In an information registering and retrieving apparatus, primary information of image signals converted from an original document or documents is registered by adding secondary information to the primary information and any desired primary information is retrieved by utilizing the secondary information. The apparatus is provided with a first output reservation device for storing, in a storage device, desired secondary information designated in the entire secondary information retrieved on the basis of any given retrieval condition and for interrupting an output of the desired primary information corresponding to the designated secondary information on a display and by a printer. It is further provided with a second output reservation device for storing, in the storage device, desired primary information designated in the entire primary information corresponding to the retrieved secondary information and for interrupting an output of the desired primary information by the printer. In this apparatus, upon completion of retrieval processing, the primary information which has not been outputted yet is outputted on the basis of the information stored in the storage device.

This invention relates to a method of identifying attributes when documents are grouped to form document relationships within a document management system. Document groupings frequently require the identification of all documents within the relationship with a particular attribute. However, when individual documents store attributes along with document contents, individual querying of each document is required when the information is sought later. This invention provides a Vector Relational Characteristical Object, available to access mechanisms, and containing fields to identify a particular attribute. Each field in the Vector Relational Characteristical Object is followed by an identifier which uniquely identifies the document which possess the particular attribute.

A retrieval interface system which allows a user to view a retrieval result as a percentage of a total number of files, and to further classify the retrieval result into groups based upon attributes of the files. The retrieval interface system includes a classifying section which classifies the contents of a database based on a classification method, a display management section, a classification method storage section, a control section, a history information storage section which retains history information of retrieval conditions, and a quantity display conversion section which converts display elements into a form from which the user can determine the number of elements in each group.

A network system having a plurality of databases wherein data are respectively stored, a plurality of terminals for use in retrieving data in the databases, a plurality of connecting devices for connecting the databases and the terminals, and a control unit for giving data-caching instructions to connecting devices selected on the basis of the results of analysis of data concerning access logs with respect to the databases. When a demand for data retrieval is made from a terminal and when data to be retrieved exits in a connecting device that has received a data-caching instruction, the data is made the result of retrieval. The analysis of data concerning an access log is made at predetermined time intervals.

A system retrieves structured documents based on first desired concept item having first concept items classified hierarchically and subordinated to first desired concept item, second desired concept item having second concept items classified hierarchically and subordinated to second desired concept item, generates a table displaying retrieval results, and associates groups of desired component, one of first items classified as first concept items immediately lower than first desired concept item, and desired second concept item with column index cells of table respectively. When a display area where one of the column index cells is displayed is designated, the system acquire the groups associated with the designated area, and retrieves, based on the acquired group, structured documents each including the desired component including a value in which one of the first concept items subordinated to the one of the first item and one of the second concept items are included.