FILE SYSTEM

Abstract: A file system is capable of reading out either the image stored on microfilm or the image stored on a disk by means of mutual input information.

Description: Technical Field ; The present invention relates to an image file system, and more particularly to an image file system for storage and retrieval of a large amount of image information. Background Art ; Conventionally microfilm systems have been employed for storage and administration of a very large amount of non-code information (image information). The microfilm is featured by economy, archival storage ability, high resolving power and high input speed allowing a large amount of copying operations at a high speed, and is suitable for efficient storage and administration of file information increasing year after year. On the other hand, remarkable progress in office automation is stimulating introduction of computers into various office equipment and mutual connection of such equipment by means of communication networks. In order to adapt to such trend the use of computers and communication networks, it is strongly desirable to store the information to be processed in the form of electrical signals. For this reason much attention has been paid, in recent years, to the electronic file system, which, being designed to store the information in the form of electrical signals, is provided with such advantages, as high-speed retrieval or high-speed transmission that are not present in the microfilm systems. Though the electronic file systems are sufficiently adaptable to the recent trend of office automation because of the above-mentioned advantages, the conventional microfilm systems have to be considered lacking such adaptability, particularly the compatibility with such computer- or communication-oriented office equipment. In the following there will be given a more detailed explanation of the conventional microfilm system and the electronic file system while making reference to the attached drawings. In the conventional microfilm system, hard copies are prepared in a reader-printer typically illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein a light beam from a light source 1 is transmitted by a microfilm 2 and a lens 3, and is reflected by a fixed mirror 4. In the use as reader, a movable mirror 5 is positioned at A, whereby the light reflected by the fixed mirror 4 is projected onto a screen 6, thus forming the image of the microfilm onto said screen 6. On the other hand, in the use as printer, the movable mirror 5 is moved to a position B, whereby the light reflected by the fixed mirror 4 is projected onto a photosensitive paper 7. The photosensitive paper thus exposed is developed in a developing station 8 and discharged as a hard copy. Such a process, however, is time-consuming and is associated with an inferior image quality. For improving the image quality, therefore, it is also proposed obtaining hard copies by introducing the light reflected by the movable mirror 5 at the position B into an ordinary copier. Nevertheless the drawback of time requirement is not resolved at all, since, in either case, the procedure of retrieving a desired one of a large amount of microfilms and setting it on the reader-printer for obtaining hard copies remains unchanged. In addition, in case of sending the information contained in the microfilm to another location, it has been necessary, in the above-described process, to mail the hard copies obtained in the above-described procedure or to send them via facsimile, and such a solution cannot be considered to match the recent trend of office automation. In order to resolve such drawbacks there has been proposed a microfilm file as shown in Fig. 2, which shows a microfiche system as an example, wherein microfiche films 10 are stored in a determined order in a magazine 9. For projecting a microfilm frame bearing the record of a desired document in this file system, an address A is entered from an input unit such as an unrepresented keyboard. In response to the address A, a retrieval unit 11 rotates the magazine 9 and stops it at a designated position. Then an unrepresented drive unit extracts a microfiche film 10 from the magazine 9 and properly positions the desired frame. Upon completion of positioning, a light source 12 is turned on, and the emitted light beam is transmitted through a lens 13, the desired frame of the microfiche film 10 and a lens 14 and enters a half-mirror 15. After reflection by the half-mirror 15, the light beam is transmitted through a lens 16 and is projected onto an unrepresented optical screen, thus forming thereon the image of the desired frame. In the following there will be explained the procedure of preparing a hard copy from the information displayed on the screen, or sending it to another location via a facsimile. The light beam transmitted by the half-mirror 15 is converted into electrical signals by a photoelectric sensor 17, and electrical signals are subjected to a suitable process, such as binary encoding and amplification, in a signal processing unit 18 and are released as image data D. The photoelectric sensor 17 performs scanning in a direction indicated by an arrow by means of a scan control unit 19, thus converting the image information of the entire frame into electrical signals. The image data D thus obtained from the desired frame are supplied to an unrepresented hard copy unit or an unrepresented facsimile transmitting unit. The photoelectric sensor 17 can be conveniently composed of a CCD linear array sensor. Naturally the above-mentioned scanning drive is dispensed with, when a two-dimensional area sensor is employed. Fig. 3 shows an example of the microfilm file in which the microfilm is formed as a rolled film. The function in this case is almost the same as in the microfilm file shown in Fig. 2, except that a microfilm 20 contained in a cartridge 21 requires a somewhat different driving process for retrieval. As explained in the foregoing, it is rendered possible to effect the retrieval, hard copying and transmission at a higher speed according to the process shown in Figs. 2 and 3, regardless whether the microfilm is used in the form of a rolled film or a card film represented by a microfiche film. Now reference is made to Fig. 4 for explaining the conventional electronic file system in a more detailed manner. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the conventional electronic film system, composed of a document reader 22, a printer 23, an input means in the form of a work station 24 and a memory 26, all connected to a retrieval means in the form of a controller 27. A third storage means in the form of an index file 25 is connected to the input means 24. The document reader 22 utilizes, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD), and converts a document by raster scanning into electrical signals, which, after suitable processing such as amplification and binary encoding, are stored in the memory 26. It is also possible to store a document prepared in the input means 24 or information entered from an unrepresented facsimile. In this manner the necessary documents can be stored in succession in the memory 26. The capacity of the memory 26 should naturally be as large as possible. As an example, an optical disk memory of a diameter of 30 cm can store non-code information approximately corresponding to about fifty books or a small bookcase. Upon the storage of a document in the memory 26, the index of said document is simultaneously stored in the index file 25. In case of preparing a hard copy of the document stored in the memory 26, a keyword, for example, of the document is entered via the input means 24. Then reference is made to the index file 25 and the desired document is read from the memory 26 and released as a hard copy in the printer 23. The printer 23 can be an electrostatic printer or a laser beam printer. It is also possible to monitor the information as a soft copy displayed on the input means 24 instead of the hard copy. The retrieval means 27 controls the entire system, and includes an interface and, if necessary, a band compressing and expanding circuit. The retrieval means 27 may be constructed separately as shown in Fig. 4 or integrated with the document reader 22, printer 23, input means 24 or memory 26. As explained in the foregoing, the electronic file system can achieve automatic retrieval within several seconds, since a large amount of documents is stored through the document reader 22 into the memory 26 in the form of electrical signals. It also has a strong advantage of allowing retrieval of the document even immediately after the storage thereof, since the development process, as in the conventional microfilm, is no longer necessary. On the other hand, certain advantages of the conventional microfilm system are lost. For example, the input speed is lower because of the raster scanning required for the photoelectric conversion, since a one-shot conversion through a lens system, as in the microfilm system, is not feasible. There are still other disadvantages, such as inability to prepare records less than several hundred frames in high-speed and economical manner, absence of actual archival storage in contrast to the archival storage resulting over 100 years in the microfilms, and absence of authorization as legal evidence which is already acknowledged for the microfilms. An even greater difficulty lies in the fact that the data base and information conventionally built up with the microfilm system become no longer useful when introducing the electronic file system. The microfilm system and the electronic file system have respective advantages as explained beforehand, and the microfilm system cannot be disregarded, though the electronic file system has many advantages in consideration of the recent trend of office automation. Consequently, the users are either compelled to select either of these two systems or have to endure the inconvenience of using two systems in parallel manner. From GB 2 034 941 A a file system is known comprising connection means which is capable of connecting said system to first storage means and second storage means wherein the first and second storage means differ from each other in the storage file type and each of the first and second storage means stores a plurality of retrieval image information, input means for inputting retrieval information associated with desired image information and retrieval means for retrieving image information from the first storage means and the second storage means on the basis of the retrieval information input from that input means. For using this file system an operator has to know in which storage means the required information is stored and in which form the retrieval information is to be input into the input means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a file system according to the preamble of claim 1 the information of which can be retrieved in an easy way. According to the invention this object is solved by the features of claim 1. The invention is advantageously developed by the measures mentioned in the subclaims. Brief Description of Drawings ; Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a microfilm reader-printer; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a microfiche file; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a microfilm roll file; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional electronic file system; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a file system of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing the procedure of image retrieval. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by embodiments thereof shown in the attached drawings. Fig. 5 shows the structure of an embodiment of a united file system according to the present invention. A partial system 28 including the retrieval means 29 corresponds in the present embodiment to the conventional electronic file system shown in Fig. 4, wherein identical components are represented by identical numbers, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The present invention is featured by the fact that a second storage means in the form of a disk memory 30 and a first storage means in the form of a microfilm file 31 are connected to an equal retrieval means 29 and are commonly controlled. Other units such as the document reader 22, printer 23, input means 24 and index file 25 are connected in the same manner as shown in Fig. 4 and will not therefore be explained further. In the following there will be given an explanation of the function of the present embodiment. A large amount of documents is read by the document reader 22 and stored in the disk memory 30, which is of random access type as explained beforehand and is preferably composed of a memory of high density and high capacity such as an optical disk memory, for the purpose of space saving. The indices of the information stored in the memory 30 are stored in the index file 25 and administered by the input means 24. The microfilm file 31 is preferably provided with an automatic retrieval function as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but it can be of any type as long as it is equipped with means for converting the image of microfilms into electrical signals by raster scanning. In the present embodiment there is employed, as an example, the microfilm roll file shown in Fig. 3. The index of each frame of the microfilms stored in the microfilm file 31 is stored in the index file 25 and administered by the input means 24, in the same manner as the index of the information stored in the memory 30. The index file 25 can be composed of a magnetic disk memory, a floppy disk or a semiconductor memory incorporated in the input means 24. When the operator enters a retrieving condition of the desired information via input means, such as a keyboard of the input means 24, it compares the entered retrieving condition with the indices stored in the index file 25 to identify whether the desired information is stored either in the memory 30 or in the microfilm file 31, and supplies the retrieval means 29 with the track number in case the information is in the memory 30, or the frame number if the information is in the microfilm file 31. Then an instruction of the operator to retrieve the information is supplied via the input means 24 to the retrieval means 29, which, in response, supplies a read-out signal together with the address of the information either to the memory 30 or to the microfilm file 31. In case the information is stored in the memory 30, it supplies the retrieval means 29 with the information according to the read-out instruction signal and address signal thus entered. On the other hand, in case the information is stored in the microfilm file 31, it retrieves the frame of the information according to the read-out instruction signal and frame number thus entered, then converts the two-dimensional image information into electrical signals by raster scanning and supplies the signals to the retrieval means 29 after determined processing. Fig. 6 shows an example of retrieval of flow chart which is to be executed by a processor in the input means 24. At first a keyword is entered as retrieving condition via the keys of the input means 24 (step 32). Then an index data base DB stored in a floppy disk 25 is developed in a memory RAM of the input means 24 to form a retrieving table (step 33). Subsequently the table data in the RAM are searched according to the entered keyword data (step 34), whereby the number of images meeting the retrieving condition and a list of the images are obtained and displayed on the input means 24 (step 35). Then, upon entry of a desired index via the keys (step 36), it is identified whether the image corresponding to the index is stored in the microfilm or in the disk (step 37). This operation is achieved by identifying the setting state of data A, which indicates the media of image storage and is stored together with the index data as a part of data base in the RAM. In case the data A is set, indicating that the image is stored in the disk, the address data, such as the track number in the disk, is released (step 38). On the other hand, if the image is stored in the film, the address data, such as the frame number of the film, is released (step 39). The step 37 also displays the media in which the image is stored. Then a discrimination is made whether an image read-out instruction is entered (step 40), and, if affirmative, command data are supplied to the retrieval means 29 to read the image data either from the film or from the disk in which the desired image is stored. The information supplied in this manner to the retrieval means 29 can be processed in the same manner, regardless whether it has been stored in the memory 30 or in the microfilm file 31. The retrieval means 29 can supply the information received from the memory 30 or from the microfilm file 31 either to the input means 24 for being displayed as a soft copy on the display unit or to the printer 23 for being output as a hard copy. It is also possible to store, in the memory 30 via the document reader 22, the information the amount of which is less than a unit volume of the microfilm file 31, which is a sheet of microfiche in case of a microfiche file or a cartridge in case of a microfilm file, thus enabling effective use thereof, and to transfer the information to the microfilm when the amount becomes large enough. In the conventional microfilm system the information has to be left unconsidered until an economical unit of information is collected, since the recording of information less than a microfiche sheet or a microfilm cartridge is uneconomical, but the system of the present invention always allows effective use of information by the method of use mentioned above. Besides, the file system of the present invention is provided not only with the advantages of the microfilm system, such as a high input speed, archival storage performance, ability for high-speed recordings of a large amount, ability to provide a large-sized image and acceptance as legal evidence, but also the advantages of the electronic file system, such as a high-speed retrieval, possibility of image retrieval immediately after information input, and ease of image transmission. Since the information in the electronic file system and in the microfilm system can be equally handled, it is rendered possible to select the optimum form of storage according to the species of information, frequency and nature of use thereof, and also to alter the form of storage easily according to the change of circumstances. Also in case the administration of information is shifted from a microfilm file system to a new electronic file system, the operator can retrieve all the information in a single file system, without the trouble of using two systems in parallel, taking the time of system shift into consideration. Furthermore, though the microfilm file system does not allow to change the information afterwards, the file system of the present invention enables to add, alter or correct the information freely. For example, in case information stored in a microfilm has to be partially corrected afterwards, the information of the corresponding page is read from the microfilm, subjected to necessary addition or correction and then stored in the electronic file, and the addition or correction of information can be immediately achieved in this manner. In the system shown in Fig. 5, it is also possible to automatically record the information read from the microfilm file 31 into the memory 30. In this manner a huge amount of microfilmed information accumulated in the past can be converted into the information in the electronic file, for example unmanned operation during the night. In such a case it is naturally necessary to change the retrieving information in the index file 25 accordingly. It is furthermore possible to enter a large amount of information into microfilms, which allow high-speed input of two pages every second in a microfilm laboratory, and to edit the frequently used information, for example, in a disk of the memory 30 by means of the above-mentioned automatic conversion. Such a concentration of frequently used information in one place allows to significantly improve the retrieving speed in comparison with a case where such information is dividedly stored in various media.

Claims: A file system comprising: connection means which is capable of connecting said system to first storage means (31) and second storage means (30), wherein the first and second storage means (30, 31) differ from each other in the storage file type and each of the first and second storage means (30, 31) stores a plurality of retrievable image information; input means (24) for inputting retrieval information associated with desired image information; and retrieval means (29) for retrieving image information from the first storage means (31) and the second storage means (30) on the basis of the retrieval information input from said input means (24), characterized in that said system further comprises third storage means (25) having indexes stored therein, each index being searched for storage identification; and that said retrieval means (29) automatically selects one of the first and second storage means (31, 30) for outputting desired image information in response to common retrieval information which has been input by said input means (24) and which is commonly used for the retrieval of image information from the first storage means (31) and the second storage means (30) and also in response to an index stored in said third storage means (25) accessed by said retrieval information. A file system according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means (31) is a microfilm file or a microfiche file. A file system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second storage means (30) is an image disk. A file system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second storage means (30) is a random access memory. A file system according to claim 4, wherein said random access memory (30) is a magnetic memory. A file system according to claim 4, wherein said random access memory (30) is a laser optical memory.

Inventors: FUJIWARA TAKUTOSHI, KONISHI MOTOFUMI, FUJIWARA, TAKUTOSHI, KONISHI, MOTOFUMI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G06F17