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We claim:
1. A data base system capable of adding, retrieving and deleting memo
information comprising:
a first storage means for storing a data base;
a first processor in operative communication with said first storage means
for managing an input and output of data to and from the data base;
a second storage means for storing memo information to be logically
attached to said data base;
a third storage means comprising a connective index for storing relational
information representing to which record of the data base a memo
information is logically attached; and,
a second processor connected to said first processor, said second storage
means and said third storage means for adding, retrieving and deleting the
memo information to and from said second storage means by adding,
retrieving and deleting the relational information to and from the
connective index in said third storage means.
2. The data base system according to claim 1, wherein said memo information
attached to records of the data base in said second storage means is image
information stored in time sequence.
3. A data base system having memo information comprising:
(a) a first storage means for storing a data base;
(b) a first processor in operative communication with said data base for
managing an input and output of data to and from said data base;
(c) at least one second storage means for storing memo information to be
logically attached to said data base; and
(d) a work station provided for each second storage means including:
(d-1) a third storage means comprising a connective index for storing
relational information representing to which record of said data base a
memo information is logically attached; and,
(d-2) a second processor connected to said first processor, said second
storage means and said third storage means for adding, retrieving and
deleting the memo information to and from said second storage means by
adding, retrieving or deleting the relational information to and from the
connective index in said third storage means.
4. A data base system having memo information comprising:
(a) a first storage means for storing a data base;
(b) a first processor in operative communication with said first storage
means for managing an input and output of data to and from said data base;
(c) as storage medium including;
(c-1) an area for storing memo information to be logically attached to said
data base; and
(c-2) an area for storing relational information representing to which
record of said data base a memo information is logically attached;
(d) a storage control unit for writing and reading the memo information and
the corresponding relational information to and from said storage medium;
(e) a second storage means; and
(f) a second processor connected to said first processor, said storage
control unit and said second storage means for
(f-1) reading the corresponding relational information from said storage
medium through a memory control unit and storing the corresponding
relational information into said second storage means, and
(f-2) storing, retrieving and deleting the memo information of said storage
medium through said storage control unit by referring to the corresponding
relational information stored in said storage medium.
5. A method for managing memo information utilizing a data base, wherein a
connective index registers both a primary key indicating a record of the
data base to which the memo information is to be logically attached an a
location address of the memo file where the memo information is physically
stored, the method comprising the steps of:
(1) storing the memo information including
(1-a) physically storing the memo information in a storage medium, and
(1-b) storing into the connective index file both a primary key indicating
a record of the data base to which the memo information is to be attached
and a location address of the memo file where the memo information is
stored; and
(2) retrieving the memo information including
(2-a) outputting a record of the data base by said processor,
(2-b) by using the connective index, retrieving the location address of the
memo file where the memo information to be logically attached to the
record is physically stored, and
(2-c) outputting the memo information to an output device controlled by
said processor by using the location address of the memo file.
6. The method for managing memo information according to claim 5, wherein
said step (2-c) further includes a step for outputting the memo
information logically attached to the record which a user retrieves from
the data base.
7. The method for managing memo information according to claim 5, wherein
said memo information is attached to one record of the data base, the memo
information is recorded in the memo file in a storing sequence, a pointer
indicating the storing sequence is added to a record field of each memo
information, head and tail addresses of the firstly and lastly stored memo
information are recorded as addresses of the memo file in said connective
index file, and said memo information is outputted in a time sequence or
an inversed time sequence by referencing the pointers of the head or tail
address when the memo information is retrieved.
8. The method for managing memo information according to claim 5 wherein
the memo information is image information.
9. A method for managing memo information according to claim 5, wherein
said step 2(c) further includes a step for outputting the memo information
stored at the memo file, said memo information corresponding to the input
information representing the records of the data base.
10. A method for managing memo information utilizing a data base wherein a
connective index registers both a primary key indicating a record of the
data base to which the memo information is to be logically attached and a
location address of the memo file where the memo information is physically
stored, the method comprising the steps of:
(1) inputting to a processor the memo information;
(2) inputting to said processor the primary key indicating the record of
the data base;
(3) storing by said processor to the memo file both the input memo
information and the information indicating the record of the data base to
which the memo information is to be logically attached; and
(4) storing by said processor to the connective index both the location
address of the memo file where the input memo is physically stored and the
information indicating the record of the data base to which the memo
information is to be logically attached.
11. The method for managing memo information according to claim 10, the
method further comprising the steps of:
(5) displaying by the processor on a display a part of said memo
information attached to the record of the data base comprising the input
information indicating the record of the data base,
(6) detecting by using said connective index the location address in the
memo file of the memo information which corresponds to the input
information indicating the record of the data base, and
(7) displaying by said processor said memo information stored at the
detected address on the display.
12. The method for managing memo information according to claim 11, wherein
there are a plurality of memo information corresponding to the input
information indicating the record of the data base, and said step (7) for
displaying the memo information further includes a step of displaying on a
display the plurality of memo information in such a manner that rear memo
information is partially viewed.
13. The method for managing memo information according to claim 12, the
method further comprising the steps of designating said memo information
as "latest" or "oldest", and when "latest" is designated, overdisplaying
the memo information in a storing sequence with the latest one being
frontmost and the oldest one being rearmost, and when the "oldest" is
designated, overdisplaying the memo information in the opposite sequence.
14. The method for managing memo information according to claim 13, the
method comprising the steps of designating said memo information as
"forward" or "backward", and when "forward" is designated, the memo
information next to the frontmost displayed memo information is
overdisplayed frontmost, and when "backward" is designated, the memo
information to be displayed in front of the frontmost displayed memo
information is overdisplayed frontmost.
15. A data base system including a storage means for storing a data base, a
first processor operative with said storage means for managing the data
base, and a terminal connected with said storage means and said first
processor for accessing said data base storage, said terminal including a
second processor connected to said first processor and a storage device
for processing data from the data base storage means, wherein
said storage device comprises:
a first storage area for storing memo information to be logically attached
to said data base; and
a second storage area for storing a relational information representing
which record of said data base a memo information is logically attached
to, whereby sad second processor refers to the information stored in said
second storage area in response to an instruction by an operator to
perform at least one of addition, retrieval and deletion of the memo
information to and from said first storage area of the storage device.
16. The storage device according to claim 15, wherein said storage device
is portable and disconnectable from said terminal. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data base system including memorandum
information and a method for managing the memorandum information, and more
particularly to a data base management system and a method for managing
memorandum information in which a user of the data base system manages
personal information (referred to as memorandum information) relating to
data of the data base on a work station, in on-line information processing
system comprising a host computer including the data base and work
stations coupled to the host computer.
Information handled in an enterprise may be classified into organization
information and personal information.
Organization information is official information in an organization and
shared by the organization members. In order to store, retrieve and update
large amounts of organization information, various types of data base
management systems are developed.
Personal information is not official information in an organization. It is
collected and modified by each organization member to smoothly process his
assigned jobs. The personal information is normally not opened for use by
others but it may be handed to others in the form of memorandum or
document with his permission.
A conventional data base management system (DBMS) is for the organization
information in which a data structure (expression and format of data) has
been defined before a data is inputted. The data can be readily stored,
retrieved and updated.
On the other hand, the personal information has no fixed data structure
and, is in many cases, image information such as memorandums and charts.
Such personal information in memorandum form (memorandum information) is
written on memo papers by the the person in charge, and they are
classified by fields. In order for these memorandums to be utilized later,
they must be well classified and rearranged. It is troublesome work and
valuable information may be dispersed or a promise to a customer may not
be kept. As a result, the person in charge may lose his/her credit.
The memorandum information of non-fixed (non-routine) data structure may be
stored on an optical disk in a compact manner. In order to allow exact
retrieval of desired information, it is necessary to assign a search key
to each memorandum. This does not make a significant difference from the
paper memorandums from the standpoint of classification and rearrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a memorandum
information data management method and system which can store personal
memorandum information (particularly those related to data base
information of a host computer) without requiring users to define and
assign search keys and which assures high storage efficiency and high
search efficiency.
Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following
description and the accompanying drawings.
In order to achieve the above object, in accordance with the present
invention, the data base management system comprises a first storage
medium of a data base, a host computer having a function to control
input/output of data to and from the data base, a work station, and a
channel for transmitting information between the host computer and the
work station. The work station comprises an input device for inputting
memorandum information relating to records of the data base, a second
storage medium for storing the memorandum information, a connective
retrieval table (also referred to as a connective index file) which
registers both a location address of each memorandum on the second storage
medium and a primary key of the record in the data base where the
memorandum is logically attached, and a processor for storing, retrieving
and updating the memorandum by using the input device, the second storage
medium and the connective retrieved table.
In a preferred embodiment, the second storage medium may be an optical disk
and the memorandum information is stored in the optical disk in the form
of image information.
In the memorandum information management system, the memorandum information
is managed in the following steps.
When a memorandum is to be logically added to a record of the data base for
the first time, a primary key of the record is keyed in, and the
memorandum is written into the second storage medium through the input
device together with the primary key in order to construct a memorandum
file. Both the primary key and the address on the second storage medium at
which the memorandum is stored are registered in the connective retrieval
table.
When a plurality of memorandums are to be logically added to the record,
pointers indicating mutual connection are added. The memorandums are
stored in the memorandum file in a sequence of storing and retrieved in
time sequence, that is, in a first-in first-out fashion or in the opposite
fashion.
The addresses on the memorandum file at which the oldest and latest
memorandums are stored (hereinafter called head address and end address
respectively) are recorded in the connective index table.
When a memorandum is to be retrieved, a primary key of the record on which
the memorandum is logically added is inputted so that the memorandum item
is displayed on the display of the work station.
Where a plurality of memorandums are logically added to the record, the
primary key is not only specified, but also an indication of "latest" or
"oldest" must be specified to designate whether the memorandums are to be
retrieved from the latest or the oldest.
Then, paging retrieval is carried out as required. In the paging retrieval
mode, a memorandum which has been stored immediately earlier or later than
the memorandum which is currently displayed is retrieved and displayed. If
a forward paging retrieval command is executed when a memorandum is being
displayed, the memorandum which has been stored immediately later than
that is displayed, and if a backward paging retrieval command is executed,
the memorandum which has been stored immediately earlier than that is
displayed.
The memorandum which is no longer necessary is deleted in the following
manner. The unnecessary memorandum is deleted in a memorandum deletion
process. There are three modes in the memorandum deletion, that is, a
specified memorandum deletion mode, a specified record memorandum deletion
mode and total memorandum deletion mode. In the specified memorandum
deletion mode, the memorandum to be deleted is displayed on the display
(CRT) and the delete command is executed. In the specified record
memorandum deletion mode, total memorandums logically added to a record of
the data base is deleted. They may be deleted by the total memorandum
delete command while one of the memorandums is displayed, or by specifying
the primary key which points the record. In the total memorandum deletion
mode, total memorandum logically added to one data base is collectively
deleted by specifying the file name and executing the total memorandum
delete command.
In accordance with the present invention, the personal information is
processed as if a user of the data base management system pastes his/her
personal memorandums to records of the data base. Accordingly, personal
information may be sorted and classified by the data base without special
rearrangement for the memorandums.
A record of the data base and the memorandum logically added to the record
can be simultaneously retrieved by specifying the primary key indicating
record of the data base, with a high retrieval efficiency.
When a plurality of memorandums are to be logically added to a record, only
the primary key and pointers connecting these memorandums need to be added
in addition to these memorandums. Accordingly, an efficiency of storing
the memorandums is not decreased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual view of one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of one embodiment of a memorandum information
management system of the present invention,
FIG. 3 shows a structure of a memorandum file of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 shows a structure of a connective index file of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a memorandum storing process,
FIGS. 6 and 7 show flow charts of a memorandum retrieving process, and
FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a memorandum deleting process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of one embodiment of a memorandum information
management system of the present invention.
Numeral 1 denotes a functional image which a user of the present system may
understand through a viewer 3 of a work station 2. A table drawn in the
image 1 is an image of a data base 5 in a host computer 4. A row of the
table corresponds to a record of the data base. The data base 5 is a given
one for the user of the system. Memorandum (hereinafter referred to as
memos) attached to the rows of the table in the image 1 have been prepared
by the user and inputted through a memo reader 6 of the work station 2 to
logically add to the records. Normally, a plurality of memos are logically
added to some rows and they are arranged in an input sequence. A frontmost
memo is a latest one and a rearmost memo is an oldest one, or vice versa.
Usually, a plurality of persons logically adds memos to the records of the
data base 5 of the host computer 4. The memos of each person should not be
disclosed to other persons. If the memos of one user and the memos of
other users are logically added to the same rows (record) of the data base
5, the user may be troubled. Accordingly, the memos are to be managed
separately by each user.
In order to achieve the above function, the memos are inputted through the
memo reader 6 of each work station 2 and stored into a storage medium
(memo file) 7 of the work station 2. The memos may be keyed in.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration of one embodiment of the memorandum
information system which attains the above function. Numerals 10, 11, 12
and 13 denote display controller, keyboard controller, memo reader
controller and optical disk controller, respectively, which are
controllers of peripheral equipments of the work station. Those are
conventional ones. Numerals 14, 15 and 16 denote a process for storing a
memo by logically adding to the data base of the host computer, process
for retrieving the stored memos, and process for deleting the memo,
respectively. They are processed by a processor 18. The connective
retrieval table (connective index) 8 of the work station 2 indicates which
record of the data base 5 the input memo is logically added to.
Accordingly, when a memo is to be logically added to a record at a first
time, a name of the record, or the primary key is registered in the
connective index 8. An address in the memo file 7 in which the memo
logically added to the record is stored is also registered in the
connective index 8. The connective index 8 may be a table in a storage
(not shown) in the work station 2. Where a plurality of optical disks are
used as the memo files 7, if the connective indexes of all optical disks
are provided in the storage of the work station 2, a large storage
capacity is required. Accordingly, a connective index table for each
optical disk is provided in each optical disk, and the connective index
tables in the optical disks are loaded to the storage of the work station
prior to the utilization of the system. In this manner, the utilization
efficiency of the storage in the work station is improved and the work
station 2 can be shared by a plurality of users by the personal management
of the optical disks.
An internal structure of the connective index 8 and an internal structure
of a memo file 7 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 3, respectively. The memo files
7 are stored in the storing sequence. A head empty area address of the
memo file is stored in a register 17 to indicate a place where the next
memo is to be stored.
In FIG. 3, subunits i.sub.1, i.sub.2 and i.sub.3 denote storage areas for
respective memos in the memo file 7. And memo records are stored therein.
The memo record comprises a memo field which contains an occurrence of the
memo, a forward memo pointer field, a backward memo pointer field and a
data base (DB) primary key field. The memos of a user are stored in the
memo file 7 in the input sequence, irrespective of the records of the data
base to which the memos are to be logically added. As a result, the
storage efficiency of the storage medium of the memo file 7 is enhanced.
Because of such storage format, some memos logically added to a record of
the data base may be discontinuously stored as shown by i.sub.1, i.sub.2
and i.sub.3 in FIG. 3. The forward memo pointer and backward memo pointer
serve to manage the memos added to the same record of the data base, in
the storing sequence. The storage location of the memo record i.sub.1 (or
i.sub.3) which has been recorded immediately earlier (or later) than the
memo record i.sub.2 is registered as the forward memo pointer (or backward
memo pointer) (field) of the memo record i.sub.2. The DB primary key of
the memo record is a primary key (uniquely identifying key) of the data
base which indicates the record to which the memo is logically added.
Since the memos logically attached to a record of the data base are
bidirectionally connected by the forward memo pointer and the backward
memo pointer, those memos can be retrieved in either first-in first-out
sequence or the opposite sequence. A deletion display field of the memo
record will be described later.
The structure of the connective index 8 shown in FIG. 4 is now explained.
The connective index is used to queue the memos logically added to a
record of a data base. In the queuing, either the first stored memo or
last stored memo is queued. Accordingly, the connective index 8 comprises
three fields, DB primary key field, head memo address field and tail memo
address field. When a memo is logically added to a record of a data base
at a first time, one key record is registered in the connective index. It
comprises a DB primary key field for indicating the record of the data
base to which the memo is added, and a head memo address field and a tail
memo address field for indicating the location in the memo file 7 at which
the memo is stored and ended respectively. Since only one memo is
logically added to the record at the first time, the content of the head
memo address field and the content of the tail memo address field are
equal.
The operation of the above embodiment is explained with reference to FIGS.
5 to 8.
The memo storing process 14 of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 5. In a first step
501, a memo is read by the memo reader 6 and a primary key which indicates
the record of the data base 5 to which the memo is to be logically
attached is inputted from the keyboard 9. When a record of the data base 5
is displayed on the display 3, it may be designated by a cursor to
identify the record.
In a step 502, whether the memo is logically attached to the record of the
data base 5 at the first time or not, the subsequent steps differ. This is
determined by whether primary index of the record is registered or not in
the connective index 8.
If it is the first registration, steps 503 and 504 are carried out. In the
step 503, the memo is stored in the memo file 7. Since no memo has been
added to the memo record, the forward memo pointer and the backward memo
pointer are left blank. The primary key (PK) of the record of the data
base to which the memo is to be logically added is entered into the DB
primary key field. In the step 504, the primary key (PK) of the data base
to which the memo is to be logically attached is registered in the DB
primary key field of the connective index 8 as a new key record, and the
head empty area address in the memo file 7 which is the content of the
register 17 is registered in both the head memo address field and the tail
memo address field.
If the memo is second or subsequent addition to the record of the data base
5, steps 505 and 506 are carried out. In the step 505, the memo is stored
in the memo file 7. The step 505 differs from the step 503 in that the
memo previously added to the record is referred to. To this end, the
address of the memo previously added is written into the forward memo
pointer field of the memo record. The address is derived from the
connective index. In the step 506, the addition of the memo is registered
in the connective index 8. Namely, the storage address of the memo is
written into the tail memo address field of the key record corresponding
to the record.
In a step 507, the address at which the memo next read is to be stored,
that is, the head empty area address 17 is updated.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the flow charts of a process for retrieving a specified
memo.
FIG. 6 shows a process to read the latest or oldest memo added to a
specific record.
The name of the record of the data base to which the memo to be retrieved
has been logically added, that is, the primary key is entered by the
keyboard 9 (step 601).
Then, either the latest one or oldest one of the memos added to the record
specified by the primary key is specified (step 602). Then, the index
record where the content of the primary key field in the connective index
is equal to the keyed in primary key is obtained (step 603).
Depending on the decision (step 604) on the latest one or oldest one of the
memo to be read, the tail memo address of the obtained index record is
written into a MFA (a work area in the storage of the processor 18) if it
is the latest one, and the head address of the obtained index record is
written into the MFA if it is the oldest one (step 606).
The memo field of the memo record of the address MFA of the memo file 7 is
read and displayed (step 607). Since the above steps are queuing of the
memo, the address of the memo in the memo file may be determined by using
only the connective index.
The above steps may be applied to the memos added to the record of the data
base to overdisplay the memos on the display (see FIG. 1). The number of
memos may be readily counted by displaying the memos in such a manner that
the rear memo is staggered from the front memo.
FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the process in which one of the memos added to
the record of the data base is displayed and the following or previous one
of the memos is read.
The storage address in the memo file of the memo currently displayed on the
display is set to MFA (step 701). Depending on whether the paging is
forward or backward (step 702), the backward memo pointer of the memo
record indicated by MFA is registered in MFNA (a work area in the storage
of the processor 18) if the paging is forward, and the forward memo
pointer of the memo record indicated by MFA is registered in MFNA if the
paging is backward (step 704).
Whether the MFNA is blank or not is checked (step 705), and if it is not
blank, the memo field of the memo record designated by the MFNA of the
memo file is read and displayed on the display (step 707). If the MFNA is
blank, absence of memo to be displayed is displayed (step 708).
FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a process to delete a memo displayed on the
display.
The storage address in the memo file of the memo displayed on the display
is registered in the MFA, and the DP primary key of the memo record
designated by the MFA is set to PK (step 801).
The address of the index record whose DB primary key is PK in the
connective index is set to PKA (step 802).
Whether the forward memo pointer of the memo record at the address MFA is
blank or not is checked (step 803).
If the forward memo pointer is blank in the step 803 and the backward memo
pointer is also blank, it indicates that the memo is only one. In this
case, the key record at the address PAK of the connective index is deleted
(step 804).
If the forward memo pointer is blank and the backward memo pointer is not
blank, that is, if the memo is the oldest one of the memos, the head memo
address of the key record at the address PAK of the connective index 8 is
set to the backward memo pointer of the memo record MFA of the memo file,
and the forward memo pointer of the memo record pointed by the backward
memo pointer of MFA is rendered blank (step 805).
When both the forward memo pointer and the backward memo pointer of the
memo record are not blank, that is, when the memo is at an intermediate
position in the memo group, a step 807 is carried out. When the forward
memo pointer of the memo record is not blank and the backward memo pointer
is blank, that is, when the memo is the latest one, a step 806 is carried
out.
It should be noted that, in any case, the deleted memo remains in the memo
file. It has merely deleted from the memo group to which it belonged. It
is risky to delete it from the memo file because it may be needed later.
The memo file is preferably an optical disk from a storage cost standpoint.
When a write once type optical disk is used to further reduce the storage
cost, it is not possible to update the two pointers in the memo record. In
this case, the deletion of memo may be indicated by the deletion field of
the memo record (see FIG. 3). Memory cards such as optical memory cards,
IC cards and magnetic cards having a large storage capacity may be used
for the memo file, and also for the index table storage, depending on
applications.
In the present embodiment, the display is used as the output device, a
printer may be connected to print out the memo information or make a hard
copy of the display screen so that the memo information may be carried.
In accordance with the present invention, the memos prepared by the user of
the operator may be stored and retrieved in relation to the data base in a
later work. Accordingly, the computerization of the work in the marketing
activities and general office works which has heretofore been difficult to
attain by conventional information processing is attained and a number of
jobs may be performed by one person.
The present invention is attained by merely developing the work station
without modifying the existing host system (including the data base).
Accordingly, a large manpower is not required to attain the apparatus of
the present invention.
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