JPH0844758A - Method and device for data retrieval and information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image data system and an optical disk which can speedily retrieve information recorded on the optical disk. CONSTITUTION:The optical disk on which information can be recorded has a user data area 110 and a data management area 125 where management information for managing the information recorded in the area 110, and the user data area 110 includes a data area 112 where principal information is recorded and a retrieval information area 114 where retrieval conditions for retrieving the information recorded in the area 112 and information regarding the data area 112 corresponding to the retrieval conditions are recorded. The information recorded in the data area 112 can be retrieved on the basis of the management information recorded in the data management area 125, but when desired retrieval information is recorded in the retrieval information area 114, the target information can speedily be retrieved by retrieving this area 114.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data retrieval method for recording information such as images and sounds, an apparatus and an information recording medium for the same, and more particularly to a data retrieval for rapidly searching the information recorded on the information recording medium. The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus therefor, and an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, optical discs such as compact discs and magneto-optical discs having a large information storage capacity have become widespread as information recording media for accumulating information representing images, voices, characters and the like.

Such an optical disc is classified into a constant angular velocity system (CAV) in which the rotational angular velocity of the disc is constant and a constant linear velocity system (CLV) in which the rotational linear velocity is constant, according to its physical recording format. The former constant angular velocity method is adopted, for example, in a video disk in which video and audio signals are modulated and recorded, and the latter constant linear velocity method is adopted in a compact disk such as a CD-ROM.

The optical disk is also a read-only optical disk manufactured by injection molding using a master stamper, a write-once optical disk capable of additionally recording information, a rewritable optical disk capable of rewriting information, Further, it is classified into a hybrid type optical disc in which these are combined.

Reproduction of information stored in an optical disk is basically performed by an optical pickup which irradiates a recording bit (pit) of the optical disk with a laser beam and reads information corresponding to the reflection. The optical pickup is also
Emit a laser beam for writing information on the optical disc,
The desired information is written on the optical disk by using this laser light or magnetism in combination. The information read from the optical disc is transferred to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a dedicated filing device via an interface such as SCSI standard.

[0006]

However, an optical disk drive equipped with an optical pickup for recording information on an optical disk and reading the recorded information is not a magnetic disk device for recording / reproducing information with a lightweight magnetic head. Differently, it is difficult to seek the optical pickup at high speed, and increasing the information transfer rate is limited due to the limitation of the interface for data transfer. When searching for information, there is a problem that the search time becomes long.

Under such a situation, when searching for desired information in a database in which information such as various image information and audio information is recorded in a predetermined area of an optical disk, the information is recorded. It was necessary to move the optical pickup to each information recording position in the area for searching each time. Further, the search condition for performing the search needs to be input to the information processing device each time, and the above-described search processing needs to be performed according to the input condition. Therefore, there is a problem in that a long search time is required because the information recorded in each area of the optical disc is searched during the search.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a data retrieval method, an apparatus and an information recording medium which can retrieve information constructed on an information recording medium such as an optical disk quickly. And

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the data search method according to the present invention searches the information recorded on the information recording medium under desired conditions, and the search result according to this search. In the data search method for outputting, the information recording medium has a data area in which information is recorded, a management area in which management information for managing this data area is recorded, and a search condition for information recorded in the data area. And a search information area in which search information representing a search result is recorded. This method searches for information recorded in the data area based on the search information recorded in the search information area. It is characterized in that search information corresponding to the result of is output.

In this case, after the search information corresponding to the search result is output, the information recorded in the data area corresponding to the search information may be output.

Further, when the search information corresponding to the result of the search is output, the search information recorded in the search information area may be updated.

Further, according to the recording capacity of the search information area,
Delete old search information that is infrequently accessed.

The data search method according to the present invention is a data search method for searching information recorded on an information recording medium under desired conditions and outputting a search result according to this search. , A data area in which information is recorded, a management area in which management information for managing this data area is recorded, and search information indicating search conditions and search results for the information recorded in the data area The method includes an information area and a first search processing step of searching the information recorded in the data area based on the management information, and the first search processing step recorded in the search information area prior to the first search processing step. A second search processing step for causing the operator to confirm desired search information based on the search information, and if there is search information desired by the operator in the second search processing step, the second search processing step is performed. Search Step by continuing to output the desired search information, when there is no hope to find information about the operator at the second search processing step is characterized by moving to the first search processing step.

In this case, it is preferable to output the search information corresponding to the search result of the second search processing step and then output the information recorded in the data area corresponding to the search information.

Further, when the information recorded in the data area corresponding to the result of the first search processing step is output, at least the search information indicating the file creation date and time may be newly recorded in the search information area.

Further, when the search information corresponding to the result of the second search processing step is output, the search information recorded in the search information area may be updated.

Further, depending on the recording capacity of the search information area, it is preferable to delete old search information that is accessed less frequently.

On the other hand, the data retrieving apparatus according to the present invention is a data retrieving apparatus for retrieving information recorded on an information recording medium under desired conditions and outputting a retrieval result corresponding to this retrieval. , A data area in which information is recorded, a management area in which management information for managing this data area is recorded, and search information indicating search conditions and search results for the information recorded in the data area This apparatus includes an information area and an information recording / reproducing means for reading information recorded on an information recording medium and writing information on the information recording medium, a storage means for storing the information, and an operator. An operating unit that outputs an instruction signal according to the operation information, and a control unit that retrieves the information recorded on the information recording medium loaded in the information recording / reproducing unit according to the instruction signal. And an image output means for outputting an image according to the search of the control means, wherein the control means searches the information recorded in the data area based on the management information recorded in the information recording medium. A first search processing means for performing the first search processing; and a second search for causing the operator to confirm desired search information based on the search information recorded in the search information area prior to the first search processing. Second search processing means for performing processing, and when the operation means notifies a command signal according to the operation information indicating that there is search information desired by the operator in the second search processing, If the search information desired by the operator does not exist in the second search processing, the first search processing is executed by continuing the second search processing to output the image representing the desired search information to the image output means. It is characterized by doing.

In this case, this apparatus preferably includes information input means for inputting information to be recorded on the information recording medium, and the control means records the information supplied from the information input means in the data area of the information recording medium.

Further, the information recording medium according to the present invention is an information recording medium for recording a large amount of information representing an image, a sound, etc. The information recording medium includes a user data area in which information is recorded and this user data. A management area in which management information for managing the area is recorded is arranged, and the user data area is further used for searching a data area in which data as main information is recorded and data recorded in this data area. Search information area in which the search information of is recorded, and the search information area is a search condition and the search result when the data recorded in the data area is searched based on the management information recorded in the management area. Is an area in which information corresponding to is recorded.

In this case, the search information area includes an area for recording the result files respectively created when the data recorded in the data area is searched based on the management information,
The result file may include a data descriptor in which a description regarding data corresponding to the search result is recorded, and a thumbnail representing a reduced image of this data.

[0022]

According to the present invention, the information recording medium is composed of a data area, a management area, and a search information area. When searching based on the search information recorded in the search information area, desired search information is obtained. You can search quickly. Therefore, the target information recorded in the data area related to this search information can be quickly output.

The first search processing step of searching the information recorded in the data area based on the file management information recorded in the management area and the desired search information based on the search information recorded in the search information area Let the operator confirm the search information,
When the desired search information is present, the second search step for outputting the desired search information is included, so that the quick search information can be output particularly in the second search processing step.

As described above, since the information recording medium has the search information area in which the search information indicating the search condition and the search result of the information recorded in the data area is recorded, based on this search information. , Easily select the desired search information,
The information in the data area corresponding to this search information can be easily and quickly retrieved and output.

[0025]

Embodiments of the image database system according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown one embodiment of an image database system to which the present invention is applied. Referring to FIG. 1, the image database system 10 includes, for example, a central processing unit 12 as a main control unit configured by a control circuit such as a microprocessor. Image information input from an image input device 14 such as a scanner for reading an image recorded on a film, an electronic still camera, or a video camera is digitally recorded on an optical disc 18 loaded in a disc drive 16, and images such as images and voices are recorded. This is a system for constructing an image database in which information is recorded on an optical disc 18. Also, the system 10 controls the central processing unit 12 to search for desired image information based on a search instruction from the operation unit 20 using the image database created on the optical disc 18, and respond to the search result. Is a system for displaying the image represented by the image information to be displayed on the display device 22. In the following description, reference numerals of signals are indicated by reference numerals of connecting lines in which they appear, and illustration and description of portions that are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted.

First, FIG. 2 shows an outline of an optical disk 18 as an information recording medium in this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the optical disc 18 has an information area 100 as a recording surface on which various information is recorded on one surface of the disc, and a lead-in area arranged at the innermost peripheral portion of the area 100. Areas other than 102 are MO (Magneto-Optical) where information can be rewritten and recorded information can be erased.
The magneto-optical disk is formed as a region 106. In the present embodiment, the optical disc 18 is advantageously a mini disc (MD) in which a magneto-optical disc having a diameter of 64 mm is accommodated in a predetermined cartridge (not shown). The meandering type pre-groove and the track are formed in a spiral shape toward.

The lead-in area 102 is arranged at the innermost peripheral portion of the disc 18 as shown in the drawing, and this area is the disc.
Information about 18 types and the like is a prerecorded area. As the type of the disc 18, in the present embodiment, a recording mini disc to which the structure of the recording magneto-optical disc is applied is adopted, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. ROM (Re-only area as a read-only area that can only read image information as main information)
A hybrid type magneto-optical disk having an ad only memory) area and an MO area as a recording area in which information can be rewritten and erased can also be advantageously applied. In this case, the image information may be recorded in the MO area as well. Also optical disc
The optical disc 18 may be a multi-session type optical disc such as a recordable compact disc, which is configured by a plurality of sessions for recording information.

Returning to FIG. 2, the lead-in area 102 is
For example, a stamper is used and it is created by an injection molding machine. An MO region 106 made of a magneto-optical disk material capable of recording, rewriting and erasing information is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lead-in area 102. The MO region 106 in this embodiment includes a protective film, a reflective film, a dielectric layer, and a magnetic film (MO film on which actual information is recorded) in order from the surface side.
Layer), the dielectric layer, and the polycarbonate substrate are formed in layers.

The MO area 106 has a UTOC (USER'S TABLEOF CONTENTS) area 108 in order from the inner circumference to the outer circumference.
, User data area 110 and lead-out area 106
Are arranged respectively. The UTOC area 108 is an area in which management information for recognizing the user data area 110 as a volume is recorded.
Is an area where information such as actual image information and table information for managing the recorded image information is recorded. The lead-out area 104 is arranged at the outermost periphery of the disc 18, and this area 104 is an area in which information indicating the end of the user data area 110 in the MO area 106 is recorded. In this embodiment, the disk 18 is formed as one volume, but the disk 18 is not limited to this, and a plurality of volumes may be formed on the disk 18. In this case, each of the plurality of volumes is managed based on the management information recorded in the UTOC area 108.

The respective areas and file arrangements in the tracks of the MO area 106 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). In the figure, one track formed in a spiral shape in the MO region 106 is illustrated as a conceptual strip for the sake of description, and the lead-out area 104 is omitted. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the left side of the figure is the inner peripheral portion of the disk 18, and the right side of the figure is the disk 18.
It corresponds to the outer peripheral part of.

In FIG. 1A, a data management area 125 in which file management information for managing the files recorded in the data area 112 is recorded is arranged in the inner periphery of the user data area 110. In the data management area 125, for example, a file name of information recorded in the data area 112, an address indicating a file recording position and a data length, and a so-called file stamp indicating attributes such as a recording update date and time of the file are included in the file management information. Is recorded as. File management information such as these file names is
It is used when searching the information recorded in the data area 112 according to the direct instruction of the operator. The file stamp also includes information such as a keyword assigned to directly search these files corresponding to each file recorded in the data area. Further, in the data management area 125, the address of the search information area 114 described later and the address information indicating the address of the file recorded in this area 114 are recorded.

The user data area 110 is a data area 112 in which an actual image signal is recorded and a search information area 11 for quickly searching for information recorded in the data area 112.
It is an area including 4 and. Specifically, the data area 112 is
This is an area in which image information representing a desired image and voice information representing information such as voice are recorded. As described above, the audio information is also recorded in the data area 112, but only the image information will be described below. In this area 112, image information representing a color image is recorded by being compression-encoded by, for example, image data of basic resolution and difference data created from this image data for each layer of a plurality of resolutions. It is also advantageous in terms of the efficiency of recording information on the optical disc. In the data area 112, the image data (IMG 1 to IMGnnn) encoded in this way is sequentially recorded.

The search information area 114 shown in detail in FIG.
Is an area in which the search information generated at the time of searching or sorting the image data recorded in the data area 112 and the information about the search result are recorded. Specifically, the search information area 114 includes a data management area 125 and a data area 11
Based on the information recorded in 2, the search conditions specified when the desired data in the data area 112 is directly searched or sorted and the search information corresponding to the search and sort results are stored in the result file 118 ( 1 to nnnn).

In the search information area 114, this area 11
A search information area directory 116 for indicating the arrangement of result files in 4 is arranged. In this directory 116, a search information area ID indicating that this area is a search information area, result file descriptors 1 to nnnn indicating the respective addresses and file sizes of the result file 118, and for searching or sorting. And the result file conditions in which the search conditions described above are described corresponding to the respective result files are recorded.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1 (c), the result file 118 is a header 120 in which various information is recorded at the head thereof and a description relating to the data registered in the data area 112 corresponding to the search result. Has a data descriptor (DD) 122 (1 to nn) and a thumbnail (TN) 124 (1 to nn) in which data representing a reduced image of an image registered in the data area 112 is recorded. ing.

Various information recorded in the header 120 is created by a file ID indicating the order (1 to nnnn) of the result file and whether the result file is a file created by grouping by search or a sorting result. It includes an item ID indicating whether the file is a file, the number of accesses indicating the number of times of accessing (reading) the result file, and the generation date and update date and time of the result file.
Also, various information includes sort and search conditions for the data area 112 when the result file is generated, the number of image data registered in the data area 112 that matches these conditions, the data descriptor 122 and the thumbnail 124.
Of each cluster address and a reserved area for future expansion. Also, the optical disc 18 is, for example, a CD
In the case of -R (Compact Disc-Recordable), instead of the cluster address, address information such as minutes, seconds, and frames is included as various information.

Returning to FIG. 4, the system 10 is provided with an image input device 14 as an information input means for outputting an image signal representing an image. The image input device 14 in this embodiment is, for example, a film scanner. To be done. The film scanner reads, for example, a color image formed on a silver halide photographic film with a high pixel density and outputs a digital color image signal corresponding to this image to an output 30. Image input device
Reference numeral 14 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a digital still camera, a video camera, or an information recording medium reproducing device for reading and outputting an image signal representing an image recorded on another information recording medium. In this case, the information recording medium may, of course, be a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, which is a rotating recording medium, and is constituted by a semiconductor memory.
It may be an IC memory card. The image input device 14 may be a communication control device that inputs information transferred by communication. The output of the image input device 14 is connected to the bus 30, and the image signal representing the color image output to the output 30 is input to the memory 32 under the control of the central processing unit 12.

The memory 32 is a main storage device that forms a work area for accumulating and processing image signals input via the bus 30 and temporarily accumulating and processing data for retrieval. is there.

Specifically, the memory 32 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a nonvolatile RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing control information such as a processing program and control data for controlling the operation of the entire system 10. The control information is supplied to the central processing unit 12 via the bus 30. The memory 32 also has a RAM for storing the image signal input via the bus 30, and stores and stores the image signal in the RAM based on the control signal input from the central processing unit 12 via the bus 30. Read from. In addition, the memory 32
The image signal read from the data area 112 of the optical disk 16 loaded in the disk drive 16 is stored in the RAM, and the search information read from the search information area 114 is stored in the RAM.

A CRT controller 34 and a SCSI controller 36 are also connected to the bus 30. CRT
The controller 34 converts the image signal into a video signal corresponding to the display device 22 and outputs it in order to display the color image represented by the image signal appearing on the bus 30 on the display device 22 connected to the output 38. It is a device. CRT controller
Reference numeral 34 has a frame memory for accumulating image signals for a moving image or one screen of a still image. When the image signal input from the image input device 14 is a still image, one frame of the frame memory is accumulated. The image signal is repeatedly read and output to the output 38.

The display device 22 connected to the output 38 of the CRT controller 34 is a device for displaying the image represented by the video signal appearing at the input 38 thereof. The display device 22 is a well-known image display device such as a CRT color display device or a liquid crystal display device that displays a color image corresponding to a video signal, and is advantageously a high pixel type floor capable of displaying a high-definition image. A display device with excellent tonal characteristics is applied. Further, in the system 10 according to the present embodiment, an image printing device that prints out an image displayed on the display device 22 may be connected to the bus 30 via a predetermined interface, and in this case, a highly accurate color photographic image. An image output device such as a pictography capable of producing the image is advantageously applied.

The SCSI controller 36 outputs the image signal appearing on the bus 30 and the image signal input from the disk drive 16 which will be described later via the connection line 40, based on the control signal supplied from the central processing unit 122. It is a control device that outputs 40 or output 30. More specifically, the controller 36 in this embodiment uses the control signals from the central processing unit 122 appearing on the bus 30 to control the disk drive 16
SCSI (Small Computer System Interfac) that controls the reading and writing of information to the optical disk 18 loaded in
e) A control device that complies with the standard. Controller 36
Realizes bit parallel data transfer to the disk drive 16 as a peripheral device. SCSI controller
The output 40 of 36 is connected to the disk drive 16.

The disc drive 16 is an information recording / reproducing device compatible with the recording format of information on the optical disc 18. In this embodiment, the drive 16 is loaded with an optical disc 18 having a physical structure conforming to the minidisc standard as an information recording medium, and the optical disc 18 is rotationally driven by a constant linear velocity method to write and read digital information. To do. Specifically, the drive 16 has a magneto-optical pickup 17 for recording information on the optical disc 18 and reading the recorded information. drive
16 is a pickup 17 for a track of the optical disc 18.
Rotate the optical disc 18 at a rotation speed according to the position of
Information is recorded by the magnetic field modulation optical system, and the disc 18
Information is read according to the reflection of the laser light applied to the. The disk drive 16 outputs the information read from the optical disk 18 to the output 40 and transfers it to the memory 32 via the SCSI controller 36.

The system 10 also includes an operation unit 20 for detecting the operation state of the operator, and the operation unit 20 is the image input device 14
An instruction corresponding to an operation state such as an image filing instruction for recording the image signal output from the optical disc 18 on the optical disc 18, and an image search instruction for searching the image signal recorded on the optical disc 18 and displaying a desired image on the display device 22. Bus signal
Output to 30.

The central processing unit 12 connected to the bus 30 operates on the basis of an instruction signal input via the bus 30.
It is a control device for controlling each part of 10. Specifically, the central processing unit 12 controls the image input device 14 in response to an instruction signal from the operation unit 20, for example, reads out an image recorded on a silver halide photographic film, and an image signal corresponding to this image. Are stored in the memory 32 via the bus 30. Further, the central processing unit 12 controls to record the image signal accumulated in the memory 32 on the optical disc 16 loaded in the disc drive 16. Further, the central processing unit 12 performs control for reading the image signal as the encoded data recorded on the optical disc 16, and stores the read image signal in the memory 32.

The apparatus 12 in the present embodiment is provided with the image signal as the original image data accumulated in the memory 32 and the optical disc.
It has a function of compressing / encoding and decompressing / decoding an image signal as encoded data recorded in 18, respectively. In the present embodiment, for example, this compression encoding processing is preferably a hierarchical encoding method in which differential data for each layer of a plurality of resolutions is created from an image signal and entropy encoding such as Huffman encoding is performed for each layer. Applied.

Further, the central processing unit 12 controls the disc drive 16 in response to an instruction signal from the operating section 20 to retrieve and sort the image information recorded on the optical disc 18. This search and sort processing is a basic first search processing for searching for desired image information based on the file management information recorded in the data management area 125 of the optical disc 18, and the search information area 114 of the optical disc 18. And an extended second search process for searching for desired image information based on the searched search information.

The search and sort processing will be described in detail. The central processing unit 12 uses the data management area 125 based on the instruction signal indicating the search condition designated by the operator.
Data area 112 according to the file management information recorded in
A first search process for searching the image signal recorded in is performed. The device 12 creates a search condition instructed in the first search process and information representing a search result searched by the search condition as a result file, and records the created result file in the search information area 114. As described above, the information indicating the search result includes various information indicating detailed information of individual result files, a data descriptor indicating the file name and file size related to the image signal recorded in the data area 112, and The device 12 generates these result file information including a thumbnail representing a reduced image obtained by reducing the image size of the image signal.

Further, the central processing unit 12 reads out and reproduces the information recorded in the search information area directory 114 prior to the first search processing, and based on this information, the operator determines whether or not there is a desired search and sort condition. If there is a desired search or sort condition, a result file corresponding to that condition is selected, and a second search process for searching the result file corresponding to the desired image is performed. There is. At this time, if there is no desired search condition or sort condition, the first search process is executed according to the operation information input by the operator. Device in the second search process
12 is a data area corresponding to the searched result file 11
Search for the second image. In this case, the device 12 updates the information such as the number of accesses and the file update date and time in the result file.

Further, the central processing unit 12 has a search information area 11
When the data amount of the result file in 4 reaches a predetermined capacity, it has a function to delete the result file from the one with the oldest creation date and time of the result files among the access frequency that shows the usage frequency of the result file is low. . Device 12
In this way, the optimum result file is selected and deleted as the information to be deleted, and the result file to be created next is recorded in the search information area 114 which has become a free area due to the deleted file.

The search processing operation of the image database system 10 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In this description, it is assumed that file management information and a predetermined image signal are already recorded in the data management area 125 and the data area 112 of the optical disc 18, respectively.

In step 500 shown in FIG. 5, when an instruction signal indicating a condition for searching or sorting is output from the operation section 20 by the operation of the operator, the central processing unit 12 responds to this and outputs the disk drive. Optical disc loaded in 16
A control signal representing a read command for reading the search information from 18 is output. The SCSI controller 36 controls the disk drive 16 in response to this control signal, and this control causes the pickup 17 to seek to the UTOC area 108,
The management information of the volume recorded in the area 108 is read, and the volume of the optical disc 18 is recognized. Further, when the volume is recognized, the pickup 17 is an optical disc.
Seek to 18 data management areas 125
File management information such as the start address of the search information area 114 recorded in 125 is read (step 502).

When the file management information is read, the pickup 17 next seeks to the search information area 114 (50
4), the information recorded in the search information area directory 116 is read, and the second search process is started. The read information is stored in the RAM area of the memory 32, and the character image representing the result file descriptor of this information is displayed on the display device 22 under the control of the CRT controller 34. Specifically, the display device 22 displays a character image indicating the start address of each result file, the size of the result file, the search condition and the sort condition of the result file. As a result, the search information area directory 116 is reproduced (506).

Next, in step 508, the operator determines whether there is a desired search condition based on the information in the search information area 114 displayed on the display device 22 (508). If there is no desired search condition, the operator operates the operation unit 20 to input the operation information indicating the search condition for performing the first search process, and to display the image signal recorded in the data area 112. Search directly (510). In this case, the central processing unit 12
By reproducing the data management area 125 again and recognizing the file name and the keyword of the image signal recorded in the data area 112 and searching all the information recorded in the data area 112, the information matching the search condition is obtained. Search for. When the image signal corresponding to the search condition is searched in this way, the image signal corresponding to the search result is read out and stored in the RAM of the memory 32, and the image represented by this image signal is displayed on the display device 22. (512). As for the display of the images corresponding to the search condition, when there are a plurality of search images, those images may be sequentially displayed.
A plurality of images may be reduced, and the reduced images may be arranged and displayed on one screen.

At step 514, it is judged from the operation information by the operator whether or not the image displayed on the display device 22 is the one desired by the operator. In this case, if the display image is the desired one, the operation indicating the operation is detected by the operation unit 20, the corresponding operation information is recognized by the central processing unit 12, and the process proceeds to step 514. If the displayed image is not the desired one, the operation unit 20 detects an operation for executing the search process again, the corresponding operation information is recognized by the central processing unit 12, and the process returns to step 510. .

When the central processing unit 12 recognizes that the desired image is displayed on the display unit 22, and proceeds to step 516, it contains the information indicating the search condition in that case and the search information concerning the search result. The result file is created,
The created result file is newly recorded in the search information area 114, and the file management information is recorded in the data management area 125. Specifically, as described above, this result file includes various information, a data descriptor (DD), and
Including a thumbnail (TN), information such as address, data length and file name related to the image signal corresponding to the search result is recorded in the data descriptor, and the thumbnail shows the image size of the image signal corresponding to the search result. Information that represents a thumbnail image that has been reduced by the processing device 12 is recorded. A reduced image has already been created, for example as an index image, and the data area 11
When recorded in 2, the reduced images corresponding to the search results may be read and used as thumbnail images.

On the other hand, in step 508, when the operator determines that the information in the search information area 114 displayed on the display device 22 has the desired search condition, the second search processing in step 518 and thereafter. Then, in step 518, the operator selects a result file corresponding to the target search condition. Once the result file is selected,
The central processing unit 12 recognizes this, reads the corresponding result file recorded on the optical disc 18, and displays the character information and the thumbnail image included in the result file on the display unit 22.
(520).

When the operator recognizes these images displayed on the display device 22 and selects the desired image, the image signal (IMG) recorded in the data area 112 is read out according to the data descriptor and read out. The generated image signal is transferred to the display device 22 via the controller 34, and the image represented by the image signal is displayed on the display screen (522). Next, in step 524, information such as the file update date and time and the number of accesses of the content recorded in the result file is updated, and the updated information is recorded and updated in the search information area 114.

In this way, when the operator's desired search conditions are already recorded on the optical disk 18 in advance, the desired image signal can be quickly read out and displayed only by selecting the desired search conditions. You can In this case, in particular, it is possible to save the troublesome and time-consuming input of the search condition, and to quickly reproduce the image signal corresponding to the result file. Therefore, if the search information area directory and the result file in the search information area 114 are created in advance based on the search conditions that can be predicted, the search for the information desired by the operator can be performed quickly without performing the first search processing. Can be done

The search information area is searched a plurality of times.
When the recording area for recording the result files in 114 is full and there is no free area for recording the result files, in step 800 shown in FIG. 8, various information in all the result files are recorded in the header.
120 are searched, and the number of accesses and the file creation date and time recorded in the result file are recognized by the central processing unit 12. Here, a result file created before a specific date and time, such as a day one year before the current date and time, is extracted based on the file generation date and time.
(802). Furthermore, among the extracted result files, the result file with the least access frequency is searched (80
Four).

In step 806, when there are a plurality of search results in step 804, the process proceeds to step 808, and among the result files with the lowest access count,
The result file with the oldest file creation date is deleted. In step 806, if only one result file has the lowest access count, the result file is deleted (810). In this way, the recording area of the result file recorded in the search information area is always secured. Therefore, in the search information area 114, the result file according to the priority is recorded.

In the above-described embodiment, the information recorded in the search information area directory 116 is read after the control signal representing the search information read command is output, but the present invention is not limited to this. This directory information may be stored in the memory of the host together with the mounting process for loading the disk drive 16 into the disk drive 16. More specifically, the central processing unit 12 shown in FIG. 4 recognizes that the optical disk 18 is loaded in the disk drive 16, and stores the information recorded in the search information area 114 of the optical disk 18 in the RAM of the memory 22. The control may be performed. In this case, the central processing unit 12 causes the display unit 22 to display the target search condition based on the search information area directory 116 stored in the RAM after outputting the control signal representing the search information read command.

The operation in the case of such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. In step 600 shown in the figure, when the optical disk 18 is loaded in the disk drive 16, this state is processed by the central processing. Recognized by device 12 (600), in step 602, data management area 1
The address of the search information area 114 recorded in 25 is recognized (602). Based on the recognized address, the pickup 17 of the disk drive 16 seeks the search information area 114 (604), and the directory information recorded in the search information area directory 116 is read (606). The read directory information is stored in the central processing unit as a host.
It is transferred to the memory 32 of 12 main storage devices and stored in the RAM area (608).

When the control signal indicating the retrieval information read command is output from the central processing unit 12 to the bus 30 with the optical disc 18 mounted (610), the process proceeds to step 612, where it is stored in the RAM area. The directory information is read and supplied to the central processing unit 12. Thereafter, based on the directory information accumulated in the memory 32, the first search process and / or the second search process is performed in step 70 shown in FIG.
It is executed like 0 ~ 712. The search process shown in the figure is performed based on the directory information stored in the memory 32, except that steps 510 to 510 shown in FIG.
The process may be the same as the process in 524, but step 712
In the update processing of the result file in
Performs update processing on the result file in the RAM area of the memory 32 and the result file on the optical disc 18. However, the update process for the optical disc 18
It goes without saying that a termination process may be provided immediately before ejecting 18 from the disc drive 16.

As described above, the optical disc 18 has
A search information area 114 in which past search conditions and information as search results corresponding to the search conditions are recorded is arranged in the user data area 110. Therefore, the result of the previous sort or search remains in the search information area as a dedicated result file, so when sorting or searching under the same conditions, the image corresponding to that result can be instantly started to be played. .

Further, since the search information area 114 has a recording area with a relatively limited capacity by utilizing the remaining part of the data area 112 arranged in the user data area 110,
The recording capacity of the search information area 114 may become full, but in this case, it will be deleted from the result file that is infrequently accessed. Can be utilized.

Although an image file has been described as an example in the above embodiments, the present invention is particularly suitable for use in handling a large amount of data, for example, from a small-capacity text database representing a document of about several kilobytes or less. Also, the present invention can be particularly effectively applied to a system for converting a voice signal into a database and an information recording medium in which voice information is recorded. Further, it is also advantageously used for so-called multimedia use in which voices and images are combined.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, a data area, a management area, and a search information area are arranged on an information recording medium. Search information indicating search conditions and search results is recorded. Therefore, when the information recorded in the data area is searched based on the search information recorded in the search information area, a quick search process can be performed. In this case, it is not necessary to perform a particularly troublesome operation of newly inputting search conditions for the search, and thus, the search processing time can be shortened as a whole despite the increase in the search processing time due to various factors. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an information recording format in an optical disc as an information recording medium used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of the optical disc shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the outline of another example of the optical disc shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image database system to which the present invention is applied.

5 is a flowchart showing an example of a search processing operation in the system shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing another example of the search processing operation in the system shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a part following the flowchart shown in FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing an operation of deleting a specific result file in the system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Image database system 18 Optical disk 106 MO area 108 UTOC area 110 User data area 112 Data area 114 Search information area 116 Search information area directory 118 Result file 120 Header 122 Data descriptor 124 Thumbnail 125 Data management area

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A data retrieval method for retrieving information recorded on an information recording medium under desired conditions and outputting a retrieval result according to the retrieval, wherein the information is recorded on the information recording medium. A data area, a management area in which management information for managing the data area is recorded, and a search information area in which search information indicating search conditions and search results of the information recorded in the data area is recorded The method is characterized in that, when the information recorded in the data area is searched, a search is performed based on the search information recorded in the search information area, and the search information corresponding to the result of the search is output. Data search method. 2. The data search method according to claim 1, wherein the method outputs the information recorded in the data area corresponding to the search information after outputting the search information according to the result of the search. A data retrieval method characterized by: 3. The data search method according to claim 1, wherein the information is image information representing a predetermined image and / or voice information representing a predetermined voice. 4. The data search method according to claim 1, wherein when the search information corresponding to the result of the search is output,
The search information recorded in the search information area is updated. 5. The data search method according to claim 4, wherein old search information having a low access frequency is deleted according to the recording capacity of the search information area. 6. The information recording medium in the data search method according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is an optical disc having an area in which information can be written. 7. The information recording medium in the data retrieval method according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium has an area of a magneto-optical disk in which information can be rewritten by writing and erasing information. 8. A data search method for searching information recorded on an information recording medium under desired conditions and outputting a search result according to the search, wherein the information is recorded on the information recording medium. A data area, a management area in which management information for managing the data area is recorded, and a search information area in which search information indicating search conditions and search results of the information recorded in the data area is recorded The method includes a first search processing step of searching the information recorded in the data area based on the management information, and search information recorded in the search information area prior to the first search processing step. A second search processing step for causing the operator to confirm desired search information based on the above, and if there is search information desired by the operator in the second search processing step, the second search processing Let the process continue Then, the desired search information is output, and if there is no search information desired by the operator in the second search processing step, the process proceeds to the first search processing step. 9. The data search method according to claim 8, wherein the method outputs search information according to a search result of the second search processing step, and then outputs the search information to the data area corresponding to the search information. A data retrieval method characterized by outputting recorded information. 10. The data search method according to claim 8, wherein the information is image information representing a predetermined image and / or voice information representing a predetermined voice. 11. The data search method according to claim 8, wherein when the information recorded in the data area corresponding to the result of the first search processing step is output, at least search information indicating a file creation date and time. Is newly recorded in the search information area. 12. The data search method according to claim 8, wherein when the search information corresponding to the result of the second search processing step is output, the search information recorded in the search information area is updated. Data retrieval method characterized by. 13. The data search method according to claim 8, wherein the old search information having a low access frequency is deleted according to the recording capacity of the search information area. 14. A data search device for searching information recorded on an information recording medium under desired conditions and outputting a search result according to the search, wherein the information is recorded on the information recording medium. A data area, a management area in which management information for managing the data area is recorded, and a search information area in which search information indicating search conditions and search results of the information recorded in the data area is recorded The apparatus includes an information recording / reproducing unit for reading information recorded on the information recording medium and writing information on the information recording medium, a storage unit for storing the information, and an operation information for an operator. Operating means for outputting a corresponding instruction signal; control means for searching the information recorded in the information recording medium loaded in the information recording / reproducing means in response to the instruction signal; An image output means for outputting an image in accordance with a step search, wherein the control means searches the information recorded in the data area based on the management information recorded in the information recording medium. And a second search for causing the operator to confirm the desired search information based on the search information recorded in the search information area prior to the first search processing. Second search processing means for performing processing, and when the operation means notifies a command signal according to operation information indicating that there is search information desired by the operator in the second search processing, If the search information desired by the operator is not found in the second search processing, the first search processing is executed by continuing the second search processing to output the image representing the desired search information to the image output means. Data retrieval characterized by performing Location. 15. The data search device according to claim 14, wherein the device includes an information input unit for inputting information to be recorded in the information recording medium, and the control unit is supplied from the information input unit. A data retrieving apparatus for recording information in a data area of the information recording medium. 16. An information recording medium for recording a large amount of information representing an image, a sound, etc., wherein the information recording medium has a user data area in which the information is recorded and a management for managing the user data area. A management area in which information is recorded is arranged, and the user data area further includes a data area in which data as main information is recorded and search information for searching the data recorded in the data area. A search information area, and the search information area corresponds to a search condition and a search result when the data recorded in the data area is searched based on the management information recorded in the management area. An information recording medium characterized by being an area in which is recorded. 17. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the search information area records a result file created when data recorded in the data area is searched based on the management information. An information recording medium including an area, wherein the result file includes a data descriptor in which a description regarding data corresponding to the search result is recorded, and a thumbnail representing a reduced image of the data. 18. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the information recording medium is an optical disc having an area in which information can be rewritten by writing and erasing information. 19. The information recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the information recording medium has a magneto-optical disk area in which information can be rewritten by writing and erasing information. .