Image information search network system

An image information search network system comprising:

• a communication network;
• a bank station coupled to said communication network, said bank station including:
• bank station storing means for storing a plurality of image information files in compressed form, and
• bank station control means for reading out of said bank station storing means and supplying onto said communication network at least one designated page of a designated image information file among the plurality of image information files stored therein in response to input search information;
• a first search station coupled to said communication network and including:
• directory means for storing management information on each page of the plurality of image information files stored in said bank station,
• search station processing means for expanding designated compressed image information file pages input thereto from said communication network into uncompressed form,
• first search station storing means for receiving and storing said expanded pages,
• first search station terminal means for generating search page input thereto from said first search station storing means, and
• first search station control means comprising:
• means for reading out of said first search station storing means and supplying to said first search station terminal means said designated expanded page in response to a first search instruction from said first search station terminal means,
• means for referring to said directory means to obtain the management information on a designated page previous to or next to the designated expanded page presently being displayed in said first search station terminal means in response to said first search instruction,
• means for generating and outputting to said bank station control means via said communication network search information in accordance with said management information,
• means for receiving via said communication network and outputting to said search station processing means the designated page in compressed form, and
• means for receiving from said search station processing means and storing in said search station storing means the expanded designated page;
• and
• a second search station coupled to said communication network and including:
• second search station storing means for storing a second group of expanded pages,
• second search station terminal means for generating a second search instruction and for displaying a second designated expanded page input thereto, and
• second search station control means comprising:
• means responsive to the second search instruction from said second search station terminal means for reading out of said second search station storing means and supplying to said second terminal means the second designated expanded page among the second group of expanded pages, and
• means for receiving from said second search station control means and storing in said second search station storing means the second expanded designated page,
• wherein said second search station control means further comprises means responsive to the second search instruction request for referring to said directory means to obtain the management information on the designated page previous to or subsequent to the second designated expanded page, and receiving from said search station control means the expanded page.