JPH0668149A - Filing system and information retrieval system using key telephone system in the filing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize retrieval of data by the filing system to a database through the use of a key telephone system. CONSTITUTION:In the filing system in which a database storing data and a data processing unit processing registration and retrieval or the like of data to the database are included, the retrieval request and retrieval information are coded and sent to the data processing unit through the combination operation of push buttons of a key telephone system 30 to retrieve data by sending a retrieval request and retrieval information of the database to the data processing unit. The data processing unit decodes the information to retrieval the designated data and the data are sent to a designated facsimile equipment 31 via a telephone line 34. The inquiry to the user from the system is delivered to the user by using voice information generated in a voice synthesis system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filing system which stores documents or other data or information as a database in a mass storage device and enables retrieval as needed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The filing system as described above is already known. In this type of known filing system, in order to retrieve and output a document registered in the filing system, a keyboard, a terminal or an LA directly connected to the filing system is used.
A terminal connected via N (Local Area Network) is required. Also, when outputting to a facsimile, it is possible only from a filing system or a terminal.

[0003]

In a filing system, image information such as a document read by a scanner is stored in a mass storage device such as an optical disk. At this time, a document name, a classification code, a keyword for retrieval, etc. are input from the keyboard and added to form a database. In this way, it is possible to retrieve the desired document data by searching the database using a keyword or the like as needed. However, such a search is filing
It has to be performed from a keyboard connected to the system or from a terminal connected via a LAN. Therefore, in order to search for and retrieve a desired document, it is necessary to visit and operate the filing system or the place where the search terminal is installed.
Of course, if the search terminal is installed on the desk of each user, such inconvenience can be avoided, but the cost for that is enormous, and it is completely unacceptable from an economical point of view.

Further, since document management cannot be expected to be effective unless it is centrally performed, installing a filing system at each part or each floor improves the usability, but each user manages his or her own document. Even if a filing system is introduced, the effect cannot be expected to the left, as it tends to tend and centralized document management is hindered.

Under the present circumstances, such a situation is a barrier to the spread of the filing system.

An object of the present invention is to enable each user to access a filing system from his / her own work place and retrieve a desired document without centrally managing the document and requiring investment in installing a search terminal or the like. The purpose is to provide a filing system.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a filing system including a database for storing data and a data processing device for performing processing such as data registration and retrieval in the database is provided. In order to send the search request and the search information of the database to the data processing device and perform the data search, the filing / transmitting process which encodes the search request and the search information by the combination operation of the push buttons of the touch-tone telephone and transmits them to the data processing device. Solved by the system.

More specifically, an information processing apparatus including a central processing unit and a memory for storing programs and control data, and an information processing apparatus that is connected to the information processing apparatus and stores the data in a database. Network control connected to a storage device capable of registering and retrieving information, an information processing device, a voice synthesis unit, a tone analysis unit, a voice synthesis unit and a tone analysis unit, and a telephone line In a filing system including a retrieval interface means including a device, at least one touch-tone telephone connected to a telephone line, and an image transmitting / receiving means connected to the telephone line in association with the touch-tone telephone, a push-button of the touch-tone telephone is provided. Data is assigned by using push-button combinations that use different assigned frequencies. The search request and the search information are coded and transmitted to the search interface means, the tone analysis unit analyzes the coded search request and the search information, and the information processing device causes the storage device to store the information based on the analysis result. And transmit the retrieved data to the image transmitting / receiving device via the retrieval interface means and the telephone line,
On the other hand, the voice synthesizing unit uses the touch-tone telephone in the filing system, which responds to the search request, and sends the prompt information for the search by the synthetic voice to the touch-tone telephone through the search interface means and the telephone line. A document data search method is proposed.

[0009]

According to the present invention, even when the filing system is in use (the keyboard is being used), it is possible to take out a required document from anytime and anywhere using the touch-tone telephone at hand. It is also possible to perform a plurality of searches in parallel at the same time. In that case, it is possible to divide the work by outputting a header in which the department, section, and user name are written based on the user identification number. Even when the document identification number is not known, the search is advanced by an alternating sequence of voice prompt output via the handset and touch-down of the touch-tone button using the classification, search keyword, and document name as parameters. Data can be output.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A detailed description will be given below in connection with embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall structure of a filing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a central control unit or CPU 1 executes a control program loaded on a memory, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 to integrally control the entire filing system.

A magnetic disk storage device 4 such as a hard disk is connected to the CPU 1 via a bus 5 and a controller (HDC), and stores a control program, a kana-han dictionary, a classification code, a search keyword, etc. ing.

Further, a video interface 6 is connected to the bus 5, and a document read by a scanner to be described later is displayed on the display 7 via the video interface 6, and a keyboard 8 is operated to sort codes.
A search keyword can be added to document data and registered in the system. Optical disk controller (OD
C) 9 is adapted to image-compress and register a character image read by the scanner 11 in a mass storage device 10 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk device.
A scanner interface 12 is provided for this purpose. Further, the printer 14 is connected to the bus 5 via the printer interface 13 so that the compressed image data stored in the mass storage device 10 can be reproduced and output. Reference numeral 20 generally indicates a touch-tone search interface unit according to the present invention, which includes a facsimile 31 and a touch-tone telephone (also referred to as a touch-tone telephone or a push-button telephone) 30 via a public or public line 34. It is also connected to a filing system, and synthesizes speech units according to the prosodic symbols with accents and pauses added so that the Kana-han text is similar to the spoken language, and the voice information ( A voice synthesizer 21 for outputting a prompt and inquiry information and a tone sound generated when a push button of a touch-tone telephone is pressed is analyzed by pressing a button 0 to 0.
A tone analysis unit 22 for decoding a code by a combination operation of 9, *, #, a voice unit storage unit 23 for storing voice units used in the voice synthesis unit, and a telephone network for data communication. Network control unit (NCU) 2 that controls connection
4 and.

Next, the operation of the filing system having the above-mentioned structure will be described. In the mass storage device 10 of this filing system, document data is registered in a hierarchical structure as a database as illustrated in FIG.

Referring to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 3-5, a user seeking a document from the filing system pushes the telephone number of the filing system using his or her touch-tone telephone (such as 30). Telephone line 34, network control device 24
And via the search interface unit 20 the CP
Access the filing system composed of U1, the database 10, etc. (step S1). The search interface system detects the call from the user by the tone analysis unit 22, responds with the voice synthesized by the voice synthesis unit 21 as shown in S2 and S3, and inputs the identification number (ID) of the user. To request. Therefore, in step S4,
The user inputs his own identification number (ID). Labels 0 to 9, #, and * assigned to the buttons of the touch-tone phone can be used for this identification number. As is well known, since different frequencies are assigned to the push buttons, the identification number can be coded by pressing the push button corresponding to the identification number. On the other hand, the tone analysis unit 22 The identification number can be identified by decoding the code. Then, in step S5, the search interface system requests entry of a pass word. Then, the user inputs the pass word as shown in step S6. Also in this case, the password is entered using the numerical values and other symbols assigned to the touch-tone button buttons as described above. In step S7, the search interface system, after verifying the password, sends a message saying, for example, "press"#"to confirm, otherwise press" * "to respond." Then step S8
Then, the input of the identification number (ID) of the document data to be searched is requested. When the user knows the document identification number assigned to the document in step S9, the user inputs the identification number by using the touch-tone button number. In response, the processing procedure of the search interface system shifts to FIG. In step S21, the number of output copies is inquired. The user inputs the number of output copies in step S22. In step S23, the search interface system inquires about the output destination, and in response thereto, in step S24, the user inputs the telephone number of the facsimile when the output destination is the facsimile 31, and when the output destination is the filing system. Enter "#" only. Succeedingly, in a step S25, a message asking whether or not to perform the output completion notification is issued. The user inputs the telephone number of the destination touch-tone phone when the completion notification is required, and only "#" when not required. The search interface system receives the document data from the filing system and transfers it to the designated output destination. In that case, the department to which the user belongs, the section, the user name, etc. can be added as header information based on the user identification number. In step S27, the user is inquired whether or not to end the search. If the search is to be continued, the button "*" is pressed in step S28, and if finished, the button "#" is pressed. In the latter case, FIG.
The network control device disconnects the line and terminates the search. On the other hand, in the former case, the search process returns to step S8 in FIG. 2 to restart the search.

On the other hand, if the user does not know the document identification number in step S9 and presses the "*" button, the system issues a classification code input request in step S10. The user inputs the classification code in step S11. After confirmation of the classification code, it is determined in step S15 whether or not the input classification code is the final level of the hierarchy (eg, classification level 3 in FIG. 2), and if so (Y), the step in FIG. In step S31, the search keyword and the document name are presented to confirm the inquiry. In the case of the corresponding document, in response thereto, the user presses the button “#” or “*” in step S32. In the case of “#”, the process branches to the routine shown in FIG. 5, the above-described processing procedure is executed, and the document data is output from the filing system. On the other hand, when the "*" button is pressed in step S32, the system searches for a registered document at the classification level in step S33, and repeats the routines of steps S31 and S32 as long as the registered document exists. When it is determined that there is no registered document in the classification level, a message indicating that the corresponding document is not registered is issued in step S34. Succeedingly, in a step S35, the system sends a message as to whether or not to perform the registration notification when the document is registered. In step S36, the user inputs the telephone number of the touch-tone phone if registration notification is necessary, and presses only the "#" button when not necessary. Subsequent steps S37 and S38 are step S of FIG.
This is the same as the processing in 27 and S28.

Referring again to FIG. 3, when the classification code input in step S11 is not the final level classification code, the system-user interaction processing routine in steps S12, S13, and S14 is performed as shown in FIG. The classification codes are narrowed down in the hierarchy shown, and the process finally moves from step S15 to step S31. In this way, the search time can be shortened by inputting and narrowing down the classification codes in order from the upper hierarchy.

Next, referring again to FIG. 1, the speech synthesis systems 20 and 23 themselves can be composed of devices known in the art, and use the Kana-Kan code registered in advance in the system as a spoken language. It is converted to a similar voice and output. Briefly, the kana-han document is analyzed based on the dictionary stored on the disk, the reading is analyzed, and the poses and accents are analyzed in order to make it closer to the spoken language and easier to hear. It is converted into a prosody symbol string by the speech unit code shown and the prosody symbol shown in Table 2.

[0020]

[Table 1]

[0021]

[Table 2]

Table 3 below shows an example of conversion rules for a prosody symbol string.

[0023]

[Table 3]

In accordance with the prosody symbol string generation rules shown in Table 3 above, the speech synthesis unit 21 generates speech from the speech units stored in the speech unit storage unit 23, and FIGS. In the dialog or interaction with the user in the document search in the filing system shown in 5, a system request, a message, etc. are generated and output to the line 34 via the network control device 24.

An example of the speech synthesis sequence using Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 is shown in FIG. As already mentioned, speech synthesis is not a direct subject of the present invention and can be realized using conventional techniques, so it is considered unnecessary to elaborate.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, many excellent effects are achieved. Even when the filing system is in use (the keyboard is in use), you can retrieve the documents you need anytime, anywhere with your touch-tone phone. It is also possible to perform a plurality of searches in parallel at the same time. In that case, it is possible to divide the work by outputting a header that describes the department, section, and user name based on the user identification number, and the person in charge of the management office can send it directly to the searcher by in-house mail. Yes, the latter does not have to go. Even if there is no manager in the filing system, there is no need to look around whether or not the output has been made. Even when the document ID is not known, it is possible to proceed with the search and output the data by the alternating sequence of voice output to the handset and response of pressing the button of the touch-tone phone using the classification, the search keyword, and the document name as parameters. . Even if the filing system is installed in a distant place, it is possible to output to the facsimile at hand, so that it is not necessary to go and take out the output document. In addition, since high-resolution, low-priced plain paper facsimiles have become widespread these days, an output equivalent to that of a filing system can be obtained. Even if the required documents are not registered,
If you are expected to be registered, you do not need to search many times and you will be notified when it is registered, so you can save time. When registering a document in the filing system, it is possible to eliminate it because it is in use because it is in use. Furthermore, since existing touch-tone phones can be used, not only the filing system as a whole can be realized at low cost, but also centralized management and high availability of the database can be achieved, contributing to technological development in the relevant industrial field. It's big.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the invention, it is possible to practice the invention in other ways than those specifically set forth herein.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a database search method in a filing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating hierarchical data storage in the database of the filing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of a procedure for retrieving a document from the database of the filing system shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a part of a procedure for retrieving a document from the database of the filing system shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a part of a procedure for retrieving a document from the database of the filing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure of speech synthesis that can be used in implementing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 2 Memory 3 Hard Disk Controller 4 Storage Device 5 Bus 6 Video Interface 7 Display 8 Keyboard 9 Optical Disk Controller 10 Optical Disk Device 11 Scanner 12 Scanner Interface 13 Printer Interface 14 Printer 20 Search Interface・ Unit 21 Speech synthesis section 22 Tone analysis section 23 Speech segment storage section 24 Network control device 30 Touch-tone telephone 31 Facsimile 34 Local area network

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A filing system including a database for storing data, and a data processing device for performing processing such as registration and search of data in the database, wherein a search request of the database and search information are processed by the data processing. A filing system, wherein the search request and the search information are encoded and transmitted to the data processing device by a combination operation of push buttons of a touch-tone telephone in order to send the data to the device and perform a data search. 2. An information processing apparatus including a central processing unit (1) and a memory (2) for storing programs and control data; and an information processing apparatus which is connected to the information processing apparatus and stores data in a database. A storage device (10) capable of registering and retrieving data by a device, and a voice synthesis unit (21), a tone analysis unit (22), and the voice synthesis unit and tone analysis unit, which are connected to the information processing device. A data retrieval interface means (20) including a network control device (24) connected to the telephone line (34) and at least one touch-tone telephone (30) connected to the telephone line; Image transmitting / receiving means (31) connected to the telephone line in association with the telephone, and mutually assigned to push buttons of the touch-tone telephone. The data search request and the search information are coded by a combination of push buttons using different frequencies and transmitted to the data search interface means, and the tone analysis unit analyzes the coded search request and the search information. Then, the information processing device searches the storage device based on the analysis result, transmits the searched data to the image transmitting / receiving device via the data search interface means and the telephone line, and the voice synthesizing unit stores the data. Document data search using a touch-tone telephone in a filing system, characterized in that in response to a search request, synthetic voice-based search prompt information is sent to the touch-tone telephone via the data search interface means and the telephone line. method. 3. The document data search method according to claim 1, wherein the search information includes a searcher identification number. 4. The document data search system according to claim 1, wherein the image transmitting / receiving unit is a facsimile machine associated with a plurality of touch-tone phones.