File system

Claim 2

A file system comprising: first storage means for storing a plurality of retrievable image information in advance; second storage means for storing a plurality of retrievable image information, said second storage means being of a different storing type from said first storage means; input means for inputting retrieval information associated with desired image information; and retrieval means for retrieving image information from said first or second storage means on the basis of common retrieval information from said input means, wherein said retrieval means automatically selects one of said first and second storage means on the basis of the common retrieval information in order to output desired image information.

Claim 3

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means includes image storage means is incapable of being rewritten.

Claim 4

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means prestores visualized image information and said second storage means stores information associated with electronic image information.

Claim 5

A file system according to claim 3, wherein said first storage means is microfilm and said second storage means is an image disk.

Claim 6

A file system according to claim 3, wherein said first storage means includes conversion means for reading stored image information and outputting an electrical signal.

Claim 7

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval means outputs desired image information after identifying whether it is stored in said first or second storage means.

Claim 8

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval means is capable of selectively reading out desired information stored in said first storage means and/or desired information stored in said second storage means on the basis of the common retrieval information.

Claim 9

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval means includes an index file relating to image information stored in said first and second storage means and retrieves desired image information on the basis of the retrieval information input by said input means and the index file.

Claim 10

A file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying image information retrieved by said retrieval means.

Claim 11

A file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for printing image information retrieved by said retrieval means.

Claim 12

A file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing image information in said second storage means.

Claim 13

A file system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieval means displays a list of retrieved image information when a list of a plurality of image information is retrieved on the basis of the retrieval information input by said input means.

Claim 14

A file system according to claim 12, wherein said retrieval means outputs designated image information from said first or second storage means if listed image information is designated by said input means.

Claim 15

A file system comprising: first storage means for storing a plurality of image information; second storage means for storing image information, said second storage means being different from said first storage means and being rewritable; input means for inputting retrieval information associated with desired image information; retrieval means for retrieving image information from said first or second storage means on the basis of the retrieval information from said input means; wherein said retrieval means automatically selects one of said first and second storage means on the basis of common retrieval information in order to output desired image information; and control means for storing the image information in said second storage means when image information is retrieved from said first storage means by said retrieval means.

Claim 16

A file system comprising: first storage means for storing a plurality of image information; second storage means for storing image information, said second storage means being different from said first storage means and being rewritable; input means for inputting retrieval information associated with desired image information; retrieval means for retrieving image information from said first or second storage means on the basis of the retrieval information from said input means; wherein said retrieval means automatically selects one of said first and second storage means on the basis of common retrieval information in order to output desired image information; and control means for storing the image information in said second storage means when image information is retrieved from said first storage means by said retrieval means.

Claim 17

A file system according to claim 14, wherein said first storage means prestores visualized image information and said second storage means stores information associated with electronic image information.

Claim 18

A file system according to claim 15, wherein said first storage means is microfilm and said second storage means is an image disk.

Claim 19

A file system according to claim 15, wherein said first storage means includes conversion means for reading stored image information and outputting an electrical signal.