JP2000163306A - System and method for managing information and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate management in the extraction, registration or editing of information by limitlessly hierarchizing a lot of information nodes in a flexible structure. SOLUTION: A data managing part 2 performs handling management in the extraction, registration or editing of catalog information. While being linked with the data managing part 2, a display control part 3 displays a GUI for operation related to handling such as the extraction, registration or editing of the catalog information on a display part 4. A data storage part 6 stores the catalog information of shops, article racks and articles related to a mole while hierarchically relating them and is accessed under the control of an access control part 5. This data storage part 6 stores a node information master table 61, node link table 62 and data table 63. The node information table 61 stores node information for each node. The node link master table 62 stores link information related to mutual links stored in the node information master table 61.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of managing hierarchical information, for example, extracting, registering and registering product catalog information when constructing a virtual store or a virtual shopping mall in an electronic commerce performed on a network system. The present invention relates to an information management system and a recording medium suitable for editing and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of handling product information in a system for constructing a virtual store and a virtual shopping mall on a network system, a plurality of stores,
In general, a method of hierarchizing product shelves and products and managing the catalog is used.

[0003] However, such hierarchies have been performed by associating nodes with a one-to-N (N is a natural number) tree structure. As described above, since the relationship between the parent node and the child node in the hierarchical structure is expressed by a one-to-N tree structure, there is only one route for finding a specific child node in the lower layer from the root, that is, the root. .

[0004] For this reason, it is more difficult to find a child node existing in a lower layer. In addition, due to such a hierarchical structure, the upper limit of the number of layers is generally inevitably reduced to about 2 to 6 layers, and is not necessarily used to classify catalog information of a large number of products and the like. Not enough. Therefore, it is not easy for a catalog user such as a purchaser to find necessary information, and there is a possibility that the user may have difficulty in finding necessary information. Moreover, the connection relation of the nodes is 1: N
Since it relies on a tree structure and cannot express complex information related to N to N, information management may be difficult. An example of a conventional node hierarchical structure in which the relationship between a parent node and a child node is represented by a one-to-N tree structure will be specifically described.

[0005] For example, a shopping mall (hereinafter, simply referred to as "mall") exists as a top-level parent node, and a plurality of stores exist as child nodes under the shopping mall.
Under these stores, a plurality of merchandise shelves exist as child nodes, and under the merchandise shelves, a plurality of merchandise exists as child nodes. In this case, store-product shelf-
The hierarchical relationship in a product is a finite number of hierarchies, typically 2
Each of up to six layers has a 1: N tree structure. As described above, since the number of layers is finite, the simplest two-layer structure pattern with merchandise shelves on the first layer and products on the first layer, malls on the first layer, stores on the second layer, A commodity pattern is used in the fifth layer, and a structure pattern of the sixth layer, which has goods in the sixth layer, is used.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, one-to-N
In the tree structure according to the structure described above, there is only one route for searching for a node, for example, a product, existing in a lower hierarchy from a higher hierarchy such as a root. For this reason, there is a possibility that the catalog user may not easily find a necessary node. In addition, it is not possible to express a real node relationship related to N to N, and such a relationship cannot be appropriately structured. Further, the structural expression using the above-described one-to-N tree structure is not sufficient for classifying a large number of nodes because the number of layers is finite and the upper limit number of layers is as small as 2 to 6.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and enables a large number of information nodes to be hierarchized in a flexible structure, and facilitates management of information extraction, registration, editing, and the like. It is an object to provide a system, an information management method, and a recording medium.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an information management system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
In an information management system for managing a plurality of information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes, a database means for storing the plurality of information, and at least one operation of extracting, registering and editing information stored in the database means Information operating means for performing, a node information master table storing means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node provided in connection with the database means, and a node information Node link table storage means for storing a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including an N-to-N hierarchical structure based on link information of a parent-child connection relationship between nodes indicated in the information master table; According to the operation of the operation means, the node link table storage means and the Said node via a link table and node information master table stored in the micro-node information master table storage means comprises a, and access control means for accessing said database means.

Further, an information management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is an information management system for managing a plurality of product catalog information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group. A database unit for storing the product catalog information; an information operation unit for performing at least one operation of extracting, registering, and editing the product catalog information stored in the database unit; and a database unit provided in association with the database unit. A node information master table storing means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group; and the node information master provided in association with the database means. Link information of parent-child association between nodes shown in the table Accordingly, the node link table storage means for storing node-link table to represent any of the hierarchical structure of the node, including a hierarchical structure of N to N,
Access control means for accessing the database means via the node link table and the node information master table stored in the node link table storage means and the node information master table storage means in accordance with the operation of the information operation means; Have.

[0010] The information operation means is a management operation means for controlling at least one of extraction, registration and editing of information stored in the database means, and operates in association with the management operation means, and Display means for displaying an image for extracting, registering and editing information by using a hierarchical structure of the nodes represented by a link table, and providing an interactive operation by the management operation means. .

[0011] The display means includes a tree view display means for displaying a hierarchical structure of the node represented by the node link table in a tree on a part of a screen, and a tree view displayed by the tree view display means. List display means for displaying a list of the information in the selected node in another part adjacent to the tree display on the screen.

[0012] In the information management system according to the present invention, a large number of information nodes are stored in a flexible structure including an N-to-N relationship.
Unlimited hierarchy. Therefore, management such as extraction, registration, and editing of information becomes easy.

An information management method according to a third aspect of the present invention is an information management method for managing a plurality of information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of information is stored in a database, and Generating a node information master table indicating the node information of the information and a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node, and accessing the database via the node link table and the node information master table. Features.

An information management method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the information management method for managing a plurality of product catalog information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group. A node information master table that stores the product catalog information in a database and indicates node information of each node including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group; and a node link table that represents an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node. And responding to an external operation to access the database via the node link table and the node information master table.

[0015] An image for extracting, registering and editing information may be displayed using the hierarchical structure of the nodes represented by the node link table and provided for interactive operation. In addition, the hierarchical structure of the node represented by the node link table is displayed as a tree on a part of the screen, and information in the node selected in the tree display is displayed on another screen adjacent to the tree display on the screen. A list may be displayed partially.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium comprising: a computer for storing a plurality of pieces of information; at least one of extracting, registering, and editing information stored in the database; An information operation means for performing an operation, a node information master table storage means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node provided in relation to the database means, According to the link information of the parent-child relationship between the nodes shown in the information master table, N: N
A node link table storing means for storing a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including the hierarchical structure of the node, and the node link table storing means and the node information master table storing means in accordance with an operation of the information operating means. Via the stored node link table and node information master table, a program for functioning as access control means for accessing the database means and recording a plurality of nodes in a hierarchical manner to manage a plurality of information is recorded.

A computer-readable recording medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium comprising: a database for storing product catalog information; and extraction, registration, and editing of product catalog information stored in the database. Information operation means for performing such an operation, provided in connection with the database means, a store,
A node information master table storage unit that stores a node information master table that indicates node information of each node including at least one of a product shelf and a product group, provided in association with the database unit, and is provided in the node information master table. Node link table storage means for storing a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including an N-to-N hierarchical structure based on link information of a parent-child connection relationship between nodes, and operation of the information operating means, Stores, merchandise shelves and merchandise that function as access control means for accessing the database means via the node link table and the node information master table stored in the node link table storage means and the node information master table storage means At least in the group By layering a plurality of nodes containing either records a program for managing a plurality of commodity catalog information.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information management system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an information management system for handling catalog information in a mall according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The information management system shown in FIG. 1 includes an input unit 1, a data management unit 2, a display control unit 3, a display unit 4, an access control unit 5, and a data storage unit 6.

The input unit 1 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard and inputs operation information relating to management operations such as handling of catalog information. The data management unit 2 performs handling management such as extraction, registration, and editing of catalog information. The display control unit 3 cooperates with the data management unit 2 to perform a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for operations related to handling such as extraction, registration, and editing of catalog information.
e) controlling the display of information on the display unit 4 which provides e). The access control unit 5 controls access to the data storage unit 6 for handling management such as extraction, registration, and editing of catalog information by the data management unit 2.

The data storage section 6 stores catalog information of stores, merchandise shelves, merchandise and the like related to the mall in a hierarchically related manner, and accesses the catalog information under the control of the access control section 5. The data storage unit 6 includes a node information master table 61, a node link table 6
2 and the data table 63 are stored.

The node information master table 61 and the node link table 62 constitute a database table relating to node information. The node information master table 61 stores node information such as the store to which each node belongs, the type of node, and the node name. The node link table 62 includes a parent node ID (ID: Identifi) between nodes stored in the node information master table 61.
er to identification information) and link information between nodes such as child node IDs. The data table 63 stores data such as products, images, descriptions, and the like other than the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62.

A system for realizing the catalog information management system shown in FIG. 1 is specifically constructed on a server-client system as shown in FIG.

The server-client system shown in FIG. 2 includes a client device 11, a middle server device 12, a data storage device (database server) 13, a network 14, and a LAN (Local Area Network) 15.

The client device 11 has an application program execution environment, and has an interface 11a and a data management object 11b based on the application program. The interfacer 11a
An operator interface to the information management system is realized. Data management object 11b
Operates information with the middle server device 12 in response to the interfacer 11a.

That is, the operator performs an interactive operation on the interfacer 11 a using a pointing device such as a mouse and an operation input device such as a keyboard while watching the display screen of the client device 11, so that the catalog information is obtained. Manipulate. The operator operates the interfacer 1
Via 1a, login to the information management system and operation of detailed information on stores, merchandise shelves, merchandise, and the like are performed. Various types of information handled by the interfacer 11a can be accessed by accessing the data management object 11b in the same process, that is, in the client device 11.
Reference, update, and deletion can be performed.

The data management object 11b acquires information required by the interfacer 11a responding to the operation of the operator from the middle server device 12, and acquires information added or changed by the interfacer 11a in, for example, SQL (Structured). The data is converted into a format for database access such as an SQL request using QueryLanguage (structured query language) and notified to the middle server device 12. The data management object 11b discloses information to be handled to the interface 11a as an object on the memory. Therefore, the interfacer 11a can easily perform data operations without being aware of the schema structure of the database in the middle server device 12 and the data storage device 13.

The network 14 is configured as the Internet, an intranet, or the like. In this case, SSL (Secure Sockets
Layer). The data management object 11b of the client device 11 is connected to the network 14 by the SSL protocol.

The middle server device 12 is also connected to the network 14 by the SSL protocol, and has an execution environment for application programs. The middle server device 12 includes an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) server 12 based on an application program.
a and a database access object 12b. The HTTP server 12a accesses the data storage device 13 via the database access object 12b.

The HTTP server 12a receives an access request by the SSL protocol from the data management object 11b, and receives the database access object 12b in the same process, that is, in the middle server device 12.
Hand over the SQL request to Further, the data returned from the database access object 12b is
The data is encoded by ME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) and returned to the database management object 11b of the client device 11 by the SSL protocol.

Database access object 12b
Requests the SQL request passed from the HTTP server 12a to the database server 13a of the data storage device 13, and stores the resulting data in the HTTP server 1.
Return to 2a.

The data storage device 13 is connected to the database access object 12b of the middle server device 12 via the LAN 15. Data storage device 13
Has an application program execution environment, and constructs a database server 13a.

The database server 13a is a database access object 12b of the middle server device 12.
Executes the SQL requested by the database access object 12b
Return to

That is, the data management operator manages catalog information of virtual shops / malls and the like stored in the data storage device 13 subordinate to the middle server device 12 from the network 14 via the interfacer 11a of the client device 11. can do.

The input unit 1, data management unit 2, display control unit 3 and display unit 4 of the information management system shown in FIG.
The access control unit 5 is configured as a function of the database access object 12b of the middle server device 12, and is configured as a function of the interfacer 11a of the client device 11, the data management object 11b, and the HTTP server 12a of the middle server device 12. The unit 6 is built on the database server 13a of the data storage device 13.

The middle server device 12 including the database access object 12b and the data storage device 1
3 without separating it from the database server 13a,
Server functions such as an HTTP server and a database server may be integrally mounted in the middle server device.

Next, the processing in the information management system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the client device 1.
1 illustrates an example of an information management screen by one interfacer 11a, that is, a data management unit 2, a display control unit 3, and a display unit 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interfacer 11a provides a so-called explorer-like information management screen that enables simple operation of catalog information by a GUI. The data management operator can easily manage the structure and detailed information of stores, merchandise shelves, and merchandise using a GUI.

That is, the information management screen is composed of a tree view on the left side of the screen and a list view on the right side of the screen. are doing. In the tree view, the hierarchical structure of each node of the store, the merchandise shelf, and the merchandise group is displayed in a tree, and the contents of the designated node in the tree view are displayed in a list view.

By dragging and dropping the icons on the tree view and the list view, the information can be copied, moved and associated.

By right-clicking an arbitrary icon with a mouse or the like, a shortcut menu including a command list of actions for the icon is displayed as shown in FIG. Can be executed.

The operation of the window on the information management screen shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described in detail.

The boundary between the tree view and the list view can be changed by menu commands and mouse dragging. The size of the window can be freely changed by dragging. Each item displayed in the list view can be sorted by the value in that column by clicking on the column header, ie the heading.

To add an item, select [New] in the pop-up menu by right-clicking the mouse, or select a corresponding menu command. When an additional item is selected, a dialog box is displayed according to the type, so input necessary items and end the dialog. For the first time, both tree view and list view
A new item is added one level below the currently focused node or list item.

To delete an item, right-click the mouse and select [Delete] from the pop-up menu or select a corresponding menu command.

The following restrictions are imposed on deletion.
Even if one of the same shelves (details will be described later) used in two or more locations is deleted, the same shelf allocated to another location is not deleted. Even if the shelf is deleted, the products registered in the lower layer are not deleted (can be referred to by the all product folder). Even when a store is deleted, only a mark indicating that the store has been deleted is added to the database, but the data is not actually deleted.

As described later, one product and image can be assigned to a plurality of locations. When canceling only the assignment, the link can be deleted.

For example, when the same image is assigned to the shelves A and B, and the same image is included in the image folder under the shelf A and the image folder under the shelf B, a link from the image folder on the shelf A is made. Is deleted from the list, but when the list in the image folder under shelf B is displayed,
The image continues to be used on shelf B. Further, when the link is deleted from the image folder of the shelf B, the image that is no longer used is referred to only in all the image folders.

Between the tree view and the list view, or only in each of them, "move" to move an item to another place by dragging and dropping a mouse and "create link" to assign an item to another place Can be realized.

Next, the data structure, particularly the node structure, in the information management system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail.

The database table for storing node information in the data storage unit 6 constructed in the data storage device 13 is composed of two tables: a node information master table 61 and a node link table 62. The node information master table 61 stores node information, and the node link table 62 stores link information that defines a connection relationship including a parent-child relationship of the node information.

The node information master table 61 stores node information of each node such as a mall, a store, a store group, a product shelf, and a product group of catalog information. As shown in FIG. 5, the node information master table 61 stores information such as a node ID, an affiliated store, a status flag, a node type, a node name, a display description, a description of a record, and a last update date and time. . As the node type, a distinction such as a mall, a store, a store group, a product shelf, and a product group is stored.

The node link table 62 stores link information indicating the parent-child connection relationship of each node stored in the node information master table 61. Node link table 6
As shown in FIG. 6, information such as a link ID, a display order, a parent node ID, a child node ID, and a last update date and time is stored in the second field.

Next, the information stored in the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62 and the node structure formed by the information will be specifically described with reference to examples.

First, in the first example where the node structure is 1: N, data as shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62. That is, in the node information master table 61, the shop a as the node 1, the shelf a1 as the node 2, the shelf a2 as the node 3, the shelf a3 as the node 4, the shop b as the node 5, the shelf b1, as the node 6, and the like. Product shelf b2 as node 7 and node 8
Each node information of the product shelf b3 is stored. In the node link table 62, first link information having a parent of node 1 and a child of node 2, second link information of a parent of node 2 and a child of node 3, and a parent of node 2 and a child of node 4 Third link information with parent as node 1 and child as node 5, fourth link information with parent as node 5 and child as node 6, parent as node 6 and child as node 7 is stored, and seventh link information having a parent of node 7 and a child of node 8 is stored.

Such a node information master table 61
FIG. 8 shows a tree-like hierarchical structure defined by the node link table 62 and the node link table 62. In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 8, a product shelf a1 and a store b exist below the store a. A product shelf a2 and a product shelf a3 exist below the product shelf a1. A commodity shelf b1 exists below the store b, a commodity shelf b2 exists below the commodity shelf b1, and a commodity shelf b3 exists below the commodity shelf b2. The hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed in the tree view of the management screen shown in FIGS.

In the second example where the node structure is 1: N, data as shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62. That is, the node information master table 61
In the same manner as in the first example, store a as node 1, store shelves a1 as node 2, store shelves a2 as node 3, store shelves a3 as node 4, store b as node 5, store shelves b1 as node 6, and so on. Each node information of the product shelf b2 as the node 7 and the node information of the product shelf b3 as the node 8 are stored. In the node link table 62, the parent is the node 1
First link information having a child as node 2 and a parent as node 1
Second link information having a child as node 3 and a parent as node 3
Third link information with the child as node 4 and parent as node 1
Fourth link information with the child as node 5 and parent as node 5
Fifth link information with child as node 6 and parent as node 6
Sixth link information with child as node 7 and seventh link information with parent as node 7 and child as node 8 are stored.

Such a node information master table 61
FIG. 10 shows a tree-like hierarchical structure defined by the node link table 62 and the node link table 62. In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 10, a product shelf a1 and a product shelf a
2 and a store b. A product shelf a3 exists below the product shelf a2. A commodity shelf b1 exists below the store b, a commodity shelf b2 exists below the commodity shelf b1, and a commodity shelf b3 exists below the commodity shelf b2. In this case, a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in the tree view of the management screen shown in FIGS.

On the other hand, in the first example in which the node structure is N-to-N, data as shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62. That is, in the node information master table 61, the store a as the node 1, the product shelf a1 as the node 2, the product shelf a2 as the node 3, the store b as the node 4, the product shelf b1 as the node 5, the product shelf b2 as the node 6, Each node information of the store c as the node 7 and each node information of the product shelf c1 as the node 8 is stored. In the node link table 62, first link information having a parent of node 1 and a child of node 2, second link information of a parent of node 1 and a child of node 3, and a parent of node 3 and a child of node 4 Third link information having parent as node 4 and child as node 5, fifth link information having parent as node 5 and child as node 6, parent as node 5 and child as node 7 is stored, the seventh link information is a parent node 7 and a child node 8, and the eighth link information is a parent node 1 and a child node 8.

Such a node information master table 61
FIG. 12 shows a tree-like hierarchical structure defined by the node link table 62. In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 12, a store shelf a1, a store shelf a
2 and a product shelf c1. A store b exists below the product shelf a2. Store shelves b1 are located below store b.
Exists below the product shelf b1, and a product shelf b2 and a store c exist below the product shelf b1. Then, a product shelf c1 exists below the store c. In FIG. 12, two nodes on the product shelf c1 are denoted by a common symbol “□” to indicate that they are the same node. In this case, the hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed in the tree view of the management screen shown in FIGS.

In the second example where the node structure is N-to-N, data as shown in FIG. 13 is stored in the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62. That is, the node information master table 6
1, as in the first example, a store a as the node 1, a product shelf a1 as the node 2, a product shelf a2 as the node 3,
Node 4 stores the node information of the store b, node 5 stores the product shelf b1, node 6 stores the product shelf b2, node 7 stores the store c, and node 8 stores the product shelf c1. In the node link table 62, the parent is the node 1
First link information having a child as node 2 and a parent as node 1
Second link information having a child as node 3 and a parent as node 3
Third link information with the child as node 4 and parent as node 4
Fourth link information with the child as node 5 and parent as node 5
Fifth link information with child as node 6 and parent as node 1
Sixth link information with child as node 7 and parent as node 5
Seventh link information with the child as node 7 and parent as node 7
Stores eighth link information whose child is node 8, and ninth link information whose parent is node 8 and whose child is node 2.

Such a node information master table 61
FIG. 14 shows a tree-like hierarchical structure defined by the node link table 62 and the node link table 62. In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 14, a product shelf a1 and a product shelf a
2 and a store c. A store b exists below the product shelf a2. A product shelf b1 exists below the store b, a product shelf b2 and a store c exist below the product shelf b1, and a product shelf c1 exists below the store c. The product shelf a1 exists below c1. Further, a product shelf c1 also exists below the store c, which exists below the store a, and a product shelf a1 exists below the product shelf c1. In FIG. 14, two nodes of the store c, two nodes of the product shelf c1, and three nodes of the product shelf a1 have common symbols “”, “□”, and “△”, respectively.
To indicate that each symbol is the same node. In this case, the hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed in the tree view of the management screen shown in FIGS.

FIG. 15 shows an example in which the tree-like hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 14 defined by the node information master table 61 and the node link table 62 shown in FIG. In the hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 15, a product shelf a1, a product shelf a2, and a store c exist below the store a. A store b exists below the product shelf a2. A product shelf b1 exists below the store b, and a product shelf b2 exists below the product shelf b1, and a store c located below the store a is connected. A product shelf c1 exists below the store c, and a product shelf a1 located below the store a is connected to the product shelves c1. In FIG. 15, the symbols “”, “□”, and “商品” are attached to the nodes of the store c, the shelf c1, and the shelf a1, respectively, to indicate that each node is used recursively. Is shown. The hierarchical structure shown in FIG. 15 may be displayed on the tree view of the management screen shown in FIGS.

The information management system thus configured is
At least one operation of extracting, registering, and editing catalog information stored in the database is performed through a management screen using a GUI. In connection with the database, a node information master table 61 showing node information of each node and a link information of a parent-child connection relationship between the nodes shown in the node information master table 61 are used for the nodes including the N-to-N hierarchical structure. A node link table 62 expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure is stored. Therefore, on the catalog information management screen and access control, the database is accessed via the node link table 62 and the node information master table 61 according to the operation of the operator. Therefore, a large number of information nodes are stored in a flexible structure including N-to-N
Hierarchy can be formed without limitation, and management of information extraction, registration, editing, and the like becomes easy.

That is, the advantages obtained by the information management system shown in the above embodiment can be enumerated as follows.

<1> Since the connection relation of the nodes is defined by the node link table, the relation between the parent node and the child nodes can be structured N to N, and the number of layers by the structuring is unlimited. be able to. Also, it is possible to associate auxiliary information to be added to various nodes N-to-N,
A plurality of stores can also be represented by an N-to-N structure.

<2> Only by using the node link table,
Since the node connection relationship is specified, under a specific store,
A plurality of stores can be arranged with an unlimited number of stores and store levels. Similarly, a plurality of merchandise shelves can be arranged under a specific store with an unlimited number of merchandise shelves and an unlimited number of merchandise shelves. Stores can be arranged, and a plurality of shelves can be arranged under a specific merchandise shelf with an unlimited number of merchandise shelves and an unlimited number of merchandise shelves,
Products can be placed under a specific store or product shelf with an unlimited number of products. Further, merchandise shelves and merchandise of another store can be arranged under the store, and merchandise shelves and merchandise of a plurality of stores can be arranged on a specific merchandise shelf.

<3> By realizing the N-to-N structured expression, it becomes possible to provide a plurality of routes for searching for a store, a product shelf, or a product existing as a lower node,
Catalog users can easily find necessary information.

<4> GUI as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
By using a management screen composed of a tree view and a list view, a plurality of stores, merchandise shelves, and merchandise can be centrally managed on one management screen. Therefore, the catalog administrator can easily perform the catalog management.

<5> By realizing the N-to-N structured expression, there are a plurality of store owners at a particular store,
Even when a plurality of stores jointly form one store, the actual store structure can be structured and expressed as it is.

The information management system according to the present invention can be realized by using a normal computer system without configuring as a dedicated system. For example,
By installing the program from a medium (floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-ROM, or the like) storing the program for executing the above-described operation in the computer system, an information management system that executes the above-described processing is constructed. be able to. By installation,
The program is stored in a medium such as a hard disk in the computer system, configures an information management system, and is provided for execution.

The medium for supplying the program to the computer is not limited to a storage medium in a narrow sense, but may be a communication line,
Like a communication network and a communication system, it may be a storage medium in a broad sense including a communication medium that temporarily and fluidly stores information such as a program.

For example, the program may be registered in an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server provided on a communication network such as the Internet and distributed to an FTP client via the network. The program may be registered in a board system or the like and distributed via a network. Then start this program and run the OS
The above processing can be achieved by executing under the control of the (Operating System). Furthermore, the above-described processing can also be achieved by starting and executing the program while transferring the program via the communication network.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of information nodes can be hierarchized without limitation in a flexible structure, and management of information extraction, registration, editing and the like is easy. An information management system and a recording medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a client server system that constructs the information management system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an information management screen in the information management system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an operation on the information management screen of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node information master table used in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node link table used in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node information master table and a node link table in a first example using a one-to-N structure in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a node structure represented by the structures of a node information master table and a node link table in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node information master table and a node link table in a second example using a one-to-N structure in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a node structure represented by the structures of a node information master table and a node link table in FIG. 9;

11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node information master table and a node link table in a first example using an N-to-N structure in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a node structure represented by the structures of a node information master table and a node link table in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure of a node information master table and a node link table in a second example using the N-to-N structure in the information management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a node structure represented by the structures of a node information master table and a node link table in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining another type of node structure represented by the structures of the node information table and the node link table of FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 input unit 2 data management unit 3 display control unit 4 display unit 5 access control unit 6 data storage unit 11 client device 12 middle server device 13 data storage device 14 network (Internet or intranet) 15 LAN (local area network) 11a interfacer 11b Data management object 12a HTTP server 12b Database access object 13a Database server 61 Node information master table 62 Node link table 63 Data table

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information management system for managing a plurality of information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of database means for storing the plurality of information, and extraction, registration, and editing of information stored in the database means An information operation means for performing any operation; a node information master table storage means provided in connection with the database means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node; A node link table that is provided and stores a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including an N-to-N hierarchical structure by link information of a parent-child connection relationship between the nodes indicated in the node information master table; Means, and the node link text according to the operation of the information operating means. Said node via a link table and node information master table, the information management system characterized by comprising an access control means for accessing said database means is stored in the table storage means and the node information master table storage means. 2. An information management system for managing a plurality of product catalog information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group, wherein: a database means for storing the product catalog information; Information operation means for performing at least one of extraction, registration and editing of product catalog information stored in the database means; provided in association with the database means; and at least one of a store, a product shelf and a product group A node information master table storing means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each of the nodes, and link information of a parent-child connection relationship between the nodes provided in association with the database means and indicated in the node information master table By means of any of the nodes, including the N-to-N hierarchical structure Node link table storage means for storing a node link table expressing a hierarchical structure; and the node link table and node information stored in the node link table storage means and the node information master table storage means in accordance with the operation of the information operation means An information management system comprising: an access control unit that accesses the database unit via a master table. 3. The information operation means includes: a management operation means for controlling at least one of extraction, registration, and editing of information stored in the database means; Display means for displaying an image for extracting, registering and editing information by using the hierarchical structure of the nodes represented by the node link table, and providing an interactive operation by the management operation means. The information management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A tree view display means for displaying a hierarchical structure of the nodes represented by the node link table as a tree on a part of a screen, a tree display displayed by the tree view display means. 4. The information management system according to claim 3, further comprising: a list view display unit configured to display a list of information in the node selected in the list on another part adjacent to the tree display on the screen. 5. An information management method for managing a plurality of information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of information is stored in a database, and a node information master table indicating node information of the plurality of information; An information management method, comprising: generating a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of nodes; and accessing the database via the node link table and the node information master table. 6. An information management method for managing a plurality of product catalog information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group, comprising: storing the product catalog information in a database; Generating a node information master table indicating node information of each node including at least one of a product shelf and a product group, and a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node; responding to an external operation; An information management method, comprising accessing the database via a table and a node information master table. 7. An image for extracting, registering and editing information is displayed by using a hierarchical structure of the nodes represented by the node link table, and provided for interactive operation.
7. The information management method according to claim 5, wherein: 8. The hierarchical structure of the node represented by the node link table is displayed as a tree on a part of the screen, and information in the node selected in the tree display is adjacent to the tree display on the screen. The information management method according to claim 7, wherein a list is displayed in another part of the information. 9. A computer, comprising: database means for storing a plurality of pieces of information; information operation means for performing at least one of extraction, registration, and editing of information stored in the database means; A node information master table storing means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node; a link of a parent-child connection relationship between the nodes provided in connection with the database means and indicated in the node information master table A node link table storing unit for storing a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including an N-to-N hierarchical structure, and the node link table storing unit and the node according to the operation of the information operating unit Stored in the information master table storage means A computer readable program that functions as access control means for accessing the database means via the node link table and the node information master table, and records a program for hierarchically managing a plurality of nodes and managing a plurality of pieces of information. Recording medium. 10. A computer, comprising: database means for storing product catalog information; information operating means for performing at least one of extraction, registration, and editing of product catalog information stored in said database means; A node information master table storage means for storing a node information master table indicating node information of each node including at least one of a store, a product shelf, and a product group, provided in association with the database means, Node link table storage means for storing a node link table expressing an arbitrary hierarchical structure of the node including an N-to-N hierarchical structure based on link information of a parent-child connection relationship between nodes indicated in the node information master table; According to the operation of the information operation means, the node Said node via a link table and node information master table stored in the tank table storage means and the node information master table storage unit access control means for accessing said database means, to function as the store,
A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for managing a plurality of product catalog information by hierarchizing a plurality of nodes including at least one of a product shelf and a product group is recorded.