Information processing apparatus and method for making document

Abstract

An information processing apparatus and method capable of making a desired document using a simple operation based on highly object oriented features. In an embodiment, all writings in a source document are entered by an image scanner and decomposed into individual characters (character strings), symbols and/or graphicals. From them a recognize characters and graphicals block makes document element records which are stored into a document element file storage. A create descriptor elements block makes descriptor element records of document-carried written signs for descriptors for specifying requirements of a desired document from the document element records while referencing descriptor group attributes and descriptor element specifiers. A create descriptors block makes descriptor records from the descriptor element records in a first storage and the document element records in a second storage while looking up the descriptor element specifiers.

1 . A method for use in an information processing apparatus for data managing with a document, said method comprising: 
 entering first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a character or character string as the item name;  
   recognizing the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    fetching a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    converting the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    outputting writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       2 . A method for use in an information processing apparatus for data managing with a document, said method comprising: 
 entering first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a graphical or graphicals which correlating the data item name with the field;  
   recognizing the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    fetching a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    converting the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    outputting writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       3 . A method for use in an information processing apparatus for data managing with a document, said method comprising: 
 designating, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a numerical formula as an ordinary writing in the document;    designating a first field in the document in which a resultant data value of a calculation is to be filled in the form of writings;    designating a second field in the document in which numerical data to be calculated are entered in the form of writings;    correlating the second field with the first field;    associating the term interpreted with the first field;    calculating a group of data values in the second field according to the result of the interpretation using the dictionary; and    outputting the writings representative of the resultant data value of the calculation to be filled in the first field.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       5 . A method for use in an information processing apparatus for data managing with a document, said method comprising: 
 designating, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a unit name as an ordinary writing in the document;    associating the interpreted term with a field; and    dealing with numerical data in the form of writings in the field as data value with the unit specified by the term as the result of the interpretation using the dictionary.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       7 . A method for use in an information processing apparatus for data managing with a document, said method comprising: 
 designating, as a data item, a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is additionally entered as a descriptor writing in the document;    designating a field in the document in which a data value is to be entered in the form of writings;    correlating the data item name with the field; and    outputting writings representative of a data corresponding to the data name in the field.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for information processing, said apparatus comprising: 
 an entering means operable to enter first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a character or character string as the item name;  
   a recognizing means operable to recognize the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    a means operable to fetch a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    a converting means operable to convert the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    an outputting means operable to output writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for information processing, said apparatus comprising: 
 an entering means operable to enter first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a graphical or graphicals which correlate the data item name with the field;  
   a recognizing means operable to recognize the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    a means operable to fetch a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    a converting means operable to convert the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    an outputting means operable to output writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for information processing, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first designating means operable to designate, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a numerical formula as an ordinary writing in the document;    a second designating means operable to designate a first field in the document in which a resultant data value of a calculation is to be filled in the form of writings;    a third designating means operable to designate a second field in the document in which numerical data to be calculated are entered in the form of writings;    a correlating means operable to correlate the second field with the first field;    an associating means operable to associate the term interpreted with the first field;    a calculating means operable to calculate a group of data values in the second field according to the result of the interpretation using the dictionary; and    an outputting means operable to output he writings representative of the resultant data value of the calculation to be filled in the first field.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for information processing, said apparatus comprising: 
 a designating means operable to designate, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a unit name as an ordinary writing in the document;    an associating means operable to associate the interpreted term with a field; and    a means operable to deal with numerical data in the form of writings in the field as data value with the unit specified by the term as the result of the interpretation using the dictionary.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for information processing, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first designating means operable to designate, as a data item, a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is additionally entered as a descriptor writing in the document;    a second designating means operable to designate a field in the document in which a data value is to be entered in the form of writings;    a correlating means operable to correlate the data item name with the field; and    an outputting means operable to output writings representative of a data corresponding to the data name in the field.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing information processing, said computer-readable medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code operable to allow entry of first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a character or character string as the item name;  
   computer readable program code operable to allow recognition of the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    computer readable program code operable to allow fetching of a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    computer readable program code operable to allow conversion of the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    computer readable program code operable to allow an output of writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       18 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing information processing, said computer-readable medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code operable to allow entry of first written signs in the form of characters, symbols, graphicals and/or graphical characteristics additionally written in a source document, the entered first written signs specifying a data item name and a field with a desired field attribute and a desired field format at a desired location in a predetermined rules so that a combination of the data item name and the field defines a first descriptor indicating that one or more data values of the data item name to be filled in the field with the desired field attribute and the desired field format; 
 wherein the source document is unrestricted by rules applicable to the entered first written signs;  
 wherein the first written signs comprises a graphical or graphicals which correlate the data item name with the field;  
   computer readable program code operable to allow recognition of the first descriptor on a basis of the entered first written signs to produce a corresponding first descriptor record;    computer readable program code operable to allow fetching of a data record containing a data value of the data item name from a source data file;    computer readable program code operable to allow conversion of the data value of the data item name in the data record to a corresponding document element in accordance with the first descriptor record; and    computer readable program code operable to allow an output of writings of the document element so as to be filled in the field specified by the first descriptor record in the output record.    
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing information processing, said computer-readable medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code operable to allow designation of, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a numerical formula as an ordinary writing in the document;    computer readable program code operable to allow designation a first field in the document in which a resultant data value of a calculation is to be filled in the form of writings;    computer readable program code operable to allow designation of a second field in the document in which numerical data to be calculated are entered in the form of writings;    computer readable program code operable to allow correlation of the second field with the first field;    computer readable program code operable to allow association of the term interpreted with the first field;    computer readable program code operable to allow calculation of a group of data values in the second field according to the result of the interpretation using the dictionary; and    computer readable program code operable to allow an output of writings representative of the resultant data value of the calculation to be filled in the first field.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       21 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing information processing, said computer-readable medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code operable to allow designation of, as a term to be interpreted using a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is originally written to be literally representative of a unit name as an ordinary writing in the document;    computer readable program code operable to allow association of the interpreted term with a field; and    computer readable program code operable to deal with numerical data in the form of writings in the field as data value with the unit specified by the term as the result of the interpretation using the dictionary.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.  
   
   
       23 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for performing information processing, said computer-readable medium comprising: 
 computer readable program code operable to allow designation of, as a data item, a dictionary, a character, character string or symbol that is additionally entered as a descriptor writing in the document;    computer readable program code operable to allow designation of a field in the document in which a data value is to be entered in the form of writings;    computer readable program code operable to allow correlation of the data item name with the field; and    computer readable program code operable to allow an output of writings representative of a data corresponding to the data name in the field.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the character, character string or symbol is given a symbol, graphical and/or graphical characteristic to be designated.