code as needed, the document image corresponding to that index code can be searched. It is now available as a hard copy.

However, in this method, if the index code to be stored when image information is stored is previously stored on the same magnetic tape, there is no means to notify this. Therefore, there is a problem that image information having the same index code may be erroneously stored on the same magnetic tape.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an information storage device that can prevent the same index code from being stored.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the configuration of an image information storage and retrieval device according to the present invention, in which a main controller 1 receives input information from an input device 2 having a display function such as a keyboard display. It performs editing processes such as recording, reproducing, adding, inserting, and deleting image information and index information. Image information 3 such as a document is two-dimensionally optically scanned and photoelectrically converted by a two-dimensional scanning device 4, and this photoelectrically converted image information (video signal) is sent to a storage device via the main controller 1. 5 or a magnetic tape device 6. The recording device 5 receives image information from the two-dimensional scanning device 4 or the magnetic tape device 6.
It receives reproduced image information from the computer, converts it into a two-dimensional visible image, and outputs it as a hard copy 7.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the cassette tape and its feeding mechanism of the magnetic tape device 6. A fixed reel 22 that does not rotate is provided in the case 21, and this reel 22 has a width of, for example, 1. /2
A magnetic tape 23 measuring inches (about 12.7 mm) and having a length of about 36 m is endlessly wound. and,
When the cassette tape configured as described above is loaded, the innermost portion of the tape 23 wound around the reel 22 passes through the window 22a provided in the reel 22.
After being pulled out from the tape 23 and sent at high speed (approximately 5 m/sec) in the direction of the arrow a in the figure by the capstan 24 and the pinch roller 25, it is rewound again to the outermost portion of the tape 23. Therefore, the tape 23 rotates once in approximately 7.2 seconds. As shown in FIG. 4, one rotation of the tape 23 is confirmed by optically detecting a tape mark 26 made of silver paper or the like affixed to the connecting portion 23a of the tape 23 with a mork detector 27. ing. The output signal of the detector 27 is also used as a reference for detecting the position of a block on the tape 23 (described later). As shown in FIG. 4, 200 recording tracks 28 (track width approximately 40 .mu.m, inter-track pitch approximately 52 .mu.m) are set on the tape 23 in parallel along its running direction a, as shown in FIG. Here, the recording tracks 28 are sequentially assigned track numbers "0, 1, 2, ... 198, 199" starting from the lowest track, and the two tracks located approximately in the center (track numbers "99, 199") 100", track number "99" is a spare track) is unique index information (consisting of an index code and a recording address, and the recording address consists of a track number and a block number) corresponding to one unit of image information. ), an index recording track 28 ₁ for recording
The remaining 198 tracks (track numbers 0-98, 101-
199'', ) is an information recording track ₂₈₂ for recording image information. Also, each recording track 2
8 is 256 in the tape length direction as shown in Figure 4.
It is divided into blocks, and each block is sequentially marked with "0, 1,
2,...254, 255'' are assigned block numbers. In order to record or reproduce information signals on the tape 23, a recording/reproducing head (a two-gap magnetic head with an erasing function) 29 provided near the capstan 24 is moved in the running direction a by a head access mechanism (not shown). orthogonal direction b
This is done by reciprocating in micron units and selecting an arbitrary recording track 28.

FIG. 5 shows the recording format of the index recording track _281. For example, for 256 blocks, data is recorded every 3 blocks from the 4th block, that is, the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, . . . Index information is recorded in each eye,
These are the first frame 1F, the second frame 2F,
They will be referred to as a third frame 3F, a fourth frame 4F, and so on. Note that the two blocks provided between each frame are invalid information areas LG for searching index information, which will be described later. Although this invalid information area is a gap in which nothing is recorded in this embodiment, dummy information may be recorded therein, for example. Therefore, each frame has a frame start code EOL of 256 from 1st to 256th.
Item IT, horizontal parity check code
It consists of VP, recording gap GAP, and frame end code EOF. Also,
Each item has an index code IDC consisting of up to 16 alphanumeric characters, a track number TNO in which image information with this index code name is recorded, and the first block number BNO in which this image information is recorded. It is made up of Therefore, in this embodiment, 256 pieces of index information constitute one unit of index information group, and these are recorded in one frame. The alphanumeric symbols for the above index code are 7.
It consists of a unit code and a 1-bit vertical parity check code, and the track number and block number each consist of a 7-unit code and a 1-bit vertical parity check code. This index recording track ₂₈₁ is
In order to shorten the search time for index information and eliminate the effects of dropout, index information with exactly the same content is recorded multiple times. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the same index information is recorded four times for one revolution of the tape 23 every 21 frames. In the case of Figure 6, FD ₁ ~
The same index information is recorded for each FD ₄ , FD ₁ is the first frame, FD ₂ is the 22nd frame, etc.
Frames, FD ₃ starts from the 43rd frame and FD ₄ starts from the 64th frame. Here, FD ₁ to FD ₄ are referred to as a file information group consisting of all index information for image information that can be recorded on one tape 23, respectively.

Now, how image information is stored and retrieved will be explained in more detail using FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the power is turned on, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) ₈
Display the information in Figure 7 a on the screen, and read “(R) Kensaku”.
"(S) Touroku", "(D) Sakujiyo", "(C) Henko"
The operator is guided and instructed to select the desired mode. Therefore, the operator selects the desired mode using the keyboard ₂₁ . For example, key R is pressed in search mode, key S is pressed in registration mode, key D is pressed in deletion mode, and key C is pressed in change mode. In this way, when the new line key NL is pressed, the CPU 8 checks whether the key S is pressed or not, and determines whether the selected mode is the registration mode. As a result of this determination, if, for example, search mode, deletion mode, or change mode is selected, processing is performed in accordance with the selected mode. In addition, if the registration mode is selected, the CPU 8 will display the _seventh
The guidance text shown in FIG. b is displayed to instruct the operator to input index information of the image information to be registered.

Therefore, the operator inputs index information using the keyboard ₂₁ . At this time, index information is displayed next to the guide instruction displayed on the display section ₂₂ . Thus the initial key
When INIT is pressed, the CPU 8 displays the _seventh
Display the guidance text in Figure a and return to the state where the mode can be specified. If the new line key NL is pressed without pressing the initial key INIT, it is determined whether index information has been input. As a result of this judgment, if index information has been input, the CPU 8 operates the magnetic tape device 6 to run the tape 23, position the head 29 on the index recording track ₂₈₁ , and start playing back that track ₂₈₁ . do. And CPU8
gives a transfer command for one frame to the DMA (Direct Memory Access Control) 14, and the DMA 14 gives a playback command to the recording/playback circuit 15. Then, the recording/reproducing circuit 15 accepts the reproduction signal from the head 29, and then the recording/reproducing circuit 15 receives the recording start index information (special code) added next to the last index information recorded in the index recording track ₂₈₁ . and the recording start address where the next new image information should be recorded), the DMA 14
directly stores in the RAM (random access memory) 13 the index information group in the frame in which the recording start index information accepted by the recording/reproducing circuit 15 exists. Then, the CPU 8 compares the input index information with the index information sequentially retrieved from the first item of the index information group stored in the RAM 13, and determines whether matching index information is recorded.
As a result of this determination, for example, if matching index information exists, the CPU 8 displays the _seventh
The message shown in Figure c is displayed, indicating that matching index information exists, and allowing you to select whether or not you want to delete the existing image and replace it with the information you are about to record. Display information to the operator. Therefore, when the operator wants to erase the existing image information and replace it with the image information that is about to be recorded, press the new line key NL and then press the key Y on the keyboard _21.
, press the New Line key (NL) when the situation is not good, and then press the key N on the keyboard 2 ₁ . However, New Line key NL and key N
When is pressed, the CPU 8 again displays the guidance text shown in FIG. 7b on the display section ₂₂ , and instructs the operator to find the index information of the image information to be registered. Then, the same operation is repeated. Furthermore, when the new line key NL and key Y are pressed, the CPU 8 displays the guidance text shown in _FIG . . When the image information 3 is set based on this guidance, the CPU 8 confirms that it has been set, and stores in the RAM 13 the track number TNO and block number BNO that constitute the recording start address at which the new image information is to be recorded. Read out from among the index information group. Accordingly,
The CPU 8 operates the two-dimensional scanning device 4 and converts the image information from the two-dimensional scanning device 4 into a page buffer PB.
12, and the contents of the page buffer 12 are supplied to the magnetic tape device 6.

In addition, in the above operation, if there is no matching index information when checking the match between the index information input from the keyboard ₂₁ and the index information recorded in the image information recording section 6, after recording the index information, The CPU 8 displays the guide characters shown in FIG. 7d on the display section ₂₂ , instructs the operator to set the image information 3 in the two-dimensional scanning device 4, and thereafter operates in the same manner.

By the way, the two-dimensional scanning device 4 two-dimensionally scans the set image information 3 such as a document using a laser beam and photoelectrically converts it. This photoelectrically converted image information is stored in the line buffer 10 via the selector ₉₁ for each scanning line. At this time, if one unit (one page) of image information is stored as it is, a very large capacity storage circuit is required.
However, since image information often contains a great deal of redundancy, it is advantageous to store it compressed (less redundant). Therefore, in this embodiment, by supplying the line information stored in the line buffer 10 to the signal compression circuit 11 via the selector ₉₂ , the well-known
Bandwidth compression is performed by MH (Moderite-Hoffman) conversion, and the compressed line information is supplied to the page buffer 12 via the selector ₉₃ and stored sequentially. When all the image information for one unit is stored in the page buffer 12, the CPU 8 selects the information recording track 28 to record new image information.
₂ , and then supplies the image information in the page buffer 12 to the magnetic tape device 6, that is, the head 29, via the selector ₉₄ for each scanning line, so that the specified block, that is, the image that has already been Recording of the new image information begins in the block two blocks after the block in which the information is recorded.

After that, when all the image information for one unit has been recorded, the CPU 8 reads the contents of the block counter (not shown) at that point, and determines whether the value is smaller than the block number "254" of the last block that can be recorded. Check. Here, the block counter is provided in the CPU 8,
Cleared by the output of the mark detector 27, the tape 2
The count is increased by a clock pulse (period: about 28 ms) generated in synchronization with the running of the tape 23, and one rotation of the tape 23 counts from 0 to 255. As a result of the above check, if the value of the block counter is smaller than "254", the content of the counter read above, that is, the block number is incremented by "+3" and is used as the index search memory along with the track number at this time. If the block number stored in the RAM 13 is equal to "254", the block number stored in the RAM 13 is set to "2" and the track number is incremented by "+1". That is, by doing this, the recording start address (track number, block number) at which the next new image information is to be recorded is stored in the RAM 13. Note that even if the contents of the block counter reach ``254'', that is, even if the last block (block number ``254'') of one information recording track ₂₈₂ is reached, recording of one unit of image information is not completed. If the image information is not recorded, the CPU 8 temporarily stops recording at that point, moves the head 29 to the next new adjacent information recording track ₂₈₂ , continues recording the remaining image information, and when all the image information is completed, records in the same manner as above. Store the start address in RAM 13. At this time, the CPU 8 inputs the track number and block number of the recording start address to the input device 2.
By displaying the information on the display section, the operator can know the remaining usable information recording tracks and blocks. In order to determine from which block of which information recording track new image information should be recorded, immediately after the tape 23 of the magnetic tape device 6 starts running, the head 29 plays back the index recording track ₂₈₁ , and the index The recording start index information added after the last index information recorded in recording track ₂₈₁ , that is, the last item IT in which a special code (other than alphanumeric symbols) unique to the index code IDC section is recorded. Track number TNO
and block number BNO and set them as
This is possible by storing it in the RAM 13.

In this way, when the recording of new image information is completed, in order to record the index information of the image information on the index recording track ₂₈₁ ,
The CPU 8 moves the head 29 to the index recording track ₂₈₁ and records the above index information. In other words, assuming that the new image information just recorded is the 356th one (this means checking which frame and which item the item with the special code is in immediately after the tape 23 starts running). ), 100th item 100IT of 2nd frame 2F of file information group FD1, 100th item 100IT of 23rd frame 23F of file information group FD2, 100th item 100IT of 44th frame 44F of file information group FD3, file The index code, track number, and block number of each new image information may be repeatedly recorded four times for the 100th item 100IT of the 65th frame 65F of the information group FD4. However, the already recorded index information is stored in each file information group FD1 to FD4.
second frames 2F, 23F, 44 respectively of
Up to the 99th item 99IT of F, 65F,
In addition to this, it is very difficult to record new index information. This is because the tape 23 is running at high speed as described above.
There is a gap between the 99th item and the 100th item, which tends to cause discontinuity. Therefore, in this embodiment, a processing method as described below is used.

For example, now, the invalid information area LG between the first frame and the second frame of file information group FD1
is passing through head 29, CPU 8 uses DMA
(Direct memory access controller)
14 is given a transfer command for one frame.
Then, the DAM 14 accepts the reproduction signal from the head 29 by giving a reproduction command to the recording and reproduction circuit 15, and when the recording and reproduction circuit 15 detects the frame start code EOL, the DAM1
4 temporarily stops the operation of the CPU 8, and directly stores the reproduction signal received by the recording/reproducing circuit 15, that is, the index information group of the second frame, in the designated area of the RAM 13. Then, when the recording/reproducing circuit 15 detects the frame encode EOF, the DMA 14
stops working. Then, the CPU 8 starts operating again, detects the special code stored in the area corresponding to the 100th item in the RAM 13, and converts the recording start index information including the special code into the new image information index code.
IDC, track number TNO and block number
Rewrite to BNO. When this process is finished,
The CPU 8 stores recording start index information consisting of a special code and a recording start address (track number and block number) at which the next new image information stored above should be recorded in an area corresponding to the 101st item in the RAM 13. Write. When this processing is completed, the CPU 8 gives an erase command to the recording/reproducing circuit 15, and gives a reverse transfer command for one frame to the DMA 14.
The recorded contents of F, 23F, 44F, and 65F are erased by the head 29, and the new index information group for one frame edited in the RAM 13 as described above is transferred to the file via the recording/reproducing circuit 15. The information is sequentially recorded in the second frame of the information group FD1, the 23rd frame of the file information group FD2, the 44th frame of the file information group FD3, and the 65th frame of the file information group FD4. In this way, storage of one unit of image information and registration of its index information are completed. A flowchart of the main parts of the above operation is shown in FIG.

Next, the search and reproduction output of the image information recorded as described above will be explained. Now, when a search command and an index code for required image information are input from the input device 2, the CPU 8
The tape 23 is run, the head 29 is positioned on the index recording track ₂₈₁ , and reproduction of the track ₂₈₁ is started. For example, now
Third block of tape 23 (block number "3")
is passing through head 29, CPU8
gives a transfer command for one frame to the DMA 14. Then, the DMA 14 accepts the reproduction signal from the head 29 by giving a reproduction command to the recording and reproduction circuit 15, and then the recording and reproduction circuit 15
When detects frame start code EOL,
The DMA 14 temporarily stops the CPU 8 and directly stores the reproduction signal accepted by the recording/reproduction circuit 15, that is, the index information group of the first frame, in a designated area of the RAM 13. Then, when the recording/reproducing circuit 15 detects the frame end code EFO, the DMA 14
stops working. Then CPU8 is RAM13
The index code that is the same as the index code of the required image information is sequentially searched from the first frame index information group transferred to the first item by comparing it with the input index code. During this time, the invalid information area LG between the first frame and the second frame is
is passing through.

At this time, for example, if the first to fifth characters of all index codes in the first frame are different from the required index code, that is, the input index code, the first frame The search for the index code for is completed in a very short time. Therefore, in such a case, the content of the block counter of the CPU 8 is less than "7". After confirming that the frame is below the 6th block, that is, confirming that the second frame has not yet passed through head 29, issue the transfer command for the next frame to the DMA 14 again. . Then, the first
Through the same operations as in the case of frames, the index information group of the second frame is stored in the RAM 13, and the CPU 8 begins to search for it. At this time,
For example, for most of the 256 index codes in the second frame, up to the 14th character at the beginning matches that of the input index code, but the last two characters are different, and the index information in the second frame is If there is no index code identical to the input index code in the group, searching for the index code for the second frame will take a very long time. Therefore, during this time, the third and fourth frames have already passed through the head 29, and the second
Assume that the 14th block is reached when the frame search ends. Then, the CPU 8 reads the contents of the block counter (at this time it is "14") and remembers that the frames that could not be searched are the third and fourth frames. Similarly, this search operation is repeated in the fifth frame, sixth frame, and so on, when the same index code as the required index code is found.

However, if you cannot find an index code that is the same as the index code you need, and you search for items for which the part corresponding to the index code is a special code, no more index information is recorded, so the file is information group
After cutting off the search for FD1, the CPU 8 starts searching for the third and fourth frames, which have become unsearchable. That is, the gap between the file information groups FD1 and FD2 is
After passing through the file information group FD2, the search is started for the third frame, ie, the 24th frame, and the fourth frame, ie, the 25th frame, of the file information group FD2. However, if the required index code is not found in the 24th frame and there are many similar codes, the search time becomes long, and the 25th frame has already passed through the head 29 by the time the search ends. is the next file information group FD3
The search is started for the fourth frame, that is, the 46th frame. At this time, the required index code (input index code)
If the same index code is found, the CPU 8 will read the track number TNO and block number BNO following this index code IDC.
is read from the index information group (46th frame) in the RAM 13 and stored in the designated area of the RAM 13 again. Then, the CPU 8 selects the information recording track 2 corresponding to this stored track number.
Move the head 29 to ₈₂ and start playing that track. At this time, the block counter is operating, so if the count matches the block number stored above, the CPU 8 transfers the playback signal from that point on, that is, the image information, to the page buffer via the recording/playback circuit 15 and the selector ₉₃ . 12. And page buffer 12
When all of the image information for one unit that has been reproduced is stored, the CPU 8 supplies the image information (compressed information) to the signal expansion circuit 16 for each scanning line, thereby performing band expansion through MH inverse conversion. The original image information is restored and sequentially supplied to the line buffer 10 via the selector ₉₁ . Line battle 10
The line information supplied to the recording device 5 is sequentially supplied to the recording device 5 via the selector ₉₂ as a serial information signal synchronized with the recording timing of the recording device 5. This is what is output as.

In the above embodiment, the image information storage and retrieval device is applied to a magnetic tape device that records or reproduces image information such as documents, but it can also be applied to a magnetic tape device that records or reproduces other information. It can be implemented similarly. In addition, although the case has been described in which the implementation is applied to a magnetic tape device that uses an endless magnetic tape as a recording medium, for example, a magnetic tape device that uses a normal magnetic tape that is not endless, or a magnetic disk device that uses a magnetic disk as a recording medium, and furthermore, The present invention can be similarly implemented in other similar information recording devices such as an optical disk device that uses an optical disk as a recording medium.

As detailed above, according to the present invention, an index code input from an input device is compared with an index code stored together with image information, and a matching index code is stored according to the comparison result. In addition to displaying a message indicating that the index code that has been read out above is displayed, the display also prompts the user to select whether or not to delete the read index code.
It is possible to provide an image information storage method that can prevent recording of the same index code.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image information storage and retrieval device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing FIG. 1 in more detail, and FIG. 3 is a magnetic FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the track configuration and block configuration of the magnetic tape; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the recording format of the index recording track in detail; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the recording format for one rotation of the magnetic tape of the index recording track, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the main part of the operation, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of display on the display section. 1... Main control device, 2... Input device, 2 ₁ ...
Keyboard, 2 ₂ ...Display section, 3...Image information,
4... Two-dimensional scanning device, 5... Recording device, 6...
Magnetic tape device, 7... Hard copy, 8...
CPU, 13...RAM, 14...DMA, 15...
...recording/reproducing circuit, 23...magnetic tape (recording medium), 28...recording track, ₂₈₁ ...index recording track, ₂₈₂ ...information recording track,
29...recording/reproducing head (magnetic head), F...
Frame, LG...disabled, information area, IT...item, IDC...index code, TNO...
...Track number, BNO...Block number, FD1
~FD4...File information group.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A storage means for storing stored information and an index code assigned to this stored information; a first input means for inputting stored information to be stored in this storage means; a second input means for inputting an index code to be added to the storage information input by the input means; an index code stored in the storage means and an index code input by the second input means; If the comparison result by this comparison means matches, it is displayed that a matching index code is stored, and the storage information stored corresponding to this index code is deleted. a first display means for instructing whether or not to delete the stored information; a first instruction means for instructing to delete the stored information based on the display of the first display means; an instruction means having a second instruction means for instructing that the index code is not present; and a first processing means for storing storage information input by the first input means in the storage means;
a second display means for guiding the input of an index code different from the index code input by the input means; 2. An information storage device comprising: second processing means for storing stored information inputted by the user and an index code inputted by the second input means in the storage means.