NL9100425A - Computerised data retrieval system for subject based research - accesses library databases via national and international switched telephone networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The data retrieval terminal can be linked via the switched telephone network (T) to a nubmer of remote computer systems (H/D) which act as databases, e.g. patent indexes, library indexes, etc. The terminal consists of a telephone network interface (HDI), data preocessor (CTR), VDO and keyboard, and a number of dedicated memory units. The memory units include: a primary data memory (DPM) used to hold the search data, e.g. keywords and response data; a thesaurus memory (TM) to aid and broaden the search; a memory (SRM) to hold the data selection rules for the search and a memory (UPM) which holds the user profile data to enable the database stations to idenity the user.

Description

Operating system for a computer system to be linked

A. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a control system for controlling a computer system (H / D) to be coupled to that control system by means of control code signals to be sent to that computer system, via an input / output device (TTY) that can be operated by a user.

Such a system is generally known and can be constituted by a terminal (e.g. a personal computer) with which the said computer system to be coupled can be controlled. The computer system may, for example, be a process control system, however, in the context of the present invention, a host1 computer system in which one or more databases are housed is particularly contemplated. These databases can be controlled ("queried") by the terminal after selecting the host - via a transmission network - by exchanging control and response code signals; one then speaks of an 'online search'. In addition, the control code signals are used at the beginning of a computer session to 'log in' to the host system (eg ORBIT) and select the desired database (eg INSPEC) within that host. This login and selection is an iterative process in which the computer system responds to control code signals emitted by the operating system (user side) with response code signals. After logging in and selecting a database, the control code signals are used to perform a search in the database. The response code signals then answer the questions asked via the control code signals. A query ('search expression') can be formed by a combination of control codes, usually formed by one or more operators * and one or more 'variables'. An example of such a search expression (the content of a control co-designal) is 'Select ELECTRO (w) MOTOR #', which means: 'Select those database records that contain the word combination' electro motor 'or' electro motors '' . The content of the response code signal may read: 'ELECTRO (W) MOTOR #: 2.256', which means: '2.-256 records found containing the word combination' electro motor 'or' electro motors'.

If a terminal can be used by different users to query different databases and those users are not experienced in operating those databases, in practice the use of the information stored in such databases will remain very limited.

In fact, there are two problems with this. The first problem is the unfamiliarity with the control codes to be used for initiating a session, ie for choosing and logging in to the desired host and database, and furthermore the unfamiliarity with the control codes ('query-language1,' operators') of the selected host / database, which can be different per host and even per database. The second problem is the inexperience with the concept codes ('search terms', 'variables') to be used as control code after initiation of the session, which should be used for searching within a database - together with the 'operators' - achieving a satisfactory, relevant search result. Such concept codes can be formed by, for example, classification codes such as UDC or IPC codes, but also by keywords, in particular treasury terms, 'identifiers', etc. Their interrelationships can be indicated by relationship codes, such as 'broader term', 'narrower term' ',' related term 'etc. The context in which such a concept code is placed also plays a role in particular with thesaurus and such concept codes. For example, the concept code "TRANSMISSION" can be part of the context "DRIVE TECHNOLOGY OF VEHICLES" but also of the context "TRANSFER OF TELEPHONE SIGNALS".

The first problem therefore has to do with the formal, syntactic control of the host / database, the second problem with the semantic content of the search process, the 'search strategy'.

One consequence of this is that in practice 'online' queryable databases can mainly be consulted via a literature researcher trained therein. On the one hand this may have the advantage that such a literature researcher builds up a very useful (synergistic) know-how as a result of doing searches in many areas, by making cross connections, but on the other hand it constitutes the necessity of such an 'intermediary' also an obstacle to the use of online databases, as a result of which, for example, scientific research is unnecessarily duplicated in a number of cases, or inventions are made that could already be known.

B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an operating system as mentioned above, which is in particular intended for controlling database systems, etc., by means of control code signals, in order to derive information therefrom in response to the control code signals transmitted in the form of host / database system to return response code signals (information code signals). However, the invention is not limited thereto, but is also suitable for controlling other online controllable systems, e.g. process control systems, where a similar 'operating' problem may arise.

Since the objection of the hitherto known systems can be divided into two parts, viz. the unfamiliarity with the actual 'command codes' (1 log-in codes, 'operators', etc.) of the (online) system and the inexperience with the concept codes (search terms) to be used, in fact the present invention provides for two, similar measures. , however, each focused on one of these problems.

Characteristic of the operating system according to one option of the invention - to provide a solution to the above first problem - is the presence of first memory means (DPM), suitable and intended for storing system parameters per computer system (H / D), system connection means (HDI), suitable and intended for building and maintaining connections to said computer systems (H / D), and control means (CTR), connected to the input / output device (TTY), to the first memory means and to the system connection means, and suitable and intended for selecting at least one of the computer systems under the control of a first selection code and reading out the system parameters belonging to the selected computer system from said first memory means, for building up, directly or indirectly, under the control of those system parameters, maintaining and supporting a connection to the selected computer system, and for controlling said computer system by means of said control code signals. These measures therefore provide memory means in which the parameters for establishing a connection to a desired host or database are stored and which are read under the control of (only) one selection code, whereby said connection means independently build and maintain this connection. The parameters preferably relate both to setting up the connection - dial number, 'user-rid', etc. - and to further controlling the selected system (host / database). According to the invention, the system parameters mentioned, in addition to the login parameters, in particular also include conversion parameters for maintaining and supporting. communication between the operating system and the selected computer system. Using some of these conversion parameters, the control codes to be entered by the user (command codes, 'operators', etc.) are converted into control codes that are acceptable for the computer system to be controlled, ie which comply to the syn-tax rules of the control language ('query language') of that computer system, in other words being 'compatible *. Another part of that conversion parameter there is used for conversion in other directions, viz. response code signals (received by the operating system of the computer system to be controlled) in user-understandable response codes. The conversion parameters thus ensure on the one hand that the codes to be entered by the user, intended for the control of the connected computer system (host / database), are always the same, while on the other hand the form (language) in which the connected computer system is - by means of of the converted response code signals - to the user is always the same. In other words, the conversion parameters always effect mutual conversion between the (same) user s question and answer language and the (different computer system) computer question and answer language of the computer system selected by the first selection code.

Characteristic of the operating system according to the other option of the invention - to provide a solution to the above second problem - is the presence of second memory means (TM) for storing concept codes, corresponding to controlling the computer systems to be linked. use control codes, of relation codes to indicate related concept codes, and of context codes assigned to those concept codes and relation codes to indicate context classes of those concept and relation code codes, and furthermore by means of control (CTR), connected to the input / output means (TTY) and with said second memory means and suitable and intended for selecting a context code under the control of a second selection code, reading from said second memory means the concept and relation codes belonging to that selected context code and for supplying to the import / export body those selected conceptual and relationship codes. These measures therefore provide memory means in which - as a help to the user - a thesaurus or similar systematic collection of keywords or other search codes ("variables") with their mutual relations (relation codes) is stored and wherein by means of one selection code can present a specific, relevant part of that collection - comprising the concept and relation codes that form a contextually coherent whole - to the user, in order to arrive at a good search strategy by means of this. Naturally, said control means preferably form an integrated whole with the control means mentioned in the first option.

Preferably, the invention provides a control system in which both options are present. The mentioned selection codes, for the actual control of the selected databases resp. for recalling a specific, contextually consistent part of (e.g.) the installed thesaurus, the user can enter the data via (the keyboard of) the terminal, or read it out from third memory means (UPM), in which the data of the logged in to the operating system 'logged in' user. That data may then include the first and / or second selection code associated with that user and be presented (as 'default') when logging into the operating system or used directly by the controller to determine a computer system and / or a part from the collection. select grips and relationship codes.

A special preferred embodiment of the invention provides that in the said second memory means (TM) a number of relevance codes is stored per concept code, namely always a relevance code per computer system to be coupled, the value of such a code being associated with a concept code Relevance code assigned indicates the degree to which, when a control code corresponding to that concept code is sent to the relevant computer system, the expected response is relevant, and the said control means (CTR) are suitable and intended for, after the input / output device has been (TTY) receiving from one, or more, understanding codes, control code or a combination of such control codes, presenting through the input / output means of that computer system (H / D) whose relevance code or combination of relevance codes has the highest value. In combination with the first option of the invention it can be provided that the most relevant computer system is not (only) presented, but (also) - after confirmation by the user - by means of the first selection code is selected. In this special preferred embodiment, a proposal or a (pre) selection is automatically made with regard to the host / database to be selected, on the basis of the expected relevance of the different databases per concept code (search term), indicated by the database relevance. tie codes. These can be assigned to the different concept codes, eg based on database responses (search results) during previous search sessions. It is also possible to 'update' the value of the relevance codes of the concept codes used during that session on the basis of the responses obtained in each online session, so that the value of the relevance codes is always the best possible 'ex ante'. value for a future session. Moreover, the user is not obliged to actually choose the database system thus proposed by the operating system. Obviously, the user will have to make his own choice if the operating system produces different preferred databases for different concept codes entered successively.

C. REFERENCES None.

D. IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE

The accompanying figure shows a schematic embodiment of the invention. Preferably, the various functional components to be discussed below are incorporated in one device, the terminal in a broader sense, which will hereinafter be referred to as "workstation".

The workstation is functionally formed by an input / output module TTY, the terminal in the narrow sense, equipped with keyboard and screen. The workstation also comprises a control module CTR in which all control operations are performed, for example under the control of (generic) control software and of specific application software. Functionally connected to the control module CTR are a number of memory modules, namely a database profile memory DPM, a thesaurus memory TM and a user profile memory (UPM). Other memory modules may also be provided, such as a memory with recommended selection rules (SRM) and a memory with linguistic rules (LRM). The CTR control module can connect to different hosts H and databases D (the hosts perform the function of multi-database server or controller) via a communication interface COM, via a transmission network T, e.g. the public ( international) telephone or data network.

The application software with which the controller CTR is loaded asks a user who wants to start an online session to enter his user code via the terminal. That user code is used - possibly after an authentication procedure using a password - to read out the data known from that user from the user profile memory UPM. Such user data may relate, for example, to the allocation of the operating costs, but may in particular also include the setting regarding the host and / or database to be used - indicated by the aforementioned first selection code and / or the setting of the that user relevant context (class) - indicated by the second selection code mentioned above. This first and second selection code can thereby be imposed on the user in a mandatory manner, whereby the user is therefore not allowed any other choice, or advisory (as 'default'), whereby the user may deviate from that choice by using another first or provide second selection code to controller CTR.

The first selection code, which identifies the host and database to be selected and which is either entered by the user or generated by the user profile memory UPM, is used by the controller CTR to read the data of that host and database from the database pr or iel memory DPM. This memory DPM contains all relevant information that is necessary for accessing ('logging in to') each database (incl. Host). Furthermore, this memory DPM contains two conversion tables per host / database. The first conversion table comprises on the one hand all commands to be used by the user and the like and on the other hand the corresponding commands and the like as they can be interpreted by the respective host and database. This mainly concerns the syntactics of eg search, 'print', 'history' operators etc. (such as' SELECT ',' COMBINE ',' PRINT ',' HIS ') and the syntactics of the' logical operators like (AND), (OR), (WITH), (#W), etc., which are usually fixed per host. Furthermore, this mainly concerns the designations of the various 'record' fields (such as 'TI', 'AU', 'IV', 'SO', 'AB'), which are usually database-bound. By means of the first type of conversion tables (such a conversion table is stored in the memory DPM for each host or database), the same user command total (e.g. SQL) and the same field designations can in all cases be used. A second conversion table is stored in memory DPM for each database, namely a table for the conversion in the reverse direction, i.e. for converting the response code signals received from the hosts (incl. Error messages, etc.) into user-understandable hosts / database independent codes. Furthermore, additional information about the different hosts and databases may be stored in the DPM memory, eg "HELP" information or usage cost information.

Thus, after the parameters required for setting up and executing an online session with the selected database have been read out from the memory DPM, these parameters are transferred by the controller CTR to the host database interface HDI, by means of which this interface HDI connection with the selected host and database and then convert the user's commands, etc. into the language 'understandable' for that host / database. and the response codes from the host / database in "user room".

The user - who enters his commands via the keyboard of the terminal TTY and is presented with the response codes of the controller CTR and of the host system on the display of the terminal TTY - can now execute his online session in the selected database. He can use a thesaurus, which is stored in the thesaurus memory TM. This thesaurus includes concept codes - search terms, keywords - with their interrelationships, indicated by relation codes. As an example are mentioned the concept code 'EXTERNAL CURRENT MOTORS' with the concept code 'ELECTROMOTORS' as 'broader term' (BT), the concept code 'DC MOTORS' as 'related term' (RT), and the concept code as 'narrower term' (NT). "STEPPER MOTORS". BT, RT and NT therefore form the relationship codes. As a relation code it can also be indicated that two concept codes are synonyms (SN) of each other. A large number of concept codes are thus stored in the memory TM, (practically) all provided with relation codes. In addition to the relation codes, the concept codes are also provided with context codes. These indicate the context class of the stored terms. The concept code 'TRANSMISSION' has already been given as an example in the foregoing, which occurs both within the context class 'DRIVE TECHNOLOGY' and within the context class 'TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY'. Within the first context class, the term 'AC motors', 'ELECTRIC MOTORS' (BT), 'DC MOTORS' (RT) and 'STEPPER MOTORS' (NT) are mentioned. It is clear that these concept codes do not fit within the context 'TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUE'. In order to present to the user from the thesaurus memory only the concept codes (and relation codes) that are important for the search session, as an aid in formulating suitable search terms, the user first enters a context code before that session, on the basis of which the controller CTR selects and reads in memory TM only those concept codes with their interrelation codes that fall within that user-selected context class. Another possibility is that, although all concept and relation codes are read from the memory TM, the concept codes belonging to the selected context class, for example, are shown in bold on the display of the terminal TTY, underlined or in a separate color. presented. Incidentally, the thesaurus is not presented in its entirety on the screen, but always a relevant part of it, under cursor or mouse control, e.g. according to known 'window' techniques.

In the foregoing it was indicated that the user profile memory UPM can automatically propose or even select a 'default' database on the basis of the user code entered by the user. It is therefore assumed that the user in question usually uses the same database. For example, employees of a marketing department always use the same database with marketing information, such as PREDICAST, while employees of a patent department usually use the WORLD PATENT INDEX. In the thesaurus memory, however, the concept codes may, in addition to the context codes mentioned, also be provided with relevance codes. These relevance codes are assigned to the concept codes based on the response obtained during a previous search session. A relevance code to be assigned to a concept code is then obtained by measuring the response of the database selected during that search session to the concept code signal sent as control code signal to that database. E.g. During an online search session the term 'ELECTROMOTOREN' will be broadcast as control code signal in the database 'INSPEC'. This control code signal 'ELECTROMOTOREN' is then converted by the interface HDI - under the influence of the conversion parameters - into 'ELECTRO (W) MOTORS' and the database returns as response code signal to the controller CTR (via interface HDI) that the number of 'records' stored in the database is 2,256. This number 2,256 is now stored as a relevance code with the concept code 'ELECTROMOTOREN', i.e. the 'label' 'INSPEC: 2,256' is added to that concept code. Likewise, the response to broadcasting that concept code to other databases can be recorded and converted into such "labels, eg" WORLD PATENT INDEX: 1.353 "," COMPENDEX: 834 ", etc. By this mechanism in the application software of the controller CTR. In the consecutive sessions, the comprehension codes in memory TM are supplemented with such relevance codes. These relevance codes now make it possible - even before connecting to a database - to formulate a search - for example consisting of a combination of different concept codes - and on this basis have the control body CTR give advice regarding the actually perform that search, database to be chosen. The database to be indicated by the controller CTR is then determined on the basis of the combined value of the relevance codes per database. For example, in the case of an (exploratory) search, the (simple) search expression 'Select ELECTROMOTOREN' is used, the controller CTR on the basis of the values of the relevance codes assigned to the concept code 'ELECTROMOTOREN' for resp. the databases 'INSPEC' (2.256), 'WORLD PATENT INDEX' (1.353) and 'COMPENDEX' (834), propose to choose the database 'INSPEC' for the 'actual' search to be carried out afterwards, since the concept code 'ELECTROMOTORS' has the highest relevance code value. Incidentally, an exploratory search will usually suffice with a relatively simple search expression, as indicated above as an example. If desired, a more complex system of search terms may be used in the subsequent actual search.

Claims (7)

Operating system for controlling a computer system (H / D) to be coupled to that operating system by means of control code signals to be sent to that computer system, via an input / output device (TTY) to be operated by a user, characterized by first memory means ( DPM), suitable and intended for storing system parameters per computer system (H / D), system connection means (HDI), suitable and intended for establishing and maintaining connections to the said computer systems (H / D), and control means (CTR), connected to the input / output means (TTY), to the first memory means and to the system connection means, and suitable and intended for selecting at least one of the computer systems under the control of a first selection code and reading out from said first memory means the system parameters belonging to the selected computer system, for direct or indirect control of those system parameters establishing, maintaining and supporting a connection to the selected computer system, and for controlling that computer system by means of said control code signals. Operating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said system parameters stored in the first memory means (DPM) and to be used by the control means (CTR) comprise conversion parameters suitable and intended for converting by the user via the input / output device (TTY) control codes to be entered in the operating system by transmitting the operating system to the selected computer system, recognizable and processable control codes by that computer system. Operating system according to claim 1, characterized in that said system parameters stored in the first memory means (DPM) and used by the control means (CTR) comprise conversion parameters suitable and intended for converting in response to the operating system broadcast control code signals, response code signals from the selected computer system, and response codes to be presented via the input / output (TTY) in a form understandable to the user. Operating system for controlling a computer system (H / D) to be coupled to the operating system by means of control code signals to be sent to that computer system, via a user-operable input / output device (TTY), characterized by second memory means (TM) for storing concept codes, corresponding to control codes to be used for controlling the computer systems to be coupled, of relationship codes for indicating related concept codes, and of context codes assigned to those concept codes and relation codes context classes of those concept and relation code codes, and further by control means (CTR), connected to the input / output device (TTY) and to said second memory means and suitable and intended for selecting a context code under the control of a second selection code, the read out from said second memory means the concept and relat belonging to that selected context code ie codes and for supplying those read concept and relation codes to the input / output member. Control system according to claim 1 or 4, characterized by third memory means (UPM), suitable and intended for storing user parameters per user, the control means (CTR) being additionally connected to said third memory means, and suitable and intended for reading therefrom said first and / or second selection code under the control of a user code generated by the user via the input / output device (TTY). Operating system according to claim 4, characterized in that in said second memory means (TM) a number of relevance codes is stored per concept code, namely a relevance code per computer system to be coupled, wherein the. value of such a relevance code assigned to a concept code indicates the extent to which, when a control code corresponding to that concept code is sent to the relevant computer system, the expected response is relevant, and wherein said control means (CTR) are suitable and intended for presenting, after receiving from the input / output device (TTY) one, one or more concept codes, or a combination of such control codes, via the input / output device presenting that computer system (H / D) whose relevance code whether the combination of relevance codes has the highest value. Operating system according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that in said second memory means (TM) a number of relevance codes is stored per concept code, namely in each case a relevance code per computer system to be coupled, wherein the value of such relevance code assigned to a concept code indicates the degree to which, when transmitting to the relevant computer system a control code corresponding to that term code, the expected response is relevant, and the said control means (CTR) are suitable and intended for, after the input / output device has been (TTY) received from one, comprising one or more concept codes, control code or a combination of such control codes, by means of said first selection code selecting that computer system (H / D) whose relevance code or combination of relevance codes has the highest value has.