JP2001075990A - Data retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a data search device capable of performing an efficient search. SOLUTION: At the time of file data search, in an icon area A, in addition to a schematic display A1 simulating a virtual three-dimensional storage area 20, the schematic display A1 which becomes a three-dimensional icon is displayed.
Cut-out surface indices 21 and 2 indicating the cut-out direction of the above data
3, a cutout position index 24 to 26 indicating a cutout position,
The main display displays a double-headed arrow A2 in each of x, y, and z directions formed adjacent to the schematic display A1 and an enlargement / reduction index icon A3 indicating enlargement / reduction of a cut-out area formed adjacent to the schematic display A1. Detailed data is displayed in the area cut out in the section B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data retrieval apparatus having a storage area that can be expanded three-dimensionally and storing data in a virtual three-dimensional storage area. A configuration for data retrieval.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, storing data in the virtual three-dimensional storage area and displaying the data three-dimensionally is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-63324.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1988-588 discloses an icon of a desired file of input parameters, using file attributes such as file creation date, creator, contents, and the like as three-dimensional parameters.
It describes that the image is projected on the virtual three-dimensional storage area displayed by a two-dimensional screen.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-19 is disclosed.
In Japanese Patent No. 8588, it is possible to search for a file as if searching for the spine of a book arranged on a bookcase.
The search can be performed while confirming the position of the desired file on the virtual three-dimensional storage area. However, the search does not include data such as creation date, creator, and contents of the file.
Since the input is performed by inputting the data, the correlation between the files is not known, and it is not possible to open and search a part of the file, and if the searched file is not the desired file, the search is performed again. A search must be performed by inputting data, and there is a problem that the efficiency of the search operation is low. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-203136 discloses a pseudo 3
Although an example is shown in which an arbitrary cross section of a tomographically photographed head is displayed by operating a dimensional scroll box, in this prior art, which part of the displayed data is the whole. Cannot be grasped, and the efficiency of the search operation is still poor.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has as its object to provide a data search device capable of performing an efficient search.

[0005]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided data storage means for storing data in a three-dimensionally expandable manner, display means for displaying data stored in the data storage means, and display of the display means. A three-dimensional display unit for displaying the storage area of the data storage means on the screen in a virtual three-dimensional manner, and a cutout direction and a cutout size for defining a two-dimensional area in the three-dimensional display unit. An index unit, a cut-out index input unit that changes the two-dimensional area by changing the cut-out index unit,
A data display unit for displaying data in the data storage means corresponding to the two-dimensional area defined by the cutout index unit;
Display control means for controlling the data storage means and display means so as to display the three-dimensional display on the data display part based on an input operation to the cut-out index input part. This is a data retrieval device which enables retrieval of data stored in data storage means while changing data of a two-dimensional area in a section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the size of the data display section is fixed, and the size of the two-dimensional area defined by the cut-out index input section is changed, so that the display on the data display section is performed. 2. The data search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data can be displayed in an enlarged or reduced manner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cut-out index input unit includes a cut-out surface input unit for instructing a cut-out direction of data on the three-dimensional display unit, and x, y, and z. 3. An axial direction input unit for instructing each of the axial directions, and a scaling input unit for instructing scaling of a two-dimensional area.
It is a data retrieval device described in the above.

In the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction input unit of the cut-out index input unit displays an outer periphery that indicates an enlargement side around an inner periphery that indicates a reduction side, and the inner periphery 4. The data retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the part and the outer peripheral part are respectively formed in four areas for instructing enlargement / reduction at an upper side, a lower side, a right side, and a left side.

According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the operator can specify the position of the cut-out index portion on the three-dimensional display portion displayed on the display screen of the display means and the two-dimensional position defined by the cut-out index portion. While checking the data display section for displaying the data in the area, the user operates the cutout index input section with a two-dimensional mouse or the like as if the user were searching for books on a bookshelf. By operating the cut-out index input unit, data displayed on the data display unit can be changed, and a two-dimensional area can be enlarged or reduced.
That is, the size displayed on the data display unit can be changed. So, for example, searching for a bookcase spine,
Further, as if a part of the page is opened and viewed, the data can be searched at an arbitrary position while considering the arrangement relationship of the data stored in the data storage means, and the desired file can be efficiently searched. be able to. That is, since a data storage area and a two-dimensional area as a search area are determined on the three-dimensional display unit and the storage and search are performed, a 3D structure such as tomographic data on a continuous cut plane is performed. In addition, storage and retrieval of file data and the like having a hierarchical structure and closely related to each other are facilitated.

According to the structure of the gist 2 of the present invention, the size of the entire data display section does not change, the two-dimensional area serving as the search area can be changed arbitrarily, and the data file can be converted to characters or figures having an appropriate size. Can be seen at

According to the structure of the third aspect of the present invention, by selecting the cut-out plane input unit using a mouse or the like, the data cut-out direction on the front, side, or plane three-dimensional display unit can be changed. The cutout position can be changed and moved by operating the axial input section, and the size of the cutout area can be changed by operating the scaling input section. Therefore, data can be cut out from the three-dimensional display unit in an arbitrary direction and an arbitrary area by using a mouse.

According to the structure of the gist 4 of the present invention, the two-dimensional area can be independently formed by selecting the upper, lower, right, or left partitioned area provided on the inner or outer peripheral part. Enlargement / reduction can be performed in any of the up, down, left, and right directions, and an area search with a high degree of freedom can be performed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the data storage and retrieval device M. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the data storage and retrieval device M. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a data search screen 11a of the data storage and search device M. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of storing data in the data storage and retrieval device M, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a data retrieval operation of the data storage and retrieval device M.
It is a chart.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the data storage and retrieval apparatus M is roughly composed of an arithmetic processing unit 10, a display 11, a storage device 12, a keyboard 13, and a two-dimensional mouse 14. .

The arithmetic processing unit 10 is generally constituted by a CPU 10a and a file data conversion processing unit 10b, and stores a memory device in response to input operations from a keyboard 13 and a two-dimensional mouse 14. The data stored in the memory 12 is read and displayed on the display screen 11a of the display 11.

The storage device (3D memory) 12 stores, for example, the address of each storage area in three-dimensional data (xi, y).
j, zk) so as to be three-dimensionally expandable, and stores data (including data file names and the like) in its virtual three-dimensional storage area. Note that xi, yj, zk
For example, various attributes such as a name, a date, a position, an arrangement, and a data type can be applied.

Next, the data retrieval screen 11a of the data storage and retrieval device M will be described with reference to FIG. The search screen 11a of the display 11 during data search is divided into an icon area A and a main display section B.

In the icon area A, a schematic display A1 showing the whole or a part of the virtual three-dimensional storage area of the storage device 12 storing data and the like, and the schematic display A1 are shown.
And a double-headed arrow group A2 in the x, y, and z directions in the axial direction, and an enlargement / reduction index icon A3 similarly formed adjacent to the schematic display A1 and indicating the enlargement / reduction of a cut-out area (described later).
And are displayed.

A schematic display A1 schematically showing a virtual three-dimensional storage area of the storage device 12 is an xy plane 20 orthogonal to each other.
a, an xz plane 20b, and a yz plane 20c. Each of the planes 20a, 20b and 20c has a circular or elliptical cut plane input unit (icon) 21, 22 for designating a two-dimensional (plane) cutout direction (attribute) of data.
And 23 are provided corresponding to the respective planes 20a, 20b and 20c. Such cut-out surface input unit (icon) 2
Selection of 1, 22, and 23 is instructed using a cursor or the like.

A rectangular cutout position index 24 indicating a rectangular area is displayed on the cutout plane designated by the cutout index 21, 22, or 23, so that the display range of the data can be easily grasped visually. I have. Further, in the present embodiment, linear line cutout position indicators 25 and 26 are displayed on two other planes than the plane showing the rectangular cutout position indicator 24. The lengths of the line cutout position indicators 25 and 26 correspond to the lengths of two orthogonal sides of the rectangular cutout position indicator 24, and indicate the position and size of the rectangular cutout position indicator 24 in the virtual three-dimensional storage area. It is easier to grasp. The shape of the rectangular cutout position index 24 is not limited to a rectangle, but may be variously changed according to a data display mode described later.

A double-headed arrow group A2 in each of x, y, and z directions is
Small circular or elliptical direction input units (icons) 28, 29, and 31 to 34 are provided at the end of each of the axial arrows 27 and 30 so that the three-dimensional axial direction can be easily visually grasped. By clicking the predetermined direction input units 28, 29, and 31 to 34 with the mouse 14, the rectangular cutout position index 24 (and the line cutout position indexes 25, 26 in the corresponding direction) in the schematic display A1 is moved. It is possible and the cutout position (range) can be freely defined.

The enlargement / reduction index icon A3 includes circular icons of the enlargement input unit 35 and the reduction input unit 36.
As will be described later, by selecting the enlargement input unit 35 with the mouse 14, the display area ratio of the rectangular cutout position index 24 in the schematic display A1 is enlarged, and conversely, by selecting the reduced input unit 36, the rectangular cutout is selected. The area of the position indicator 24 in the schematic display A1 is reduced.

The main display section B is located in the lower screen area of the above-mentioned icon area A, and data (for example, data in the rectangular cutout position index 24 selected via the cutout plane input section 21, 22, or 23). This is a display unit for two-dimensionally displaying data itself, such as a tomographic image and a database file name, and various types of data are displayed depending on the type of data stored. Further, since the main display portion B has a predetermined size, when the display area ratio in the schematic display A1 of the rectangular cutout position index 24 is enlarged by the enlargement / reduction index icon A3, a wide range is displayed, and conversely, the size is reduced. In such a case, data such as characters and figures are enlarged and displayed.

With the configuration of the display screen 11a described above, the operator moves the rectangular cutout position index 24 in a predetermined coordinate direction or performs coordinate conversion while checking the data in the cutout position index 24, thereby obtaining a desired image. Data is two-dimensional or three-dimensional (for example, display of a tomographic image in a direction rotated by 90 degrees at a currently displayed tomographic image location)
The data search can be performed while taking into account the correlation between the data in the above and sometimes expanding the data display range or the data display itself.

For example, when the cut-out plane input section 21 is selected by the mouse 14, the rectangular cut-out position index 24 is displayed on the xy plane 20a, and the data in the rectangular cut-out position index 24 is displayed on the main display section B. Is done. In this state, by selecting the direction input unit 33 or 34 in the z-axis direction, the rectangular cutout surface 24 is moved along the z-axis direction, and the data of the main display unit B changes accordingly, and data search is performed. can do.

Further, by selecting the enlargement input section 35, the area of the rectangular cutout surface 24 in the schematic display A1 is enlarged, the data display range of the main display section B is enlarged, and data can be retrieved from a macroscopic viewpoint. Becomes possible. Conversely, by selecting the reduction input section 36, the area of the rectangular cutout position index 24 in the schematic display A1 is reduced (because the main display section B is the same size), and detailed data, for example, enlarged display Becomes possible.

Furthermore, by selecting the direction input unit 31 or 32 in the x-axis direction, the cutout position index 24 can be moved in the x-axis direction, and the direction input unit 28 or 29 in the y-axis direction can be selected. By doing so, the cutout position index 24 area can be moved in the y-axis direction.

Similarly, when the cut-out plane input unit 22 is selected, the cut-out plane is converted into the xz plane 20b, that is, cut out in the plane direction of the virtual three-dimensional storage area, and the converted rectangular cut-out position is displayed on the main display unit B. The data of the address corresponding to the index 24 area is displayed. Similarly, the cut-out plane input unit 23
Is selected, the image is cut out in the yz plane 20c, that is, in the side direction of the virtual three-dimensional storage area 20, and the main display unit B
The data of the address corresponding to the cutout position index 24 area is displayed.

As described above, the three-dimensional data of the icon area A and the two-dimensional data of the main display section B can be visually displayed under the control of the CPU 10a. The amount of movement of the cutout position indicators 24 to 26
It is set by the number of clicks and the time.

Data storage / readout is performed by using the above-described schematic display A.
1 is performed with reference to the origin P0 (x0, y0, z0), for example, a rectangular cutout position index 24 shown in the main display section B.
Then, from the start point Pa (xa, ya, za), the end point Pan
Detailed data up to (xan, yan, za) is CPU1
The data is read from the storage device 12 under the control of 0a.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the data storage operation. In step Sl, display data of the main display portion B, that is, data to be stored is created, and in step S2, the operator sets a storage position of the data. In response to this, the file data conversion processing unit 10b in the arithmetic processing unit 10 transmits the data in step S3.
The data is assigned to the storage location and stored in the storage device 12 in step S4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the data search operation. In step S11, the cut-out plane input unit 21, 22, or 23 is selected, and when the cut-out direction of the data on the schematic display A1 is determined, the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether or not the size of the cut-out area is changed. If there is a change, the enlargement / reduction input units 35 and 36 are selected in step S13, and the process returns to step S12. When the size of the cutout area is determined in this manner, step S1 is performed.
Move to 4.

In step S14, retrieval of data and file data in the virtual three-dimensional storage area 20 formed in the storage device 12 is started, and the depth (z-axis) by the arrow icons 33 and 34 in step S15. In the direction or step S16, the arrow icons 31, 32; 28,
29, a search in the plane (x, y) direction is performed. When file data desired by the operator is found, the search operation is terminated in step S17.

As described above, when retrieving file data, in the icon area A, a two-dimensional data display surface (cutout direction) specified in the schematic display A1 simulating the virtual three-dimensional storage area in the storage device 12. Input units 21 and 2 for instructing
3, a rectangular cutout position index 2 indicating a cutout position and a size
4 (more specifically, line cutout position indices 25 and 26)
A double-arrow positive / negative arrow group A2 in each of x, y, and z directions formed adjacent to the schematic display A1 and an enlargement / reduction index icon A3 indicating enlargement / reduction of a cut-out area formed adjacent to the schematic display A1 are displayed. Since the detailed data is displayed in the area cut out on the display section B, the operator sets the main display section B displayed on the search screen 11a of the display 11 as the rectangular cutout position index 24 on the schematic display A1. While considering and checking the position, you can search data as if you were searching for a book on a daily bookshelf. That is, using the two-dimensional mouse 14, the attributes and directions of the display data are determined by the cut-out plane input units 21 to 23 while changing the direction in some cases, and the data is searched by the predetermined direction input units 28, 29 and 31 to 34. Position can be determined. Further, the scaling indicator icon A3
Thus, the size of the cutout area, that is, the cutout size can be changed. Therefore, for example, it is possible to search for the spine of a book on the bookshelf, and to further open and view a part of the pages, thereby making it possible to efficiently search for desired data.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a data search screen in the data storage device of the present embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. . The first difference from the present embodiment and the first embodiment, in the icon area A _2, is in the scale indicator A3 ₂ that integrates the reduction index and the expansion index, the outer peripheral circle representing a magnification side And four inner regions 3u, 3d, 3r, 3l (outer circles) at regular intervals on diameter lines orthogonal to each other on the reduced side, and 4u, 4d, 4
r, 41 (inner circumference circle).

The areas 3u and 4u mean the vertical movement of the upper side of the rectangular cutout position index 24 with the arc pointing upward. Similarly, the regions 3d and 4d move up and down on the lower side of the rectangular cutout position index 24 with the arc pointing downward, and the regions 3r and 4r move the right side of the rectangular cutout position index 2 with the arc pointing right. 3l and 4l mean the left and right movement of the left side of the rectangular cutout position index 24 with the arc pointing to the left.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the regions 3u and 3d are selected in a state where the x and y planes are selected, the cutout position index 24 is enlarged in the y-axis direction and the regions 3r and 3d are extracted.
When l is selected, the rectangular cutout position index 24 is enlarged in the x-axis direction, and when the regions 4u and 4d are selected, the rectangular cutout position index 24 is reduced in the y-axis direction and the region 4u is reduced.
When r and 41 are selected, the rectangular cutout position index 24
Are reduced in the x-axis direction.

In this manner, the rectangular cutout position index 24, that is, the direction of a specific side of the rectangular search area of the main display portion B, which is a rectangular search area, can be enlarged or reduced in any of the vertical and horizontal directions. An area search having a high degree of freedom in consideration of the relationship between data and the like can be performed.

The second difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the direction input units 28, 29 and 3
1 to 34 (A2 ₂₎ is also in that they are displayed integrally. This enables a compact screen display.
Such a display is determined based on the easiness of the operation image of the operator, the preference, and the like.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of a data search screen in the data storage device of the present embodiment.
The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In particular, differences from the second embodiment and this embodiment is the same as the icon area A _3, is in the scale indicator A3 ₃ which can be enlarged or reduced by collectively the rectangular cutout position indicator 24, the Regions 3u, 3d, 3r, 31; 4u, 4d, 4r, 41
A collective expansion input section 35 ₃ on the outer peripheral side of the collective Reduced section 36 ₃ on the inner circumferential side is formed. As a result, the area of the rectangular cutout position index 24 can be easily scaled uniformly in all directions, up, down, left, and right.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator can search for data at an arbitrary position while considering the arrangement relationship of the data stored in the data storage means. The desired file can be searched efficiently. That is, since a data storage area and a two-dimensional area which is a search area are determined on the three-dimensional display unit and data storage and search are performed, three-dimensional data such as tomographic data on a continuous cut plane is obtained.
Storage and retrieval of D-structures and file data each having a hierarchical structure and closely related to each other are facilitated.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the size of the entire data display section does not change, the cutout area can be changed arbitrarily, and the data can be viewed in characters or figures of an appropriate size. Abstract 3
According to the invention, data can be cut out from the three-dimensional display section in any direction and in any area. Abstract 4
According to the invention, enlargement / reduction in any of the upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions can be instructed independently.
The direction of the specific side of the dimensional area can be independently instructed to expand and contract, and a highly flexible area search can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a data storage and retrieval device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the data storage and retrieval device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a data search screen used in the data storage and search device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of storing data in the data storage and retrieval device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a data search operation of the data storage and search device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a data search screen of a data storage and search device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a data search screen of a data storage and search device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

M data storage and retrieval apparatus 10 processing unit 11 display 12 storage device A, A _2, A ₃ icon area A1 schematic view A2, A2 ₂ each axial positive and negative arrows xyz A3, A3 _2, A3 ₃ scaling indicator icon 21 ２３23 Cut-out surface input unit 24 Rectangular cut-out position index 25,26 Line cut-out position index 28,29,31-34 Direction input unit 35,35 ₃ Enlargement input unit 36,36 ₃ Reduction input unit B Main display unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B050 BA09 CA07 FA09 5B075 ND20 PP02 PP03 PQ02 PQ48 PQ49 QP05 5E501 AA01 AC15 AC33 BA03 BA05 CA03 CA04 CB02 CB09 EA05 EA11 EB05 FA04 FA27 FB03 FB04 FB43

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A data storage device for storing data in a three-dimensionally expandable manner.
Data storage means; display means for displaying data stored in the data storage means; and three-dimensional display of a storage area of the data storage means on a display screen of the display means in a virtual three-dimensional manner. A display unit, a cutout index unit indicating a cutout direction and a cutout size for defining a two-dimensional area in the three-dimensional display unit, and
A cutout index input unit for changing a dimensional area, and a data display unit for displaying data in the data storage means corresponding to the two-dimensional area defined by the cutout index unit are displayed. Display control means for controlling the data storage means and display means; two-dimensional display in the three-dimensional display part for displaying on the data display part based on an input operation to the cut-out index input part; A data retrieval device which enables retrieval of data stored in data storage means while changing data in an area. 2. The size of the data display unit is fixed,
2. The data search device according to claim 1, wherein the display data on the data display unit can be enlarged and reduced by changing the size of the two-dimensional area defined by the cutout index input unit. . 3. The cutout index input unit includes a cutout surface input unit for instructing a cutout direction of data on the three-dimensional display unit.
an axial input unit for instructing each of x, y, and z axes;
3. The data search device according to claim 1, further comprising a scaling input unit for instructing scaling of the two-dimensional area. 4. An enlargement / reduction input section of the cut-out index input section displays an outer periphery which indicates an enlargement side around an inner periphery which indicates a reduction side, and the inner periphery and the outer periphery are respectively positioned upward. ,Lower,
4. The data search device according to claim 3, wherein the data search device is divided into four areas for instructing right and left enlargement / reduction.