Method of detecting unjustifiable reloading of stored data

What is claimed is:

1. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(a) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which includes a second level partial data, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which includes the second level partial data if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated first level partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is a text.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is a program.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein partial data is distinguished from each other by punctuation information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the punctuation information belongs to each partial data and the first code is stored while being included in the punctuation information belonging to the partial data to which the code corresponds.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the partial data is designated depending upon the sequential order of the partial data in all of data items.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the partial data is given a name and designation of the partial data is performed with the name of the partial data.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the partial data is designated from each other by punctuation information and the name of the partial data is included in the punctuation information.

9. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of first level partial data and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(A) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, from which a second level partial data is omitted, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, from which the second level partial data is omitted, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated first level partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the data is a text.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the data is a program.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the partial data is distinguished form each other by punctuation information.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the punctuation information belongs to each partial data and the first code is stored while being included in the punctuation information belonging to the partial data to which the code corresponds.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the partial data is designated depending upon the sequential order of the partial data in all of data items.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of the partial data is given a name and designation of the partial data is performed with the name of the partial data.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the partial data is distinguished from each other by punctuation information and the name of the partial data is included in the punctuation information.

17. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(A) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, from which the content of a second level partial data is omitted and which includes the punctuation information, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, from which the content of the second level partial data is omitted and which includes the punctuation information, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated first level partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data is a text.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data is a program.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the punctuation information belongs to each partial data and the first code is stored while being included in the punctuation information belonging to the partial data to which the code corresponds.

21. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of the partial data is given a name in the punctuation information there of and designation of the partial data is performed with the name of the partial data.

22. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(A) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is processed in accordance with a selected processing method, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is processed in accordance with a selected processing method if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated first level partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the selectable processing method includes a processing method in which, if the designated partial data includes the other partial data, the partial data is included.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the selectable processing method includes a processing method in which, if the designated partial data includes the other partial data, the contents of said partial data is omitted and punctuation information is included.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the selectable processing method includes a processing method in which, if the designated partial data includes the other partial data, the partial data is omitted.

26. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(A) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

in a case where the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, referring to control information about the included second level partial data;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is processed in accordance with the control information, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

in a case where the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, referring to control information about the second level partial data;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is processed in accordance with the control information if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated first level partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the control information is information for identifying am author of the partial data.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein, in the process of the second level partial data, the partial data is included in the designated first level partial data if the author of the second level partial data and that of the designated first level partial data are the same.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein, if information for identifying the author is not provided for the second level partial data, a discrimination is made that the author of the first level partial data including the second level partial data and that of the second level partial data are the same.

30. A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, on file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten, said method comprising steps of:

(A) at a time of saving a file,

designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving a password from a user;

in a case where the designated first level partial data includes a second level partial data, referring to a processing method set for the designated first level partial data;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is obtained by processing the first level partial data by said processing method if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and

saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data;

(B) at a time of reading the saved file,

reading the saved file;

designating the first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction;

receiving the password from the user;

in a case where the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, referring to a processing method set for the designated first level partial data;

converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which is obtained by processing the first level partial data by said processing method if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, according to said predetermined procedure to generate a second code;

comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and

discriminating that the designated first level partial data has been unjustifiably rewritten if comparison results in a fact that the first code is not equal to the second code.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the processing method which can be set includes a processing method in which, if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, the second level partial data is included.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the processing method which can be set includes a processing method in which, if the designated first level partial data includes the second level partial data, the contents of the second level partial data is omitted and punctuation information is included.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein two types of processing methods which can be set are provided and are set by registering the name of partial data to which either of the two processing methods must be applied.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein setting of the processing method is described the punctuation information for each partial data.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of detecting whether or not the contents of data stored in a data processing system for preparing/registering/controlling texts and programs and comprising a plurality of data elements are justifiable data prepared and stored by a justifiable user in such a manner that a discrimination is made for each data element in a case where one data element is able to include other data elements and capable of detecting a fact that unjustifiable reloading of data has been performed if reloading has been performed.

2. Related Background Art

Hitherto, operations of preparing texts on a computer to store them as files have been performed.

In a case where the text file is the target of a cooperative work by a plurality of users, a method has been employed in which the file is held in common and access to the file by other users is inhibited.

For example, in a UNIX operating system, writing, referring (reading) and executing each file by the owner of the file, a cooperation group and other users can be permitted.

In the system of the aforesaid type, if setting is made in this way that a certain file is held in common by users in a group and change of the file by users in other groups is not permitted, a method has been employed in which writing of data on the file by the group is permitted and the same by the other user is not permitted, so that the text can be held in common by only the users in the group.

In a case where a batch of texts are prepared by a cooperation of plural persons and other person's writing to each region entrusted to the person in the group is not permitted, the text is sectioned into individual files for each person who charges in it at the time of administrating the text.

In the conventional method, the following operations are performed:

Writing or reading of a file can be permitted to a limited range including the owner of the file, the group and other users.

The conventional method cannot meet a requirement of making a portion entrusted to a person include a portion entrusted to another person to individually control the portions.

Furthermore, the justification of the text is secured by inhibiting writing/reading of the text by a user having no authorization.

Furthermore, the aforesaid controls have been allowed for file units, causing the following problems to arise:

1. In a case where text files, which are being respectively prepared by a plurality of persons, are portions of one text to be prepared in cooperation with one another, the file cannot be integrated and thereby the text cannot be treated collectively.

2. In a case where the file may be reloaded by another person, a desire of confirming the fact that the file has been reloaded if it has been done cannot be met.

3. If the file has been reloaded by a superuser (a user having all rights on any file) or erroneously reloaded by a person permitted to reload it, the fact that the file has been reloaded cannot be confirmed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for discriminating, for each data element, whether or not the content of saved data is justifiable data as it was processed and saved by a justifiable user in a case where the one data element is able to include other data elements so as to detect a fact of reloading if unjustifiable reloading has been performed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of discriminating whether or not the content of saved data is justifiable data as it was processed and saved by a justifiable user, the discrimination being made for each data element while including data element included in a case where the one data element is able to include other data elements so as to detect a fact of reloading if unjustifiable reloading has been performed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method in which whether or not the content of saved data is justifiable data as it was processed and saved by a justifiable user is discriminated for each data element while including no included data element in a case where the one data element is able to include other data elements so as to detect a fact of reloading if unjustifiable reloading has been performed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method with which an included data element can be selectively treated in a case where whether or not the content of saved data is justifiable data as it was processed and saved by a justifiable user is discriminated for each data element in a case where the one data element is able to, include other data elements and a fact of reloading is detected if unjustifiable reloading has been performed.

According to one aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items and one partial data which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which includes another partial data item if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data, designating the partial data; inputting the password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which includes another partial data item if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items and one partial data of which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, from which another partial data item is omitted if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data, designating the partial data; inputting the password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, from which another partial data item is omitted if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and one partial data of which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, from which the content of another partial data item is omitted if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item and which includes the punctuation information, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data, designating the partial data; inputting the password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, from which the content of another partial data item is omitted if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item and which includes the punctuation information, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and one partial data of which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is processed in accordance with a selected processing method if the designated partial data includes another partial data item, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data designating the partial data; inputting the password; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is processed in accordance with a selected processing method if the designated partial data includes another partial data item, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and one partial data of which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; in a case where the designated partial data includes another partial data, referring to control information about the included partial data; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is processed in accordance with the control information if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data, designating the partial data; inputting the password; in a case where the designated partial data includes the partial data, referring to control information about the included partial data; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is processed in accordance with the control information if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives relates to a method of discriminating, for each partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of partial data items which are distinguished from each other by punctuation information and one partial data of which is able to include another partial data, has been unjustifiably reloaded, the method comprising steps of: at the time of saving data, designating partial data; inputting a password; in a case where the designated partial data includes another partial data, referring to a processing method set for the designated partial data; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is obtained by processing the partial data by the processing method if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code; and storing the first code to correspond to the designated partial data; at the time of reading the saved data, designating the partial data; inputting the password; in a case where the designated partial data includes the partial data, referring to a processing method set for the designated partial data; converting the input password and the designated partial data, which is obtained by processing the partial data by the processing method if the designated partial data includes the other partial data item, according to the predetermined procedure to generate a second code; comparing the generated second code with the first code stored to correspond to the designated partial data; and discriminating that the designated partial data has been unjustifiably reloaded if the comparison results in a fact that they are not the same.

Other objectives and advantages besides those discussed above shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which follows. In the description, reference is made to accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which illustrate an example of the invention. Such example, however, is not exhaustive of the various embodiments of the invention, and therefore reference is made to the claims which follow the description for determining the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural view which illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart which illustrates a text preparation and registration processes;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart which illustrates a code generation process;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart which illustrates a correspondence process;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart which illustrates a justification identification process;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process at the time of the identification process;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of text data according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of an extracted character train according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of text data having a justification identification code according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart which illustrates the text preparation and registration process according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart which illustrates the correspondence process according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart which illustrates the justification identification process according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of text data according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of the extracted character train according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of text data having a justification identification code according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of an extracted character train according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of an extracted character train according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of an extracted character train according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of an extracted character train according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates an example of text data according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 25A, 25B, 26A and 26B illustrate examples of extracted character trains according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates an example of text data having a justification identification code according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates an example of text data according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 30A, 30B, 31A and 31B illustrate examples of extracted character trains according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 illustrates an example of text data having a justification identification code according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates an example of a table showing the correspondence between a text element and an author;

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate examples of extracted character trains according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a flow chart which illustrates a character train extraction process to be performed at the time of the text preparation according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates an example of text data according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a structural view which illustrates a system according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a flow chart which illustrates a text preparation and registration process according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 39A and 39B illustrate examples of extracted information data;

FIG. 40 is a flow chart which illustrates the text preparation and registration process according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 illustrates an example of extracted information data according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 42 illustrates an example of text data according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will now be described. According to this embodiment and ensuing embodiments, text data stored in one file is composed of one or more text elements (hereinafter called a "first level text element") and the first level text element includes one or more other text elements (hereinafter called a "second level text element"). At this time, the justification (a fact that the text is not reloaded) of the text for each text element unit is identified according to a code (hereinafter called a "justification identification code") stored to correspond to each of the text elements.

When viewed from the first level text element, the second level text element is called a "sub text element", while the first level text element is called a "main text level" when viewed from the second level text element.

The fact that the text element is "justifiable" means that the contents of the text element are the same as those when the text element is registered. That is, even if the text element had been changed, a discrimination is made that it is a justifiable text element if it has been restored to the original state.

[First Embodiment]

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a text processing system according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a console 1 is a unit having a device (for example, a keyboard) for inputting information to a computer and a device (for example, a CRT) capable of displaying a response from the computer.

Reference numeral 2 represents a CPU for performing operations according to this embodiment, 3 represents an output device such as a printer or a CRT for printing out or displaying a message from the system.

Reference numeral 10 represents a first storage device for memorizing an operation program to be executed by the CPU 2, 20 represents a second storage device for storing text data to be processed in the system according to this embodiment and 30 represents a third storage device for temporarily storing data for use to perform the operation in the system according to this embodiment.

Although the first, second and the third storage devices may be integrally formed, it is preferable that a program which can be executed by the CPU 2 be operated in the first storage device 10 which may be a RAM comprising an IC chip which reads the program from a floppy disk or, as a general case, a ROM on which the program has been written previously. Since the second storage device stores text data or the like, it is preferable that the second storage device is able to store data even if the power supply is stopped and therefore is a hard disk or a floppy disk.

In the first storage device 10, the following programs are present. Reference numeral 13 represents a character train extraction program for extracting a portion or the overall body of a text element from a text data 21 or a text data 23 having a justification identification code according to the sequential order of appearance in data. Reference numeral 19 represents a character train conversion program for deforming a given character train to convert it into another character train (a justification identification code 33). Reference numeral 18 represents a correspondence program for causing the text element and the justification identification code 33 obtained in the character train conversion program 19 to correspond to each other according to the sequential order and then storing them as text data 23 having the justification identification code. Reference numeral 12 represents a justification identification code extraction program for extracting the justification identification code of the designated text element from the text data 23 having the justification identification code 23 according to the sequential order. Reference numeral 15 represents a character train comparison program for discriminating whether or not two character trains are the same.

The second storage device 20 includes text data 21 composed of a plurality of text elements processed by an author or the like of the text. Reference numeral 23 represents a correspondence program and 18 represents a text data having a justification identification code in which the justification identification code is registered.

The third storage device 30 maintains the following regions. Reference numeral 38 represents a text element number for use to store information denoting the order of the target first level text element. Reference numeral 34 represents a region for storing the character train (hereinafter called a "target character train") extracted from the text data 21 by the character train extraction program 13 and serving as a target of the code generation operation. Reference numeral 32 represents a region for storing a password (hereinafter a "password") supplied by the author of the text through the console 1. Reference numeral 31 represents a region (hereinafter called "encoded data") for storing encoded data processed from the target character train 34 and the password 33. Reference numeral 33 represents a region for storing the justification identification code processed from the encoded data 31 according to the character train conversion program 19. Reference numeral 35 represents a region (hereinafter called a "comparison code") for storing a justification identification code extracted from the text data 23 having the justification identification code according to the justification identification code extraction program 12. Reference numeral 36 represents a region for storing the result of the discrimination made by a character train comparison program 15.

An example of the text data 21 thus-formed and according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 8.

The text data 21 can be clearly divided for each text element with a certain specific text punctuation mark.

An assumption is made here that each text element is a character train starting from a character "<" and ended at ">" (a pair is formed without exception). Furthermore, uses of "<" and ">" to indicate another meaning except for the punctuation are inhibited to be written in one text (or in one text element).

Then, the flow of the process according to this embodiment will now be described.

The flow is mainly sectioned into two portions, that is a process for preparing a text and a process for identifying the justification.

<Text Preparing Process>

First, a process of registering the justification identification code for a text prepared by a plurality of persons will now be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 2.

First, an author of the text inputs, through the console 1, a portion (for example, the file name) in which the text data 21, which is the target of the process, is stored and a portion in which the text data 23 having the justification identification code which is the result of the process according to this embodiment is stored. Then, the author specifies the target of the text processing operation (step S201). An assumption is made here that the text data 21 is previously processed by using an editor or the like and is stored. Then, the author of the text inputs, through the console 1, number n of the target first level text element in the text data 21 (step S202) to make it the target text element number 38.

Then, the target character train is extracted from the text data 21 by using the character train extraction program 13 to make it the target character train 34 (step S203 and to be described later).

Furthermore, the author or the text inputs the password 32 through the console 1 (step S204) and prepares the justification identification code 33 from the target character train 34 extracted in step S203 and the password 32 input in step S204 (step S205 and to be described later).

Finally, the correspondence program 18 is used to perform the process of making the target text element to correspond to the justification identification code 33 (step S206 and to be described later). Thus, the text preparation process is completed.

Then, the target character train extraction process in step S203 will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 9, a range of the character train to be extracted at the time of preparing encoded data in the text element shown in FIG. 8 is designated by a dashed line.

Then, the contents of this process will now be described according to a flow chart shown in FIG. 3.

First, the identification of the text element will now be described. Each text element is a character train starting at "<" and ended at the corresponding character ">". The "corresponding" relationship is a similar relationship to the correspondence of parentheses in the numerical formula, that is, "<" and ">" form a pair without fail. Namely, "<" serves as an opening parenthesis, while ">" serves as a closing parenthesis. A case where "<" indicating the start of the first level text element is present and "<" appears in a state where corresponding ">" does not appear means the commencement of a second level text element.

Although the description of "a certain order text element" is made, the "n-th text element" is the n-th text element among the first level text elements because only the first level text element is the target here.

In order to extract a desired text element, the start mark "<" for the n-th text element designated by the text element number 38 of the first level text element is detected in the text data 21 (s