JPH06103314A - Control method of information retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a control method in which a plurality of applications can safely perform a search operation in an information search device that searches a large amount of document data by checking a character string in a document. [Structure] The command execution right granting unit of the host computer gives the command execution right to the application before executing the search operation. The command sending unit accepts only a command execution request from the application to which the execution right is given, and sends the command to the information recording / reproducing apparatus. Also, by canceling the command execution right given to the application by the command execution right release unit, another application can acquire the execution right.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information retrieving apparatus for extracting requested document data, and more particularly to a method of controlling an information retrieving apparatus for examining a character string in a document for retrieval.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of word processors and personal computers, a large amount of document data has come to be used at work and at home. A large-capacity database and a high-speed search device have been researched and developed in order to organize and effectively use this large amount of document data.

However, in the conventional search device, it is necessary to add a keyword as a search index when registering a document. As the amount of data increases, this keyword assignment work requires a great deal of labor. On the other hand, when retrieving a document, it is difficult to select an appropriate keyword due to the increase and diversification of data and keywords.

Therefore, an information retrieval apparatus has been developed which searches for a required document by checking whether or not the character string designated by the user exists in the document, and eventually does not require a keyword. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of this type of information retrieval apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-67707. In the figure, 530 is an information recording medium for recording and storing a document, 520 is an information recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing a document on / from the information recording medium 530 and searching for a character string in the reproduced document, 510 is an information recording / reproducing device. It is a host computer that sends a device command to the reproduction device 520 to request recording / reproduction of a document or retrieval of a character string.

The host computer 510 requests the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520 to execute a search by sending a desired search character string and designating a document to be searched. The information recording / reproducing apparatus 520 saves the character string to be searched in the memory 521, reads the document from the information recording medium 530, and stores it in the memory 521. Next, the character string match detection circuit 5
By detecting the matching of several characters in the target search character string at 22 and further checking whether the following character strings match by the microcontroller 523, which is a built-in small computer, and performing a hierarchical search. , Small-scale hardware enables high-speed search.

Next, a control method applied to the information retrieval apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-97611. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a device command executed by the microcontroller 523 of the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520 to perform a search. It should be noted that this device command is sent from the host computer 510, whereby the search is executed. FIG. 7 shows a memory 52 of the information retrieval device of FIG.
It is a 1 area | region block diagram.

Search target data setting command 610 shown in FIG.
Reads the document data recorded on the information recording medium 530 and stores it in the searched data area 710 of the memory 521 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520. The search condition setting command 620 stores the search character string sent from the host computer 510 in the search character string area 720 of the memory 521 in the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520. Search execution command 6
Reference numeral 30 denotes the document data stored in the search data area 710 of the memory 521 and the search character string area 720 of the memory 521.
The search result is stored in the search result area 730 of the memory 521 and is transferred to the host computer 510. Further, the data transfer command 640 transfers the document data stored in the searched data area 710 of the memory 521 to the host computer 510.

By thus dividing the search operation into separate commands and executing the search operation, it is possible to search the document data once read by varying the search character string. If all the search character strings have a capacity that can be set in the search character string area 720, the search character string can be set only once at the beginning and only the document data can be changed for the search.

Furthermore, the method of the retrieval device described above is also applied to data retrieval by a plurality of users with respect to a database using a network communication network.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, even if the search request is made separately by a plurality of users using the network communication network, a single user using the multi-window system can make a search request. Even if a plurality of search requests are issued, if a plurality of applications operate on the host computer, the search operation of each application is not always guaranteed.

For example, a case where the application A and the application B operate as shown in FIG. 8 will be described. The application A issues execution requests in the order of the searched data setting command 610-A, the search condition setting command 620-A, and the search execution command 630-A.
Application B uses the search data setting command 61
0-B, search condition setting command 620-B, and search execution command 630-B are issued in this order. The information recording / reproducing apparatus 520 uses the search target data setting command 610.
-A, search condition setting command 620-A, searched data setting command 610-B, search execution command 630-
When the commands A, the search condition setting command 620-B, and the search execution command 630-B are executed in this order, the search execution command 630-A becomes the search target data setting command 6
The document data read in 10-B is searched, and the search operation of the application A is not correctly executed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control method of an information search apparatus in which a plurality of applications can safely execute a search operation.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention of claim 1, a host computer on which a plurality of applications operate, and a search character string sent from the applications are read from an information recording medium. In an information retrieving apparatus including an information recording / reproducing apparatus that executes an operation to find out from document data with a plurality of commands, the host computer gives an execution right of the command to the application; A transmission step of receiving the command execution request from the authorized application and transmitting the command to the information recording / reproducing apparatus; and an execution right releasing step of canceling the execution right given to the application. As a control method of the information retrieval device characterized by .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the device driver of the host computer controls the execution right granting step, the sending step and the execution right releasing step. I have a method. In the invention of claim 3, the execution right giving step has a procedure of giving an identification number to the application to which the command execution right is given, and the sending step and the execution right releasing step execute the command using the identification number. The method for controlling an information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a procedure for determining whether or not the application is a licensed application.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the host computer employs a step of providing an identification number for the application for each connected information recording / reproducing apparatus. This is a control method for the information retrieval device. In the invention of claim 5, the execution right granting step uses a random number for the identification number, and the control method of the information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3 or 4.

[0016]

According to the invention of claim 1, the host computer gives the command execution right to the application.
Then, in response to the command execution request from the application having the execution right, the command is sent to the information recording / reproducing apparatus. Further, the execution right given to the application for executing another command is canceled.

In a second aspect of the invention, the device driver of the host computer controls the execution right granting step, the sending step and the execution right releasing step.
In the invention of claim 3, the execution right giving step has a procedure of attaching an identification number to the application to which the command execution right is given. The sending step and the execution right releasing step have a procedure of determining whether or not the application is given the execution right of the command by using the identification number.

In the invention of claim 4, the host computer employs a step of providing an identification number for each connected information recording / reproducing apparatus. In the invention of claim 5, the execution right granting step uses a random number as the identification number.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram when the information search apparatus shown in FIG. 5 executes the device command shown in FIG. 6 to perform the search operation, when the control method of the information search apparatus according to the present invention is adopted. . In this figure, 5
Since 10 and 520 are the same as those in FIG. 5, the same numbers are given and their description is omitted. 1-A and 1-B are applications that perform search processing, 2 is MS-DOS or UNI
An operating system such as X, 3 is a device driver that sends a device command to control the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520, 31 is a command execution right granting unit that gives the application 1 an execution right of the device command, and 32 is a device from the application 1. In response to a command execution request, a command sending unit for sending a device command to the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520, 33 is an application 1
Command execution right release unit for canceling the execution right of the device command given to the device, 34 is an existence identifier indicating whether or not there is an application 1 to which the command execution right granting unit 31 gave the execution right of the device command, 4 is a device It is a command execution unit for executing commands, and a part of these is integrally incorporated as a program in an optical disk device provided as a facility (component) in the information retrieval apparatus.

The existence identifier 34 has an initial value of -1.
Is set, and this value means that there is no other application that has given the right to execute the device command. Next, the operation of the command execution right granting unit 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the command execution right granting section 31 receives a request to acquire the execution right of the device command from the application 1-A via the operating system 2 (200), another application which has given the execution right of the device command has already been executed. Existence identifier 34
Check (201). Command execution right granting unit 31
If the existence identifier 34 is -1, it generates a positive random number whose seed is the time when the command execution right granting unit 31 is first activated (specifically, if 13:14:15). , Numerical value is converted to 131415, and a random number is generated based on this, and the value is stored in the existence identifier 34 and the execution right is given by passing the value to the application 1-A. Notify (202).

On the contrary, if the existence identifier 34 is not -1,
The command execution right granting unit 31 notifies that the execution right cannot be given by passing -1 to the application 1-A because another application that has given the device command execution right already exists (20).
3). Therefore, for example, after the application 1-A requests the command execution right granting unit 31 to acquire the device command execution right, the application 1-B cannot acquire the device command execution right.

Next, the operation of the command sending section 32 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Application 1
-A requests execution of the device command by passing the positive random number and the device command obtained when the execution right of the device command is acquired to the command transmission unit 32 via the operating system 2 (300). The command sending unit 32 checks whether or not the received device command execution request is sent from the application 1-A that has given the device command execution right, by looking at the received positive random number (301).

If the received positive random number is the same as the positive random number stored in the existence identifier 34, the command sending unit 32 gives the application 1-A that has given the command execution right.
Then, the device command is sent to the information recording / reproducing apparatus 520 (302). If the received positive random number is different from the positive random number stored in the existence identifier 34, the command transmission unit 32 determines that the request is not from the application 1-A that has given the command execution right, and makes a request. The application 1-B having the error is notified that the device command execution request cannot be accepted (303). Here, since the random number match detection is performed, the positive random number generated and transmitted by the application 1-B that has not acquired the command execution right matches the positive random number stored in the existence identifier 34. Never.

Therefore, only the application 1-A which has acquired the command execution right can execute the device command. The operation of the command execution right release unit 33 is shown in FIG.
It will be described in accordance with the flowchart of. The application 1-A requests the release of the device command execution right by passing the positive random number obtained when the device command execution right is acquired to the command execution right release unit 33 via the operating system 2. (400).

The command execution right release section 33 checks whether or not the received device command execution right release request is sent from the application 1-A that has given the device command execution right. Check (40
1). If the received positive random number is the same as the positive random number stored in the existence identifier 34, the command execution right release unit 33 grants the command execution right to the application 1-A.
It is determined that the request is received from the device, and -1 is set in the existence identifier 34, and the application to which the execution right of the device command is given does not exist (402).

If the received positive random number is different from the positive random number stored in the existence identifier 34, the command execution right releasing unit 33 does not request the command execution right from the application 1-A. The determination is made and the application requested is notified that the request to release the device command execution right cannot be accepted (403). That is, when the application 1-A finishes the search, the command execution right release unit 33 cancels the execution right of the device command and sets it in the existence identifier 34 based on the notification from the application 1-A. Erase the random number that had been used and reset -1.

If there is a command for canceling the execution right to execute another application that should be prioritized by the user, the execution right of the application 1-A is canceled, and the application for which the priority instruction is given. Grant the execute right and set a new random number for this application in the presence identifier 34. As described above, the command execution right release unit 33 sets the state in which another application can acquire the execution right of the device command, and, on the other hand, while the application is being executed, a release request from another application causes the device to erroneously execute the device command. It is possible to prevent the command execution right from being released.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is of course not limited to the above embodiments. That is, for example, although one information recording / reproducing device 520 is connected to the host computer 510 in the embodiment, a plurality of information recording / reproducing devices 520 are connected, and the existence identifier 34 is provided for each information recording / reproducing device 520.
Is provided.

In the case where a large number of users use the communication network to browse the document data, etc. in a library for a large amount of electromagnetically converted document data, the invention of the present application is used to correct regional inequalities in the search. The control method of the search device according to (3) is configured in a multi-layered manner with requests from the Kanto region and from Tokyo. Similarly, the existence identifier is set according to the type of data such as science and engineering data, legal data, and personal information.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an application is performing a search operation using the information recording / reproducing apparatus, another application cannot use the information recording / reproducing apparatus. As a result, it is possible to safely execute a plurality of applications that perform a search operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a control method of an embodiment of an information search device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a command execution right granting unit 31 in the above embodiment.
3 is a flowchart of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of a command transmission unit 32 in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a command execution right release unit 33 in the above embodiment.
3 is a flowchart of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an information search device according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a device command according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 7 is an area configuration diagram of a memory 521 of the information search device.

FIG. 8 is an operation diagram of an application A and an application B according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Application 2 Operating System 3 Device Driver 4 Command Execution Unit 31 Command Execution Right Granting Unit 32 Command Transmission Unit 33 Command Execution Right Release Unit 34 Existence Identifier 510 Host Computer 520 Information Recording / Reproducing Device 521 Memory 522 Character String Match Detection Circuit 523 Micro Controller 530 information recording medium 610 search target data setting command 620 search condition setting command 630 search execution command 640 data transfer command 710 search target data area 720 search character string area 730 search result area

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yuji Takagi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroshi Hamazaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Yuji Hisakado 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A host computer on which a plurality of applications operate, and an information recording / reproducing apparatus that executes an operation of searching a search character string sent from the application from document data read from an information recording medium by a plurality of commands. In the configured information retrieval device, the host computer gives an execution right giving step to the application to execute the command, and the information recording in response to a command execution request from the application having the execution right. A method of controlling an information retrieval device, comprising: a sending step of sending the command to a playback device; and an execution right releasing step of canceling the execution right given to the application. 2. A method of controlling an information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a device driver of the host computer controls the execution right granting step, the sending step and the execution right releasing step. 3. The execution right granting step has a procedure of assigning an identification number to the application to which the command execution right is given, and the sending step and the execution right releasing step give the command execution right using the identification number. 3. The method for controlling an information retrieval apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a procedure for determining whether or not the application is a different application. 4. The method of controlling an information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the host computer adopts a step of providing an identification number for the application for each connected information recording / reproducing apparatus. . 5. The control method of the information retrieval apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the execution right granting step uses a random number for the identification number.