JP2009059217A - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a user's operation load when editing a search folder displayed hierarchically.
An information processing apparatus for searching for data using search folders displayed hierarchically, means for accepting specification of a search folder to be moved (205), and lowest level of the specified search folder Means for moving the search folder with the hierarchy of the destination as a movement destination (206), means for hierarchically displaying the search folder moved to the movement destination together with the upper search folder at the movement destination (204), Means (203) for searching for data satisfying a logical product of a search condition set in the hierarchically displayed search folder and a search condition set in each search folder displayed above the search folder; Is provided.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing technique for editing search folders displayed hierarchically.

  Conventionally, a search folder is known as a function for displaying data without depending on its storage system. A search folder is a virtual folder in which search conditions are set in advance by the user.

  When a user inputs an instruction to open the search folder, the search folder executes a search based on the search condition set in the search folder for all data managed under the data management system. To do. At the time of the search, all data that hits the search condition is displayed as if it existed virtually in the same folder regardless of the storage location.

  This function is introduced in Windows Vista (registered trademark), Mac OS X, and open source e-mail software Thunderbird developed and released by Mozilla Foundation.

Furthermore, recently, there has also been proposed a search search that is implemented by arranging search folders in a hierarchical manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-250798 A

  However, as the virtual folder hierarchy becomes common as described above, various problems arise.

  For example, when the search condition of the search folder in the upper hierarchy is changed from the state in which the search folder is expanded, the user first follows the hierarchical structure to the upper hierarchy to be changed and becomes the change target. You must select the search criteria for the search folder in the hierarchy. Then, after changing the search condition of the search folder, an operation of re-expanding a hierarchy lower than the search folder is necessary.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. For example, when the search folder 2907 in FIG. 29 is expanded, only the search condition “subject =“ onee ”” of the upper search folder 2903 is changed without changing the search conditions of the following four search folders. think about.
Search folder 2904: Search condition “genre =“ travel ””
Search folder 2905: Search condition “date =“ 2005 ””
Search folder 2906: Search condition “location =“ Okinawa ””
Search folder 2907: Search condition “type =“ still image ””
According to the conventional method, the user first traces up the hierarchical structure from the search folder 2907 in the lowest hierarchy to the hierarchy in which the search folder 2903 to be changed exists. After the search folder 2903 to be changed reaches a certain level, the search folder 3003 to be changed is selected from the following search folders in the level.
Search folder 2901: Search condition “subject =“ daddy ””
Search folder 2902: Search condition “Subject =“ Mama ””
As a result, the search condition of the search folder 2903 to be changed is changed. At this time, even if there is no change in the search folders 2904 to 2907 in the lower hierarchy than the search folder 2903, the user needs to expand the search folders 2904 to 2907 again in order to search again in each search folder. is there. That is, an operation is required in which the search folder is sequentially expanded from the search folder 2901 or 2902 to be changed and the search is executed.

  For this reason, in the case of the conventional hierarchical structure, there is a problem that the load on the user when the upper search folder is edited is very large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce a user's operation load when editing a search folder displayed hierarchically.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An information processing apparatus that searches for data using a hierarchically displayed search folder,
A receiving unit for receiving designation of a search folder to be moved among the search folders displayed in a hierarchical manner;
Moving means for moving the designated search folder with the position of the search folder displayed above or below the designated search folder as a destination;
Display means for hierarchically displaying the designated search folder moved to the destination together with upper or lower search folders at the destination;
Search means for searching for data satisfying a logical product of a search condition set in a search folder displayed hierarchically by the display means and a search condition set in each search folder displayed above the search folder With.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to reduce the user's operation load at the time of editing the search folder displayed hierarchically.

  Details of each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, an expression format “attribute item =“ attribute value ”” (an expression format that matches the name of the search folder and the search condition) is not used as an expression format when displaying a hierarchical search folder. I will do it. Instead, an expression format is used in which attribute items and attribute values are expressed as separate hierarchies. However, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention may be in any expression format.

1. Configuration of Information Processing Device FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a central processing unit, 102 is a main storage device, 103 is a display device, 104 is an input device, 105 is an external storage device (computer-readable storage medium), and 106 is a bus. A control program (data management program) 107 for realizing the information processing method according to the present embodiment, data 108 used in the control program, and various tables (109 to 114) are stored in the external storage device 105. These data management program 107, data 108, and various tables (109 to 114) are appropriately fetched into the main storage device 102 through the bus 106 and executed by the central processing unit 101 under the control of the central processing unit 101.

  The input device 104 includes a predetermined remote control device in addition to a keyboard and a mouse. In this embodiment, the execution of the data management program 107 is performed according to various instructions input from the user via the input device 104. Shall be based on.

2. Functional Configuration of Data Management Program 107 FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram showing each function realized when the data management program 107 is executed.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a data storage unit that performs processing for storing the main data of the data 108 to be managed by the data management program 107 and its attribute data in the external storage device 105. The data storage unit 201 describes the unique ID defined for each attribute data and the attribute value classified for each attribute item in the stored data information table 109 (details will be described later).

  Furthermore, after the unique ID defined for each main body data and the storage location of the main body data are associated with each other and described in the storage location information table 110 (details will be described later), the main body data is stored in the external storage device 105 in a predetermined manner. Store in the area.

  A search condition management unit 202 manages the search conditions of each search folder for displaying the data 108 stored in the data storage unit 201 on the display device 103. The search condition management unit 202 manages search conditions using the attribute table 111 and the selected condition management table 112. The attribute table 111 is a table in which attribute items and attribute values that can be set as search conditions for each search folder are described. The selected condition management table 112 describes the search conditions for the search folder selected by the user. The details will be described later.

  Further, in order to manage the hierarchical structure of the search folder, a display order management table 113 that describes the display order in the hierarchy of search conditions set in each search folder, and a hierarchy number management table 114 that describes the number of hierarchies ( Both manage details).

  An acquisition processing unit 203 acquires data satisfying the search condition set in the search folder from the data 108 to be managed by the data management program 107 when the search folder executes a search.

  When the acquisition processing unit 203 receives an instruction to execute a search folder, the data that satisfies the logical product of the search condition set in the search folder and the search condition set in each search folder displayed above the search folder Search for.

  A data display unit 204 displays the generated search folders in a hierarchical manner, or displays a list of data acquired by the acquisition processing unit 203 when the search folder executes a search. When the search folder is edited, the edited search folder is displayed hierarchically.

  205 is a display order change instruction for accepting the designation of the search folder and the designation of the destination hierarchy when the search folder selected by the user among the search folders displayed hierarchically is moved to another hierarchy. An input unit (accepting means).

  A display order change unit 206 moves the designated search folder and the upper and lower search folder groups based on the search folder received by the display order change instruction input unit 205 and the designation of the destination hierarchy. When the hierarchy of each search folder is changed in the display order changing unit 206, the acquisition processing unit 203 operates to perform a search based on the search condition of the search folder of each changed hierarchy, and the data To be acquired.

3. Configuration of various tables
3.1 Configuration of Stored Data Information Table FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the stored data information table 109 in which attribute data is stored by the data storage unit 201.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the stored data information table 109, the attribute data is managed in a list format by dividing the attribute data into attribute items indicated by 302 to 307 and the like and values (attribute values) corresponding to the attribute items.

  When the data 108 is newly stored in the external storage device 105 by the data storage unit 201, the attribute data of the data 108 is added to the stored data information table 109. When the data 108 is deleted, the attribute data is stored in the stored data information. Deleted from the table 109.

  When there is an attribute item to which no attribute value is assigned among the attribute data of the data 108, nothing is input to the attribute value corresponding to the corresponding attribute item on the stored data information table 109.

  The ID 301 is an integer value that is uniquely assigned corresponding to the order in which the data storage unit 201 stores the data 108 in the external storage device 105.

3.2 Configuration of Storage Location Information Table FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage location information table 110. In the storage location information table 110, an ID managed by the data storage unit 201 and a pointer indicating a storage location of main data of each data 108 are stored in association with each other. In FIG. 4, 401 represents an ID, and 402 represents a pointer indicating the storage location of main data of each data.

3.3 Configuration of Attribute Table FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the attribute table 111 in which attribute data included in the data 108 to be managed by the data management program 107 is divided into attribute items and attribute values. . Reference numeral 501 represents each attribute item, and 502 represents an attribute value corresponding to each attribute item. Using the attribute table 111, the data management program 107 manages all attribute values of each attribute item included in the data 108 to be managed.

3.4 Configuration of Selected Condition Management Table FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the selected condition management table 112 managed by the search condition management unit 202. In the selected condition management table 112, search conditions for a search folder selected by the user are managed. Reference numeral 601 represents an attribute item of the search condition of the selected search folder, and reference numeral 602 represents an attribute value corresponding to the attribute item 601. In FIG. 6, as a search condition,
・ Attribute item = "Subject", Attribute value = "Onee-chan"
・ Attribute item = "Genre", attribute value = "Travel"
These two search conditions are already set in the search folder. Further, when a user selects a lower search folder in which other attribute items and attribute values are set as search conditions, the attribute items and attribute values set in the selected search folder are added to the selected condition management table. Is done. When the acquisition processing unit 203 acquires data, information managed in the selected condition management table 112 is used as a search condition.

3.5 Configuration of Display Order Management Table FIG. 7 shows a display order management table 113 describing the display order in the hierarchy of search conditions set for each search folder in order to manage the hierarchical structure of the generated search folders. It is a figure which shows an example.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the display order management table includes attribute items (701) set in the search conditions of each search folder displayed hierarchically and the display order (702). In the example of FIG. 7, as a search condition, the search folder of attribute item = “subject” is at the top, and the hierarchy goes down in the order of attribute item = “genre” → “date” → “location”. This indicates that search folders of attribute item = “type” are displayed in the hierarchy.

3.6 Structure of Hierarchy Number Management Table FIG. 8 stores the number of hierarchies when search folders are displayed hierarchically, that is, the number of attribute items (802) stored in the selected condition management table 112. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchy number management table 114.

4). Process Flow of Data Management Program Hereinafter, the process flow of the data management program 107 will be described. The data management program 107 acquires and displays data satisfying the search conditions set in the search folder based on an execution instruction for the generated search folder, and processing for editing the generated search folder And can be broadly divided. In the present embodiment, the former is referred to as search processing, and the latter is referred to as editing / re-search processing, and will be described separately below.

4.1 Search Processing Flow Figure 9 is a diagram showing the flow of search processing by the data management program 107. The flow of the search process shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14 in which search folders are displayed in a hierarchy in a tree format.

  As an initial state, each attribute item 501 described in the attribute table 111 (FIG. 5) generated in the search condition management unit 202 is displayed as a search folder in the highest hierarchy in the tree format. FIG. 10 shows a state in which each attribute item 501 of the attribute table 111 is displayed as a search folder (1001 to 1005). Under this state, when the user selects any of the search folders 1001 to 1005, the attribute items set in the selected search folder are registered in the selected condition management table 112. Then, when the user inputs an instruction to open the selected search folder, the search process of FIG. 9 is started.

  In step S901, the search condition management unit 202 determines, based on the selected condition management table 112, the attribute item of the search folder selected by the user from the displayed search folder as the attribute item to be narrowed down.

  After determining in step S901 the attribute item set in the search folder selected by the user, the process proceeds to step S902. In step S902, the acquisition processing unit 203 extracts an attribute value corresponding to the attribute item set in the search folder selected by the user by referring to the attribute table 111. Further, the extracted attribute value is displayed on the display device 103 via the data display unit 204.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of display on the display device 103 when the search folder 1001 in which the attribute item = “subject” is set as the search folder and an instruction to open the search folder 1001 is input.

  According to the attribute table 111 (FIG. 5), as attribute values corresponding to the attribute item = “subject”, three attribute values “papa”, “mama”, and “one sister” are extracted. For this reason, in the hierarchy one level lower than the search folder 1001, a search folder 1102 in which attribute value = “papa” is set as a search condition, a search folder 1103 in which attribute value = “mom” is set, and an attribute value = A search folder 1104 in which “one sister” is set is displayed.

  The user further selects one of the search folders 1102 to 1104. The attribute value set for the selected search folder is registered in the selected condition management table 112.

  Therefore, in step S903, the search condition management unit 202 determines, based on the selected condition management table 112, the attribute value of the search folder selected by the user from the displayed search folder as the attribute value to be narrowed down.

  When a search folder in which a predetermined attribute value is set by the user is selected, in step S904, the acquisition processing unit 203 displays a list of data having the attribute value set in the selected search folder in the stored data information table 109. Get based on. Then, the acquired data list is displayed on the display device 103 via the data display unit 204.

  FIG. 12 shows a list of data having attribute data of attribute item = “subject” and attribute value = “oneechan” by selecting the search folder 1104 in which the attribute value = “oneechan” is set as a search condition. It is a figure which shows a mode that is displayed.

  In step S904, the search condition management unit 202 further selects attribute items that have not been displayed (in this case, attribute items other than “subject”) based on the attribute table 111 and the selected condition management table 112. judge. Then, the search folder in which the attribute item obtained as a result of the determination is set is displayed in a lower hierarchy.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which search folders in which attribute items obtained as a result of determination are set are displayed in a lower hierarchy.

  According to the attribute table 111 (FIG. 5), the attribute item 501 includes “subject”, “location”, “genre”, “date”, and “type”, and among these, “subject” has already been selected. ing. Therefore, a search folder 1302 in which attribute items = “genre”, “date”, “location”, and “type” are set in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 1104 in which the attribute value = “onee-chan” is set. To 1305 are displayed (see FIG. 13).

  In step S905, it is determined whether the user has further selected a search folder. In the example of FIG. 13, the user can select one of the search folders 1302 to 1305 in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 1104 in which the attribute value = “onee-chan” is set.

  If it is determined that the search folder has been further selected by the user, the process returns to step S901 and the same processing is repeated.

  FIG. 14 shows a state in which a plurality of search folders are displayed hierarchically by repeating the search process. In the example of FIG. 14, the search folder with the attribute item “genre” set is selected from the search folders 1302 to 1305 displayed in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 1104 with the attribute value = “onee-chan” set. It has been shown. Furthermore, “Travel” is the attribute value of the attribute item = “Genre”, “2005” is the attribute value of the attribute item = “Date”, and “Okinawa” is the attribute value of the attribute item = “Location”. = Indicates that “still image” is selected as the attribute value of “type”.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S905 that no further search folder has been selected by the user, the search process is terminated.

4.2 edit search process flow diagram 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of editing and re-search process by the data management program 107. The edit / re-search process flow shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16A shows a state where the search process is completed.

Specifically, a state in which data satisfying the following search conditions is acquired and displayed hierarchically on the display device 103 is shown.
-Attribute item = "Subject" and attribute value = "My sister"
・ Attribute item = "Genre" and attribute value = "Travel"
-Attribute item = "Date" and attribute value = "2005"
・ Attribute item = “Location” and attribute value = “Okinawa”
-Attribute item = "Type" and attribute value = "Still image"
Here, a change that satisfies the following requirements is made from the state of FIG.
“Travel”, “2005”, “Okinawa”, “Okinawa” set corresponding to the four attribute items “genre”, “date”, “location”, and “type” set as search conditions in the search folder “Still image” is not changed.
Change the attribute value “onee-chan” set for attribute item = “subject” to “papa” or “mama”.

  Conventionally, in order to make such a change, the following operation has been performed.

  First, of the search folders displayed in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 1001 in which the attribute item = “subject” is set as the search condition, a search folder in which the attribute value = “papa” or “mom” is set is selected. .

  Subsequently, a search folder in which attribute item = “genre” is set is selected from search folders displayed by opening a search folder in which attribute value = “papa” or “mom” is set. Further, a search folder with attribute value = “travel” is selected from search folders displayed by opening a search folder with attribute item = “genre” set.

  Hereinafter, similarly, the attribute item = “date”, the attribute value “2005”, the attribute item = “location”, the attribute value = “Okinawa”, the attribute item = “kind”, and the attribute value = “still image” are the search conditions. Select each search folder set as, and open each search folder.

  In other words, the search folder at a lower hierarchy than the search folder in which the attribute value to be changed is set has to be expanded again.

  On the other hand, in the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to perform the above-described operation in such a case. That is, the above request can be easily met by moving a search folder one level higher than the search folder whose search condition is to be changed to a level lower than the search folder at the lowest level.

  Specifically, the search folder one higher than the search folder to be changed (search folder with attribute value = “onee-chan”) (search folder with attribute item = “subject”) is set to the bottom Move to the lower level of the search folder. FIG. 16B shows a state after the movement.

In this state, by opening a search folder in which attribute value = “papa” or “mama” is set, data satisfying the following search conditions can be acquired and displayed on the display device 103.
・ Attribute item = "Genre" and attribute value = "Travel"
-Attribute item = "Date" and attribute value = "2005"
・ Attribute item = “Location” and attribute value = “Okinawa”
-Attribute item = "Type" and attribute value = "Still image"
-Attribute item = "Subject" and attribute value = "Daddy" (or "Mama")
In other words, “Travel”, “2005”, “Okinawa”, “Travel” set corresponding to the four attribute items “Genre”, “Date”, “Location”, and “Type” set as search conditions in the search folder. “Still image” is not changed. Then, the attribute value “one sister” set corresponding to the attribute item = “subject” (1600) is changed to “daddy” or “mama”.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the entire search folder group displayed hierarchically is rotated using the remote control device when performing an operation of moving the search folder one level higher than the search folder to be changed. Let That is, the entire search folder group is linked to the movement of the search folder to be changed along an endless circular path (virtual) in which the highest search folder and the lowest search folder are connected. Rotate.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the remote control device. As shown in FIG. 17, the remote control device includes a right rotation button 1701 and a left rotation button 1702. Transition from the state of FIG. 16A to the state of FIG. 16B can be executed by pressing the left rotation button 1702 once.

  As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 16 (A), the left rotation here refers to a search folder located in a layer other than the highest layer, moving from the bottom to the top layer one by one. As for the search folder located in the hierarchy, it means an operation of moving to the lowest hierarchy.

  Also, the right rotation means that the search folder located in a layer other than the lowest layer is moved one layer at a time from the top to the lower layer, and the search folder located in the lowest layer is moved to the highest layer. This refers to the movement.

  Therefore, when the edit / re-search process is started, in step S1501, the display order change instruction input unit 205 receives a selection of a search folder to be moved and an instruction for a rotation direction (movement direction) from the user.

  In step S1502, the search folder group to be moved and the rotation direction are recognized based on the selection of the search folder and the rotation direction instruction received by the display order change instruction input unit 205. The search folder group to be moved is the selected search folder and the search folders displayed in the upper and lower levels.

In the example of FIG. 16A, the search folder 1001 in which the attribute item = “subject” is set is selected. For this reason, the following search folder expanded in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 1001 is recognized as a search folder group to be moved.
・ Attribute item = "Subject"
・ Attribute item = "Genre"
-Attribute item = "Date"
・ Attribute item = "Location"
・ Attribute item = "Type"
Further, left rotation is recognized as the rotation direction.

  In step S1503, the display order changing unit 206 performs a process of moving the search folder group recognized in step S1502 in the recognized rotation direction.

  Note that the display order management table 113 managed by the search condition management unit 202 is used for moving the search folder group.

  In the example of FIG. 16A, the display order of the attribute items stored in the display order management table 113 is as indicated by 702 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the left rotation button 1702 of the remote control device is pressed to change from the state of FIG. 16A to the state of FIG. 16B, the display order management table 113 is as shown in FIG. become. That is, the display order value corresponding to each attribute item other than the attribute item = “subject” set as the search condition in the highest search folder is decremented by one. On the other hand, the value of the attribute item = “subject” set as the search condition in the uppermost search folder is changed to the value of the number of layers managed by the number of layers management table 114 shown in FIG. The number-of-hierarchies management table 114 stores the number of hierarchies displayed by expanding the search folder so far, that is, the number of attribute items and attribute values stored in the selected condition management table 112.

  Further, the selected condition management table 112 holds the values shown in FIG. 19 in the state of FIG. 16A, and holds the values shown in FIG. 20 when transitioning to the state of FIG. It becomes.

  That is, the table does not include the attribute item = “subject” set in the search folder whose display order is the lowest in the display order management table 113 of FIG. 18 (FIG. 19). The display order changing unit 206 rotates the search folder group by hierarchizing the search folders based on the two tables of the display order management table 113 shown in FIG. 16 and the selected condition management table 112 shown in FIG. Is realized.

  In step S1504, the rotated search folder group is displayed hierarchically. After the hierarchical display, the process returns to step S1501 to accept a search folder selection and rotation direction instruction from the user.

  By repeating such processing, the search folder in the hierarchy one level higher than the search folder set with the attribute value to be changed can be moved to the lowest hierarchy with a single button operation. After movement, desired data can be easily acquired by selecting a search folder in which the attribute value to be changed is set.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even when the search condition set in the upper search folder is changed in a state where the user has expanded the search folder, the user can perform only a simple operation. Data can be narrowed down.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the case has been described in which the selected highest-order search folder is moved to the lowest hierarchy by rotating left, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the selected search folder may be moved to the lowest hierarchy simply by selecting the search folder to be moved to the lowest hierarchy.

  Note that the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. The difference from the embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 21 shows an example of a hierarchized search folder displayed by performing a search process by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and a hierarchized search folder displayed by performing an edit / re-search process. FIG.

  When the search folder 2101 in FIG. 21A is selected and the menu button 1703 of the remote control device shown in FIG. 17 is pressed, the attribute items respectively set in the search folder to be moved to the lowest hierarchy are displayed. A list 2102 is displayed. Here, the attribute item set in the search folder to be moved to the lowest hierarchy is an attribute item set in a search folder higher than the search folder to which the currently selected search folder 2101 belongs.

  In the example of FIG. 21A, attribute item = “place”, attribute item = “date”, attribute item = “genre”, and attribute item = “subject” are displayed in the list 2102.

  When the user selects an attribute item to be moved using the upper button 1704 and lower button 1706 of the remote control device and presses the enter button 1705, the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set moves to the lowest hierarchy. (FIG. 21B).

  A search folder in which an attribute item other than the attribute item selected by the remote control device is set is set to the right or the number of levels required for the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set to move to the lowest level. You may comprise so that it may rotate to the left.

  For example, in FIG. 21A, when a search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set is selected, the search folder is moved to the lowest hierarchy. It is necessary to let For this reason, search folders other than the search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set are also moved by three layers.

  A search folder in which an attribute item other than the attribute item selected by the remote control device is set fills the source hierarchy (hierarchies vacated by movement) by moving the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set. You may make it move to a higher rank by one layer.

  For example, in FIG. 21A, when a search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set is selected, the search folder moves to the lowest hierarchy, and the hierarchy that is empty is lower than that. Each of the search folders is moved up one level.

[Third embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the search folder to be moved is selected on the assumption that the folder is moved to the lowest hierarchy, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the search folder may be moved by selecting the search folder to be moved and the destination.

  FIG. 22 shows an example of a hierarchized search folder displayed by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performing a search process, and a hierarchized search folder displayed by performing an edit / re-search process. FIG.

  The search folder 2201 in FIG. 22A is moved from the search folder hierarchy to be moved to the lowest hierarchy using the up button 1704 and down button 1706 of the remote control shown in FIG.

  When the menu button 1703 is pressed in a state where the operation target is moved to the search folder to be moved to the lowest hierarchy, “move to the lowest layer” is displayed in the list 2202. When the enter button 1705 is pressed, the search folder to be operated is moved to the lowest hierarchy (FIG. 22B). Note that the operations of the upper and lower search folders of the search folder are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, a search folder in which an attribute item other than the attribute item selected by the remote control device is set is required for the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set to move to the lowest level. It was configured to rotate to the right or left by the number of layers. Alternatively, the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set is moved to move up one layer at a time in a form in which the moving source layer (hierarchy vacated by movement) is packed.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set moves to the lowest hierarchy, the search folder originally located in the lowest hierarchy is moved to the hierarchy ( You may comprise so that it may move to the vacant hierarchy by movement. In other words, the search folder in which the selected attribute item is set may be replaced with the search folder located at the lowest level.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when the search folders are displayed hierarchically, all search folders in the same hierarchy are displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only one search folder in the same hierarchy is displayed. You may make it display.

  FIG. 23 shows an example of a hierarchized search folder displayed by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performing a search process, and a hierarchized search folder displayed by performing an edit / re-search process. FIG.

  In FIG. 23A, a list of data acquired by executing the search folder 2305 (attribute item = “subject” and attribute value = “onee-chan”) is displayed in the display field 2306. Also, attribute items and attribute values set in the search folder above the search folder 2305 are displayed in 2301 to 2305.

  In the state shown in FIG. 23A, when the search folder 2301 in which the attribute item = “date” is set is selected as the search folder to be moved to the lowest hierarchy, the display after the movement is shown in FIG. 23 (B).

  That is, the search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set moves to the lowest hierarchy, and “2000”, “2004”, and “2005”, which are attribute values of the attribute item = “date”, are displayed. It is displayed in the column 2308.

[Sixth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when the search folder group is moved by rotation, all the search folders of each hierarchy after the move are displayed. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this.

  For example, as for the search folder in which the attribute value is set, only the search folder expanded in the lower hierarchy may be displayed.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 24A and 24B show an example of a hierarchical search folder displayed by performing a search process and a hierarchical search folder displayed by performing an edit / re-search process. FIG. The figure is the same as FIGS. 16A and 16B described in the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, FIG. 24C is a diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical search folder displayed by performing editing / re-search processing in the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In the case of the first embodiment, when the search folder group is rotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 24A and transitioned to the state of FIG. It is necessary to check whether there is a change in the search folder of each hierarchy with the change.

  In the example of FIG. 24B, a search folder 2401 (attribute value = ““) that did not exist in the state of FIG. 24A as a search folder in the lower hierarchy of the search folder in which the attribute item = “genre” is set. Search folder with “wedding” set. Further, as a search folder in the lower hierarchy of the search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set, a search folder 2404 (attribute value = “2000”) that did not exist in the state of FIG. 24A is set. Search folder) exists.

  As described above, when the state is changed from the state shown in FIG. 24A to the state shown in FIG. 24B, it is proportional to the number of data managed by the data management program. Thus, the editing / re-search process takes time. As a result, it takes a long time to display the result of the edit / re-search process to the user.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, in order to reduce the time required for checking whether or not the search folder of each hierarchy after the move has changed, the search folder in which the attribute value is set has a lower hierarchy. Only the search folder expanded is displayed.

  A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. In FIG. 24C, reference numeral 2405 denotes a search folder in which attribute item = “genre” is set. In the state of FIG. 24A, the search folder in which attribute value = “school event” is set and the attribute value = “travel” are in the lower hierarchy of the search folder in which attribute item = “genre” is set. Two search folders of the set search folder were displayed. Here, of the two search folders, the search folder in which the attribute value = “travel” is set, the search folder (search folder in which the attribute item = “date” is set) is expanded in a lower hierarchy. Yes. On the other hand, in the search folder in which the attribute value = “school event” is set, the search folder is not expanded in the lower hierarchy.

  Therefore, in FIG. 24C, only the search folder with the attribute value = “travel” is displayed as the search folder in the lower hierarchy of the search folder 2405 in which the attribute item = “genre” is set, and the attribute value is displayed. = Search folders with “school event” set are not displayed.

  Similarly, for a search folder in which attribute item = “date”, attribute item = “location”, and attribute item = “type” are set, among search folders in which attribute values corresponding to the respective attribute items are set, Only one search folder is displayed.

  However, for the search folder at the lowest level, all the search folders are displayed.

  In the present embodiment, among search folders in which attribute items are set, search folders in which display of search folders in which attribute values corresponding to the attribute items are set are omitted are displayed in a display format such as shading display. To change. This clearly indicates to the user that the search folder is omitted. Search folders 2405 to 2408 indicate search folders that are shaded.

[Seventh Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the remote control device shown in FIG. 17 is used to execute the editing / re-search process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an input device other than the remote control device shown in FIG. May be used.

[Eighth embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when changing the setting of any of the search folders displayed hierarchically, the search folder of the hierarchy one level higher than the search folder to be changed is We decided to respond by moving to the lowest level.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the search folder to be changed may be specified and the change contents may be instructed to cope with the change.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 25 shows an example of a hierarchical search folder displayed by performing a search process by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and a hierarchical search folder displayed by performing an edit / re-search process. FIG.

  In FIG. 25A, a search folder with attribute value = “onee-chan” is selected from search folders located in a lower hierarchy of the search folder with attribute item = “subject” set, and expanded below. It shows how it was done.

  Here, a case will be described in which the user reselects a search folder in which attribute value = “Mama” is set among search folders located in a lower hierarchy of the search folder in which attribute item = “subject” is set. .

  In the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the menu screen 2503 is displayed, and the user selects “change only this hierarchy” from various menus displayed in a list on the menu screen 2503. When the menu is selected, a search folder in which attribute value = “Mama” is set is selected.

  Furthermore, the same search folder as the current search folder is automatically expanded as the search folder in the lower hierarchy of the search folder in which the attribute value = “Mama” is set (FIG. 25B).

[Ninth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the search folder in which the attribute item is set and the search folder in which the attribute value is set are displayed separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the search folder is set in the search folder. The search condition may be expressed as “attribute item = attribute value”.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 26, search folders for received mail in the mail software are shown, and five search folders 2601 to 2605 are expanded as search folders.

A display field 2606 is an area for displaying the mail in the selected search folder in a list format, and 2607 is an area for displaying the text of the mail selected in 2606. When the search folder is hierarchically configured, the logical AND of the search conditions is taken in order from the highest hierarchy to the lower hierarchy. Taking FIG. 26 as an example, the search conditions are as follows.
Data extracted by the search folder 2601:
Data extracted by the search folder 2602 that satisfies the search conditions set in the search folder 2601:
Data extracted by the search folder 2603 that satisfies the logical product of the search conditions set in the search folders 2601 and 2602:
Data extracted by the search folder 2604 that satisfies the logical product of the search conditions set in the search folders 2601 to 2603:
Data extracted by the search folder 2605 that satisfies the logical product of the search conditions set in the search folders 2601 to 2604:
Data satisfying the logical product of the search conditions set in the search folders 2601 to 2605 Since the logical product is taken in order from the upper hierarchy, if you want to delete only the search conditions of a specific hierarchy, Move to the lowest level and select the folder one level above. Thereby, a desired search can be realized without deleting the search folder or changing the search condition.

  For example, a case will be described in which only the search conditions of the search folder 2601 are to be canceled while the search conditions set in the search folders 2602 to 2605 remain unchanged. In this case, the search condition of the search folder 2601 is moved to the lowest hierarchy (2609), and the search folder 2608 that is one above the moved search folder is selected. It becomes possible to narrow down mail.

  Further, a search folder having a different search condition may be created in the same hierarchy as the search folder 2609 and further search may be performed.

  The search folder is created in the same manner as in the conventional system. An example is shown in FIG. While a folder for which a search folder is to be created is selected, “Create Search Folder” 2701 is selected from the mail software menu. Then, a search condition setting window (FIG. 27B) is activated, and a search target folder, a search item, and a character string to be searched are input as search conditions from that window (2702 to 2704). Similarly, deletion of a search folder can be realized by selecting “Delete Search Folder” from the menu while selecting a search target folder to be deleted.

[Tenth embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the search folders displayed hierarchically and the list of data acquired by executing the search by each search folder are separately displayed. Is not limited to this.

  For example, a list of data acquired by performing a search using a search folder may be displayed together with the search folders displayed hierarchically.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchized search folder displayed by the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performing a search process.

  As shown in FIG. 28, according to the present embodiment, of the search folders displayed hierarchically, the data (2801 to 2803) acquired by executing the search by the search folder of the lowest hierarchy is executed. Icons are displayed at corresponding positions in the hierarchical structure.

  In the example of FIG. 28, only the icons of the data 2801 to 2803 acquired by executing the search using the search folder of the lowest hierarchy are displayed in the hierarchical structure. It is not limited to. You may make it display the icon of the data acquired by performing the search by another search folder in a corresponding position.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even when applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). You may apply.

  Needless to say, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a recording medium that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments. In this case, the function is realized by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included.

  Further, when the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized. Is also included. That is, after the program code is written in the memory, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and is realized by the processing. This is also included.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows each function implement | achieved when the data management program 107 is performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the stored data information table 109 in which attribute data is stored by the data storage unit 201. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the storage location information table. It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute table. It is a figure which shows an example of the selected condition management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the display order management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchy number management table. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of search processing by a data management program 107. It is a figure which shows a mode that the search folder was hierarchically displayed by the tree format. It is a figure which shows a mode that the search folder was hierarchically displayed by the tree format. It is a figure which shows a mode that the list of data was displayed. It is a figure which shows a mode that the search folder was hierarchically displayed by the tree format. It is a figure which shows a mode that the search folder was hierarchically displayed by the tree format. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of editing / re-search processing by the data management program 107; It is the figure which showed a mode that a search folder was edited. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of a remote control device. It is a figure which shows an example of the display order management table 113 after editing a search folder. It is a figure which shows an example of the selected condition management table 112 before editing a search folder. It is a figure which shows an example of the selected condition management table 112 after editing a search folder. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing search processing, and the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing edit and re-search processing. It is a figure showing signs that a search folder is created. It is a figure which shows an example of the hierarchical search folder displayed by performing the search process. It is a figure which shows a mode that the search folder was hierarchically displayed by the tree format.

Claims (10)

An information processing apparatus that searches for data using a hierarchically displayed search folder,
A receiving unit for receiving designation of a search folder to be moved among the search folders displayed in a hierarchical manner;
Moving means for moving the designated search folder with the position of the search folder displayed above or below the designated search folder as a destination;
Display means for hierarchically displaying the designated search folder moved to the destination together with upper or lower search folders at the destination;
Search means for searching for data satisfying a logical product of a search condition set in a search folder displayed hierarchically by the display means and a search condition set in each search folder displayed above the search folder An information processing apparatus comprising: The moving means is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designated search folder is moved using a lowest hierarchy as a movement destination.   In the case where the designated search folder is moved with the lowest hierarchy as the movement destination, the moving means changes the search folders displayed at the upper and lower levels of the designated search folder to the highest search folder. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is moved in conjunction with movement of the designated search folder along an endless circular path in which the search folder and the lowest search folder are connected. The moving means is
When the designated search folder is moved using the lowest hierarchy as a movement destination, the search folder displayed below the designated search folder is moved to the higher hierarchy one by one. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The moving means is
When the designated search folder is moved using the lowest hierarchy as the destination, the search folder displayed in the lowest hierarchy is moved to the hierarchy from which the designated search folder is moved. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The display means includes
Even if there are other search folders in the same hierarchy as the search folder displayed at the upper or lower level at the destination, only the upper or lower search folder at the destination is displayed and the other search folder exists. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search folder is displayed in a display format different from the case where the search is not performed. The accepting means further includes:
Accepting designation of a moving direction when moving the designated search folder by the moving means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving unit moves the search folder based on the designated moving direction. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus for retrieving data using a hierarchically displayed search folder,
An accepting step of accepting designation of a search folder to be moved among the hierarchically displayed search folders;
A move step of moving the designated search folder with the location of the search folder displayed above or below the designated search folder as a destination;
A display step of hierarchically displaying the designated search folder moved to the destination together with upper or lower search folders at the destination;
A search step for searching for data satisfying a logical product of the search condition set in the search folder displayed hierarchically in the display step and the search condition set in each search folder displayed above the search folder An information processing method comprising: and. A control program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 8.

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