JP2000099535A - Picture retrieval device and method, and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the security of document picture data by generating docu ment picture data at every security level of an access right which can be set to an annotation through the use of original document picture data. SOLUTION: In starting a registration processing, an operator inputs a user name and a password. Thus, a picture retrieval device can recognize the operator executing the registration processing and can retrieve document picture data corresponding to the security level of the access right of the operator. Document picture data of the security level is generated and ID is allocated to document picture data of the pertinent security level. ID of document picture data being a processing object, the security level and actual document picture data are made to correspond one another and they are registered in HDD 4. A document picture data group generated in accordance with the security level is registered in HDD 4 in addition to inputted original document picture data and they are managed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image retrieval apparatus and method for managing document image data to which annotations are added, and for searching desired document image data from the managed document image data, and a computer-readable memory. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a document management system for managing a plurality of document image data, a search method for searching for one or a plurality of specific document image data includes a document name existing for each document image data, In some cases, the document image data corresponding to the search condition is searched by determining whether the document creation date, update date, or the like is a search condition and whether the document matches the search condition or is within a predetermined range.

[0003] One of other typical search methods is a full text search method (FTS: Full Text Search).
h). In this full-text search method, text data in each document image data is examined to determine whether or not a character string corresponding to a search condition is included. And
Normally, a registration process is performed in which information on the character string is registered in advance in order to shorten the search time.

In the registration process, a character string included in the document image data is extracted, and the extracted character string is associated with the document image data, and is managed, for example, in a table as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the document image data is managed by ID. For example, it can be seen that the document image data of ID1 includes character strings of “abc”, “cd”, and “ghi”. By managing the character strings included in each document image data as described above, for example, a character string “
In the case of the table shown in FIG. 13, the document image data including "abc" can search the document image data of ID1 and ID3. If the operator sets the character strings "abc" and "
ghi ”, that is, when the AND condition is used as a search condition, the document image data containing“ abc ”corresponds to the document image data of ID1 and ID3, and“ ghi ”
The document image data of ID1 and ID2 correspond to the document image data including the character string. Thus, the document image data of ID1 is obtained as the search result as the document image data corresponding to the search condition.

However, the character strings in the table shown in FIG.
Since an upper limit is set for the maximum number of characters, when a long character string is searched as a search condition, the search is divided into two or more character strings. In this case, the continuity of the actual search condition consisting of a long character string cannot be confirmed.
Performs a search called next search. In the secondary search, for example,
The operator directly checks whether or not the searched document image data really includes a character string that satisfies the search condition.

In some cases, access rights are provided to document image data to be searched in order to keep the document image data confidential. In this case, the document image data is associated with the group or operator to which the access right is set, and is managed in a table as shown in FIG. 14, for example. Then, referring to FIG. 14, only when the access right of a certain operator is set to the retrieved document image data, the retrieved document image data is displayed to the operator as a final retrieval result. Further, as described above, the access right can be set for each group, and in this case, the operators included in the group are managed in a table as shown in FIG. 15, for example. Further, a table as shown in FIG. 16 may be used instead of the table as shown in FIG.
This is a table that manages document image data that can be accessed by operators and groups.
It is only necessary that the information is managed separately by a table as shown in FIG. 15, and it is not necessary to have information indicating who the operators included in the group are on the table shown in FIG.

According to this table, if the operator who has performed the search is, for example, the operator B, the logic of the ID of the document image data accessible to the operator B and the ID of the searched document image data The product ID is obtained, and the IDs present in both of them finally become the document image data to be displayed to the operator B as a search result.

In the process of registering a character string contained in the document image data, if the document image data is not a code data such as a text but an image data consisting of a bitmap, the document image data is converted into monochrome binary data. O
The text data obtained by performing CR (character recognition) is registered as a character string included in the document image data.

[0009]

However, in the conventional image retrieval apparatus, no problem occurs even if the access right is set for each document image data. Descriptive notes for the text in the data, line markers to call attention,
In some cases, such as graphics, the surface color is a rectangle without a white frame in order to erase characters), and it is possible to set the access right separately from the document image data for each annotation, and achieve full text search That was impossible. For example, opaque annotations are pasted on document image data, and if you do not want operators who do not have the access right to delete or move them to output search results, full-text search will use characters that exist in the document image data. Since the column itself is searched, if the character string corresponding to the search condition exists in the portion where the opaque annotation is pasted, it is output as the search result. In other words, even if document image data is not desired to be output as a search result by some operators due to confidentiality, the document image data is output as a search result depending on search conditions, so that security for the document image data can be reliably executed. Did not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image retrieval apparatus and method capable of executing an image retrieval while ensuring security for document image data, a method thereof, and a computer-readable memory. With the goal.

[0011]

The image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, preferably, an image search apparatus for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added and managing the original document image data, wherein the annotation is performed using the original document image data. Creating means for creating document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set in the storage means; and managing means for managing the original document image data and the document image data created by the creating means in association with each other. .

Preferably, the management unit further manages the operator in association with a security level of an access right to the annotation set for each operator.

Preferably, the management means further manages the annotation added to the original document image data in association with the security level of the annotation.

An image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image retrieval apparatus that manages document image data to which annotations are added and searches for desired document image data from the managed document image data, wherein the original document image data and the original document image data A level management table that associates and manages document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation with respect to the annotation, and associates the annotation added to the original document image data with the security level of the annotation. A storage unit for storing an annotation table to be managed; a search condition; an input unit for inputting operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition; and an input unit for the input unit with reference to the level management table The security level of the operator including the searched search condition and indicated by the operator information. Search means for searching for document image data that satisfies the rules, and referring to the annotation table, the security level of the annotation added to the document image data searched for by the search means and the operator of the operator indicated by the operator information. Means for comparing security levels;
Output means for outputting document image data as a search result from the document image data searched by the search means based on the comparison result of the comparison means.

Preferably, the output means includes an annotation satisfying a security level of the operator indicated by the operator information from the document image data retrieved by the retrieval means based on a comparison result by the comparison means. The image processing apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects the added document image data, and outputs the document image data selected by the selection unit as a search result.

Preferably, when there are a plurality of document image data having the same original document image data but different security levels among the document image data selected by the selection means, the output means includes the plurality of document image data. Out of the document image data, the document image data having the highest security level is output as a search result.

An image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image retrieval apparatus for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added and managing the original document image data, wherein an access that can be set to the annotation using the original document image data Creating means for creating document image data for each security level of rights, and managing the document image data created by the creating means for each security level in association with a character string included in the document image data. Means.

Preferably, the management means manages, for each security level, a table in which the document image data created by the creation means is associated with a character string included in the document image data.

Preferably, a unique table number is added to the table for each security level.

An image retrieval apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image search device that manages document image data to which an annotation has been added and searches for desired document image data from the managed document image data, and can be set in the annotation for the original document image data Storage means for storing a document image data for each security level of an access right, a table for managing character strings included in the document image data in association with each other, search conditions, and an operation indicating an operator who inputs the search conditions Input means for inputting user information, and search means for searching for document image data including the search condition input by the input means with reference to the table corresponding to the operation information.

Preferably, the storage unit manages a table in which the document image data is associated with a character string included in the document image data for each security level. Preferably, a unique table number is added to the table for each security level.

An image search method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an image search method for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added and managing the original document image data, wherein an access that can be set to the annotation using the original document image data And a management step of managing the original document image data and the document image data created in the creation step in a storage medium in association with each other.

An image search method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image search method for managing document image data to which annotations are added and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, wherein the original document image data and the original document image data A level management table that associates and manages document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation with respect to the annotation, and associates the annotation added to the original document image data with the security level of the annotation. A storage step of storing an annotation table to be managed in a storage medium, a search condition, an input step of inputting operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition, and the input step by referring to the level management table Contains the search condition entered in step 2, and the security of the operator indicated by the operator information. Searching for document image data satisfying the security level, and referring to the annotation table, the operator indicated by the security level of the annotation added to the document image data searched in the searching step and the operator information A comparison step of comparing security levels, and an output step of outputting document image data as a search result from the document image data searched in the search step based on a comparison result of the comparison step. How to search for images.

Preferably, in the output step, based on a comparison result in the comparison step, an annotation satisfying a security level of the operator indicated by the operator information is selected from the document image data retrieved in the retrieval step. 17. The image search method according to claim 16, further comprising a selection step of selecting the added document image data, wherein the document image data selected in the selection step is output as a search result.

Preferably, when there are a plurality of document image data having the same original document image data but different security levels among the document image data selected in the selecting step, the outputting step includes the step of outputting the plurality of document image data. And outputting the document image data having the highest security level among the document image data as a search result.
7. The image search method according to 7.

Also, preferably, there is provided an image search method for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched has been added and managing the original document image data. A creation step of creating document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for an annotation; and for each security level, the document image data created in the creation step and a character string included in the document image data. And a management step of managing the storage media in association with each other.

An image search method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, an image search method for managing document image data to which an annotation is added and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, wherein the method can be set in the annotation for the original document image data A storage step of storing in a storage medium a document image data for each security level of an access right and a table for managing character strings included in the document image data in association with each other, a search condition, and an operator who inputs the search condition And a search step of searching for document image data including the search condition input in the input step with reference to the table corresponding to the operation information.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
An original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added is input, and a computer-readable memory storing a program code of a management process for managing the original document image data, using the original document image data, A storage medium that associates the program code of the creation step of creating document image data for each security level of the access right that can be set in the annotation, the original document image data, and the document image data created in the creation step And a program code of a management process to be managed.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
Manages document image data with annotations added,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for a search process for searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, the computer-readable memory storing a program code for the original document image data and setting the annotation for the original document image data. A level management table for managing document image data for each security level of possible access rights in association with each other, an annotation added to the original document image data, and an annotation table for managing the security level of the annotation in association with each other. A program code of a storage step to be stored in a storage medium, a search condition,
A program code of an input step of inputting operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition, and the level management table is referred to, the search condition input in the input step is included, and the operator information is included. A program code for a search step for searching for document image data satisfying the security level of the indicated operator, and the security level of the annotation added to the document image data searched for in the search step with reference to the annotation table. Based on the program code of the comparing step of comparing the security level of the operator indicated by the operator information and the document image data searched in the searching step, the document image data as the search result is output based on the comparison result of the comparing step And an output process program code.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
An original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added is input, and a computer-readable memory storing a program code of a management process for managing the original document image data, using the original document image data, A program code of a creation step for creating document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation; a document image data created in the creation step for each security level; and a document code included in the document image data. And a program code for a management step of managing the associated character strings in a storage medium.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
Manages document image data with annotations added,
A computer-readable memory storing a search processing program code for searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, wherein a security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation with respect to the original document image data Indicating a document code for each document, a program code of a storage step of storing a table for managing a character string included in the document image data in association with the storage medium, a search condition, and an operator who inputs the search condition A program code of an input process for inputting operator information,
A program code for a search step of searching for document image data including the search condition input in the input step with reference to the table corresponding to the operation information.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image search device on which application software including a full-text search process according to a first embodiment of the present invention operates.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU which performs various controls for executing the processing of this embodiment. Reference numeral 2 denotes a CD-ROM drive, which is used for taking in data from outside and taking out data to outside. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer, which prints images and the like displayed on the display device 9. Reference numeral 4 denotes a hard disk drive, which is mainly used as a main storage, and stores processing programs, applications, and the like executed in the present embodiment. Also, it stores a plurality of types of document image data. Reference numeral 5 denotes a floppy disk drive, which is used for taking in data from outside and taking out data to outside.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication unit which enables connection to a network or the like, and can exchange data with an external computer, a scanner, a printer, or a disk device on the network. Reference numeral 7 denotes a keyboard which receives an instruction of a process to be executed in the present embodiment and interactive input of an operator such as input of a character string such as a search condition. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pointing device such as a mouse, which receives an interactive input of an operator together with the keyboard 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes a display device, which includes a display card or a monitor having a memory for displaying an image, and displays a window for executing the processing of the present embodiment, a processing result, and the like.

The overall hardware configuration is a general personal computer and peripheral devices, and the program executed by the CPU 1 enables the characteristic operation of the present invention, thereby effectively utilizing the hardware resources.

Next, a window display screen during application operation according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a window display screen during application operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The window display screen is, for example,
It is displayed on the monitor of the display device 9.

Reference numeral 18a denotes a minimize button for displaying the window 200 as an icon. 18b is window 2
This is a maximize button for maximizing and displaying 00 on the entire monitor. Reference numeral 18c denotes a close button for deleting the display of the window 200. Reference numeral 12 denotes a title bar for displaying the title of the window 200. Reference numeral 17 denotes an area in which the name of the currently activated application and the document name of the displayed image are displayed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a menu for displaying various processing functions, and reference numeral 14 denotes a tool button for displaying a processing function similar to the processing function displayed in the menu 13 as a button. By selecting the menu 13 or an arbitrary button displayed on the tool button 14 using the pointing device 8, it is possible to execute the selected processing function. A toolbar 11 is used to select an operation in a specific mode. Reference numeral 22 denotes an area for displaying a window background portion outside the frame of the document image displayed as a search result. Reference numeral 16 denotes a status display unit that displays the current status (status) of the application. Reference numeral 15 denotes a document image displayed as a search result.

Next, registration processing of document image data executed in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the registration processing of the document image data executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the registration process executed in the first embodiment, the stepwise security level of the access right to the annotation set for each operator is managed by a user table as shown in FIG. I have. An annotation added to the document image data is managed for each document image data by an annotation table as shown in FIG. In the annotation table, for each annotation, a figure (line, rectangle, circle), text,
Type of note, highlight, etc., line thickness, face type, arrow,
In addition to attribute information such as color and font attributes, the security level is managed. When the security level of the access right is equal to or higher than the security level of the annotation, the operator can access the annotation.

At the start of the registration process, the operator inputs a user name and a password. Thereby, the image search device can recognize the operator who executes the registration process,
It is possible to execute a search for document image data in accordance with the security level of the access right of the operator described later. First, in step S11, document image data of a certain security level is created. For example, in the case of the lowest security level, the portion hidden by the opaque annotation pasted on the document image data is not operated, so if the document image data is code data, the document image data with the corresponding code data deleted is created. . If the document image data is image data, a text obtained by performing OCR (character recognition) on the annotated image data is created as document image data. in this case,
Ignore annotations that do not affect the text, such as thin lines.

In step S12, an ID is assigned to the document image data of the corresponding security level.
The assignment is performed using, for example, a level management table as shown in FIG. For example, the ID of each security level for the document image data 1 is ID1-1, ID1-
2. An ID is assigned to each document image data corresponding to each security level, such as ID1 to ID3.

In step S13, the ID of the document image data to be processed, its security level and the actual document image data (text) are registered in the hard disk drive 9 in association with each other. In step S14, it is determined whether registration processing has been completed for all security levels of the document image data to be processed. If the registration process has been completed (YES in step S14), the process ends.
On the other hand, if the registration process has not been completed (step S14)
NO), the process returns to step S11, and the registration process for the next security level is repeated.

Thus, in addition to the input document image data (original document image data), a group of document image data created according to each security level is registered in the hard disk device 9 and managed. .

Next, a full-text search process performed on the sentence image data registered by the registration process described with reference to FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a full-text search process for document image data executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

When performing the full-text search process, the "tool" menu of the menu 13 shown in FIG. 2 is selected. As a result, a pull-down menu as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

The pull-down menu includes a registration process for registering a character string included in the document image data, a “registration process” for executing a full-text search, and a “full-text search” menu. When the "registration process" menu is selected, the process described with reference to FIG. 6 is executed. For example, the process may be automatically executed at night or when the system is idle. "Full text search"
When the menu is selected, a dialog box as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. When the operator executing the search inputs a character string in the edit box 31 and presses an add button 33, the character string input in the keyword list 32 is added as a keyword. The delete button 34 can delete a selected keyword by selecting and pressing one of the keyword lists 32.

Check buttons 35 and 36 are used to specify AND and OR logics. When document image data including all keywords in the keyword list 32 is searched, A is used.
The ND check button 35 is checked, and when searching for document image data containing any one or more of a plurality of keywords, the OR check button 36 is checked. A cancel button 38 is pressed to cancel the full-text search, and a clear all button 39 is pressed to delete all the keywords in the keyword list 32. The search button 37 is enabled when one or more keywords are listed in the keyword list 32, and when the search button 37 is pressed, a search is performed using the keywords in the keyword list 32 as search conditions.

When the search button 37 is pressed, step S
At 21, the keyword set in the keyword list 32 is acquired, and the states of the check buttons 35 and 36 are acquired to determine information such as which of the AND and OR search conditions to search. Next, in step S22, the obtained keyword and AND /
An OR condition is set and full text search processing is performed. The module that performs the full-text search process is made by a conventional technique that cannot perform the process related to the access right, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step S23, the result of the full-text search process in step S22 is received. In the present embodiment, since the document image data is managed by ID, when the full-text search process is executed, an ID list for managing the ID of the searched document image data is created. This ID list may be directly returned by the full-text search processing in step S22, or the file name or the document name of the document image data searched by the full-text search processing is returned, and is separately managed from the file name or the document name. The ID may be obtained.

In step S24, the security level of the document image data corresponding to each ID in the ID list is checked with reference to the level management table shown in FIG. Next, it is checked whether the document image data of the checked security level is the document image data having the access right of the operator, and the ID of the document image data without the access right of the operator is included in the ID list. If there is, the ID of the document image data is deleted from the ID list.

In step S25, the security level of the document image data corresponding to each ID in the ID list is checked with reference to the level management table shown in FIG. Then, as a result of the check, the I / O of the document image data having a security level higher than the
If there is D, the ID of the document image data is deleted from the ID list. Step S24, step S2
The process of deleting the ID of the document image data from the ID list of No. 5 is referred to as a filtering process here.

In step S 26, the original document image data is the same and the security level is different with reference to the level management table of FIG. It is checked whether or not a plurality of document image data IDs exist. Then, as a result of the check, if there are a plurality of document image data IDs having the same original document image data but different security levels, IDs other than the ID of the document image data having the highest security level are deleted from the ID list. Then, in step S27, the final remaining ID
The document image data corresponding to the ID existing in the list is displayed as a hit list. If the ID list is empty, no hit list is displayed. The hit list is displayed in a hit list window as shown in FIG.

Here, the hit list window shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a hit list window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the number of IDs in the ID list is displayed in the display box 45 as the number of hits indicating the number of searched document image data. Reference numeral 46 denotes a hit document list display section, in which the name, size, number of pages, creation date, update date, etc. of the searched document image data are checked and displayed based on the ID list. The close button 48 is a button pressed when closing the hit list window. The search button 49 has the same function as the “full text search” menu in the pull-down menu of the “tool” menu of the menu 13. The open button 47 is for displaying the document image data focused on the hit document list display section 46 on the document display section 23 in FIG.

In the text display section 50, a text portion in the document image data focused on by the hit document list display section 46 is extracted and displayed, and the keyword used for the search is indicated by a hatched frame 53. Is highlighted. By pressing the next hit button 51 and the previous hit button 52, the cursor is placed on the hatched frame 53, the position of the cursor is moved to the preceding and following hatched frame 53, and the display area of the text portion is automatically scrolled. .

When the document image data is not a code data but an image, the text display section 50 displays a text portion obtained by OCR (character recognition) of the document image data.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, together with the original document image data, the document image data created for each security level is created and registered. And
When performing a full-text search, only document image data corresponding to the security level of the operator can be displayed as a search result. This makes it possible to control the display of the document image data according to the operator, and it is possible to reliably execute security for the document image data. [Embodiment 2] First, registration processing of document image data executed in Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing document image data registration processing executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

The same steps as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same step numbers, and the details are omitted.

In step S32, a character string is extracted from the document image data to be processed and managed in a table as shown in FIG. Specify the table number corresponding to the security level of. When managing character strings of document image data of the same security level, a table having the same table number is always used. In step S33, the character string extracted from the document image data is registered in the table indicated by the specified table number.

Next, a full-text search process performed on the text image data registered by the registration process described with reference to FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a full-text search process for document image data executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

The same steps as those in the first embodiment are assigned the same step numbers, and the details are omitted.

In step S42, the security level of the access right to the annotation added to the document image data of the operator is first checked with reference to the user table shown in FIG. Then, FIG. 1 corresponding to the checked security level and the same security level
Specify the table number of the table shown in FIG. In step S43, a full-text search process for the acquired keyword is performed with reference to the specified table.

In step S44, an ID list for managing the ID of the document image data is received as a result of the full-text search processing in step S43. In step S46, the ID
The document image data corresponding to the ID existing in the list is displayed as a hit list. If the ID list is empty, no hit list is displayed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, a character string of document image data for each security level obtained from original document image data is extracted and managed in a table, and full-text search processing using this table is performed. I do. Therefore, as a result of the full-text search process, it is possible to obtain only the document image data in which only the character string accessible by the operator is displayed. This makes it possible to control the display of the document image data according to the operator, and it is possible to reliably execute security for the document image data.

In the first and second embodiments, the security level may be set as follows.

Security Level 1: Display Security Level 2: Read (Copy) Security Level 3: Change Security Level 4: Delete With such a setting, a higher security level has the right of a lower security level. . In such a case, even if the security level of the access right of the operator is higher than the security level of the annotation, the character string hidden behind the annotation cannot be seen at security level 1 or security level 2. Therefore, if the operator has security level 1 or security level 2 access right, even if the security level is higher than the annotation security level, it is necessary to pay attention to the setting of access right because hidden character strings are included when creating document image data of each security level It is.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) Etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image search apparatus and method capable of executing an image search with secure security for document image data, and a computer-readable memory.

[0081]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image search device on which application software including a full-text search process according to a first embodiment of the present invention operates.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a window display screen during an application operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an annotation table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a level management table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating document image data registration processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a full-text search process for document image data executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a pull-down menu according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a dialog box for performing a search according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a hit list window according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating document image data registration processing executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a full-text search process for document image data executed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a table used in a conventional image search device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a table used in a conventional image search device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a table used in a conventional image search device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a table used in a conventional image search device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 CD-ROM drive 3 Printer 4 HDD 5 FDD 6 Communication part 7 Keyboard 8 Mouse 9 Display device

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. An image search apparatus for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added and managing the original document image data, wherein the original document image data is used to set the annotation. Creating means for creating document image data for each security level of a possible access right; and managing means for managing the original document image data in association with the document image data created by the creating means. Characteristic image retrieval device. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the management unit further manages an operator in association with a security level of an access right to an annotation set for each operator. Search device. 3. The image search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit further manages the annotation added to the original document image data in association with the security level of the annotation. 4. An image retrieval apparatus for managing document image data to which an annotation has been added, and for searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, comprising: A level management table for managing document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set to the annotation for the document image data, an annotation added to the original document image data, and a security level of the annotation. A storage unit for storing an annotation table managed in association with the input unit; an input unit for inputting search conditions; and operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search conditions; and Means that includes the search condition input by the means and is indicated by the operator information. Searching means for searching for document image data satisfying the security level, and referring to the annotation table, an operator indicated by the security level of the annotation added to the document image data searched by the searching means and the operator information Comparing means for comparing the security levels of the document data, and output means for outputting document image data as a search result from the document image data searched by the search means based on the comparison result of the comparing means. Image search device. 5. The document processing system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit adds an annotation that satisfies a security level of the operator indicated by the operator information from the document image data retrieved by the retrieval unit based on a comparison result by the comparison unit. The image search apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a selection unit that selects the document image data that is present, and outputs the document image data selected by the selection unit as a search result. 6. When there are a plurality of document image data having the same original document image image data but different security levels among the document image data selected by the selection unit, the output unit outputs the plurality of document image data. 6. The image search apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the document image data having the highest security level among the data is output as a search result. 7. An image retrieval apparatus for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added and managing the original document image data, wherein the original document image data is used to set the annotation. Creating means for creating document image data for each security level of a possible access right; and correlating the document image data created by the creating means with a character string included in the document image data for each security level. An image search device comprising: a management unit for managing. 8. The security device according to claim 1, wherein the management unit manages, for each security level, a table in which the document image data created by the creation unit is associated with a character string included in the document image data. 8. The image search device according to 7. 9. The image search apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a unique table number is added to the table for each security level. 10. An image retrieval apparatus for managing document image data to which an annotation has been added, and for searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, wherein: Storage means for storing a document image data for each security level of a settable access right, a table for managing character strings included in the document image data in association with each other, a search condition, and an operator who inputs the search condition And input means for inputting operator information indicating the operation information, and a search means for searching for document image data including the search condition input by the input means with reference to the table corresponding to the operation information. Image search device. 11. The image retrieval apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the storage unit manages a table in which the document image data is associated with a character string included in the document image data for each security level. apparatus. 12. The image search device according to claim 11, wherein a unique table number is added to the table for each security level. 13. An image search method for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched has been added and managing the original document image data, wherein the original document image data is used to set the annotation. A creation step of creating document image data for each security level of a possible access right; and a management step of managing the original document image data and the document image data created in the creation step in a storage medium in association with each other. An image search method, comprising: 14. The storage method according to claim 13, wherein the management step further manages the operator and the security level of the access right to the annotation set for each operator in the storage medium. Image search method described in. 15. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the management step further manages the annotation added to the original document image data and the security level of the annotation in the storage medium in association with each other. Image search method. 16. An image search method for managing document image data to which an annotation has been added and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, comprising: A level management table for managing document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set to the annotation for the document image data, an annotation added to the original document image data, and a security level of the annotation. A storage step of storing an annotation table to be managed in association with a storage medium, a search condition, an input step of inputting operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition, and referring to the level management table, An operation including the search condition input in the input step and indicated by the operator information A search step of searching for document image data that satisfies the security level of the user; and referring to the annotation table, the security level of the annotation added to the document image data searched in the search step and the operator information indicate A comparison step of comparing the security level of the operator; and an output step of outputting document image data as a search result from the document image data searched in the search step based on the comparison result of the comparison step. A featured image search method. 17. The output step, wherein an annotation satisfying a security level of the operator indicated by the operator information is added from the document image data retrieved in the retrieval step based on a comparison result in the comparison step. 17. The image search method according to claim 16, further comprising a selection step of selecting document image data that is present, wherein the document image data selected in the selection step is output as a search result. 18. When there are a plurality of document image data having the same original document image data but different security levels among the document image data selected in the selection step,
18. The image search method according to claim 17, wherein, in the output step, the document image data having the highest security level among the plurality of document image data is output as a search result. 19. An image search method for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched is added, and managing the original document image data, wherein the original document image data is set to the annotation using the original document image data. A creation step of creating document image data for each security level of a possible access right; and for each security level, the document image data created in the creation step is associated with a character string included in the document image data. A management step of managing the image in a storage medium. 20. The management step, wherein a table in which the document image data created by the creating unit is associated with a character string included in the document image data is managed in the storage medium for each security level. The image search method according to claim 19, wherein: 21. The image search method according to claim 20, wherein a unique table number is added to the table for each security level. 22. An image search method for managing document image data to which an annotation has been added, and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, the image search method comprising: A storage step of storing in a storage medium a document image data for each security level of a settable access right, and a table for managing character strings included in the document image data in association with each other; a search condition; and inputting the search condition. An input step of inputting operator information indicating an operator to be performed, and a search step of searching for document image data including the search condition input in the input step with reference to the table corresponding to the operation information. An image search method, characterized in that: 23. The storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the storage step manages a table in which the document image data is associated with a character string included in the document image data for each security level in the storage medium. Image search method described. 24. The image search method according to claim 23, wherein a unique table number is added to the table for each security level. 25. A computer-readable memory for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched has been added and storing a program code for management processing for managing the original document image data, Using the data, a program code of a creation step of creating document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation, the original document image data, and the document image data created in the creation step And a program code for a management step of managing the storage medium in association with the storage medium. 26. A computer-readable memory storing program code for a search process for managing document image data to which an annotation has been added and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, A level management table for associating the original document image data with document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set to the annotation for the original document image data, and a level management table added to the original document image data. An input for inputting an annotation, a program code of a storage step of storing an annotation table for managing the security level of the annotation in association with a storage medium, a search condition, and operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition Process program code and the level management data A program code of a search step for searching for document image data that includes the search condition input in the input step and satisfies the security level of the operator indicated by the operator information, with reference to the annotation table. A program code of a comparison step of comparing the security level of the annotation added to the document image data retrieved in the retrieval step with the security level of the operator indicated by the operator information; and a comparison result of the comparison step. And a program code of an output step of outputting document image data as a search result from the document image data searched in the search step based on the above. 27. A computer-readable memory for inputting original document image data to which an annotation to be searched has been added and storing a program code for management processing for managing the original document image data, Using the data, a program code of a creation step of creating document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set for the annotation; and a document image data created in the creation step for each security level. And a program code for a management step of managing a character string included in the document image data in a storage medium in association with the character string. 28. A computer readable memory storing program code of a search process for managing document image data to which an annotation is added and searching for desired document image data from the managed document image data, A program for a storage step of storing, in a storage medium, a table for managing document image data for each security level of an access right that can be set in the annotation for the original document image data and a character string included in the document image data in a storage medium A code, a search condition, a program code of an input step of inputting operator information indicating an operator who inputs the search condition, and a table corresponding to the operation information, wherein the program code is input in the input step. Program code for a search process for searching for document image data including search conditions. Computer readable memory featured.