Data processing system

Abstract

A data processing system is provided in which a data acquisition unit includes a data tag generator for generating data tags associated with acquired data items. The generated data tags are transmitted to a data store.

1 . A data processing system comprising at least one data item acquisition unit and at least one data store, the data item acquisition unit comprising a data tag generator for generating a data tag associated with each data item, and the data item acquisition unit being arranged to transmit at least the data tag to the data store.  
     
     
         2 . A data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data item acquisition unit is further arranged to transmit the data item to the at least one data store.  
     
     
         3 . A data processing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one data store comprises a further data tag generator.  
     
     
         4 . A data processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein said data item acquisition unit comprises a decision module arranged to evaluate if the data tag should be generated at the data acquisition unit or if the data item should be sent to the data store and the data tag generated there.  
     
     
         5 . A data processing system according to  claim 4 , wherein said decision module is arranged to utilise data item size and complexity information to generate an estimate of the processing power required to generate an associated data tag and determine if said estimated processing power exceeds the processing power available.  
     
     
         6 . A data processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said processing power available at said data item acquisition unit is variable.  
     
     
         7 . A data processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said decision module is further arranged to evaluate the efficiency of transmitting the data item to the data store for data processing based on the size of the data item and the quality and/or speed of the connection between the data acquisition unit and the data store.  
     
     
         8 . A data processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein said decision module is further arranged to include one or more restrictions on data to be included in said data tag in said evaluation.  
     
     
         9 . A data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data tag generator is arranged to detect a failure to generate a data tag for a data item.  
     
     
         10 . A data processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein in response to said failure the data item is transmitted to the data store with a request for the data tag to be generated therein.  
     
     
         11 . A data processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein in response to said failure any portion of said data tag generated prior to said failure is transmitted to said data store.  
     
     
         12 . A data processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein in response to said failure said data tag generator attempts to generate a simplified data tag.  
     
     
         13 . A data processing system according to  claim 9 , wherein further configuration information held by the data tag generator at the data store is transmitted to the data acquisition unit to allow successful data tag generation to occur.  
     
     
         14 . A data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data tag generator is arranged such that data tag configuration information is defined in relation to a presented data item and the data tag configuration information is transmitted to the data store for inclusion in the data tag generator located therein.  
     
     
         15 . A data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data store is connected to one or more other data stores so as to provide a hierarchical arrangement of data stores.  
     
     
         16 . A method of processing data including the step of generating a data tag associated with a data item at a data acquisition unit and transmitting at least said data tag to a data store.  
     
     
         17 . A method of processing data according to  claim 16 , wherein the data item is also transmitted to the data store.  
     
     
         18 . A method of processing data according to  claim 17 , wherein said data tag generation can also occur at the data store.  
     
     
         19 . A method of processing data according to  claim 18 , wherein said method includes an evaluation step for evaluating if it is appropriate to generate the data tags at the or each acquisition unit or to transmit the data item to a data store for data tag generation to occur there.  
     
     
         20 . A method of processing data according to  claim 19 , wherein the evaluation step includes determining the size and complexity of the data item to be processed, providing an estimate of the processing power required to generate the associated data tag in response to the determination, comparing the estimated processing power with the processing power of the available data tag generator, and in response to the comparison either generating the data tag locally or transmitting the data item to a data store.  
     
     
         21 . A method of processing data according to  claim 19 , wherein said evaluation step includes evaluating the efficiency of transmitting the data item to the data store for data processing based on the size of the data item and the quality and/or speed of the connection between the data acquisition unit and data store.  
     
     
         22 . A method of processing data according to  claim 16 , wherein the method further includes transmitting configuration information from a data store to a data acquisition device and configuring a data tag generator located at the data acquisition device in accordance with the configuration information.  
     
     
         23 . A method of processing data according to  claim 16 , wherein data tag generation configuration information is transmitted from a data item acquisition device to a data store, said configuration information being defined in relation to a user presented data item.  
     
     
         24 . A method of processing data according to  claim 19 , wherein said data store is connected to at least one further data store and said evaluation step is performed at least one of said data stores.  
     
     
         25 . A data item acquisition device comprising a data tag generator and arranged to transmit a generated data tag associated with an acquired data item to a data store.  
     
     
         26 . A data item acquisition device according to  claim 25  further comprising an evaluation module arranged to perform the evaluation procedure of  claim 19 .  
     
     
         27 . A data item acquisition device according to  claim 25 , wherein said data item acquisition device forms an integral part of a personal computing apparatus.  
     
     
         28 . A data item acquisition device according to  claim 25 , wherein one or more data capture devices selected from a list including an electronic camera, scanner and microphone is connected to an input of the data acquisition device.  
     
     
         29 . A data item acquisition device according to  claim 25 , wherein the data acquisition unit is integrated within a data capture or data storage device.  
     
     
         30 . A data store arranged to store a plurality of data tags associated with respective data items, and arranged to export, upon request, data tag generator configuration information for use by data tag generators.  
     
     
         31 . A data store according to  claim 30 , wherein said data store is arranged to store the respective data items associated with the data tags.  
     
     
         32 . A data store according to  claim 30 , wherein said data store comprises a data tag generator for generating data tags associated with data items input to the store.  
     
     
         33 . A data store according to  claim 30 , wherein said data store comprises a search engine arranged to locate data tags conforming to a user search request and cause the data items associated with the located data tags to be output from the data store.  
     
     
         34 . A data store according to  claim 30 , wherein said data store is connected to one or more other data stores.  
     
     
         35 . A data store according to  claim 30 , wherein said data store further comprises an evaluation module that is arranged to determine the processing power required to generate a data tag for a data item, compare the required processing power to the processing power available at the data tag generator, and in response to the comparison either enable the data tag generator to generate the data tag or enable the transmission of the data item to a data store.  
     
     
         36 . A computer program product arranged to cause a data processor to execute the method according to  claim 16 .  
     
     
         37 . A distributed metadata processing system comprising at least one data capture device and at least one remote data store in communication with the data capture device, the data capture device comprising metadata generation means for generating metadata associated with a captured data item, the data capture unit further comprising communication means for sending the metadata to the at least one remote data store.  
     
     
         38 . A data processing system comprising at least one data item acquisition unit and at least one remote data store, and in which both the data item acquisition unit and the remote data store include a metadata generator for generating metadata associated with acquired data, the data item acquisition unit further including a decision module arranged to evaluate if the metadata is most efficiently generated at the data acquisition unit or at the remote data store, the data acquisition unit being arranged to transmit at least the either the generated metadata or the data item to the remote data store in response to said evaluation.  
     
     
         39 . A data processing system comprising at least one data item acquisition unit and at least one remote data store, the data item acquisition unit comprising a data tag generator for generating a data tag associated with each data item, and the data item acquisition unit being arranged to transmit at least the data tag to the remote data store, wherein said data tag generator is arranged to detect a failure to generate a data tag for a data item and in response to said failure to request the transmission of further configuration information held at the remote data store to allow successful data tag generation to occur.  
     
     
         40 . A method of generating a data tag associated with a data item, the method including the steps of: 
 acquiring the data item using a data capture unit;    evaluating whether to generate the data tag at the data capture unit or at a data store in communication with the data capture unit; and    in response to the evaluation, communicating either the data item or generated data tag to the data store.    
     
     
         41 . A method of generating metadata associated with a data item, the method including: 
 acquiring a data item at a data acquisition unit having a metadata generator;    determining if the metadata generator has sufficient configuration information to successfully generate the metadata for the data item; and    if the outcome of said determination is negative, requesting the transmission of further configuration information from a data store in communication with the data acquisition unit.