Data managing method and data managing device using the same for manipulating data independently from networks

Claim 2

A data managing method, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a piece of specific data specified by first reference information inputted by a user from a network; (b) extracting second reference information different from the first reference information for specifying a piece of constituent data composing the piece of specific data from the piece of specific data; (c) obtaining the piece of constituent data from the network according to the second reference information extracted; (d) making and storing a data file containing the obtained piece of specific data and the obtained piece of constituent data; (e) producing and storing index information in which the first and second reference information for the piece of specific data and for the piece of constituent data are paired with position information of the piece of specific data and of the piece of constituent data in the data file; (f) determining whether or not the obtained piece of specific data is of the same format as that for the data file; (g) extracting the second reference information from the piece of specific data if the piece of specific data is not of the same format as that for the data file; and (h) making and storing another data file including the obtained piece of specific data if the piece of specific data is of the same format as that for the data file.

Claim 3

The data managing method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether or not a piece of specific data specified by the first reference information inputted by the user exists in the data file by searching the index information; (g) obtaining the piece of specific data from the data file if it is determined that the piece of specific data exists in the data file; (h) obtaining the piece of specific data from the network if it is determined that the piece of specific data does not exist in the data file; and (i) displaying the obtained piece of specific data.

Claim 4

A data managing device, comprising: recording means; input means for letting a user input first reference information specifying a piece of specific data; obtaining means for obtaining a piece of data from a network; extracting means for extracting second reference information from the piece of specific data; and data producing means for receiving the first reference information inputted by the user through the input means, controlling the obtaining means to obtain the piece of specific data specified by the first reference information, controlling the extracting means to extract the second reference information different from the first reference information of a piece of constituent data composing the piece of specific data, controlling the obtaining means to obtain the piece of constituent data according to the second reference information extracted by the extracting means, making a data file containing the obtained piece of specific data and the obtained piece of constituent data, producing index information in which the first and second reference information for the piece of specific data and for the piece of constituent data are paired with position information of the piece of specific data and of the piece of constituent data in the data file, and controlling the recording means to record the data file and the index information, further comprising first data distinguishing means for determining whether or not the piece of specific data obtained by the obtaining means is of the same format as that for the data file, wherein the data producing means controls the obtaining means to transmit the obtained piece of specific data to the first data distinguishing means, and controls the first data distinguishing means to transmit the piece of specific data to the extracting means if the piece of specific data is not of the same format as that for the data file, and to transmit the piece of specific data to the recording means as a data file if the piece of specific data is of the same format as that for the data file.

Claim 5

A data managing device, comprising: recording means; input means for letting a user input first reference information specifying a piece of specific data; obtaining means for obtaining a piece of data from a network; extracting means for extracting second reference information from the piece of specific data; and data producing means for receiving the first reference information inputted by the user through the input means, controlling the obtaining means to obtain the piece of specific data specified by the first reference information, controlling the extracting means to extract the second reference information different from the first reference information of a piece of constituent data composing the piece of specific data, controlling the obtaining means to obtain the piece of constituent data according to the second reference information extracted by the extracting means, making a data file containing the obtained piece of specific data and the obtained piece of constituent data, producing index information in which the first and second reference information for the piece of specific data and for the piece of constituent data are paired with position information of the piece of specific data and of the piece of constituent data in the data file, and controlling the recording means to record the data file and the index information, further comprising first data distinguishing means for determining whether or not the piece of specific data obtained by the obtaining means is of the same format as that for the data file, wherein the data producing means controls the obtaining means to transmit the obtained piece of specific data to the first data distinguishing means, and controls the first data distinguishing means to transmit the piece of specific data to the extracting means if the piece of specific data is not of the same format as that for the data file, and to transmit the piece of specific data to the recording means as a data file if the piece of specific data is of the same format as that for the data file.

Claim 6

The data managing device as defined in claim 3, wherein the data producing means adds the index information to the data file and controls the recording means to record the data file containing the index information.

Claim 7

The data managing device as defined in claim 3, wherein the data producing means does not contain the same pieces of data in a single data file.

Claim 8

The data managing device as defined in claim 3, further comprising: display means for displaying data on a display screen; and data processing means for receiving the first reference information inputted by the user through the input means, either obtaining a piece of specific data specified by the first reference information from the data file or obtaining the piece of specific data from the network by controlling the obtaining means, and transmitting the obtained piece of specific data to the display means.

Claim 9

The data managing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the data processing means determines whether or not the piece of specific data specified by the first reference information exists in the data file by searching the index information, and obtains the piece of specific data from the data file if having determined that the piece of specific data exists in the data file, and from the network by controlling the obtaining means if having determined that the piece of specific data does not exist in the data file.

Claim 10

The data managing device as defined in claim 7, wherein the data producing means makes a plurality of data files according to a plurality of pieces of first reference information inputted by the user, and records the plurality of data files in the recording means, and the data processing means determines whether or not the piece of specific data exists in the plurality of data files by searching the index information of the plurality of data files, and obtains a piece of specific data produced at the latest time from one of the plurality of data files if having determined that the piece of specific data exists in the data file.

Claim 11

The data managing device as defined in claim 8, wherein the data producing means produces index information in which the first and second reference information for the piece of specific data and for the piece of constituent data are paired with position information and production times of the piece of specific data and of the piece of constituent data in the data file, and the data processing means chooses the specific data produced at the latest time according to the production times.

Claim 12

The data managing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the data processing means determines whether or not the piece of specific data specified by the first reference information exists in the data file by searching the index information, obtains the piece of specific data from the data file if having determined that the piece of specific data exists in the data file, controls the obtaining means to obtain the piece of specific data from the network, and transmits one of the pieces of specific data obtained from the data file and from the network to the display means.

Claim 13

The data managing device as defined in claim 10, wherein the data processing means, if having obtained the pieces of specific data from the data file and from the network, compares the times when the pieces of specific data are produced, and, if having determined that the piece of specific data obtained from the network is produced at a later time than the piece of specific data obtained from the data file, transmits the piece of specific data obtained from the network to the display means.

Claim 14

The data managing device as defined in claim 11, wherein the data producing means makes a plurality of data files according to a plurality of pieces of first reference information inputted by the user, and records the plurality of data files in the recording means, and the data processing means determines whether or not the piece of specific data specified by the first reference information exists in the plurality of data files by searching the index information of the plurality of data files, and obtains a piece of specific data produced at the latest time from one of the plurality of data files if having determined that the piece of specific data exists in the data file.

Claim 15

The data managing device as defined in claim 12, wherein the data producing means produces index information in which the first and second reference information for the piece of specific data and for the piece of constituent data are paired with position information and production times of the piece of specific data and of the piece of constituent data in the data file, and the data processing means chooses the specific data produced at the latest time according to the production times.

Claim 16

The data managing device as defined in claim 6, wherein the data processing means receives a data production time inputted by the user through the input means, and obtains only a piece of specific data produced at a later time than the data production time.

Claim 17

The data managing device as defined in claim 14, wherein the data processing means, if having failed to obtain an original piece of specific data produced at a later time than the data production time, controls the obtaining means to obtain the original piece of specific data from the network.

Claim 18

The data managing device as defined in claim 7, wherein the data producing means makes a plurality of data files according to a plurality of pieces of first reference information inputted by the user, and records the plurality of data files in the recording means, the data processing means, being given in plurality, search respective data files, and one of the data processing means controls the obtaining means to obtain the piece of specific data from the network.

Claim 19

The data managing device as defined in claim 8, wherein the data processing means searches only a data file specified by the user.