JP2003132078A - Database construction apparatus, database construction method, database construction program, recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a database construction device capable of extracting each element included in a layout structure file, generating a data structure file and constructing a database. A database construction system for constructing a database from electronic documents in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, wherein rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document is set and extracted from the electronic document. Element information to be a database item is set for the element to be extracted, the element is extracted from the electronic document based on the specified rule information, the extracted element is output as database information in association with the item information, and the element name The regularity defining means generates rule information for at least one of the character and the image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database construction apparatus, a database construction method, a database construction program, and a recording medium for constructing and updating a database by simply associating elements with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a catalog creation requester (hereinafter,
When a catalog creation request is made by the requester), the printer trades the DTP (Desktop Public).
A catalog is created using a system to which “shing” is applied. For example, product information such as images of products to be published in a catalog and documents such as product names, models, dimensions, product introductions, etc. are stored in advance in the product database. Using the DTP computer, the product information is read out from this product database, the layout of images and documents is determined, edited, and the sample is printed. Then, the client confirms the printed sample (layout, presence of typographical errors, etc.), and if there is correction content, has the correction content written on the sample. The printer trades the data on the DTP with the DTP computer according to the correction content entered in the sample. Then, the client confirms the corrected printed matter again, and if there is no change, prints it and creates a catalog.

On the other hand, the product database described above is added with information such as new products at the time of the next catalog production, and is continuously used. Therefore, depending on the correction content entered in the sample by the client, the printer trades the DTP.
If the data on the DTP is modified by the computer, the modification contents need to be reflected in the product database and the product database needs to be updated. The product database was updated from the product database computer based on the contents.

[0004]

As described above, when the correction contents entered in the sample are reflected, when the correction work is also performed on the product database after the correction work of the data on the DTP, Since it is necessary to do the data correction work in duplicate, it is a great burden for the printing company, and the updating work also takes a lot of time.
Therefore, when a product database is constructed from updated DTP data, since there are various products in the product catalog, each product has one element such as a product image, name, model, and size. It is desirable to build a database and manage it by linking it as information, but DT
In the data on P, between these information,
Since there is no link, it is necessary to associate elements such as images, names, formats, and dimensions.

However, according to the conventional technique, the printer trades the data on the DTP and the product database based on the correction contents of the sample entered by the client. Since it is necessary to do input work twice, the update work is a heavy burden on the printing company, and the update work takes a lot of time. Also, it is necessary to reflect the same update content as the update of the data on the DTP to the product database, but there are cases where the product database cannot be reliably updated due to a mistake made by an operator. .

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to extract each element included in a layout structure file and generate a data structure file to construct a database. A database construction apparatus, a database construction method, a database construction program, and a recording medium are provided.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a database construction system for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance, and An element name regularity defining means for setting rule information for designating an element to be extracted, an element name regularity specifying means for setting item information to be an item of a database in the element extracted from the electronic document, and the element An element is extracted from the electronic document based on the rule information specified by the name regularity defining means, and the extracted element is associated with the item information set by the element name regularity specifying means and output as database information. The element name regularity defining means has a constituent element extracting means, and the element name regularity defining means is provided for at least one of the character and the image. And generating a rule information.

According to the present invention, in the above-mentioned database construction apparatus, the rule information for the character set by the element name regularity defining means is at least one of a font face name, size, color, transformation, and character feed. Conditions related to typography including one condition, conditions related to the character position where the character including one or both of the beginning and end of the line is placed, and a relationship specifying the relationship between the preceding and succeeding characters or other elements. And a condition regarding an included character that is a condition for designating a character string contained therein, at least one condition is included.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned database construction apparatus, the rule information for the image set by the element name regularity defining means relates to file information including one or both conditions of a file name and a file type. At least one of a condition, a condition regarding an image attribute including one or both of a size and a resolution of an image, and a condition regarding a layout attribute including one or both of a rotation and a magnification of an image is set. It is characterized by including.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned database construction apparatus, one or both of the size of the layout area and the frame line is set as a common condition for the character and the image set by the element name regularity defining means. It is characterized in that it includes a condition regarding a layout area that includes it.

Further, the present invention is, in the above-mentioned database construction apparatus, provided with an element relationship specifying means for generating link information for associating the respective elements as one group, and the constituent element extracting means is provided for the element relationship. It is characterized in that elements extracted from the electronic document are associated with each other on the basis of the link information generated by the specifying means, and the item information is associated and output as database information.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the electronic document includes information about a catalog of products.

Further, the present invention is a database construction method for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, and as rule information for designating an element to be extracted from the electronic document, Rule information for at least one of characters and images is set, item information to be an item of a database is set for an element extracted from the electronic document, and the element name regularity definition means specifies the element information. Elements are extracted from the electronic document based on the rule information, and the extracted elements are associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means and output as database information.

Further, the present invention is a database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, and as rule information for designating an element to be extracted from the electronic document, A step of setting rule information for at least one of a character and an image, a step of setting item information to be an item of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document, the element name regularity defining means A step of extracting an element from the electronic document based on the rule information specified by, and outputting the extracted element as database information in association with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means. It is characterized by being executed.

Further, the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium recording a database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which the elements constituting the electronic document are laid out in advance, and the element extracted from the electronic document. As rule information for specifying, a step of setting rule information for at least one of a character and an image, and a step of setting item information to be an item of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document And an element based on the rule information designated by the element name regularity defining means, the element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means The step of outputting as information and the database that causes the computer to execute Characterized in that it was recorded to build the program.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A database construction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where a data structure file is generated from an electronic document which is a layout structure file of a product catalog as shown in FIG. 2 and a database is constructed will be described. The data structure file here is a file that stores data that can be expressed by designating the meaning of an element, for example, DB,
XML (eXtensible Markup Lan)
guage) and the like. What is a layout structure file?
This is a file for storing data that can specify and express the position (layout) for expressing the element, and is, for example, DTP data, HTML (HyperText).
Markup Language) and the like. Figure 1
It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the database construction | assembly apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. In this figure, an electronic document conversion unit 1 converts an electronic file output from an external device into data in a file format that can be processed by a database construction device, and outputs the converted data to a converted data analysis unit 2. For example, the electronic document conversion unit 1 converts DTP document data transmitted from the outside into an intermediate file.

Here, the intermediate file is a layout structure file, and has print data, word processing data, markup language data (format data having format information when characters, images, figures, etc. are output on paper or a screen. HTML (Hyp
ertext MarkupLanguage), XM
L (Extensible Markup Langu
age), SGML (Standard Genera)
It is data in a format such as a rised markup language)).

The conversion data analysis unit 2 is an electronic document conversion unit 1.
The image based on the intermediate file output from is output on the screen of the conversion data display unit 4. This converted data display section 4
On the screen of, for example, information on a catalog of office files for organizing documents as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. The conversion data analysis unit 2 also outputs the intermediate file output from the electronic document conversion unit 1 and the rule information output from the element name regularity definition unit 3 to the component extraction unit 7.

The element name regularity definition unit 3 sets rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document. An example of this rule information is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, of the rule information, the rule information for a character is, for example, a typographic condition including at least one condition of a typeface name, size, color, transformation, and character sending of the character,
Specify the condition regarding the character position where the character including one or both of the beginning of the line and the end of the line is specified, the condition regarding the relationship before and after the character or other element, and the condition related to the context, and the character string contained inside At least one of the conditions regarding the included character that is the condition to be performed is included. In addition, when the target to be extracted is a character, the rule information for the image includes a condition regarding the file information including one or both of the file name and the file type, and one or both of the image size and the resolution. At least one of the condition regarding the included image attribute and the condition regarding the layout attribute including one or both of the rotation and the magnification of the image is included. The rule information, which is a common condition for characters and images, includes a condition for the layout area including one or both of the size of the layout area and the frame line. Also, the element name regularity definition unit 3
Has a rule database that stores rule information in advance, and reads the rule information from the rule database as necessary.

The elements referred to here are information that constitutes the contents of the document such as headers and footers, headings and texts, and illustrations. In the case of a product catalog, product specifications such as product number and price. Besides, photos, figures, logo marks, etc. are applicable. The rule information is input by an operator from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse connected to the outside of the database construction device.

The converted data display unit 4 is a display device,
For example, a CRT (CathodeRay Tube), a liquid crystal display device, or the like is used.

The element relation specifying unit 5 generates link information for associating each element as one group based on the instruction from the operator input through the input device. The link information is, for example, the code (a) in FIG.
This is information for associating that the information of the characters and images in each layout area shown by the reference numerals (b), (c), and (d) is data for explaining one product. As a result, which product the image or the character belongs to is associated with each product. The layout area here is an area in which one image or one character string is set.

The element name regularity specifying unit 6 sets item information, which is an item of a database, in elements such as characters and images extracted from an electronic document. This item includes, for example, "product number", "model", "dimension", "price", and the like.

The constituent element extracting section 7 extracts elements from the electronic document based on the rule information designated by the element name regularity defining section 3, and sets the extracted elements by the element name regularity specifying section 6. Corresponding item information is output to the component output unit 8 as database information. Further, the constituent element extracting unit 7 associates the elements extracted from the electronic document based on the link information generated by the element relationship identifying unit 5, and associates the item information with each other and outputs it as database information.

The component output unit 8 is a display device and outputs the database information output from the component extraction unit 7 on the screen. The component output unit 8 may use the same display device as the conversion data display unit 4. Further, the component output unit 8 may be a data output device.

Next, the operation of the database construction apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in FIG. 5, when an electronic document of DTP data is input from the outside (step A1), the electronic document conversion unit 1 converts the input electronic document into an intermediate file (step A2), and the intermediate after conversion is converted. The file is output to the converted data analysis unit 2 (step A3).

Next, in FIG. 6, when the intermediate file which is the converted data is input (step B1), the database construction device identifies the component (step B2), and the identified component is identified. Extraction is performed (step B3), and the extracted component is output as database information from the component output unit 8 (step B4).

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the process of identifying the constituent elements in step B2 in FIG. 6 will be described. The conversion data analysis unit 2 outputs the intermediate file output from the electronic document conversion unit 1 to the conversion data display unit 4 and displays it on the screen (step B21). At this time, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the screen of the conversion data display unit 4.

Next, the element name regularity definition unit 3 receives the rule information from the operator via the input device,
Set the entered rule information. Next, when the operator selects a constituent element between the layout areas via the input device and is instructed to associate the element relationship, the element relationship identifying unit 5 associates the selected constituent elements ( Step B23). Then, the element name regularity specifying unit 6
When the operator specifies an element name for each layout area via the input device, the specified element name is set as a database information item in each layout area, and the operator also inputs it through the input device. The rule information input from the element name regularity definition unit 3 and the item are associated with each other based on the instruction input in step B2.
4). When this setting is performed for all the layout areas, it ends (step B25).

Next, referring to FIG. 8, step B24 in FIG.
Will be described. When the operator defines an element name for each layout area via the input device (step B241), the element relationship specifying unit 5 determines whether the rule information and the items input from the element name regularity definition information 3 are input. Correspond. Here, when the definition target of the component name is an image (step B242), rule information for specifying the image information is defined (step B243), and when the definition target is a character (step B242), the character information is changed. Rule information to be specified is defined (step B244). Then, the rule information of the data to be extracted is the image of the product,
When all the items such as the model and dimensions have been set, the definition of the component name ends (step B245).

Then, the component extraction unit 7 extracts the data in the intermediate file output from the conversion data analysis unit 2 from
The layout areas are associated with each other based on the instruction from the element relationship identification unit 5, and the element name (item) specified by the element name regularity identification unit 6 is set for the data in each associated layout area. Then, the data corresponding to the rule information set by the element name regularity definition unit 3 is extracted from the layout area, the extracted data is associated with the element relationship and the element name regularity, and the component information is output as database information. Output to the unit 8.

In the embodiment described above, in step A3 of FIG. 5, the information about the product catalog as shown in FIG. 2 is output on the screen of the conversion data output device 4, for example. Further, when each element constituting the product catalog is displayed as a layout area, each layout area is displayed by a rectangle as shown in FIG.

Next, in the element relationship specifying unit 5, when the elements are related by the constituent relationship specifying process of step B23 in FIG. 7, the elements are related as shown by reference numeral (e) in FIG. Each layout area is highlighted and displayed. Here, the case where an image for explaining one group and character information are associated with each other is illustrated.

Next, in the element name regularity specifying unit 6, when an item is set for the element name by the element name regularity specifying process of step B24 in FIG. 7, it is shown in FIG. Is set and displayed as the item name. The rule information defined by the element name regularity definition unit 3 is displayed for the font, color, character decoration, etc. of the character to be extracted, as shown in FIG. 10 (g). Further, step B2 in FIG.
When the component element name and the rule information are associated with each other in Steps B41 to B245, for example, the items shown in the symbol (f) of FIG. 10 are set as shown in the symbol (h) of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is made into a database. The data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is
The data extracted from each associated element is stored as one item of data as indicated by reference numeral (i). Further, the item name defined by the element name regularity specifying unit 6 is set for each element of the product data indicated by the reference numeral (i), and the item name is stored in the corresponding item column of the database. As described above, the data structure file can be generated from the layout structure file such as the product catalog and the database can be constructed. When the element in the layout area is an image, the file name of the image is stored in the database.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.
Here, another embodiment of the association between the elements performed by the element relationship identifying unit 5 will be described. In this embodiment, the element relationship specifying unit 5 has a relative position associating function for associating a reference layout region, which is a reference layout region, and a layout region corresponding to a relative position condition with respect to the reference layout region. The relative position condition is input by the operator from the input device described above. Further, the relative position condition is a condition for specifying the positional relationship with the layout area that is the target to be associated with the reference layout area, and for example, the target to be linked from the coordinates of the four corners of the rectangle of the reference layout area. It is information that specifies the distances and directions to the coordinates of the four corners of the layout area.

Next, in this embodiment, the operation of the element relation specifying unit 5 for associating each element based on the relative position will be described. First, the operator designates a reference layout area, which is a layout area that serves as a reference for associating, and further sets a relative position condition with respect to the reference layout area in the element relationship specifying unit 5 via an input device. The element relationship specifying unit 5 searches for a layout area corresponding to the relative position condition with respect to the set reference layout area, and when the corresponding layout area is detected, determines the detected layout area and the reference layout area. Relate.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the element relationship identifying unit 5 in the third embodiment. In this figure, the relative position information generation unit 51 determines a reference layout area, and outputs relative position information, which is information regarding the relative position of this reference layout area to another layout area, to each layout area other than the reference layout area. Generate against.

The detecting section 52 detects whether or not the layout area corresponding to the generated relative position information exists even when another layout area is used as a reference. When the detection unit 52 detects that there is a layout area corresponding to the relative position information even when the other layout areas are used as the reference, the link setting unit 53 determines the reference layout area and the relative position information. Associate with the corresponding layout area.

Next, the operation of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in this embodiment will be described. Here, a case will be described in which an element is associated with each product in a product catalog in which nine types of lighting fixtures as shown in FIG. 13 are posted. When the start of the association process is instructed from the above-mentioned input device, the relative position information generation unit 51 of the element relationship identification unit 5
Determines the layout area indicated by the reference numeral (j) as the reference layout area, and outputs relative position information from the reference layout area indicated by the reference numeral (j) to other layout areas to each layout area other than the reference layout area. To generate. This relative position information is generated by, for example, the code (k),
Code (l), code (m), code (p), code (r), ...
All layout areas other than the standard layout are subject to brute force. Then, the relative position information generation unit 51
Holds the generated relative position information temporarily.

When the relative position information is generated, the detecting unit 52
Detects whether or not the layout area corresponding to the generated relative position information exists even when another layout area is used as a reference. This detection is performed, for example, by using the code (m) for the layout area at the relative position of the code (k) and the code (l) with respect to the reference layout area for the code (j).
When the layout area in which the image shown in (1) is set is the reference layout area, the layout areas indicated by reference numerals (n) and (s) correspond, and therefore the reference layout area indicated by reference numeral (j) corresponds to reference numeral (k). , Relative position information of the layout area at the relative position of the code (l) is continuously held.

On the other hand, the layout area at the relative position of the code (r) with respect to the reference layout area of the code (j) is
When the layout area in which the image indicated by the reference sign (m) is set is the reference layout area, the layout area does not exist at the same relative position, and therefore the reference layout area of the reference sign (r) is set to the reference layout area of the reference sign (j). The relative position information of the layout area at the relative position is deleted.

In this way, when another layout area is used as the reference layout area, if the layout area does not exist at the same relative position from the original reference layout area, the relative position information is deleted and the original position information is deleted. When the layout area exists at the same relative position from the reference layout area, the relative position information is held.

When the detection processing by the detection unit 52 is completed for all the layout areas, the link setting unit 53, based on the relative position information held at the time when the detection processing by the detection unit 52 is completed, The reference layout area and the layout area corresponding to the relative position information are associated with each other for all the layout areas. Thereby, for example, the layout areas of the code (j), the code (k), and the code (l) are associated as one group, and the layout areas of the code (m), the code (n), and the code (s) are associated with each other. They are associated as one group. Further, with respect to the other layout areas, the layout areas having the same relative positions as the code (j), the code (k), and the code (l) are associated as one group.

By the above-mentioned processing, with respect to the image, model, price, etc. of the lighting equipment shown in FIG.
Associations are made as a group. As shown in FIG. 14, when only the layout area indicated by reference numeral (t) has a different association in the other layout areas, the portions other than the portion indicated by reference numeral (t) are associated based on the relative position information as the group described above. The processing may be performed, and the portion indicated by the reference numeral (t) may be associated with the instruction from the input device described in the first embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, the element relationship specifying unit 5 generates information already associated with each layout area as template link information, and also generates the generated template link information between other layout areas (or other pages). Utilizing this, the same association is made between the layout areas. For example, when there are a plurality of pages in which layout areas are arranged as shown in FIG. 13, for example, using the association process of the third embodiment for each product on the first page, the layout areas are arranged between the layout areas. Correlation is performed, and template link information is generated based on the relative position between the associated layout areas. Then, if the same layout area is arranged on the next page as well, the generated template link information is used to associate characters such as images, models, and prices of each product in this page as one product. To do.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.
FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in the fifth embodiment. In this figure, the link information storage unit 55 stores the link information between the layout areas already associated with each other. The comparing unit 56 reads out the link information of the corresponding database information and compares each element of the read data with each element of the updated database information.

Based on the comparison result of the comparison unit 56, the color arrangement unit 57 outputs the element in which the element of the read data and the element of the updated database information match and the element in which they do not match, by different expression methods. To do. The different expression method is, for example, setting different colors in the layout area and outputting. In addition, the different representation methods may be distinguished by the type of rectangular line indicating the layout area,
Alternatively, the layout areas may be distinguished by hatching.

The link setting unit 58 associates the element of the read data with the element of which the element of the updated database information matches based on the comparison result of the comparing unit 56.

Next, the operation of the element relation specifying device 5 in this embodiment will be described. Link information storage unit 5
Reference numeral 5 sequentially stores link information between associated layout areas when the database is constructed. Then, after the DTP document data is corrected after the database is constructed or in the process of being constructed, when an instruction to reassociate is input, the comparison unit 56 of the element association identifying apparatus 5 reassociates. According to the instruction, the link information of the corrected database information is read, each element of the read data is compared with each element of the updated database information, and the comparison result is output to the color arrangement unit 57. .

On the basis of the comparison result of the comparison unit 56, the color arrangement unit 57 sets different colors for the elements in which the elements of the read data and the elements of the updated database information are different from each other in different layout areas. And output to the link setting unit 58. The link setting unit 58 receives the comparison result of the comparison unit 56 via the color arrangement unit 57, and associates the element of the read data with the element of which the element of the updated database information matches.

For example, when the data is corrected on the DTP for the layout area shown by the code (w) in the layout area shown by the code (u) in FIG. 16 and the above-mentioned color arrangement processing is carried out, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, among the layout areas in the code (u), the layout area in the code (w) is output on the screen in different colors. This makes it easier for the operator to visually confirm the data in the layout area in which the data has been corrected on the DTP.

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described.
FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in the sixth embodiment. In this figure, an in-rectangle layout area detection unit 510 detects a layout area within a minimum circumscribed rectangle that includes a plurality of already associated layout areas. The minimum circumscribed rectangle mentioned here is, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, when the image area and the character area indicated by the reference numeral (a) are already associated with each other, the minimum circumscribed rectangle is indicated by the already associated reference numeral (a). It is the smallest rectangle (reference numeral (e)) that outlines the image area and the character area.

The link setting section 520 associates the layout areas in the minimum circumscribed rectangle detected by the in-rectangle layout area detection section 510 with each other.

Next, the operation of the element relationship specifying unit 5 in this embodiment will be described. When the image area and the character area indicated by reference numeral (a) are already associated with each other, and further the graphic area indicated by reference numeral (c) is also associated,
The in-rectangular layout area detection unit 510 receives a layout instruction in the minimum circumscribing rectangle including a plurality of layout areas already associated with each other, when an instruction of the association processing by the minimum circumscribing rectangle is input from the operator via the input device. Detect the area. Here, the layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle indicated by reference numeral (e) is detected.

When the layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle is detected, the link setting section 520 associates the detected layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle with each other. As a result, the image area and the character area indicated by reference numeral (a) are associated with the graphic area indicated by reference numeral (c).

When the association within the code (e) is completed, the association processing by the minimum circumscribed rectangle is performed also in other layout areas. As a result, when the image area and the character area indicated by the code (b) are already associated with each other, the layout area within the minimum circumscribed rectangle including the two layout areas with the already associated code (b) (the code ( F)) is detected, and the graphic area (code (d)) existing in the code (f) is also associated with the two layout areas of the code (b) that are already associated.

According to the embodiment described above, the printer does not need to do double input work based on the correction contents of the sample entered by the client, which reduces the work load and The time required for updating the database can be shortened. In addition, it is possible to eliminate mistakes made by the operator and perform a reliable update operation on the product database.

Further, the functions of the electronic document converting section 1, the conversion data analyzing section 2, the element name regularity defining section 3, the element relation specifying section 5, the element name regularity specifying section 6, and the component extracting section 7 in FIG. A database construction process may be performed by recording a program to be realized in a computer-readable recording medium, reading the program recorded in the recording medium into a computer system, and executing the program.
The “computer system” here means an OS.
And peripheral equipment and other hardware.

The "computer system" is WW.
If the W system is used, the homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. The "computer-readable recording medium" means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-
A portable medium such as a ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means to hold a program dynamically for a short time like a communication line when transmitting the program through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case holds a program for a certain period of time. Also, the program above
It may be for realizing some of the above-mentioned functions, or may be for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Be done.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, as rule information for designating an element to be extracted from an electronic document, rule information for at least one of a character and an image is set. Item information that is an item of the database is set to the element extracted from the electronic document, the element is extracted from the electronic document based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, and the extracted element is set as the item information. Since it is output as database information in association with each other, it is possible to easily construct a database by extracting one or both of characters and images from an electronic document, and it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator. Is.

Further, according to the present invention, the rule information sets at least one of a condition regarding typography, a condition regarding character position, a condition regarding relation context, and a condition regarding included characters. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an effect that the character to be extracted can be accurately specified and extracted.

Further, according to the present invention, since the rule information includes at least one of the condition regarding the file information, the condition regarding the image attribute, and the condition regarding the layout attribute, the accuracy of the image to be extracted can be improved. The effect of being able to identify and extract well is obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, link information for associating each element as one group is generated, the elements extracted from the electronic document are associated with each other based on the link information, and the item information is associated with the database. Since the information is output, it is possible to classify each element into groups and construct a database.

Further, according to the present invention, since the electronic document includes the information on the catalog of the product, the database information can be generated from the print data in which the elements for printing the catalog are laid out. Thereby, the information of the catalog can be easily made into a database.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a database construction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a conversion data display unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of rule information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining association between elements.

5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the database construction device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a case where each element constituting the product catalog is displayed as a layout area.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining association and setting of rule information.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the data extracted by the component extraction unit 7 is made into a database.

FIG. 12 is an element relation specifying unit 5 according to the third embodiment.
3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining association in another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining association in another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an element relationship specifying unit 5 according to the fifth embodiment.
3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a drawing for explaining the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an element relation specifying unit 5 according to the sixth embodiment.
3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an association process using a minimum circumscribed rectangle.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic document conversion unit 2 conversion data analysis unit 3 element name regularity definition unit 4 conversion data display unit 5 element relationship specification unit 6 element name regularity specification unit 7 component extraction unit 8 component output unit 51 relative position information generation unit 52 detection units 53, 58, 520 link setting unit 55 link information storage unit 56 comparison unit 57 color arrangement unit 510 in-rectangular layout area detection unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A database construction system for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, and an element name rule for setting rule information for designating an element to be extracted from the electronic document. Based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means, the element name regularity specifying means for setting item information to be an item of a database in the element extracted from the electronic document, The element name regularity defining means for extracting an element from the electronic document, and outputting the extracted element as database information in association with the item information set by the element name regularity specifying means. Is data that is characterized by generating rule information for at least one of a character and an image. Over to build devices. 2. The rule information for a character set by the element name regularity defining means includes a typographic condition including at least one condition of a font face name, size, color, transformation, and character feed, and a line head. Specify the condition regarding the character position where the character including one or both of the line ending and the end of the line is specified, the condition regarding the relationship before and after the character or other element, and the character string contained inside. The database construction device according to claim 1, wherein at least one condition is included among the condition regarding the included character that is the condition. 3. The rule information for the image set by the element name regularity defining means is one of a condition regarding file information including a condition of one or both of a file name and a file type, and an image size and resolution. Or at least one of a condition relating to an image attribute including both conditions and a condition relating to a layout attribute including one or both conditions of image rotation and magnification. The database construction device according to item 2. 4. The condition common to characters and images set by the element name regularity defining means includes a condition relating to a layout region including one or both of a size of a layout region and a frame line. The database construction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An element relationship specifying means for generating link information for associating the respective elements as one group, wherein the constituent element extracting means is based on the link information generated by the element relationship specifying means. The database construction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the element extracted from the electronic document is associated, and the item information is associated and output as database information. 6. The database construction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic document includes information about a product catalog. 7. A database construction method for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements constituting an electronic document are laid out in advance, wherein characters and images are used as rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document. Set rule information for at least one of the elements, set item information that is an item of the database in the element extracted from the electronic document, based on the rule information specified by the element name regularity defining means Then, an element is extracted from the electronic document, and the extracted element is associated with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means and output as database information. 8. A database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which elements composing an electronic document are laid out in advance, and characters and images are used as rule information for designating elements to be extracted from the electronic document. A step of setting rule information for at least one of the elements, a step of setting item information which is an item of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document, and designated by the element name regularity defining means Extracting the element from the electronic document based on the rule information and outputting the extracted element as database information in association with item information set by the element name regularity specifying means. Characteristic database construction program. 9. A computer-readable recording medium recording a database construction program for constructing a database from an electronic document in which the electronic document is laid out in advance, for designating an element to be extracted from the electronic document. As rule information of, a step of setting rule information for at least one element of characters and images; a step of setting item information to be an item of a database in an element extracted from the electronic document; An element is extracted from the electronic document based on the rule information specified by the name regularity defining means, and the extracted element is associated with the item information set by the element name regularity specifying means and output as database information. A database construction program that causes a computer to execute steps and A recording medium that records ram.