JPH0863324A - Data management system and icon display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a user interface that can have a natural access to a data base or a file system by using a storage, a visualization means and a display device. CONSTITUTION: A visualization means 50 visualizes the data which are stored in a storage means by the fixed timing into a three-dimensional object. The application of the fixed timing is due to a fact that the size of the three- dimensional object is subject to the quantity of data. The three-dimensional object that visualized by the means 50 is stored in a three-dimensional object storage means 51. When a display request is received, the three-dimensional object is read out of the means 51 and show on a display device 2. Therefore the period when the display request is received and the three-dimensional object is displayed is approximately equal to the period when the data are read out of the storage. Thus there is no requirement to wait for the processing time of the means 50 for display of the three-dimensional object.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a management system for data stored in a computer. In particular, the present invention relates to an interface for displaying data in a user-friendly manner. The present invention also relates to the display of icons used in an electronic filing system that manages data and documents in a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic filing systems use text data, image data, CAD data, voice data,
It is a system that allows you to register and search all kinds of data such as anime data. By using this electronic filing system, a wide variety of data can be centrally managed, and data management costs can be reduced, know-how can be shared, and filing space can be reduced.

The electronic filing system is, for example, data having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. The data and documents registered in the database are text files, document documents, CAD data, image files, word processing documents and the like. The database registers multimedia data as files and manages them collectively. Documents and data are managed as data having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. The data can be classified by hierarchy. For example, documents can be organized and stored in the following order: branch office name (major classification) → section name (middle classification) → report (small classification).

As described above, by centrally managing a wide variety of data using the database of the electronic filing system, it becomes possible to efficiently handle the data generated in the office or daily life. As described above, while a database has become capable of centrally managing a wide variety of data, the method of accessing the database and searching for data in the database have not been fully considered. Although various kinds of data are stored in the database, the method of accessing and searching the database is not sufficiently easy for the user to use. If the access to the database is inconvenient, the stored data will not be efficiently provided to the user, and the existence value of the electronic filing system itself will be doubted.

A conventional data access method or search method will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 75
Shows an example of displaying a list of files stored in a disk by a DIR command for displaying a list of files stored in a fixed disk or an optical disk. When the DIR command is input, the system searches the directory stored in the disk, and displays the obtained file name and the generation date and file size stored as the attribute of the file on the display device.

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional file access method. Similarly, when the TREE command is input, the subdirectory and the files existing in the subdirectory are displayed hierarchically with the root directory at the top. In this way, the user can search for a desired file by visually observing the hierarchically displayed directories, subdirectories and files. When the number of files is large and the hierarchical structure cannot be displayed on one screen, the remaining information must be displayed by scrolling the screen.

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing a conventional method for displaying file information. In this example, a list of files is displayed, and the file name is displayed, and the file holder, size, and type are displayed as its attributes. Also in this example, information exceeding the size of one screen cannot be displayed, and the user has to search for a desired file by scrolling the information.

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing a case where an icon is used to access a file. The icon is a picture that is displayed on the screen, and allows the user to visually imagine the data. Therefore, the icon and the data,
Alternatively, the icon and the program are associated with each other, and the data file or the program file can be selected by selecting the icon. Also, not only does the icon have a one-to-one correspondence with the data file,
There is a group icon that associates a plurality of data with one icon. For example, in the example of FIG. 78, three pieces of data are grouped for one icon of the sales group A. For example,
When the sales group A icon is selected, a window displaying the sales group A is separately opened, and three sales data icons, sales X, Y, and Z, are displayed again in the window. In this way, there are icons in which the icons themselves are hierarchized and data is grouped.

FIG. 79 is a diagram showing a data retrieval method in a conventional electronic filing system. conventionally,
First, the document is registered in the database. When searching a document registered in the database, the search is performed by inputting a conditional expression. When some documents that match the conditional expression are retrieved, by referring to the contents of the document, it is verified whether or not the document is a desired document for the user. As a result of verifying by referring to the contents of the document, if it is found that the document is the desired one,
Retrieve the document and output it to a printer or screen.

Also, a directory stored in the computer,
There has been a method of displaying files to a user by using icons of images that are easy for humans to understand, such as folders and leaves, respectively. This method is effective as a method of expressing the hierarchical structure of directories and files, but the function of expressing the amount of data held by individual files and the attributes of stored data in an easy-to-understand manner has not been realized. .

FIG. 80 is a display example of icons provided to the user in the "table row display device and method" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-233206. In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a column icon, which displays information about columns in the database without calling an explicit command. 220 is a column serial number. 218 is an essential data area, 224 is a text-only area, and COLOR is shown in the figure.
The areas described as are color-coded. A type and length field 216 displays the type and length entered in the data structure of the column icon 200. In this conventional example, information in the database is two-dimensionally displayed as a character string on an icon.

Further, the "relational database three-dimensional hierarchical search method" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-253233 discloses three-dimensional data hierarchy in a relational database, and defines one logical item definition as other. It is provided with a means for ordering the connection with the logical items of the dimension.

In the above-mentioned two conventional examples, an interface is provided in which information about data is represented by a three-dimensional icon, and the geometrical elements such as the height and shape of the icon allow the user to intuitively recognize the information. The function to do is not realized.

In the conventional computer system,
There is a case where an operation is performed by displaying an icon and selecting the icon. For example, in a drawing creation program, a pencil-shaped icon is used to create a line. Alternatively, an eraser icon is used to erase the drawn line. Such pencil and eraser icons are three-dimensional and often represent the actual shape of the pencil or eraser. These three-dimensionally displayed icons visually show the function of the program corresponding to the icon, and by simply displaying the pencil or eraser in three dimensions, the function is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. is there. Therefore, the icon displayed in three dimensions has existed in the past, but it is only three-dimensionalized in order to make the shape of the icon easy to visually understand by displaying it in a three-dimensional manner. Was not a three-dimensional icon with.

[0015]

User interfaces to conventional databases and filing systems, as described above, have grown to manage a wide variety of data, while still simply displaying directories. The same method as before, such as displaying the icon corresponding to each file and allowing the user to enter search conditions, is followed. The conventional data management system depends on the structure of the database and the structure of the file system. Databases and file systems have a structure of directories and files, and the system
We are trying to access data using the concept of directories and files. That is, the conventional system provides the user with access to the file in a form dependent on the database and the file system constructed under the limitation of the hardware and the software. Therefore, the user is provided with only an access method that directly follows the restrictions of hardware and software, and is provided with an unnatural and inconvenient access method. That is, it is difficult to use the data unless the user first understands the characteristics and restrictions of the hardware and software.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a user interface that can naturally access a database or a file system. Moreover, it aims at obtaining the user interface which an operation is easy.
It also aims to provide a system that can manage files that match the real world. Another object of the present invention is to obtain a data management system that can perform file operations with the same feeling as the daily work that occurs in an office or life. Another object of the present invention is to provide a data management method capable of easily expressing the data amount and attributes of stored data. Still another object of the present invention is to obtain an icon display device capable of reflecting an amount of data or an attribute on an icon and starting a related program by specifying the icon.

[0017]

A data management system according to the present invention has the following elements. (A) a storage device for storing data, (b) a visualization means for visualizing the data stored in the storage device as a three-dimensional object, (c) a three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means is displayed Display device.

The storage device stores a plurality of data,
The visualizing means visualizes a plurality of data individually into a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and the display device displays the plurality of three-dimensional objects.

The visualization means determines the size of the three-dimensional object in accordance with the amount of data stored in the storage device.

The visualization means is characterized in that the shape of the three-dimensional object is determined according to the attribute of the data.

The visualizing means determines the display position of the three-dimensional object according to the attribute of the data.

The data stored in the storage device has a hierarchical structure, and the visualization means visualizes the hierarchical structure of the data in correspondence with the internal structure of the three-dimensional object.

The data management system further comprises a three-dimensional object storage means for storing the three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means, and the display device stores the three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional object storage means. Is displayed.

The visualizing means visualizes the storage state of the data stored in the storage device by a bird's-eye view in which one or more three-dimensional objects are arranged, and the display device displays a bird's-eye view in which a plurality of three-dimensional objects are arranged. It is characterized by doing.

The above-mentioned data management system is further characterized by including viewpoint changing means for changing the viewpoint of the bird's-eye view displayed on the display device.

The above data management system is characterized by further comprising zoom means for enlarging or reducing the bird's eye view displayed on the display device.

The data management system further includes a searching means for searching the data stored in the storage device and a three-dimensional object of the data searched by the searching means in the bird's-eye view so as to be distinguished from other three-dimensional objects. It is characterized in that it is provided with a highlight means.

The three-dimensional object is a building.

The three-dimensional object is a building, and the bird's-eye view is a bird's-eye view of the city where the building is arranged.

The icon display device according to the present invention has the following elements. (A) A storage device for storing data, (b) Icon generation means for changing the size of the icon according to the amount of data stored in the storage device, and generating an icon corresponding to the data, (c) Icon display means for displaying the icon generated by the icon generation means.

The icon generating means generates an icon having two or more dimensions and changes the size of at least one dimension according to the amount of data stored in the storage device. And

The icon generating means is characterized by generating an icon of a three-dimensional building.

The icon display means is characterized in that a plurality of icons are arranged in a three-dimensional direction and displayed on the display device.

The above-mentioned icon generating means generates a two-dimensionally represented icon, and the above-mentioned icon displaying means displays a map in which a plurality of two-dimensionally represented icons are arranged.

The icon display device further specifies at least one of the icons displayed by the icon display means, thereby activating a program for accessing the data corresponding to the specified icon to access the data. It is characterized in that it is provided with a data access means for enabling the access.

Further, there is provided a search means for performing a data search using the icon displayed by the icon display means, the result is used to generate an icon by the icon generation means, and the generated icon is displayed on the icon display means. It is characterized by

[0037]

In the data management system according to the present invention, the visualization means visualizes the data as a three-dimensional object. Then, the display device displays the visualized three-dimensional object. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the data without visually observing the characters.

Further, the visualization means visualizes a plurality of data individually into a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and the display device displays the plurality of three-dimensional objects. Therefore, the user can instantly visually recognize a plurality of data by the three-dimensional object displayed at the same time.

Also, the visualization means determines the size of the three-dimensional object in accordance with the amount of data stored in the storage device.
Since the size of the three-dimensional object corresponds to the number and amount of data, the user can know the number and amount of data by looking at the three-dimensional object.

Further, the visualization means determines the shape of the three-dimensional object according to the attribute of the data. Therefore, the user can obtain the information regarding the attribute of the data only by visually seeing the shape of the three-dimensional object.

Further, the visualization means determines the display position of the three-dimensional object in correspondence with the data attribute. Even in daily life, objects may be classified and stored according to the attributes of the objects such as the purpose of use and the shape of the objects. Since the display position of the three-dimensional object is determined according to the attribute of the data, it is possible to manage the display close to daily life.

Further, the data stored in the storage device has a hierarchical structure, and the visualization means visualizes the hierarchical structure of the data in correspondence with the internal structure of the three-dimensional object. Many of the things that exist in nature are three-dimensional objects, and human life is also performed in three dimensions. By expressing the hierarchical structure of the data corresponding to the internal structure of the three-dimensional object, the user can easily understand the hierarchical structure of the data.

The data management system of the present invention further comprises a three-dimensional object storage means for storing the three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means, and the display device is stored in the three-dimensional object storage means. Display 3D objects. Therefore, the three-dimensional object stored in the three-dimensional object storage means can be displayed without the processing time required for the visualization means to visualize the object.

The visualization means further visualizes the storage state of the data stored in the storage device by a bird's-eye view in which one or more three-dimensional objects are arranged, and the display device displays a bird's-eye view in which a plurality of three-dimensional objects are arranged. indicate. The bird's-eye view expresses a three-dimensional world that a human sees in daily life, and the storage state of data can be shown to the user by using an expression close to everyday life.

Further, the data management system further includes the viewpoint changing means for changing the viewpoint of the bird's-eye view displayed on the display device, so that the position changes when a person is moving in a real city or road. And you can simulate the situation where the appearance of the landscape changes.

Further, since the zoom means enlarges or reduces the bird's-eye view displayed on the display device, the data can be visualized by simulating the appearance of an object when approaching or leaving the real world.

Further, the data management system of the present invention distinguishes the searching means for searching the data stored in the storage device and the three-dimensional object of the data searched by the searching means from other three-dimensional objects in the bird's-eye view. By providing the highlighting means for displaying, the search result is visually expressed. This allows the user to grasp the search result at a glance.

Since the three-dimensional object is a building,
For example, it is possible to represent data in an expression close to the real world by using things that one sees in everyday life such as buildings and houses.

Since the three-dimensional object is a building and the bird's-eye view of the city where the building is placed is used to represent the data storage state, it is effective for representing the positional relationship and the like.

Further, in the icon display device according to the present invention, the icon generation means changes the size of the icon according to the amount of data stored, and generates the icon corresponding to the data. The icon display means displays the icon generated by the icon generation means. The user can roughly know the amount of data by looking at the size of the icon.

Further, the icon generating means generates an icon which has two or more dimensions and changes the size of at least one dimension according to the amount of data stored in the storage device. By focusing on the dimension of the icon, the user can know the amount of data at a glance.

Also, an icon of a three-dimensional building is generated. Since a three-dimensional building exists in reality, it is easy for users to familiarize themselves with it. Further, for example, the attribute of data and the like can be visually expressed in correspondence with each dimension.

Also, the icon display means arranges a plurality of icons in a three-dimensional direction and displays them on the display device. Therefore, in addition to the meaning of each dimension of the icon itself, a more meaningful display can be achieved depending on the position where the icon is arranged.

Furthermore, the icon display means displays a map in which a plurality of two-dimensionally represented icons are arranged, so that even when a two-dimensional icon is used, the position to be arranged has a meaning so that Data can be visualized by the expression of a map close to.

Further, the icon display device further specifies at least one icon among the icons displayed by the icon display means, thereby activating a program for accessing data corresponding to the specified icon to access the data. It is equipped with a data access means that enables the access of. Therefore, the user can activate the program simply by specifying the desired icon while viewing the display close to the real world.

Further, since the search means performs data search using the icon displayed by the icon display means and the result is displayed by the icon generated by the icon generation means, the data search is easy to understand visually. It can be done by operation.

[0057]

【Example】

Example 1. In this embodiment, an electronic filing system for managing various data and documents will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic structure of the hardware in this embodiment. For the main body, for example, ME / R series manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is used, and 6
It has 4 MB or more, a disk of 2 GB or more, and a scanner and a printer as peripheral devices. Further, as a hardware expansion configuration, a write-once optical disc device, an MO disc, or a client personal computer can be connected.

FIG. 2 shows an expanded configuration in which four client personal computers are connected as search terminals via a local area network. The part shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2 is the same as the basic configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the main body shown in the basic structure. In the figure, 9 is an operating system for controlling the entire file server, and 10 is an operating system.
Is a window system running on the operating system, 11 is a graphical user interface unit (GUI) running on the window system, 1
A desktop 2 operates on the graphical user interface unit to provide a desktop environment to the user. Reference numeral 13 is TCP / IP that interfaces with the network line 18, 14 is a communication socket program that controls communication with the terminal device, and 15 is data entry or modification of data in a database file using the window system 10. File management.

Reference numeral 1 is a filing system which is a feature of this embodiment. Reference numeral 2 is a display device for displaying a desktop environment to the user by displaying a window, and 3 is a storage device for storing a database.
Reference numeral 4 is a root directory, 5, 6, 7 are subdirectories, and 8a to 8f are files. For example, a document having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 74 is stored in this storage device 3.

FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of the data management system of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is a storage device for storing data, 50 is a visualization means for visualizing the data stored in the storage device 3, and 2 is a display device for displaying a three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means 50 to a user. Is.

Next, the operation will be described. Storage device 3
Various data are stored in. Furthermore, management information regarding the stored data is also registered. These data and management information are added, rewritten, or deleted as necessary. The content of the management information will be described with an example. For example, a file name and file attributes are registered in a directory for managing files. As an example of file attributes,
The date of birth of the file and the file size, which is the size of the file, are included. Another example of the file attribute is an executable attribute indicating that the file cannot be rewritten. Data is usually recorded and stored in file units. A file is a collection of records. A record corresponds to one entry of data and consists of several fields. Each field is named, and the data type and number of digits are defined. The name of the field is called the field name. It may also be called a data item name. Visualization means 50
Refers to the data stored in the storage device 3 and these pieces of information to visualize the data as a three-dimensional object.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of each dimension of the three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means in this embodiment. The two-dimensional display of data items is the same as the conventional one, with X axis and Y
Assign any two elements of the data item to the axis. The feature of this embodiment is that the data amount is expressed as an element of the third dimension.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a structural diagram in which a file is likened to a building. A file is a collection of records. In this embodiment, one record is represented as one floor (floor) of a building, and thus a file as a set is visibly represented as a building (building). in this way,
A feature of this embodiment is that the file is represented as a three-dimensional object such as a building. The feature of this embodiment is that the three-dimensional object represented in this way is displayed on the display screen as a three-dimensional icon.

A specific description will be given below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a business card used in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the business card includes data items (hereinafter referred to as fields) such as company name, department / department name, title, name, address, telephone number, and fax number. 8 is shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the example which defined the business card shown by as a business card file. FIG. 9 is a diagram of a simplified business card used in this example. As shown in the figure, visualization will be described using only the company name, name, and telephone number. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen in which the records of the business card file shown in FIG. 8 are displayed in a list format. In this specification, even if a diagram showing a display screen as shown in FIG.
A line indicating the display portion of the display device may be omitted. Further, even when a window used as a display interface or a sub window for interaction is displayed on the display device, description of those windows in the drawings may be omitted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a business card file visualized by the visualization means of the present invention. Exactly three business cards overlap to form a three-story building, and each business card corresponds to one floor. Therefore, the higher the number of business cards, the higher the building. As shown in FIG. 11, when the building is viewed from the outside, a mode in which the inside that is not visible due to being blocked by the outer wall or the like is visible is called a transmission mode.

On the other hand, a mode in which only the outside is visible as shown in FIG. 12 is called a label mode. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which the three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means is displayed in the label mode. In this display example shown in FIG. 12A, file names “business card” and “greeting” are described on the front surface of the building, that is, the surface displayed toward the user. In addition, on the top surface (rooftop) of the building, the top floor,
That is, the data of the final record is described. Further, FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a case where the description on the top surface of the building is used as data item names instead of actual data. In the figure, the characters surrounded by the rectangle are the data item names.

As described above, in this embodiment, the data management system which includes the visualization means and visualizes the data stored in the storage device as a three-dimensional object and displays it to the user has been described. According to this embodiment, since the amount of data is visualized as the height of the three-dimensional object, the user can know the amount of data of each file at a glance.

Example 2. In the above-described embodiments, the data management method has been described in which the visualization unit visualizes the data stored in the storage device as a three-dimensional object, and the display device displays the visualized three-dimensional object. In the above-described embodiment, the visualization unit visualizes the three-dimensional object with reference to the data stored in the storage device or the management information about the stored data each time a request to display (display request) is made to the user. Was being done. Generally, visualized image information has a larger amount of information than character information. for that reason,
Requires more storage capacity. Also, the processing time for visualization is long. Since the visualization means performs visualization using a three-dimensional object, it has to refer to more management information than the two-dimensional image creation. Therefore,
Reference time is long. Furthermore, after the reference, time is required in the conversion process of performing visualization using the referred information. Therefore, there is a case in which the user has to wait a long time until the display request is displayed after the display request is generated. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a three-dimensional object storage means for storing a visualized three-dimensional object is further provided.

FIG. 13 is a functional diagram showing another configuration of the data management system of the present invention. In the figure, 51 is a three-dimensional object storage means for storing a three-dimensional object. The other reference numerals are the same as those in FIG. 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation will be described. In the data management system of this embodiment, the visualization means 50 visualizes the data stored in the storage device as a three-dimensional object at a fixed timing. In this way, the reason for visualizing at a constant timing is that the size of the three-dimensional object depends on the amount of data. The details of the visualization are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means 50 is stored in the three-dimensional object storage means 5.
Stored by 1. When a display request is generated, the visualized three-dimensional object stored in the three-dimensional object storage means 51 is read out and displayed on the display device 2.

In this embodiment, since the display is performed as described above, the time from the generation of the display request to the display is almost the same as the data read time, and it is necessary to wait the processing time of the visualization means for the display. There is an effect of disappearing.

In this embodiment, the visualization means is operated at a fixed timing, but an operation request for visualization may be generated. For example, if the amount of data in a file changes,
It is desirable to generate an operation request for visualization only for that file.

Example 3. This example further describes the visualization of the data management scheme of the present invention. 14
FIG. 3 is a functional diagram showing a configuration of a data management system of the present invention. In the figure, 2, 3, and 50 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. Further, 52 is a viewpoint changing means for changing the viewpoint,
Reference numeral 53 is a zoom means for enlarging and reducing, 54 is a storage device 3.
Reference numeral 55 is a searching means for searching the data stored in, and highlighting means 55 is for displaying the three-dimensional object of the data searched by the searching means 54 while distinguishing it from other three-dimensional objects.

FIGS. 15 to 20 are views showing examples of windows displayed. FIG. 15 shows the hierarchical composition of the document shown in FIG. 74 in a map display format. The map display format is a format in which data directories are arranged and displayed on a map. In addition, FIG. 16 shows the hierarchical structure of the document shown in FIG. 74 as a town where buildings are lined up. 17 is an enlarged view of the town shown in FIG. 18, FIG. 19, and FIG. 20 are views in which the city shown in FIG. 17 is further enlarged by changing the viewpoint. FIG.
Although not shown in FIGS. 6 to 20, various buttons for enlarged display, reduced display, and up / down / left / right movement are also displayed on the screen.

Next, the operation will be described. This example
This is a case where the documents of business offices and branch offices scattered all over the country are filed and searched. First, when it is designated to search documents by business office, business offices and branch offices as shown in FIG. 15 are arranged and displayed on the map.
The user selects the displayed business office name or branch office name by using a pointing device such as a mouse. For example, when the Yokohama branch office is selected, a town lined with buildings as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. This town is a town consisting of blocks that imitate the organization of the Yokohama branch office. For example, a sales group block, a general affairs group block, a manufacturing group block, and the like. Further, the buildings lined up show the documents stored in each group, but since the document names cannot be clearly read, the enlarged display is designated using the mouse or the like. FIG. 17 shows the enlarged city. In FIG. 16, the document name that cannot be sufficiently read is clearly shown, so that the user can clearly read it. Here, if the user further wants to retrieve only the documents of the manufacturing group, the mouse is used to specify the viewpoint shown by the arrow A in FIG. 17, and a sub-window for displaying only the manufacturing group as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. To be done. The user can pay attention to the displayed sub-window and further select the document to be searched. Further, when the viewpoint shown by arrow B in FIG. 17 is designated, FIG.
A sub-window is displayed that shows only the sales groups shown in. Alternatively, in FIG. 17, when the viewpoint indicated by arrow C is designated, an enlarged view across two city blocks as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. That is, a document can be viewed across two groups. Further, a reduced display may be selected from the screen on which the enlarged view is displayed to return to the previous screen. Further, by designating an arbitrary direction such as left, right, up, and down, it is possible to switch the display to an enlarged view that is adjacent to it.

Next, an example in which the shape of the three-dimensional object is changed according to the data format will be described. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure of data, which is classified according to the type of data and has a hierarchical structure. FIG. 22 is a building shape definition table used in this embodiment. If the data is a document, it is a square building, if it is a drawing, it is a round building, and if it is multimedia data, it is a triangular building. FIG. 23 shows
It is a building division definition table used in this example. FIG. 23
(A) is a figure which shows the name given to the building block of the town,
FIG. 23B is a building section definition table in which data and building sections are defined in association with each other. It is defined as Section A for documents and Section D for drawings. FIG. 24 is a display example in which buildings are arranged for each type of data. As in the above-described embodiment, one building corresponds to one file. The type of the visualization means data is determined, the building shape definition table as shown in FIG. 22 is referred to, the shape of the building is determined, and the building block definition table shown in FIG. Place and visualize. As a result, the map shown in FIG. 24 is displayed. The height of the building is determined in proportion to the amount of data as in the above-mentioned embodiment. The size of one floor of the building is proportional to the size of one data record. By performing such a display, the user can determine the attribute of the stored data simply by looking at the shape of the building. Moreover, the attribute of the data can be known from the section where the building is arranged. Furthermore, information about the data can be visually obtained from the height of the building or the size of one floor.

FIG. 25 is another example of the building section definition table. In this definition table, a building section is assigned for each data affiliation. FIG. 26 is another display example in which buildings are arranged for each attribute of data. In this display example, visualization is performed using the building section definition table shown in FIG. 25 and the building shape definition table shown in FIG. In the building section definition table, sections are defined in correspondence with the attribute of belonging of data. In the building shape definition table, the building shape is defined corresponding to the attribute of the data shape. In this way, data attributes are defined in correspondence with various visual elements of a three-dimensional object called a building, and visualization is performed based on the definition. Thereby, the user can visually and intuitively know various attributes of the data stored in the filing system by looking at the displayed building or city.

FIG. 27 is a display example of the shape of the three-dimensional object visualized and displayed by the visualization means. 28 is a display example in which the viewpoint is changed for the same three-dimensional object. FIG. 29 is another example of the building shape definition table. In this building shape definition table, not only the shape of the building but also the shape of the roof portion is changed and associated with the data attribute. Alternatively, although not shown, a definition table that associates the shape of the window of the building with the attributes of the data may be provided, and visualization may be performed according to the definition. Further, not only the shape of the building but also how the data items are visually arranged on each floor of the building can be arbitrarily set by the user.

As described above, this embodiment maps the hierarchical structure of files by utilizing the hierarchical structure that actually exists in real life. Therefore, a file search can be carried out with the same concept as in real life or actual work. This is a file search method that does not depend on the structure of the database or file system. That is, the file is searched by a method that is most familiar to the user and that is most familiar to the user. Whereas the conventional file search method simply provides the user with the information of the already constructed database or file system and the user has to understand the information and search the data, According to the embodiment as described above, walking around the city, looking at the building, storing in the bookshelf,
You can operate it in the same way as you do in your daily work, such as pulling it out of the drawer, taking it out of the bookcase, or taking it out of the drawer. Therefore, the major feature is that the operation is easy to remember and easy.

As described above, in this embodiment, the data management system for visualizing and displaying the data by reflecting the hierarchical structure of the data has been described. In addition, the data management method that allows the user to arbitrarily change the viewpoint has been described. Further, the data management method for redisplaying corresponding to the changed viewpoint has been described.

Further, the visualization means for visualizing by changing the shape of the building for each data attribute has been described. Also, when the buildings are arranged on the map, the visualization means has been described in which the buildings are expressed in groups by sections and the affiliation of data is expressed. In addition, the data management method has been described in which not only the building is a three-dimensional object but also a bird's-eye view in which the layout has depth is displayed.

Example 4. In the above-described embodiment, the data management method for visualizing and displaying the filed data as a three-dimensional object has been described. In this example,
The icon display device in which the program that generated the file is started when the file is selected will be described.
FIG. 30 is a functional block diagram of an icon display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is a storage device for storing data, 60 is an icon generation means for generating an icon corresponding to the data stored in the storage device 3, and 62 is an icon display means for displaying the icon generated by the icon generation means 60. , 64 are data access means for identifying at least one of the icons displayed by the icon display means and enabling access to the data corresponding to the identified icon.

Next, the operation will be described by returning to FIG. FIG. 26 is an example of a display screen in which buildings are arranged as icons for each data attribute. When the user clicks the icon of one building from the displayed icons with the mouse, for example, if the file is a document file, the word processing software that created the document file is started, and the word processing software causes the document file to be started. Will be read, and you will be able to view, change, print, and save the document.

When displaying a conventional directory or performing a conditional search, the target file is simply found. On the other hand, this embodiment automatically launches a program that can access a file when the file is selected. The data access means 64 shown in FIG. 30 functions when a file is selected. If the file is a program, the data access means 64 activates the program editor of the program to enable editing to the program, as described above. If the selected file is a document, the word processing software that created the document is activated, and the document can be referenced and changed. If the designated file is video data, the video software is activated so that the video can be edited or watched.

As described above, in this embodiment, the file can be specified by performing the same operation as in real life or actual work, and by specifying the file, the reference or change of the file can be performed. The icon display device for automatically starting the program that enables the above has been described.

Example 5. In the above-described embodiment, two building shape definition tables and building section definition tables are defined.
It does not have to be divided into two. FIG. 31 is another example of the definition table used by the visualization means. In this way, one definition table may be used to associate the building shape with the building section.

Example 6. In the embodiment described above, the visualization means performs visualization as a three-dimensional object, but it may be two-dimensional. FIG. 32 is a diagram in which the map of the city where the buildings shown in FIG. 16 in Example 3 are lined up is represented by a normal two-dimensional map. The building is represented by a view from above, like an aerial photograph. In addition, the point that the affiliation is expressed by the partition is similar to the case of FIG. FIG. 33 is an example of a screen in which the map display shown in FIG. 32 is enlarged and displayed. An instruction for enlarged display is given from the user to the system by a mouse or the like. As in the above-described embodiment, the document name on the roof of each building can be clearly read by the enlarged display. It is also possible to instruct the viewpoint change using a pointing device such as a mouse on the screen display shown in FIG. The display of the result of changing the viewpoint conforms to the case of the three-dimensional display map described above, and is not shown.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the displayed object is not a three-dimensional object, a section is defined on the map, and the defined section and the data attribute are associated and visualized. The data management method has been described in which a user-friendly display is performed by performing.

Example 7. In the above-described embodiment, the data management method has been described in which various data such as documents are visually displayed to assist the user in the operation of viewing or searching for a file. In this embodiment, an operation of further viewing a record after selecting a file will be described. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a viewpoint for viewing data. FIG. 12 is the same view as the transmission mode of the building shown in FIG. 11 except that a viewpoint is drawn. In the figure, there is an interval between each record, that is, between floors. The spaces are provided for the purpose of easily showing that the floor is a record and the data is recorded. This is also because the number of records is set small for the sake of explanation. actually,
In the building displayed to the user, the floor space may be narrow as shown in FIG. In such a case, when looking down at the building, only the top record can be read, but the other records cannot see the contents. Therefore, when the user clicks a specific floor with a mouse or the like and selects it by a predetermined operation such as double-clicking, as shown in FIG. 34, the specific floor can be jumped into the building and viewed from the inside. it can. FIG. 36 shows a view of one floor viewed from the inside. That is, the user can select and display a specific one record by simply operating a part of the file represented in the form of a building with a mouse.

An example of another display method will be described. As shown in FIG. 37, a floor may be selected from a file displayed in the form of a building by dragging the floor in a predetermined direction with the mouse. Selecting a floor is synonymous with selecting a record. As a result, as shown in FIG. 38, another window is displayed and the record is popped out of the building or pulled out.
Displayed to the user. The user looks at the display and
You can know the detailed contents of the record. Further, in this embodiment, the selection of the record is performed by dragging in one lateral direction, but it may be performed in the opposite direction. Or before,
After that, it may be in another direction such as licking.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example in which a record is specially displayed. FIG. 39 is an example in which the colors are changed and displayed in order to visually display that some records are selected in the file. This color change display is
Highlighting is done for one or more floors by the user clicking on a particular floor of the building. When the display device does not support color, other special display such as shading may be used instead of color. Further, for example, instead of the user clicking and selecting, the data may be searched and the result may be specially displayed. Furthermore, although only one building is drawn in the figure, a special display may be made across a plurality of buildings. In addition, at this time, if a city in which a plurality of buildings are lined up is drawn and displayed like a night, and a special display is displayed as a light that lights up the building, the display is easy for the user to see.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a building composed of only selected records. In this way, by drawing the building of only the selected record in contrast to the original building, it is possible to clearly show how many records have been selected and make the user understand at a glance. Similar to the case described above, a data search may be performed and a new building may be drawn based on the result. In addition, in FIG.
The original building and the new building are drawn next to each other, but you may leave a gap between them.

Next, how the appearance of the building changes when the viewpoint is changed in the vertical direction will be described with reference to FIG. Also in this embodiment, the viewpoint is specified using a mouse or the like. FIG. 41 is a diagram of the floor viewed from a different viewpoint with respect to the building. FIG. 41 (a) shows a building viewed from above the lick which is nearly vertical. Since you are looking down from above, you can read almost all data items in the rooftop record. Since FIG. 41 (b) looks down from a position slightly lower than that of FIG. 41 (a), it can be seen that the rooftop record has all the data items. However, since the characters are licked, they cannot be read clearly. Instead, the perspective is low, so you can see the items on each floor a little deeper. FIG. 41 (c) is a view seen from above the lick which is almost horizontal. Since the viewpoint is lower than the viewpoint in FIG. 41 (b), the item can be seen deeper. However,
The rooftop data is the most difficult to read as compared to FIGS. 41 (a) and 41 (b). In this way, by representing the data using a three-dimensional object such as a building or floor, the real world can be simulated and displayed. Therefore, the user can change the way of looking at the data by instructing the computer to perform a natural operation without special knowledge about the call.

As described above, in this embodiment, the data management system has been described in which the file is represented as a building and the record is represented as a floor so that the user can easily understand and operate the display.

Example 8. In this embodiment, a data management system in which the layout of buildings has three-dimensional elements will be described. FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a business card used in this embodiment. In the business card shown in FIG. 7, only the information described in the received business card is used as the data item of the business card file. In this business card file, the person who received the business card, that is, the employee of the company who had the interview The name and affiliation of are also data items. As a result, the premise of this embodiment is that the data can be managed as common data within the company. FIG. 43 is a diagram for explaining the three-dimensional arrangement of data in this embodiment. In FIG. 43A, it is shown that the search range is placed on the X coordinate, the search condition is placed on the Y coordinate, and the data amount is placed on the Z coordinate. Also, FIG.
In (b), the search condition is arranged on the X coordinate and the search range is arranged on the Y coordinate, but the arrangement can be selected by the user's judgment, and either arrangement is acceptable. In FIG. 44, for example, a fixed form document is designated from the stored data, and the Y coordinate is arranged as a personal connection and displayed. When the user selects a business card on this display screen, the business card file group shown in FIG. 44 is displayed. In FIG. 45, the X coordinate is the name of the interviewer,
The Y coordinate is the interviewer affiliation. Further, the height of the building is the amount of data, that is, the number of business cards. The display mode is the label mode, and the name of the interviewer is written on the front of the building. By adopting such a display format, the user can visually know the amount of data and the degree of distribution of each interviewer's department. The display mode may be a mode other than the label mode. FIG. 46 shows an example of another display mode. FIG. 46A shows a stacked bar mode. In this figure, one building is created for each interviewer department and section, and a floor is configured for each interviewer. How many floors an interviewer occupies is proportional to the number of business cards. FIG.
6 (b) is a transparent mode. One building was created for each department of the interviewer, and the cabinets in the building can be seen through. One interviewer corresponds to one cabinet. For example, when a cabinet is selected with a mouse or the like, an opening operation is designated, and although not shown, the cabinet is opened and a business card is stored in the opened cabinet. In addition, FIG. 46C shows the block mode. The block mode is also described in the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, by defining the interviewer affiliation divisions and building divisions in the building division definition table, it is possible to create a building layout that divides the cityscape for each division and department, and each building visualizes the individual interviewer. It will be what you did. The user can specify any one of the various display modes as an initial setting. Further, by performing a display mode switching operation with a mouse or the like during display, it is possible to freely switch between a plurality of display modes.

Example 9. In this embodiment, a case where data is searched for by using a business card file which is almost the same as that of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 47 shows
It is a functional block diagram of the icon display device demonstrated in this Example. In the figure, 3 is a storage device for storing data, 6
Reference numeral 0 is an icon generating means for generating an icon corresponding to the data stored in the storage device 3, and 62 is an icon displaying means for displaying the icon generated by the icon generating means 60. FIG. 48 is a diagram in which a data item called an interview date is added to the business card file of the above-described embodiment. FIG.
9 is an example of a screen requesting the user to input search conditions when the searched conditions are two data items of name and interview date. In the figure, the interview date is 1990, 1
It is displayed on a yearly basis such as 991, 1992, .... The names are displayed in the Japanese syllabary, A row, ka row, sa row, ... In this embodiment, pictograms displayed on the screen and distinguished with meaning in this way are called icons.

There are two methods for displaying these icons. One is the following method. First, search conditions for performing data search are set in advance. In this example, it is assumed that search conditions such as interview date and name are set. When a data search is selected from a menu (not shown), the number of records corresponding to each interview year is checked and tabulated from the stored data. As a result, the number of records obtained is reflected in the height to draw a three-dimensional icon, which is arranged in ascending order of the year. Similarly, for the first name, the number of records for the first character is totaled in the Japanese syllabary, and as a result, the icon is drawn by reflecting the obtained number of records on the height. With this method, no icon is drawn for items for which no record exists. Another method is to define data to be displayed in advance. For example, the name of a prefecture or the name of a department or department of a company is registered in the master in advance, and the registered data is drawn as an icon. According to this method, even if there is no record for an item, an icon can be drawn if the item is registered in the master in advance. If the amount of data is displayed according to the size of the icon, a special display indicating that no record exists may be drawn for an item for which no record exists. In addition, when the prefecture name, the department name of the company, and the like are registered in the master in advance, it is effective when only the legal name is to be input as data. Items are often coded in advance in these masters and registered together with their names.
For example, when the prefecture name is input in the item for inputting the prefecture name, the corresponding master is automatically referred to, and a window for presenting the enterable prefecture name to the user as a candidate is displayed. At the same time, a cursor for designating an item to be selected from the window is also displayed. The user moves the cursor to the position of the prefecture name to which he / she wants to input, and gives an instruction to confirm, so that the prefecture at the cursor position in the display window is input as item data. Since the data is registered by performing the input operation in this manner, the user does not operate the keyboard by himself to register an arbitrary character string. In addition, there is no possibility that data that does not exist in the master will be registered. When a field that has such an input form is specified in the search condition,
By displaying the content of the master corresponding to the field designated as the search condition as an icon, the search condition input screen of FIG. 49 can be displayed. When the second icon display method is adopted, the items registered in the master in advance may simply be displayed. In this case, only the item name may be displayed without counting the number of records corresponding to that item.

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing the result of a data search. In FIG. 50, a new building corresponding to the search result is displayed.

Next, the operation will be described. The user
Select a data search from a menu (not shown). next,
The search condition input screen of FIG. 49, in which the interview date and the name are displayed as icons, is displayed according to the preset search conditions. First, the user specifies with the mouse the icon indicating the year in which he / she wants to search for the interview date. Then, the user specifies the initials of the name to be searched for with the mouse with the mouse. For example, when the interview date is 1991 and the name of a person whose name starts with a line is designated, the designated content is displayed as a red line (solid line in the figure). The search result is generated by the icon generating means, and as shown in FIG.
It is drawn as a new building at the position indicated by the end of the red line. As another example of designating another condition, as shown in FIG. 49, when the interview date is 1992 or a business card of a person whose name starts with a line is specified, the designation content is a green line (Fig. It is indicated by the middle and dotted lines. The search result is generated by the icon generating means and is drawn as a new building at the position indicated by the end point of the green line, as shown in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, the conditions for data retrieval can be set by the operation of selecting an icon. In addition, the setting conditions can be drawn as lines to make it visually visible. Also, when the condition setting is "and (&)" and "or (|)", the line color is changed and displayed.
It is possible to provide a system that can be easily visualized by the user and has good operability. Incidentally, in this embodiment,
I explained that the search conditions were set in advance, but
After selecting the data search from the menu, a dialog sub window for inputting data items used as search conditions may be displayed and the user may input data. Further, although the search condition is designated by the mouse, it may be designated by another pointing device.

As described above, in this embodiment, the icon display device for performing the data search using the icon displayed by the icon display means and generating and displaying the result is displayed.

Example 10. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a record is represented as a three-dimensional object, and the viewing point is moved to display the three-dimensional object as seen from a different angle. 51 to 54 are diagrams showing movement of a three-dimensional object and a viewpoint. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a person standing in front of the building. At this time, the line of sight of the person is toward the front of the building, as shown in FIG. Also, FIG.
The arrow indicated by 1 is an arrow indicating the movement of a person. FIG. 53 shows the line of sight when the user looks at the building while standing along the arrows while standing in front of the building and on the right corner. Further, FIG. 54 shows a line of sight when the building is further moved and viewed from the right side of the building. FIG. 55 is a diagram of the building viewed from the viewpoint shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 56 is a diagram of the building viewed from the viewpoint shown in FIG. 54. As described above, the feature of this embodiment is that the appearance of the three-dimensional object changes with the change of the viewpoint.

A case where a three-dimensional object corresponds to one record of data stored in the storage device will be specifically described.
FIG. 57 is an example of a display screen that visualizes a record of a certain company file as a building street. As described above, in this specification, the window of the display screen is omitted in the figure, but it is assumed that it is displayed on the actual display device. In the figure, the company name is on the front of the building, the year of establishment is on the right, and the sales are on the top. FIG. 58 is an example of a display designation parameter file for realizing the screen display shown in FIG. 57. The display designation parameter file is created for each file stored in the storage device. In the figure, the item names in the left column are data item names of files stored in the storage device. The surface of the building that displays the data item is registered in the surface of the right column. For example, the company name is specified as before, the year of establishment as right, and the sales amount as left. The visualization means
The data is visualized by referring to this display designation parameter file. As a result, the display screen shown in FIG. 57 is displayed. Furthermore, when the user specifies a viewpoint change using the mouse on the display screen, the positional relationship between the newly specified viewpoint and the building on the display screen is judged, the visualization is performed again, and the result is displayed. To do. Even when the visualization is performed again, the display designation parameter file is referred to and the visualization is performed according to the designated contents. Alternatively, a configuration may be provided in which a location for temporarily storing the contents of the display designation parameter file that has been read once is provided so that the same file is not read again even when it is visualized again. As described above, according to this embodiment, since the record is visualized and displayed, the user can visually understand the content of the data. Furthermore, when the user gives a designation to change the viewpoint while looking at the display screen close to the real world, the three-dimensional object is changed and displayed according to the instruction, so that an operation close to the real world can be realized. Also, FIG. 59 is an example in which the height of the building is further changed to the screen display shown in FIG. 57. By visualizing the sales stated on the top surface of the building as the height of the building, it is possible to visually compare the data. In this embodiment, the sales amount is used, but any data item other than the sales amount can be expressed quantitatively. Further, the data items on the upper surface of the building are not limited to the above, and other data items may be visualized as the height. In this case, by visualizing one building, in addition to the data items described on each surface, the data items assigned to the heights can be simultaneously expressed.

Further, the sales may be used as a key to perform sorting and rearrangement, and the buildings may be arranged in descending order from the left as shown in FIG. Although not shown, they may be arranged in ascending order from the left, contrary to FIG. FIG. 61 is an example of a screen in which a building is scaled up and down using a zoom means. FIG. 61A is a display example of a building viewed from a distance, and only the company name can be read. FIG. 61B is a display example in which the same building is used as a zoom means and viewed from near. Since it has been enlarged, the address can be read in addition to the company name. Thus, in this embodiment, the zoom means can be used together.

Example 11. In this embodiment, a case of visualization using an object other than a building will be described. FIG. 62 shows
It is the figure which represented the hierarchical structure of data using the tree. A tree consists of branches and leaves. A tree represents a unit of data, a branch represents a large classification (hierarchy), and a leaf represents a small classification (file). FIG. 63 is a display example in which files are classified and visualized for each company. The company name is displayed on the tree. The branch corresponds to the organization of the company, and one leaf represents one file. Also, the height of the tree represents the amount of files for the entire company. By performing visualization as shown in FIG. 63 and displaying it to the user, the structure and amount of data stored in the storage device can be visually grasped. Further, a section in which various trees are clustered may be provided, and each section may have a meaning corresponding to the data.

FIG. 64 is a display example in which the hardware configuration is compared to mountains, and three disk drives are illustrated as mountains. The user selects one mountain with the mouse while looking at this display screen. As a result, an enlarged view of one mountain as shown in FIG. 65 is displayed. The mountains are sectioned and different plants are drawn for each section. Grass, flowers, trees, fruit trees, etc. If a division definition table is defined for these divisions and plants in the same manner as the building division definition table shown in FIG. 25, the data structure can be visually expressed in correspondence with the division. Further, similarly to the building shape definition table shown in FIG. 29, if a plant definition table is created and the types of plants and the attributes of the data are associated with each other, the data stored in the storage device using the actual objects can be stored. Can be visualized. Further, although not shown, it is possible to express a difference in data attribute by mixing a tree with a fruit and a tree without a fruit in one section. Furthermore, by drawing leaves, flowers, and fruits on a single tree, it is possible to express that a group including files having different attributes and types is configured.

FIG. 66 is a display example of the hierarchical structure of data. FIG. 66 (a) is a screen displaying the year and month for each subdirectory. As an example of the operation, if the user double-clicks on March 1991 on this screen,
The display screen of FIG. 66 (b) appears. In FIG. 66 (b), a file corresponding to March 1991 is displayed below March 1991. FIG. 67 is an example of a display screen in which the distribution of files is visualized by associating the data year and month having the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 66 with the partition and the tree. In the figure, parcels are assigned to years and trees are assigned to months. In addition, one leaf represents one file. By performing such visualization, the user can know the size of the number of files by visually seeing an expression close to the natural world.

As described above, in this embodiment, the data management system for visualizing and displaying the data corresponding to the object in the natural world has been described.

Example 12. In the above-mentioned embodiment, it is specified that the section represents the data attribute of year, but it may be displayed by associating the data attribute with the section of the building street. Further, the content of the attribute may be clearly indicated on the bill. Alternatively, you may write the letters on the monument instead of on the bill. In addition, the monument may be provided with a design in which the attributes are known in the form of a monument. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange only the designed monuments and visualize them without writing characters to understand the attributes of the data.

Example 13 In this embodiment, an example of three-dimensionally expressing information of a data string will be described. FIG. 68 is a diagram in which the items of the data string are expressed in three directions of the X, Y, and Z axes. In the figure, the X-axis is sales, the Y-axis is last month's ratio, and Z is
The number of people is shown on the axis. By using the three-dimensional coordinates to visualize each of the three records of the department A, the department B, and the department C as a rectangular parallelepiped, it is possible to quantitatively represent the three data items at the same time. FIG. 69 shows an example in which the items of the data string are represented by four elements. In this figure,
The department is visualized using a ball. The radius of the sphere represents the profit data item. Further, the rectangular parallelepiped shown by the dotted line is shown as an auxiliary line indicating the position of the center point of the sphere, and may not be actually displayed on the display screen. The X-axis of this rectangular parallelepiped represents sales, the Y-axis represents last month's ratio, and the Z-axis represents the number of people. In this way, four data items can be visualized at the same time by the radius of the sphere in addition to the three directions of the X, Y, and Z axes.

FIG. 70 is a diagram in which data items are arranged on the surface of a sphere. A data item called a name is placed almost in the center of the figure, with a telephone on the front left and a department on the right. Further, a data item called an address is arranged on the other side. This data arrangement is determined in advance corresponding to the data item and registered in the correspondence table for visualization together with the position definition information on the surface of the sphere. 71 is a view of the sphere shown in FIG. 70 viewed from the direction B. When the user operates the viewpoint changing means on the screen in which the sphere in FIG. 70 is displayed to instruct to change the viewpoint in the B direction, the screen is switched to the display screen shown in FIG. 71.

FIG. 72 shows another example in which data items are arranged on the surface of a sphere. In this figure, the sphere is divided into combs, and one data item is assigned to each divided comb. Also in this case, although not shown, it is assumed that a correspondence table of data items and sphere position definition information is registered. The visualization means performs visualization using the correspondence table. In FIG. 72, data items such as an address, a name, and a telephone are arranged on the sphere. When the user clicks the name on the sphere with the mouse, the records in the file are classified by the name and displayed as shown in FIG. Figure 7
In 3, the volume of the sphere represents the number of records. The sphere of a person with a small number of records is displayed in a small size, so only the name placed in the center can be read, but other data items are invisible. When displayed as a slightly large sphere, for example, the name and address can be read. Also, if the size of the ball is sufficient, the address, name, and telephone number can all be read. In this way, the data classification operation can be instructed using the three-dimensional object, and the classification result can also be displayed as the three-dimensional object.

Further, in FIG. 72, the data is arranged only on the front surface of the sphere, but it may be arranged on the entire surface. In that case, the back side cannot be seen, but the sphere can be rotated by operating the mouse or the like to display the data item to be viewed on the front side. Alternatively, although not shown, by placing a data item on a comb-shaped object in which spheres are arranged side by side and rotating the comb penetrating the center part, the data is synchronized with the spheres arranged in line. Items can also be displayed. Also, a configuration may be used in which a cylinder is used as a three-dimensional object and data items are arranged on the surface of the cylinder.

Example 14 In FIG. 69 described above,
I visualized four data items by the radius of the sphere in addition to the three directions of the X, Y, and Z axes, but it is not a three-dimensional three-dimensional sphere,
A circle may be used to represent the fourth data item by the radius of the circle.

Example 15. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the amount of data is indicated by the number of records stored in the file has been described, but even if the number of records is the same, the file size is different if the length of one record is different. To represent the physical size of the file,
The size of the three-dimensional object may be determined using the file size. Alternatively, the logical size of the data may be represented by another method. For example, when the data is a document, the number of pages when printed may be the height of the building. Also,
When the data is a moving image such as video data, the data amount may be measured by the length of time when the data is reproduced. In the case of image data, the data amount may be measured by the number of frames. In addition, drawings and photos, hand-drawn pictures,
In the case of handwritten drawings, the amount of data may be measured based on the size and number of original sheets. Furthermore, not only the amount of data is reflected in the height of the building, but also the width and depth of the building may be visualized. Alternatively, it may be visualized using a three-dimensional object other than a building. Further, visualization may be performed by reflecting the area (length, width) of the two-dimensional object.

[0118]

According to the present invention, it is possible to display data as an item that actually exists in daily life in a manner familiar to the user.

Further, according to the data management system of the present invention, since a plurality of data are visualized, the user can see the plurality of data at once.

Also, according to the present invention, the amount of data can be visually known from the size of the three-dimensional object.

Further, according to the present invention, since the shape of the three-dimensional object corresponds to the attribute of the data, the attribute of the data is easy to understand by visual observation as in the case of seeing what exists in the real world. effective.

Further, since the display position of the three-dimensional object is determined in correspondence with the attribute of the data, there is an effect that the data can be managed with the same feeling as in daily life.

Further, since the visualization is made in correspondence with the internal structure of the three-dimensional object, the hierarchical structure of the data can be represented by that existing in the real world.

Since the three-dimensional object storage means is provided, the three-dimensional object can be displayed without waiting for the processing time of the visualization means.

[0125] Further, since visualization is performed by a bird's-eye view, there is an effect that the user can be informed of the storage state of data by using the three-dimensional world seen by humans in daily life.

Further, by the viewpoint changing means, it is possible to show the data by simulating a situation in which the appearance of the object changes when the position at which the object is viewed changes in the real world. Therefore, there is an effect that the user can handle the data with the same feeling as in the real world.

Further, since the zoom means can simulate the appearance of an object when approaching or moving away from the object, the user can zoom in closer to the object he or she wants to see, as in the real world. it can. Also, by looking away from each other, a plurality of items can be viewed.

Furthermore, the retrieval result when performing the data retrieval can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner as a three-dimensional object as in the real world.

Since the data is expressed using what one sees in everyday life, such as a building or a house, the user is in the upper hierarchy,
It has the effect of intuitively understanding the lower levels.

Further, since the bird's-eye view of the city where the buildings are arranged is used, the user can intuitively understand the relation of the data.

Further, according to the icon display device of the present invention, the amount of data can be known from the size of the icon.

Further, by paying attention to the dimension of the icon,
The effect is that the amount of data can be known.

Further, the attribute of data can be visually expressed in correspondence with each dimension, and the user can select an icon with the same feeling as in the real world.

Further, since the positions of the icons are also arranged with meaning in the respective three-dimensional directions, the user can visually obtain much information on one display screen.

Furthermore, since the map in which the two-dimensional icons are arranged is displayed, it is possible to select the data by using the object which is seen daily.

Further, when the file is specified by the data access means, it is not necessary to start a program for accessing the file again, and the desired file can be automatically accessed.

Further, since the data search is performed using the displayed icon, the data search can be designated by a simple operation which is visually easy to understand.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of hardware of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an expanded configuration of hardware of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a data management system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional display according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a three-dimensional object of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a business card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a business card file according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a business card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a transmission mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a label mode according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a data management system of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a data management system of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a map display format of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of data according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a building shape definition table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram of a building section definition table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram of a building section definition table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram of a three-dimensional object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram of a three-dimensional object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram of a building shape definition table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 30 is a functional configuration diagram of the icon display device of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a diagram of a building definition table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a viewpoint of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a building according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 38 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a floor view of the embodiment of the present invention viewed from a different viewpoint.

FIG. 42 is a diagram of a business card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating three-dimensional display according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a diagram of a display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 47 is a functional configuration diagram of the icon display device of the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a diagram of a business card file according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 49 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 50 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing movement of a three-dimensional object and a viewpoint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing movement of a three-dimensional object and a viewpoint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing movement of a three-dimensional object and a viewpoint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing movement of a three-dimensional object and a viewpoint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 55 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 57 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 58 is a diagram of a display designation parameter file according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 59 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 60 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 61 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 62 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 64 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 67 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 68 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 71 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 72 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 73 is a diagram of a display screen according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 74 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional hierarchical structure of a document.

FIG. 75 is a diagram showing a conventional directory.

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing a conventional hierarchical structure diagram.

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing a conventional list display.

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing a conventional icon display.

FIG. 79 is a diagram showing the flow of a conventional document search.

FIG. 80 is a diagram showing a conventional icon display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 filing system, 2 display device, 3 database, 4, 5, 6, 7 directory, 8a-8f
File, 9 Operating System, 10 Window System, 11 Graphical User Interface, 12 Desktop, 13 TCP / IP, 14
Communication socket program, 15 file management, 50 visualization means, 51 three-dimensional object storage means, 5
2 viewpoint changing means, 53 zooming means, 54 searching means, 55 highlighting means, 60 icon generating means, 6
2 icon display means, 64 data access means, 1
00a to 100c data management method, 101a to 101
b Icon display device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location // G06T 17/00

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A data management system having the following elements: (a) a storage device for storing data; (b) a visualization means for visualizing the data stored in the storage device as a three-dimensional object; and (c) the above. A display device for displaying a three-dimensional object visualized by a visualization means. 2. The storage device stores a plurality of data, the visualization means individually visualizes the plurality of data into a plurality of three-dimensional objects, and the display device displays the plurality of three-dimensional objects. The data management method according to claim 1, wherein the data management method is displayed. 3. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein the visualization means determines the size of the three-dimensional object in accordance with the amount of data stored in the storage device. 4. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein the visualization means determines the shape of the three-dimensional object according to the attribute of the data. 5. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein the visualization means determines the display position of the three-dimensional object according to the attribute of the data. 6. The data stored in the storage device has a hierarchical structure, and the visualization means visualizes the hierarchical structure of the data in correspondence with the internal structure of the three-dimensional object. The data management method described in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. 7. The data management system further comprises a three-dimensional object storage means for storing the three-dimensional object visualized by the visualization means, and the display device has a tertiary stored in the three-dimensional object storage means. The data management method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein an original object is displayed. 8. The visualization means visualizes the storage state of the data stored in the storage device by a bird's-eye view in which one or more three-dimensional objects are arranged, and the display device is a bird's-eye view in which a plurality of three-dimensional objects are arranged. The data management method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein 9. The data management system according to claim 8, wherein the data management system further comprises viewpoint changing means for changing the viewpoint of the bird's-eye view displayed on the display device. 10. The data management method according to claim 8, further comprising zoom means for enlarging or reducing a bird's-eye view displayed on the display device. 11. The data management method further comprises a searching means for searching the data stored in the storage device, and a three-dimensional object of the data searched by the searching means, separated from other three-dimensional objects in the bird's-eye view. The data management system according to claim 8, 9 or 10, further comprising highlighting means for displaying separately. 12. The data management system according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional object is a building. 13. The data management method according to claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional object is a building, and the bird's-eye view is a bird's-eye view of a city where the building is arranged. 14. An icon display device having the following elements: (a) a storage device for storing data, (b) an icon size is changed according to the amount of data stored in the storage device, Icon generating means for generating a corresponding icon, (c) Icon displaying means for displaying the icon generated by the icon generating means. 15. The icon generating means generates an icon having two or more dimensions and changes the size of at least one dimension according to the amount of data stored in the storage device. The icon display device according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The icon display device according to claim 14, wherein the icon generating means generates an icon of a three-dimensional building. 17. The icon display device according to claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said icon display means arranges a plurality of icons in a three-dimensional direction and displays them on said display device. 18. The icon generation means generates an icon represented in two dimensions, and the icon display means displays a map in which a plurality of icons represented in two dimensions are arranged. Item 14. The icon display device according to item 14 or 15. 19. The icon display device further activates a program for accessing data corresponding to the identified icon by identifying at least one of the icons displayed by the icon display means. 15. A data access means for enabling access to data is provided.
Icon display device according to 5, 16, 17 or 18. 20. The icon display device comprises search means for performing data search using the icon displayed by the icon display means, and the icon generation means generates an icon corresponding to the data search result, 15. The icon display device according to claim 14, wherein the icon display means displays the generated icon.