Method and apparatus for extracting a keyword from scheduling data using the keyword for searching the schedule data file5819261Abstract This invention provides an information processing method and apparatus, which can automatically set a word, which has already been electronically stored, as a search keyword, and can perform a search operation. For this purpose, in an information search apparatus for searching a data file for desired data, and reading out the desired data, input text data is stored in a data storage area, and when extraction of a search keyword is instructed, a search keyword extraction program automatically extracts a keyword used for search from the text data stored in the data storage area in response to the instruction. A multimedia data file stored in a nonvolatile storage medium is searched based on the extracted keyword. Claims What is claimed is: Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.cndot.event name:
a character string indicating the
event name
.cndot.location:
a character string indicating a
location where the event is to occur
.cndot.time 1: the start time (year, month, day,
hour, minute, second) of the event
.cndot.time 2: the end time (year, month, day,
hour, minute, second) of the event
.cndot.detail: a character string indicating the
details of the event
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A user inputs these items to create an event, and registers the event in the schedule. The input event is stored in a data storage means, and is used for confirming the user's schedule later. In the event, "event name", "location", and "detail" fields include text data, which can include a plurality of words. For a user who ordinarily inputs his or her own schedule as text data in a schedule management apparatus, the most important information on a given day is closely related to schedule data (text data) on the day input to the schedule management apparatus. In the prior art, when a user finds a word, that he or she must know its contents in detail, in text data upon observation of text-base schedule data displayed via a graphical user interface of the schedule management application software, the user must re-input a character string, which was previously input to the apparatus, as a keyword to the database to start a search operation, resulting in a cumbersome operation. Also, an information equipment for searching a file storage unit for storing various types of document data such as text data, draw data, still image data, dynamic image data, audio data, and the like in the form of files for a target document file of a user, and an information equipment also called an electronic scheduler which receives personal schedule data input by a user, and allows the user to easily confirm his or her own schedule by displaying the input schedule data on a display device, are known. As a method of managing files recorded on a storage medium, in a normal operating system, a user creates hierarchical directories in a tree structure, and can desirably store a file in a required one of these directories. In such a file management method, the user arranges files by storing a group of files having some equivalent meaning to him or her in one directory, and storing a group of directories having some other equivalent meaning to him or her in one directory to generate hierarchical directories. Upon searching for a file, the user can find a target file by following the hierarchical structure. As another search method, a search method in a database system is known. In the database system, a user associates a keyword with a target file, and performs a search using the associated keyword. Each file has at least one corresponding keyword as well as its file name. The user designates one or a plurality of keywords, which are expected to be associated with a target file, in the form of an a logical operation, and the search apparatus displays a list of files that match the keyword or the logical operation result of the plurality of keywords, thereby presenting target files to the user. The above-mentioned typical search methods are file search methods effective for searching for a desired file. However, these methods require tedious operations such as the arranging operation of the hierarchical structure and the setting operation of keywords to each file. The currently popular OS stores the latest modified dates of files, and can display the file names of files in an arbitrary directory in the order of latest modified dates in accordance with a user's request. Thus, the user can find a target file on the basis of the date. However, a search operation based on the date cannot be performed across a plurality of directories. Since the OS used so far stores only time attribute data such as the latest modified dates of files, even if the user wants to find "a file which was printed yesterday", he or she cannot easily find that file unless the file was updated at the time of printing. As an application software program for a personal computer, which is used for managing a personal schedule (diary), a personal schedule management application software program generally called a scheduler (diary) is commercially available. In the scheduler, multimedia data such as image data, text data, and the like are associated with each of events included in the personal schedule, and a user can refer to multimedia data associated with a given event while observing the contents of the event. However, in such application software program, the user must explicitly associate multimedia data with each event, resulting a heavy load on the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned prior arts, and has as its first object to provide an information processing method and apparatus, which allow to automatically set a word, which has already been electronically stored, as a search keyword, and to start a search using the keyword. It is the second object of the present invention to provide an information processing method and apparatus, which can search a database without extracting a word to be used in the search from text data including a plurality of words. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems and has as its third object to provide an information processing method and apparatus, which can search for a required file on the basis of processing generated for the file without requiring any special attention of a user. In order to achieve the first and second objects, an information search apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, an information search apparatus for searching a data file for desired data, and reading out the desired data, comprises: storage means for storing input text data; instruction means for instructing extraction of a search keyword; keyword extraction means for automatically extracting a keyword used for a search from the text data stored in the storage means in response to the instruction from the instruction means; and search means for searching the data file on the basis of the keyword extracted by the keyword extraction means. With the above-arrangement, when the instruction means instructs extraction of a search keyword, a keyword used for search is automatically extracted from text data stored in the storage means for storing input text data in response to the instruction. The data file is searched based on the extracted keyword. In order to achieve the third object, an information processing method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, an information processing method for storing and managing information as a file, comprises: the processing detection step of detecting generation of processing for a file to be stored and managed or a file which has already been stored and managed; the time detection step of detecting a time; and the step of registering, upon detection of processing, information for specifying the file, a type of processing, and time information in association with each other in a predetermined storage medium in accordance with a predetermined format. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method preferably comprises the time designation step of designating a time; the search step of searching for a file corresponding to the designated time on the basis of information stored in the management/storage step; and the display step of displaying a list of files obtained in the search step. With this control, even when it is difficult to specify a file itself, the operator can find out the file on the basis of the generation time of the processing. Also, preferably, each file has reduced image information generated based on the file so as to specify the file, and the method further comprises the display pattern setting step of designating whether the list of the obtained files is displayed using file names or the reduced image information in the display step. With this control, when a reduced image is displayed, the attribute and type of a file can be easily recognized, and the file can be specified more easily. The type of processing preferably includes a file creation operation, an edit operation, a print output operation, electronic mail transmission and reception operations, and an image input operation. Thus, a file can be searched for with reference to an event such as a printing event. The storage/management step preferably includes the registration step of registering a file to be managed, and the registration step preferably functions after the file to be managed and an application program for processing the file as data are registered in association with each other via a user interface for registering the file to be managed and the application program in association with each other. Thus, each file can be reliably associated with an application program for processing the file. The registration step preferably includes the step of registering a full path and a file name of the file, and a full path and a program file name of the application program. As a result, by paying attention to only the designated path and file name, the application program can be started, and the designated data file can be opened, thus simplifying control processing. The method preferably further comprises: the step of designating a desired file of the displayed list of files obtained in the search step; and the step of starting an application program which processes the designated file, and instructing the application program to open the designated file. As a result, by designating only a required file in a list of files displayed as a result of the search operation, not only the contents of the file can be confirmed but also edit processing or the like of the file can be performed. The method preferably further comprises: the schedule registration step of registering a time band of an event and data of the event; the display step of displaying a list of events; the selection step of selecting at least one of the displayed events; and the step of displaying a list of files, processing operations of which was generated during a time band of the selected event. As a result, upon execution of personal-base schedule management, a file corresponding to a schedule can be searched for without requiring any special attention. When the schedule is displayed in the calendar format in the display step, visual schedule management can be realized. An example of the third invention will be described below. FIG. 45 shows the basic arrangement of an information equipment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 45, an input unit 3001 includes a time band designation unit 3002 used by a user to designate his or her required time band to the information equipment, a time designation unit 3003 used by the user to designate his or her required time to the information equipment, and a link type selection unit 3007 (to be described later), and is used for inputting commands to the information equipment and for inputting various kinds of information upon edit processing of document information. A primary storage unit 3004 comprises, e.g., a RAM, and temporarily stores information associated with processing sequences or procedures for realizing the respective units of the information equipment, document information, and information generated during the processing of each processing sequence. Reference numeral 3010 denotes a secondary storage unit (for example, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, or the like). The secondary storage unit 3010 stores information such as document files 3011, e.g., image data, text data, and the like, a link information file 3012 generated by a link generation unit 3018 of the information equipment, a link information file 3014 which describes schedule data input by the user, a thumbnail image management file 3013 which stores thumbnail image data of document files, and the like. The secondary storage unit 3010 comprises a nonvolatile storage medium. A document edit unit 3005 performs processing for editing various kinds of document information such as text data, image data, drawing data, audio data, and the like in accordance with an input from the user via the input unit 3001. A display unit 3015 displays document information stored in the information equipment, and also displays a user interface screen used when the user inputs a command to the information equipment. Reference numeral 3016 denotes a timepiece unit, which measures the current time. Reference numeral 3017denotes a time inquiry unit which inquires the current time of the timepiece unit 3016 in accordance with a request from other units of the information equipment. Reference numeral 3019 denotes a digital camera communication unit, which exchanges data with a digital camera connected to the information equipment. The digital camera communication unit 3019 receives image data picked up by the digital camera, and stores the received image data as a document file in the secondary storage unit 3010. Reference numeral 3020 denotes an electronic mail reception unit for receiving an electronic mail from another information equipment connected to the information equipment via a network, and storing the received mail as a document file in the secondary storage unit 3010. Reference numeral 3021 denotes an electronic mail transmission unit for transmitting an electronic mail to another information equipment, and storing the transmitted electronic mail as a document file in the secondary storage unit 3010. Reference numeral 3022 denotes a print unit for printing the contents of a designated document file in accordance with a user's request. Reference numeral 3008 denotes a thumbnail image generation unit for generating thumbnail image data of a document file, and writing the image data in the thumbnail image management file 3013. Reference numeral 3018 denotes a link generation unit for generating link information which links information associated with the processing contents of various kinds of processing performed for a document file with file ID information of the document file and information associated with the execution time of the processing, and writing the link information in the link information file 3012. In FIG. 45, the link generation unit 3018 is independent from other processing units, but may be included in other units (the document edit unit, digital camera communication unit, electronic mail reception unit, electronic mail transmission unit, print unit, and the like) as long as it can detect various kinds of processing performed by other units. Reference numeral 3006 denotes a link information search unit for searching for link information corresponding to the time or time band designated by the user via the time band designation unit 3002 or the time designation unit 3003. Reference numeral 3007 denotes a link type selection unit which is used by the user to select a link type to be searched by the link information search unit 3006. Reference numeral 3023 denotes a schedule management unit for managing schedule data input by the user using the input unit 3001 and storing the data as the schedule data file 3014 in the secondary storage unit 3010. The schedule management unit comprises an event search unit 3024 for searching the schedule data file 3014 for an event requested by the user on the basis of time information of the event, and an event content display unit 3025 for displaying the contents of the event found by the event search unit on the display unit 3015. In the information equipment with the above arrangement, when the user performs, for a document file, processing such as creation of a file, reference to a file, modification of a file, a photographing operation using the digital camera, a print operation of the file contents, reception of an electronic mail, transmission of an electronic mail, intentional linkage with a time required by the user, and the like, the link generation unit 3018 of the information equipment stores link information which links the processing content information, processing time information, and file ID information of the file in the link information file 3012. When the user designates a specific time or time band using the time band designation unit 3002 or the time designation unit 3003 later, and inputs a search request command of a document file to the information equipment using the input unit 3001, the link information search unit 3006 searches the link information file 3012 for a file which was subjected to the processing contents selected by the link type selection unit 3007 at the designated time or in the designated time band, and the file ID, a portion of the file ID, or a thumbnail image of the file found upon the search is displayed on the display unit 3015. With this operation, the user can easily search for a target file on the basis of memories of the contents and processing time of processing performed by himself or herself without constantly performing any cumbersome operations for arranging files. On the other hand, when the user designates a time or time band using the time band designation unit 3002 or the time designation unit 3003, and inputs an event content display request command of an event, corresponding to the designated time or the designated time band, in schedule data managed by the schedule management unit 3023, the event content display unit 3025 displays, on the display unit 3015, the event contents of the event corresponding to the designated time or the designated time band, which is obtained by searching for the schedule data in the schedule data file 3014 by the event search unit 3024, and the file ID, a portion of the file ID, or a thumbnail image of a file, which is obtained by searching the link information file 3012 by the link information search unit 3006 and was subjected to processing selected by the link type selection unit 3007 at the designated time or in the designated time band, in association with the event contents. Therefore, the user can easily search for a target document file by browsing his or her personal schedule, and the personal schedule information previously input by the user can be used in search. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of an information equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows the detailed memory map of the data storage area allocated on a RAM of the information equipment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functional arrangement of an information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a basic graphical user interface (GUI1) displayed on a display means of the information equipment of the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a graphical user interface (GUI2) used in the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a graphical user interface (GUI3) used in the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a graphical user interface (GUI4) used in the information equipment according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the processing sequence executed by a processing management means when a user inputs a search request in the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the sequence of search keyword extraction processing in the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the processing sequence of word extraction processing in the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the respective means as logic blocks arranged in an information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a LAN in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of the information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 14A to 14C show the memory maps for explaining in detail data storage areas in the second embodiment; FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of a text data edit user interface in the information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining the processing sequence executed by a processing management means when a user inputs a search request in the information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining the sequence of search keyword extraction processing in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining the processing sequence of a database service search management means in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a flow chart for explaining the processing sequence of word extraction processing in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of an information equipment according to the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a view showing a list of files in a nonvolatile storage medium in the third embodiment; FIG. 22 is a view showing the basic user interface of a link data search/display application program; FIG. 23 is a view showing the user interface of a file registration window; FIG. 24 is a view showing the user interface of a mode select window; FIGS. 25A and 25B are views showing the data architecture of a registered file management file; FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence executed when a file registration command is input; FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing the addition processing sequence to the registered file management file; FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the link generation processing sequence upon registration of a file; FIGS. 29A and 29B are views showing the data architecture of link information; FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing the link data search processing sequence; FIG. 31 is a view showing an example of a list of files displayed on a search result display area; FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence upon formation of a file look-up timing link and a file modification timing link; FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence upon formation of a file print timing link; FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the electronic mail information updating processing sequence; FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence upon transmission of an electronic mail by a communication management program; FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence upon formation of a user designated time link; FIG. 37 is a view showing the internal arrangements of a RAM and a nonvolatile storage medium of the information equipment in the fourth embodiment; FIG. 38 is a view showing the user interface of a schedule management application; FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing the processing sequence executed when a content display command is input; FIG. 40 is a view showing the user interface of the schedule management application; FIG. 41 is a view showing the user interface of the schedule management application; FIG. 42 is a view showing a list; FIGS. 43A and 43B are views showing the data architecture of a schedule data file; FIG. 44 is a flow chart showing the page-up processing sequence; and FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of an information equipment according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. ›First Embodiment! Since an information equipment according to the present invention comprises a schedule management means, a multimedia data file search means, and a search keyword extraction means for automatically extracting a keyword to be used in search processing by the multimedia file search means from schedule data managed by the schedule management means, a user can search for a required multimedia data file without re-inputting a word present on a schedule, and can confirm the contents of the search result file. In this embodiment, the symbols use descriptions of C language. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of an information equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a microprocessor for performing arithmetic operations, logical decisions, and the like. Reference numeral 102 denotes an address bus for designating addresses of respective input/output memories; 103, a bidirectional data bus used for transferring various data; and 104, a control bus used for accepting read, write, and interrupt signals of the respective memories, and transmitting a data set timing, and the like. Reference numeral 106 denotes an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like; and 105, an input device controller for controlling the input device 106. The input device controller 105 encodes data input by the input device 106 such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and sends an interrupt signal indicating that a key input has been made onto the control bus 104. Reference numeral 108 denotes a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying schedule data and other multimedia data. Reference numeral 107 denotes a display device controller for controlling the display operation of various data on the display device 108. Reference numeral 110 denotes a read-only memory (ROM) which stores an initialization sequence used upon starting of the information equipment of this embodiment, and the like. Reference numeral 109 denotes a controller for controlling a read access to the ROM 110. Reference numeral 114 denotes a nonvolatile storage medium such as a hard disk device. The nonvolatile storage medium 114 has an operating system file 122 which describes an operating system for systematically managing the information equipment, a processing sequence description file 123 which describes processing sequences to be executed upon execution of schedule management, keyword extraction, and database search, a schedule management data file 124 for storing schedule data input by the user, and multimedia data files 125 such as still image data, dynamic image data, audio data, text data, and the like. Reference numeral 113 denotes a nonvolatile storage medium controller for controlling the nonvolatile storage medium 114. Reference numeral 112 denotes a random-access memory (RAM), which has an operating system storage area 115, a processing management means storage area 116, a schedule management means storage area 117, a search keyword extraction means storage area 118, a multimedia data file search means storage area 119, a data storage area 120, and an area 121 for other data. Reference numeral 111 denotes a RAM controller for controlling read and write accesses to the RAM 112. Note that the respective means stored in the RAM 112 are stored in the form of control programs in practice. FIG. 2 shows the detailed memory map of the data storage area 120 allocated on the RAM 112 of the information equipment of this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 701 denotes a status storage area for storing the current status of the information equipment of this embodiment. Reference numeral 702 denotes a search result file name storage area for storing the file names of search result files or found files in the form of a list upon searching the database. The search result file name storage area 702 stores the file names of files obtained as search results in the form of a list (found files 1 to n), as shown in FIG. 2. Reference numeral 703 denotes an event object storage area for storing events input so far by the user as objects. In this embodiment, an event as a minimum unit of a schedule is stored as an object in the data storage area 120, and the schedule management data file 124 is developed as an object on the event object storage area 703. Reference numeral 704 denotes an event object pointer storage area for storing a pointer to at least one event object, which is extracted by the information equipment based on some input of the user, in the form of a list. Reference numeral 705 denotes an extracted keyword storage area for storing at least one keyword extracted by the search keyword extraction means (stored in the area 118 in FIG. 1) of the information equipment of this embodiment in the form of a list. Reference numeral 709 denotes a multimedia data storage area for storing multimedia data such as still image data, dynamic image data, text data, audio data, and the like. The extracted keyword storage area 705 also stores the following data. Reference numeral 707 denotes a variable TempStrMem, which is temporarily used when a keyword used for a search is extracted from text data of an event object. In this embodiment, the variable TempStrMem has a memory space for 50 bytes (50 characters), and its start address is indicated by a pointer P2. In this embodiment, since one character is expressed by one byte, addressing to each character is performed in units of bytes. Also, addressing of pointers P1 and P2 is similarly performed in units of bytes. Reference numeral 706 denotes an extracted keyword list for storing at least one extracted keyword in the form of a list. Each extracted keyword has a capacity for a maximum of 50 characters as in the variable TempStrMem, and the start address of extracted keyword 1 in the list is indicated by (P2+50). FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the information equipment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the respective means operate under the control of a multitask operating system, and messaging (exchange of messages) with arguments between the means indicated by double-headed arrows is also performed via the operating system. That is, the respective means to be described below are programs in practice. Referring to FIG. 3, a message from each processing means is concentrically managed by a processing management means 601 stored in the processing management means storage area 116. The processing management means 601 transmits an appropriate message to an appropriate processing means in accordance with a message from each means, thereby managing the processing order of the respective processing means. Reference numeral 602 denotes a data storage means, which corresponds to the data storage area 120. All the means shown in FIG. 3 can read/write data from/to the data storage means 602 via the operating system. An input means 603 comprising the input device controller 105 and the input device 106 accepts an input from the user, and transmits input information to the processing management means 601. A display means 604 having the display device controller 107 and the display device 108 displays various kinds of information in their appropriate display formats in accordance with a request from the processing management means 601. A schedule management means 605 stored in the schedule management means storage area 117 is a means for managing schedule data input by the user. Schedule data input by the user using the input means 603 is transferred to the schedule management means 605 via the processing management means 601. The schedule management means 605 stores the schedule data in the event object storage area 703. When the user inputs a schedule display request, the means 605 searches the event object storage area for the requested schedule data, and the found schedule data is displayed on the display means 604. A block 607 including the above-mentioned means 601, 602, 603, 604, and 605 realizes the function of a schedule management apparatus. A multimedia data file search means 608 stored in the multimedia data file search means storage area 119 searches the multimedia files 1 to n (125) for a target file using a free keyword. When the user designates a keyword and inputs a search request using the input means 603, the processing management means 601 transmits the search request based on the keyword designated by the user to the multimedia data file search means 608. Upon reception of this request, the multimedia data file search means 608 picks up a file having the file attribute of the designated keyword from the multimedia data files 1 to n (125), and stores the found file name and path in the search result file name storage area 702. The processing management means 601 controls the display means 604 in accordance with a user's instruction input via the input means 603 to display the contents of the found multimedia data file. A block 610 including the above-mentioned means 601, 602, 603, 604, 608, and 609 realizes a function as a database apparatus for performing search and display operations based on a free keyword. Reference numeral 611 denotes a search keyword extraction means, which automatically extracts a keyword used for a search by extracting a word from text data with an arbitrary length, and transfers the automatically extracted search keyword to the multimedia data file search means 608 via the data storage means 602. FIG. 4 shows an example of a basic graphical user interface (GUI1) displayed on the display means 604 of the information equipment of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the GUI1 has the form of a calendar. When the information equipment of this embodiment is started, the GUI1 displays a calendar including the start date. In this embodiment, the information equipment is started on Mar. 24, 1994, and the calendar for March in 1994 is displayed. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 201 denotes an outer frame of the calendar. A frame 202 indicates a day unit, and displays a date and an event name if an event is present on the date. A frame 208 indicates the start date of the equipment, i.e., that Mar. 24, 1994 is selected. When the GUI1 is initially displayed after the information equipment is started, March 24 is selected. The user can select an arbitrary date by moving the mouse cursor to the position of the arbitrary date and clicking the mouse button. When the user clicks a PrevMonth button 203, the GUI1 is updated to the display state of the calendar of the previous month. When the user clicks a NextMonth button 204, the GUI1 is updated to the display state of the calendar of the next month. When the user clicks a PrevYear button 205, the GUI1 is updated to the display state of the calendar of the same month in the previous year; when he or she clicks a NextYear button 206, the calendar of the same month in the next year. A Find MM Data button 207 will be explained later. Furthermore, when the user double-clicks an arbitrary date, a GUI2 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed in place of the GUI1. The GUI2 displays the event names and locations of events in the time order of the date (in this embodiment, Mar. 24, 1994) double-clicked on the GUI1. Referring to FIG. 5, reference numeral 301 denotes an outer frame of the GUI2; and 302, a selection frame indicating that an event is selected. In this embodiment, an event with time 1=10:00, location=Nakameguro, and event name=Visit Mitsutomo company is selected. Reference numeral 303 denotes a NewEvent Button, which is clicked by the user when he or she inputs a new event. By clicking the NewEvent button 303, a GUI3 as a graphical user interface, as shown in FIG. 6, is displayed in place of the user interface GUI2. The user can input a new event using this user interface. On the other hand, when the user clicks a DelEvent button 304, event data selected by the selection frame 302 is deleted. When the user clicks a BackToCal button 305, the GUI1 is displayed in place of the GUI2. Note that a Find MM Data button 306 will be explained later. FIG. 6 will be described below. The GUI3 shown in FIG. 6 shows all the field values of the event, and the user can edit the contents of the respective fields on the GUI3. Referring to FIG. 6, reference numeral 401 denotes a text field used for displaying and inputting an event name. Reference numeral 402 denotes a text field used for displaying and inputting a location. Note that "location" indicates a location where an event indicated by the event name is to take place. Reference numeral 403 denotes a text field used for displaying and inputting time 1. Note that time 1 indicates the start time of the event indicated by the event name. Reference numeral 404 denotes a text field used for displaying and inputting time 2. Note that time 2 indicates the end time of the event indicated by the event name. Reference numeral 405 denotes a text field used for displaying and inputting the details of the event. Note that the details of the event are the detailed contents of the event indicated by the event name and are input by the user as text data with an arbitrary length. Reference numeral 406 denotes a BackToCal button. When the user clicks this button 406, the GUI1 is displayed in place of the GUI3. On the GUI3, the user can edit the contents of the respective field using the input device 106 such as a keyboard, mouse, and the like. The edit results are stored in the event object storage area 703, and are stored in the schedule management data file 124 in response to a saving instruction input by the user or at the end of processing when the power switch of the information equipment is turned off. FIG. 7 shows a display example of a graphical user interface (GUI4) on which found multimedia data is displayed upon searching the schedule data for multimedia data by the information equipment of this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 501 denotes a view window for displaying a found still image, dynamic image, text data, or the like. When the user clicks a Quit button 504, the GUI immediately before the GUI4 was displayed is displayed on the display device 108 in place of the GUI4, thus quitting the mode for displaying the search result. On the other hand, when the user clicks a PrevInfo button 505, a file listed immediately above the currently displayed file on the search result file name list in FIG. 2 is displayed. In this case, if the currently displayed file is at the top of the list, the currently displayed file is kept displayed. When the user clicks a NextInfo button 506, a file listed immediately below the currently displayed file on the list in FIG. 2 is displayed. In this case, if the currently displayed file is at the end of the list, the displayed file is kept displayed. The detailed operation of the information equipment of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. When the user turns on the power switch of this information equipment, the initialization program stored in the ROM 110 is executed, and initialization processing required for the information equipment is performed. Upon completion of the initialization processing, the operating system file 122 is loaded into the operating system storage area 115, and the control waits for an event input by the user. When the user requests the use of the function of this information equipment via the input device 106, the operating system loads the processing means description file 123 from the nonvolatile storage medium 114, and develops the file into the processing management means 601, the schedule management means 605, the search keyword extraction means 611, and the multimedia data file search means 608, and stores the respective means on the areas 116 to 119 on the RAM 120. At this time, the means stored in the respective areas are validated on the information equipment as means for performing transmission/reception and their predetermined processing operations. For the sake of simplicity, the following explanation will be given with reference to the functional arrangement shown in FIG. 3. The respective means shown in FIG. 3 are realized by the basic arrangement shown in FIG. 1, and the correspondence between the respective means shown in FIG. 3 and the basic arrangement shown in FIG. 1 will be explained below as needed. When the respective means shown in FIG. 3 are validated, the processing management means 601 stored in the processing management means storage area 116 transmits a message indicating a loading command of schedule data to the schedule management means 605 stored in the schedule management means storage area 117. Upon reception of this message, the schedule management means 605 loads the schedule management data file 124 from the nonvolatile storage medium 114. Then, the means 605 generates objects of events included in the schedule in accordance with schedule data, and stores the generated objects in the event object storage area 703. At the same time, the processing management means 601 displays information of all or some events on the GUI1 by the display means 604, and then waits for an input from the user. Thereafter, when the user makes an input using the input means 603, the processing management means 601 controls the respective means shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the user's input, so that the information equipment of this embodiment operates, as has been described in the paragraphs of the GUI1 to GUI3. When the user clicks the Find MM Data button (207 in FIG. 4, 306 in FIG. 5, and 407 in FIG. 6) on the graphical user interface, the information equipment automatically extracts a keyword from the schedule data, and searches a multimedia data file. The processing sequence at that time will be described in detail below with reference to the flow charts in FIGS. 8 and 9. When the user clicks the Find MM Data button using the input device 106, the processing management means 601 starts the processing from step S1 in accordance with the sequence shown in FIG. 8 upon reception of a message indicating the depression of the Find MM Data button. In step S1, the processing management means 601 looks up the status storage area 701 in FIG. 2 to check if the current selection is designated by a time band. If YES in step S1, the flow advances to step S4. If NO in step S1, the flow advances to step S2. In this embodiment, a time band is expressed like "from certain time to another time". For example, the selected state designated by a time band corresponds to a state wherein a certain date is selected by the frame 206 on the GUI1 shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, in FIG. 4, since "Mar. 24, 1994" is selected, a time band from time: 0:00:00 on Mar. 24, 1994 to time: 23:59:59 on Mar. 24, 1994 is designated, and all events including arbitrary times within this time band are selected. Note that the words "event includes certain time" are defined to mean: if time 1 of event 1.ltoreq.A.ltoreq.time 2 of event 1, then, event 1 includes time A. Also, it is defined herein that "time band A includes event 1" if arbitrary time t within the time band A is included in event 1. In step S2, the processing management means 601 inquires the schedule management means 605 as to whether or not the current selection is selected by directly designating an event. The schedule management means 605 looks up the status storage area 701 to check if the current selection is selected by event direct designation, and returns the result to the processing management means 601. Upon reception of the result, the processing management means 601 advances the processing to step S3 if the current selection is designated by event direct designation. Note that the event direct designation is the way of selection for directly selecting at least one event by designating its event name. In this embodiment, on the GUI2 in FIG. 5, the event selected by the selection frame 302 (in FIG. 5, the event with event name "Visit Mitsutomo company" is selected by event direct designation. If the decision result in step S2 is "NO", the flow advances to step S1 and the processing management means 601 transmits a display request message of an error message to the display means 604 since an object to be searched cannot be specified. Then, the processing management means 601 ends the processing sequence upon reception of the message indicating the depression of the Find MM Data button. On the other hand, when the current selection is designated by a time band and the flow advances to step S4, the processing management means 601 transmits a message indicating a search request of events included within the designated time band to the schedule management means 605. Upon reception of the message indicating the event search request, the schedule management means 605 searches the event object storage area 703 for events included in the designated time band. The schedule management means 605 stores all the pointers to found events in the event object pointer storage area 704, and then transmits a message indicating the end of search to the processing management means 601. On the other hand, after the processing management means 601 transmits the search request message in step S4, it enters a loop for checking if the message indicating the end of search is received from the schedule management means 605, in step S5. If no message indicating the end of search is received, the means 601 executes processing in step S5 again; upon reception of the message indicating the end of search, the flow advances to step S6. When an event is directly designated and the flow advances to step S3, the processing management means 601 transmits, to the schedule management means 605, a message for requesting it to store the pointer to the event which is in the selected state by the event direct designation in the event object pointer storage area 704. The flow then advances to step S6, and the processing management means 601 transmits a message indicating an execution request of search keyword extraction processing to the search keyword extraction means 611. Thereafter, the processing management means 601 checks in step S7 if a message indicating the end of search keyword extraction processing is received. If NO in step S7, the flow returns to step S7; otherwise, the flow advances from step S7 to step S8. The search keyword extraction processing sequence by the search keyword extraction means 611 will be described in detail below with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 9 and the memory map shown in FIG. 2. Upon reception of the message indicating the execution request of the search keyword extraction processing from the processing management means 601, the search keyword extraction means 611 substitutes "0" in a variable (Count) for counting the number of extracted characters (extracted keywords) in step S21 (in this embodiment, since all words extracted from a string of an event object are processed as extracted keywords, extracted word=extracted keyword). The flow then advances to step S22, and the search keyword extraction means 611 looks up the event object list in the event object pointer storage area 704 in FIG. 2 to check if non-processed events remain. If NO in step S22, the flow advances to step S30, thus ending the search keyword extraction processing. On the other hand, if YES in step S22, the flow advances to step S23, and the extraction means 611 acquires a pointer to the next event object to be processed (an event to be processed). The flow advances to step S24, and the extraction means 611 acquires a pointer to the start character of an event name character string of the event to be processed and sets the acquired pointer in P1. More specifically, the pointer P1 is one for designating the address of a character expressed by 1 byte. Also, symbols P2 and P3 to be used later also indicate pointers to characters. The flow then advances to step S25, and the extraction means 611 executes word extraction processing shown in the flow chart in FIG. 10. In the word extraction processing, the extraction means 611 substitutes the value of a pointer P2 in a variable P3 in step S31. Note that the pointer P2 indicates the start address of a continuous area TempStrMem for holding 50 characters. Note that the capacity of the area TempStrMem corresponds to 50 characters in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this memory capacity, and the memory capacity may correspond to 100 or 200 bytes, or the like. That is, the capacity of the area TempStrMem need only be large enough to store a maximum number of characters as the number of characters in a character string used as a keyword. In this embodiment, since this capacity corresponds to 50 bytes, a keyword that can be extracted is limited to a character string consisting of 50 characters or less. The flow advances to step S32 to check if a character indicated by the current pointer P1 corresponds to one of capital letters "A to Z" and small letters "a to z". If YES in step S32 (if the character indicated by the pointer P1 is one of "A to Z" and "a to z"), the flow advances to step S33, and the extraction means 611 copies the character indicated by the pointer P1 to a memory address indicated by the pointer P3. The flow advances to step S34, and the pointer P3 is incremented by 1. On the other hand, if NO in step S32, the flow advances to step S35 to check if P3==P2. If YES in step S35, the flow advances to step S38; otherwise, the flow advances to step S36. In step S36, after the extraction means 611 performs processing for incrementing the counter Count by +1 (Count=Count+1) (after the counter of a word to be extracted is incremented by 1), it copies a character string between the pointers P2 and P3 to an area having a start address indicated by pointer P2+(Count.times.50). Then, the means 611 adds a NULL character (a code indicating the end of a character string) to the end of the character string. The flow advances to step S37 to substitute the value of the pointer P2 in the pointer P3 (P3=P2) to restore the value of the pointer P3 to indicate the start address of the area TempStrMem, thus preparing for the next word extraction. The flow advances to step S38 to check if the pointer P1 indicates the last character of the string. If NO in step S38, the flow advances to step S39, and the pointer P1 is incremented by one by setting the pointer P1=P1+1. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S32 to extract the next word. On the other hand, if YES in step S38, the flow advances to step S40 to check if P3==P2. If YES in step S40, the processing ends; otherwise, the flow advances to step S41 to perform the same processing as in step S36 above. Thereafter, the value of the pointer P2 is substituted in the pointer P3 in step S42, thus ending the processing. Note that the first embodiment has exemplified word extraction for English text data. However, the first embodiment is not limited to this, and any other word extraction methods suitable for other languages may be used. As described above, after the word extraction processing is executed in step S25 in accordance with the processing sequence shown in the flow chart of FIG. 10, the extraction means 611 acquires the start character address of a character string in the "location" field of the event to be processed, and sets the acquired address in the pointer P1, in step S25. In step S27, word extraction processing similar to that in step S25 is executed. The flow advances to step S28, and the extraction means 611 acquires the start character address of a character string in the "details" field of the event to be processed and sets the acquired address in the pointer P1. The flow then advances to step S29, and word extraction processing similar to that in step S25 is executed. Upon completion of these processing operations, the flow returns to step S22 to check, with reference to the event list, if non-processed event remain. If no non-processed event remains, the flow advances to step S30, and the extraction means 611 sends a message indicating the end of the search keyword extraction processing to the processing management means 601. Thereafter, the processing ends. At this time, all the words included in character strings in "event name", "location", and "details" fields of all the events selected by the user by designating a time band or all the events designated by event direct designation are extracted, and are listed in the extracted keyword list 706 as extracted keywords. In this manner, upon completion of the processing sequence shown in the flow chart in FIG. 9, "YES" is determined in step S7 in FIG. 8, and the processing management means 601 advances its processing to step S8. In step S8, the processing management means 601 sends, to the multimedia data file search means 608, a message for requesting it to search for required multimedia data using the keywords listed in the extracted keyword list 706. Thereafter, in step S9, the means 601 checks if it receives a message indicating the end of media data file search processing from the multimedia data file search means 608. The processing in step S9 is repeated until the message is received. Upon reception of the message, the flow advances to step S10, and the means 601 displays the search result using the display means 604. Upon reception of the search request from the processing management means 601, the multimedia data file search means 608 performs a keyword search operation from the multimedia data file storage means 609 using the keywords listed in the extracted keyword list 706, and stores the paths and file names of multimedia data files obtained as the search result in the search result file name storage area 702 (FIG. 2). Thereafter, the means 608 transmits a message indicating the end of the multimedia data file search processing to the processing management means 601, and ends the processing. A detailed description of the multimedia data file search processing by the multimedia data file search means is omitted in this embodiment, but may be performed in accordance with the processing sequence of a conventional database software program which performs a keyword search operation. Upon reception of the message indicating the end of search from the multimedia data file search means 608, the flow advances to step S10, and the processing management means 601 displays multimedia data listed as the search results in the search result file name storage area 702 on the GUI4 in FIG. 7. As described above, after multimedia data is displayed in correspondence with user's inputs for the PrevInfo and NextInfo buttons 505 and 506, when the user depresses the Quit button 504, the search result file display processing in step S10 ends, thus ending the processing sequence shown in the flow chart in FIG. 8. ›Second Embodiment! FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of an information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention is connected to a database server 1801 via a LAN (local area network) 636, and serves as a client which can request the database server 1801 to perform a search via the LAN 636. Since the information equipment of this embodiment comprises a search keyword extraction means 633 and an improper keyword dictionary 635 in addition to a text data management edit means 623 and a database server search management means 628, a user can use the database server 1801 to search for a required multimedia data file without inputting any words included in text data which is being edited, and can observe the contents of a file displayed as a search result. Since a search operation is performed based on only proper keywords by looking up the improper keyword dictionary 635, the traffic on the LAN 636 can be reduced, and the load on the database server 1801 can be reduced. In the second embodiment, the symbols use the expressions of C language as in the first embodiment. The user normally utilizes the information equipment of the second embodiment as a wordprocessor, and requests this information equipment to perform a search by designating a character string with an arbitrary length managed by the wordprocessor, as needed. In response to this request, the information equipment automatically extracts search keywords from the character string, uses the database server on the LAN 636 to search for desired multimedia data, and displays the search result on a display means 625. FIG. 12 shows a state wherein the database server 1801 and a plurality of clients 1802 are connected via the LAN 636. Assume that the information equipment of the second embodiment is connected to the LAN 636 as one of the plurality of clients 1802. The database server 1801 stores a large volume of multimedia data. Upon reception of a multimedia data search request from the client 1802 together with keywords, the database server 1801 searches for multimedia data corresponding to the keywords, and transmits the searched data to the client. In the second embodiment, the server and clients constitute the LAN 636, as shown in FIG. 12. However, the arrangement of the LAN 636 is not particularly limited as long as the information equipment of this embodiment can exchange information with the database server 1801 via a communication path. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the information equipment according to the second embodiment. The same reference numerals in FIG. 13 denote the same parts as in FIG. 1, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Referring to FIG. 13, reference numeral 114a denotes a nonvolatile storage medium, which stores an operation system file 122 that describes an operating system for systematically managing this information equipment, a processing sequence description file 123 that describes processing sequences to be executed when the information equipment performs text edit management, keyword extraction, and database server search, the improper keyword dictionary file 635 used upon execution of search keyword extraction processing, and text data files 1 to n (1028) as edit results of texts of the user. A RAM 112a comprises an operating system storage area 115, a processing management means storage area 116, a text data edit management means storage area 1020, a search keyword extraction means storage area 118, a database server search management means storage area 1022, a data storage area 120, and an area 121 for other data. Reference numeral 1016 denotes a communication device which exchanges data and command with the database server 1801 via the LAN 636. Reference numeral 1015 denotes a communication device controller for controlling the communication device 1016. FIG. 14A shows the detailed memory map on the data storage area 120 in the information equipment according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 14A, reference numeral 1101 denotes a work area used by the respective means of the information equipment. Reference numeral 1102 denotes a selected character string storage area, which stores a character string selected by the user using an input device 106, and has a capacity large enough to store text data with a sufficient length as that of text data which is to be edited by the user at one time. In the second embodiment, the selected character string storage area 1102 has a 1-Mbyte memory space, and has a start address SSP. At the end of the selected character string in this area 1102, a NULL character as a special symbol indicating the end of the character string is added. Reference numeral 1103 denotes an extracted word list storage area. FIG. 14B shows the detailed memory map of the extracted work list storage area 1103. The extracted work list storage area 1103 stores a list of words extracted from the selected character string, as shown in FIG. 14B, and has a memory space for 50 characters for each extracted word. The area 1103 has a start address DWP, and a special symbol "EndOfWordList" is stored at the end of the extracted word list. In the second embodiment, since one character is expressed by one byte, addressing to a character by a pointer P1 which is used later as a pointer variable to a character is performed in units of bytes. FIG. 14C shows the memory map of an extracted keyword index list storage area 1104, which stores indices (integer values each expressed by 2 bytes) of words, which are determined to be used as keywords in the extracted word list, in the form of a list. The area 1104 has a start address DKP, and a special symbol "EndOfKWI" indicating the end of the list is stored at the end of the list. Reference numeral 1105 denotes a multimedia data storage area, which stores multimedia data received via a communication means as a result of a search based on the extracted keywords. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the respective means arranged in the information equipment of the second embodiment as logic blocks. In the second embodiment as well, the respective means operate under the control of a multitask operating system, and messaging (exchange of messages) with arguments between the means is also performed via the operating system. Referring to FIG. 11, messages from the respective processing means are concentrically managed by a processing management means 621 stored in the processing management means storage area 116 shown in FIG. 13, and the processing management means 621 transmits an appropriate message to appropriate processing means in accordance with a message from each means, thereby managing the processing order of the respective processing means. Reference numeral 622 denotes a data storage means corresponding to the data storage area 120. All the means shown in FIG. 11 can read/write data to/from the data storage means via the operating system. An input means 624 comprising an input device controller 105 and the input device 106 receives an input from the user and transmits input information to the processing management means 621. A display means 625 which has a display device controller 107 and a display device 108 displays various kinds of information in appropriate display formats in accordance with a request from the processing management means 621. A text data management edit means 623 stored in the text data edit management means storage area 1020 manages the edit operation of text data by the user, and can store or read out text data to or from a text data storage means 626 as a nonvolatile storage medium. A block 627 including the above-mentioned means 621 to 625 realizes a function of a conventional wordprocessor. Reference numeral 1801 denotes a database server, which is connected to the information equipment of this embodiment via the LAN 636 (with and without wires). Reference numeral 629 denotes a communication means, which comprises the communication device 1016 and the communication device controller 1015. Reference numeral 628 denotes a database server search management means, which controls the communication means 629 on the basis of the agreements with the database server 1801 and transmits a search request to the database server 1801 using keywords designated by the processing management means 621. Also, the means 628 receives the obtained search result file from the database server 1801, and supplies the result to the processing management means 621. A block including the above-mentioned means 621, 622, 624, 625, 628, 629, and 636 is a means that is possessed by a conventional database client machine, and realizes a function of the conventional database client machine. An improper keyword dictionary 635 shown in FIG. 13 is one for words which are improper as keywords used in a search. In this embodiment, words having parts of speech such as an adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, auxiliary verb, interjection, pronoun, prefix, suffix, connective, compound element, definite article, indefinite article, abstract noun, and the like are determined as those which are improper as keywords, and words belonging to these parts of speech are described as a dictionary. In the second embodiment, words belonging to the above-mentioned parts of speech are determined as improper words to be used as keywords. However, if there is an improper word used as a keyword in another part of speech, e.g., in a common noun, it may be registered in the dictionary 635. Reference numeral 633 denotes a search keyword extraction means. Upon reception of text data (character string), the means 633 extracts words from the character string and generates an extracted word list. The means 633 then looks up the improper keyword dictionary 635 to search the extracted word list for a word (or words) which is (or are) not registered in the improper keyword dictionary, and registers the searched word (or words) in the extracted keyword index list (FIG. 14C) as a keyword (or keywords) extracted from the character string. FIG. 15 shows an example of a user interface displayed on the display device 108 when the user edits text data using the information equipment of the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, reference numeral 1201 denotes a text field used by the user to input a text. A gray portion 1202 in the text field indicates that a character string is in a selected state. The user can set a character string in the selected state by dragging the mouse cursor in the text field. Reference numeral 1203 denotes a Find MM Data button. By clicking this button 1203, the user can instruct the information equipment to start a search operation. The operation of the second embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 19. When the user turns on the power switch of the information equipment, an initialization program stored in a ROM 110 is executed. Upon completion of initialization processing required for this information equipment, the operating system file 122 is loaded onto the operating system storage area 115, and the control waits for an event input by the user. Assuming that the user requests to use a function of the information equipment using the input device 106, the operating system loads the processing sequence description file 123, develops it into the processing management means 621, the text data edit management means 623, the search keyword extraction means 633, and the database server search management means 628 (FIG. 11), and stores these means in the processing management means storage area 116, the text data edit management means storage area 1020, the search keyword extraction means storage area 1021, the database server management means storage area 1022, respectively. At this time, the respective means stored in these areas are validated on the information equipment of the second embodiment as means for performing transmission/reception of messages and their predetermined processing operations. For the sake of simplicity, the following explanation will be given mainly using the functional arrangement shown in FIG. 11. The respective means shown in FIG. 11 are realized by the arrangement shown in FIG. 13. The correspondence between the respective means shown in FIG. 11 and the arrangement shown in FIG. 13 will be described later as needed. When the initialization sequence has ended and the respective means shown in FIG. 11 are validated, this information equipment waits for an input from the user. When the user requests to edit a text data file selected from the text data files 1 to n (1028) using the input means 624, the text data of the selected file is displayed on the user interface as shown in FIG. 15 by the display means 625. When the user selects a character string with an arbitrary length from the displayed text data by the dragging operation of the mouse, and clicks the Find MM Data button 1203, the information equipment of this embodiment automatically extracts a keyword (or keywords) from the selected character string, and uses the database server 1801 to search for required multimedia data using this keyword (or these keywords). The operation of the information equipment of the second embodiment executed when the user issues a search request by clicking the Find MM Data button 1203 using the mouse will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 19. When the user clicks the Find MM Data button 1203 using the mouse of the input means 624, the input means 624 supplies a message indicating this information to the processing management means 621. Upon reception of this message, the processing management means 621 performs processing in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG. 16. In step S51, the processing management means 621 transmits a message indicating an execution request of search keyword extraction processing to the search keyword extraction means 633. The flow advances to step S52 to check if a message indicating the end of the search keyword extraction processing is received. If YES in step S52, the flow advances to step S53. The processing sequence for extracting a search keyword by the search keyword extraction means 633 will be described below with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 17 and the memory maps shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C. Upon reception of the message indicating the execution request of the search keyword extraction processing from the processing management means 621, the search keyword extraction means 633 executes word extraction processing, as shown in the flow chart in FIG. 19, in step S61. In the word extraction processing, in step S81, the extraction means 633 substitutes SSP as the start address of the selected character string storage area 1102 in a pointer variable P1 to a character as an initial value. The flow advances to step S82, and the extraction means 633 substitutes "0" as an initial value in an integer type variable IndexA expressed by 16 bits. The flow then advances to step S83, and the means 633 substitutes "0" in a variable offset. Note that the variable offset is an integer type variable, and can be subjected to an addition/subtraction with a character type pointer. For example, (DWP+offset) serves as a pointer indicating a memory byte position ahead of DWP by the number of bytes indicated by the variable offset. In decision step S84, the means 633 checks if the character at the address indicated by the pointer P1 is one of characters "a to z" and "A to Z". If NO in step S84, the flow advances to step S87. On the other hand, if YES in step S84, the flow advances to step S85, and the extraction means 633 copies the contents of the address indicated by the pointer P1 to an address "DWP+IndexA.times.50+offset". The flow then advances to step S86, and the contents of the variable offset are incremented by 1 (offset=offset+1). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S84 that the character at the address indicated by the pointer P1 is none of characters "a to z" and "A to Z", the flow advances to step S87 to check if the value of the variable offset is "0". If YES in step S87, the flow advances to step S90; otherwise, the flow advances step S88, and the means 633 substitutes a Null character (a special symbol indicating the end of a character string) at an address "DWP+IndexA.times.50+offset+1". The flow then advances to step S89 to increment IndexA by 1 (IndexA=IndexA+1) and also substitute "0" in the variable offset. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S90. The means 633 increments the pointer P1 by 1 (P1=P1+1) in step S90, and checks in step S91 if the contents at the address indicated by the contents of the pointer P1 correspond to a Null character. If NO in step S91, the flow returns to step S84 to execute the above-mentioned processing. On the other hand, if YES in step S91, i.e., if the contents at the address indicated by the contents of the pointer P1 correspond to a Null character (at the end of the character string), the flow advances to step S92 to check if the value of the variable offset is "0". If YES in step S92, the flow advances to step S95; otherwise, the flow advances to step S93, and the means 633 substitutes a Null character at an address "DWP+IndexA.times.50+offset+1". The flow then advances to step S94 to increment the variable IndexA by 1. The flow advances to step S95 to substitute a special symbol (EndOfWordList) indicating the end of the list at an address "DWP+IndexA.times.50", thus ending the word extraction processing shown in FIG. 19. Upon completion of the word extraction processing shown in the flow chart in FIG. 19 in step S61 in FIG. 17, the flow advances to step S62 to substitute "0" as an initial value in the 16-bit integer type variable IndexA. The flow then advances to step S63 to substitute DKP as an initial value in an integer type pointer variable PtoInt expressed by 16 bits. The flow advances to step S64 to check if the contents at the memory address indicated by "DWP+IndexA.times.50" correspond to the special symbol "EndofWordList" indicating the end of the word extraction list. If YES in step S64, the flow advances to step S69; otherwise, the flow advances to step S65. In step S65, the extraction means 633 looks up the improper keyword dictionary 635 to check if a word which is the same as a character string from "DWP+IndexA.times.50" to the Null character (i.e., an extracted word indicated by the variable IndexA in the extracted word list) is registered in the improper keyword dictionary 635. If YES in step S65, the flow advances to step S68; otherwise, the flow advances to step S66 to substitute the value of the variable IndexA at the memory address PtoInt. Thus, the extracted word indicated by the variable IndexA is registered as the extracted keyword. The flow advances to step S67 to increment the point PtoInt by 1, and the flow advances to step S68. In step S68, the variable IndexA is incremented by 1, and the flow returns to step S64. On the other hand, if the end of the list is determined in step S64, the flow advances to step S69 to substitute a special symbol "EndOfKWI" indicating the end of the extracted keyword index list at an address indicated by the pointer PtoInt. The flow advances to step S70, and the extraction means 633 supplies a message indicating the end of the search keyword extraction processing to the processing management means 621, thus ending the search keyword extraction processing by the search keyword extraction means 633 shown in the flow chart in FIG. 17. Upon completion of the search keyword extraction processing by the search keyword extraction means 633, YES is determined in step S52 in the flow chart in FIG. 16, and the flow advances to step S53. In step S53, the processing management means 621 transmits a message indicating an execution request of a database search using the extracted keyword (or keywords) to the database server search management means 628. In step S54, the means 621 checks if a message indicating the end of database search is received from the database server search management means 628. If YES in step S54, the flow advances to step S55 and the means 621 displays multimedia data as the search result on the display means 625. The database server search processing sequence by the database server search management means 628 will be described in detail below with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 18 and the memory maps shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C. Upon reception of the message indicating the execution request of a database search using the extracted keyword (or keywords) from the processing management means 621, the database server search management means 628 starts processing from step S71 in FIG. 18. In step S71, the management means 628 performs search pre-processing for performing a multimedia data search from the database server 1801, on the basis of the agreements with the database server 1801. After this pre-processing, the server is ready to search upon designation of a keyword (or keywords) and reception of a search request. The flow advances to step S72, the means 628 substitutes DKP as an initial value in the 16-bit integer type pointer variable PtoInt, thereby setting the variable PtoInt at the start address of the extracted keyword index list shown in FIG. 14C. The flow then advances to step S73 to check if the value (*PtoInt) of the variable PtoInt corresponds to the special symbol "EndOfKWI" indicating the end of the extracted keyword index list. Note that *A indicates the contents at a memory address A. If YES in step S73, i.e., if *PtoInt=EndOfKWI, the flow advances from step S73 to step S74; otherwise, the flow advances to step S76. In step S76, the management means 628 controls the communication means 629 to request the database server 1801 to perform a search using a word expressed by a character string from an address "DWP+(*PtoInt).times.50" to the Null character (i.e., an extracted word PtoInt+1 in FIG. 14B). If it is determined in step S77 that at least one file is found in the search, the flow advances to step S78, and the means 628 controls the communication means 629 to receive the file as a search result from the database server 1801. The means 628 stores the received file in the multimedia data storage area 1105 of the data storage means 622 shown in FIG. 11. The flow then advances to step S79 to increment the variable PtoInt by 1 (PtoInt=PtoInt+1). Thereafter, the flow returns to step S73. On the other hand, if YES is determined in step S73, since there is no search keyword to be searched, the flow advances to step S74, and the management means 628 controls the communication means 629 to perform search end processing based on the agreements with the database server 1801. The flow then advances to step S75, and the database server search management means 628 transmits a message indicating the end of database server search to the processing management means 621, thus ending the processing. In this manner, the database server search processing by the database server search management means 628 shown in the flow chart in FIG. 18 has ended, and the message indicating the end of processing is transmitted from the database server search management means 628 to the processing management means 621. In response to this message, the flow advances from step S54 to step S55 in FIG. 16, and the management means 621 displays multimedia data, which is stored in the multimedia data storage area 1105 in accordance with the search request from the user, using the display means 625, and ends the processing shown in FIG. 16 upon reception of an end request of the search result display operation from the user. The information equipment of the second embodiment is connected to a private database server via the LAN 636. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information equipment may be connected to a database server served by an external station via a communication path such as a public telephone network. The present invention may be applied to either a system constituted by a plurality of devices or an apparatus consisting of a single device. Also, the present invention may be applied to a case wherein the invention is attained by supplying a program that carries out the present invention to the system or apparatus. As described above, according to this embodiment, since a data file can be searched for by automatically extracting a keyword used in the search from text data (especially, text data of a personal schedule) including a plurality of words, data search processing can be attained without requiring any cumbersome operation for manually inputting a keyword from an input device to a search apparatus. Since information important for a certain user is closely related to his or her schedule, data which is important for the user at that time can be presented by performing a search by automatically extracting a search keyword especially from text data of the personal schedule. Since the information equipment of the second embodiment excludes an improper keyword with reference to the improper keyword dictionary before search using the database server, unnecessary search accesses can be omitted. Thus, the network traffic can be reduced, and the load on the database server can be reduced, thus attaining an efficient data search. ›Third Embodiment! The third embodiment will be described in detail below on the basis of the arrangement of the present invention or an example of an arrangement. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is applied to a currently popular personal computer. FIG. 20 shows the basic arrangement of the third embodiment. The arrangement shown in FIG. 20 is a typical one of a currently popular personal computer. In the third embodiment, the respective processing units in the basis arrangement shown in FIG. 45 are realized in such a manner that programs corresponding to the processing contents of the respective processing units are loaded onto a RAM and are executed by a microprocessor 1101 using hardware resources of the personal computer shown in FIG. 20. The basic arrangement of the information equipment of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 20. Referring to FIG. 20, reference numeral 1101 denotes a microprocessor for performing arithmetic operations, logical decisions, and the like. Reference numeral 1102 denotes an address bus for designating addresses of the respective input/output memories; 1103, a bidirectional data bus used for transferring various data; and 1104, a control bus used for accepting read, write, and interrupt signals of the respective memories, and transmitting a data set timing, and the like. Reference numeral 1106 denotes an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like; and 1105, an input device controller for controlling the input device 1106. The input device controller 1105 encodes data input by the input device 1106 such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and sends an interrupt signal onto the control bus 1104. Reference numeral 1108 denotes a display device such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the graphical user interfaces for the operating system and application software programs running on the information equipment, schedule data, and other multimedia data. Reference numeral 1107 denotes a display device controller for controlling the display device 1108. Reference numeral 1110 denotes a read-only memory (i.e., a ROM) which stores an initialization sequence used upon starting of the information equipment of this embodiment, and the like. Reference numeral 1109 denotes a controller for controlling the ROM 1110. Reference numeral 1114 denotes a nonvolatile storage medium. As shown in FIG. 21, the nonvolatile storage medium 1114 has a file attribute storage portion 1130 for storing file attributes and directory information of files stored in the storage medium, a basic system file 1131 which describes the basic operations of the information equipment of this embodiment, a link data search/display application program file 1132 which describes a processing sequence executed when the information equipment of this embodiment searches for link information and displays the search result, a document information edit application program file 1133 which describes an edit processing sequence for document information such as still image data, dynamic image data, audio data, text data, draw data, and the like, a link information file 1134 which stores link information of the respective files in a document file group 1136 that stores document information as files, a document file registration management file 1135 which describes the file IDs of document files, registered in a link data search/display application program, in the document file group 1136, and the file IDs of application program files used for opening the corresponding document files, a print management program file 1137 which describes a processing sequence executed when an application program running on the information equipment of this embodiment prints document information, a communication management program file 1138 which describes a processing sequence executed upon execution of transmission/reception of various data such as data transmission/reception with a digital camera connected to parallel port 2 (1140), transmission/reception of electronic mails with other equipments via a network board 1118, and the like, and the document file group 1136 which stores document information such as still image data, dynamic image data, audio data, text data, draw data, and the like as files. Reference numeral 1113 denotes a nonvolatile storage medium controller for controlling the nonvolatile storage medium 1114. Reference numeral 1112 denotes a random-access memory (i.e., a RAM), which comprises an operating system storage area 1120, a document information edit application program storage area 1121, a link data search/display application program storage area 1122, a print management program storage area 1123, a communication management program storage area 1124, a work area 1125 used by the operating system (OS) and application programs running on the information equipment of this embodiment, and a storage area 1126 for storing other application programs which are not described in this embodiment. Reference numeral 1111 denotes a RAM controller for controlling the RAM 1112. Reference numeral 1115 denotes a real-time clock which receives electric power from a battery 1116 and measures time even when the power switch of the information equipment of this embodiment is OFF. Reference numeral 1117 denotes a parallel port through which the information equipment exchanges data with an external apparatus connected via a cable. In this embodiment, a printer is assumed to be connected to the parallel port 1117. Reference numeral 1140 denotes parallel port 2 through which the information equipment exchanges data with an external apparatus connected via a cable. In this embodiment, a digital camera is assumed to be connected to parallel port 2 (1140). Reference numeral 1118 denotes a network board inserted in an extension slot of the information equipment. In this embodiment, since the information equipment serves as a client connected to a server, the network board has a function that allows the information equipment to exchange information with the server connected thereto via a network line, and is inserted between the information equipment and the network line connected to the server, as shown in FIG. 20. With the above arrangement, when a user turns on the power switch of the information equipment, an initialization program stored in the ROM 1110 shown in FIG. 20 is executed. Upon completion of initialization processing required for the equipment, the basic system file 1131 is loaded onto the operating system storage area 1120, and the operating system is ready to run on the equipment. The operating system of the information equipment of the third embodiment has a multitask function as in that of a currently popular personal computer, and allows a plurality of application programs to run simultaneously. Also, the operating system has a currently popular window system, and displays windows in units of running application programs. The user can switch the application program to which he or she wants to input a command by selecting a corresponding window. The operating system supports a communication function between the application programs. That is, application program A can transmit a command that can be interpreted by another application program in such a manner that application program A starts application program B, and requests application program B, which is already running, to open a designated file. The operating system manages files using a directory structure. The user can create an arbitrary directory structure on the nonvolatile storage medium 1144 via the operating system, and can store and arrange arbitrary files in arbitrary directories. When the operating system is ready to run, the communication management program file 1138 and the print management program file 1137 are loaded onto the communication management program storage area 1124 and the print management program storage area 1123, and are ready to run in the background mode. Thereafter, the operating system waits for an event input by the user while a command is focused on the operating system. When the user inputs a command for requesting the operating system to use a document information edit application program to the operating system using the input device 1106, the information equipment loads the document information edit application program file 1133 from the nonvolatile storage medium 1114, stores it in the document information edit application program storage area 1121, and then waits for an event input by the user. At this time, a command input by the user is focused on the document information edit application program, and is received by the document information edit application program until the user changes the focusing state of a command to another application program or the operating system using the input means. On the other hand, when the user inputs a command for requesting the operating system to use a link data search/display application program to the operating system using the input device 1106 while a command is focused on the operating system, the information equipment loads the link data search/display application program file 1132 from the nonvolatile storage medium 1114, stores it in the link data search/display application program storage area 1122, and thereafter, waits for an event input by the user. At this time, a command input by the user is focused on the link data search/display application program, and is received by the link data search/display application program until the user changes the focusing state of a command to another application program or the operating system. An image called a "thumbnail image" frequently used in the present invention will be explained below. In the present invention, a thumbnail image of a file allows a user to visually recognize the contents of the file, and the numbers of vertical and horizontal pixels of each thumbnail image are suitable for displaying a plurality of thumbnail images on the display device. In this embodiment, the following images are used as thumbnail images in correspondence with the contents of files: 1. "when the file contents correspond to a still image, an image obtained by enlarging or reducing the still image while maintaining the aspect ratio so as to have 60 pixels in its longitudinal direction" 2. "when the file contents correspond to a dynamic image, an image obtained by enlarging or reducing an image in the start frame of the dynamic image while maintaining the aspect ratio so as to have 60 pixels in its longitudinal direction" 3. "when the file contents correspond to text data or audio data, an image obtained by expressing the file name character string of the file in a bitmap of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels" 4. "when the file contents correspond to draw data in the metafile format, an image obtained by converting the draw data expressed in the metafile format into the bitmap format, and enlarging or reducing the converted data to a bitmap of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels" In this embodiment, thumbnail images are formed in correspondence with files to be managed, as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of pixels is not particularly limited as long as a plurality of images can be displayed on the display device 1108 and the user can easily find a target file. Also, in the dynamic image, an image in a frame other than the start frame may be used. Furthermore, in the audio/text file, in place of using the file name, an image that merely notifies the user that the file contains audio or text data may be displayed, as a matter of course. FIGS. 25A and 25B show the architecture of the registered file management file (or document file registration management file) 1135. The architecture of the registered file management file 1135 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 25A and 25B. In the information equipment of this embodiment, when certain processing is performed, there are a document file for which a link information record is generated and a document file for which no link information record is generated, and a link information record corresponding to the processing contents is generated for only document files, which are registered in the registered file management file 1135 by the user's operation on a file registration window (FIG. 23; to be described later). The data architecture of the registered file management file will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 25A and 25B. As shown in FIG. 25B, the registered file management file 1135 generates one registered file management record for each registered file, and manages files as a list of management records. As shown in FIG. 25A, one file management record consists of a registered file ID field 1601 for storing the file ID information of a registered document file, a program file ID information field 1602 for storing the file ID information of an application program file which is used for opening the document file indicated by the file ID information field 1601, and a thumbnail image data field 1603 for storing thumbnail image data of the file indicated by the file ID information field 1601. FIG. 23 shows a user interface used when a new document file is added to the file management file. The file registration window shown in FIG. 23 will be described below. The file registration window is used for registering a file having a designated file ID of those managed by the operating system stored in the area 1120 to the link data search/display application program. The operating system in this embodiment manages the nonvolatile storage medium 1114 using the directory structure, and the drive name of the medium 1114 is defined by "C:" (means "drive C"). Therefore, file ID information is designated by an absolute path starting from "C:", and a backslash ".backslash." is used for dividing upper and lower layers, thereby designating a file ID which is uniquely specified in the nonvolatile storage medium 1114. Reference numeral 1401 denotes a text field used by the user to input the file path and file name of a file to be registered using the input device 1106. In this embodiment, when the user designates a registered file via the link data search/display application program, and inputs an open command of the designated file to the link data search/display application program, the link data search/display application program starts an application program designated upon registration, and transmits the file open command to the application program designated upon registration via an inter-application communication. Reference numeral 1402 denotes a text field used for designating the file path and file name of an application program file used when a file to be registered is opened. Reference numeral 1403 denotes a registration button, which is clicked by the user when he or she has no intention of changing the contents of the text fields 1401 and 1402, whereby the file name is registered in the link data search/display application program, and the file registration window is closed. The operation of the information equipment performed when the user clicks the registration button 1403 in FIG. 23 using, e.g., a mouse of the input device 1106 will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 26. When the user clicks the registration button 1403 after he or she inputs the file path and file name of a file to be registered in the text field 1401 and inputs the file path and file name of an application program used when the file is opened in the text field 1402, the link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment executes the processing in the sequence shown in the flow chart in FIG. 26. In step S701, the control inquires the operating system as to whether or not the file designated by the file path and file name in the text field 1401 is present in the nonvolatile storage medium 1114. If such file is not present, "NO" is determined in step S701, and an error display is performed in step S702. Thereafter, the flow then advances to step S709. On the other hand, if such file is present, "YES" is determined in step S701, and the flow advances to step S703. In step S703, the control looks up the registered file management file 1135 to check if the file designated by the file path and file name in the text field 1401 has already been registered. If the designated file has already been registered, "YES" is determined in step S703, and an error display (e.g., a display of a message indicating that the file has already been registered) is performed in step S704. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S709. On the other hand, if the designated file has not been registered yet, "NO" is determined in step S703, and the flow advances to step S705. In step S705, the control inquires the operating system as to whether or not the file designated by the file path and file name in the text field 1402 is present in the nonvolatile storage medium 1114. If the designated file is not present, "NO" is determined in step S705, and an error display is performed in step S706. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S709. On the other hand, if the designated file is present, "YES" is determined in step S705, and the flow advances to step S707. In step S707, the processing is performed in accordance with the addition processing sequence to the registered file management file 1135 shown in the flow chart in FIG. 27. Referring to FIG. 27, it is checked in step S801 if the link data search/display application program supports a file format defined by the extension of the file name in the text field 1401. In the third embodiment, assume that the link data search/display application program supports file formats with the following extensions: TX1 and TX2 as the file formats of text data; DW1 and DW2 as the file formats of draw data; SND as the file format of audio data; MV1 and MV2 as the file formats of dynamic image data; MV3 as the file format of dynamic image data picked up by a dynamic image digital camera; IM1 and IM2 as the file formats of still image data; and IM3 as the file format of still image data picked up by a still image digital camera. Each of the still and dynamic image digital cameras assumed in this embodiment stores a picked-up image in a nonvolatile storage medium as digital data, and has a timepiece means. Each digital camera can convert a picked-up image into a file in a file format (file formats with file extensions IM3 and MV3 in this embodiment) of an architecture having an information area for storing the image pickup time. Each digital camera can be connected to the information equipment via a cable, and can exchange data with each other. If the extension of the file in the text field 1401 is none of the above-mentioned extensions (TX1, TX2, DW1, DW2, SND, MV1, MV2, MV3, IM1, IM2, and IM3), "NO" is determined in step S801, and the flow advances to step S802. On the other hand, if the extension of the file in the text field 1401 is one of these extensions, "YES" is determined in step S801, and the flow advances to step S803. In step S802, bitmap data of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels is generated based on the character string of the file name in the text field 1401, thereby generating a thumbnail image serving as a representative image of the file in the link data search/display application program (in this embodiment, an image of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels is generated as a thumbnail image, but the number of pixels is not limited to this). When the flow advances to step S803, it is checked based on the extension of the file name in the text field 1401 if the file is text data. If the file is text data, "YES" is determined in step S803, and the flow advances to step S802. On the other hand, if the file is not text data, "NO" is determined in step S803, and the flow advances to step S804. It is checked in step S804 based on the extension of the file name in the text field 1401 if the file is audio data. If the file is audio data, "YES" is determined in step S804, and the flow advances to step S802. On the other hand, if the file is not audio data, "NO" is determined in step S804, and the flow advances to step S809. It is checked in step S809 based on the extension of the file name in the text field 1401 if the file is draw data. If the file is draw data, "YES" is determined in step S809, and the flow advances to step S810. However, if the file is not draw data, "NO" is determined in step S809, and the flow advances to step S805. Since draw data of this embodiment is a file in the metafile format, the metafile data is converted into a bitmap image, and thereafter, a thumbnail image is generated, in step S810. Thereafter, the flow advances to step S808. When the flow advances to step S805, it is checked based on the extension of the file name in the text field 1401 if the file is dynamic image data. If the file is dynamic image data, "YES" is determined in step S805, and the flow advances to step S806. On the other hand, if the file is not dynamic image data, "NO" is determined in step S805, and the flow advances to step S807. In step S806, the first frame of the dynamic image data is read, and a thumbnail image is generated by enlarging or reducing the read image to an image of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels. Since data supported by the information equipment of this embodiment is one of text data, audio data, dynamic image data, draw data, and still image data, it is determined in step S807 based on the decision results in steps S803, S804, and S805 that the current file is still image data, and a thumbnail image of 60 pixels.times.60 pixels is generated by enlarging or reducing the still image data. In step S808, a registered file management record having field values: "the registered file ID information field 1601=the file path and file name in the text field 1401", "the program file ID information field 1602=the file path and file name in the text field 1402", and "the thumbnail image data field 1603=thumbnail image data generated in one of steps S802, S806, S807, and S810", is generated, and is added to the registered file record list of the registered file management file 1135, thus ending the addition processing sequence to the file management file. Upon completion of the above-mentioned processing, the flow advances to step S708 in FIG. 26. In step S709, file modification timing link generation processing is executed, as shown in FIG. 28. Referring to FIG. 28, in step S901, the control inquires of the operating system as to the file creation date of the file designated by the text field 1401 (the operating system of this embodiment stores the file creation dates and the latest modified dates of all files to be managed in the file attribute storage portion 1130 as in a currently popular operating system, and notifies the application program of time data in accordance with an inquiry from the application program). This time (assumed to be time 1), and the file path and file name (C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3 in FIG. 23) are linked by a "file creation timing link" as one of link types of the link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 29, link information record information "processing time information field 11001=time 1, file ID information field 11002=C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3, and link type information field 11003=file creation timing link" in the link information file 1134 is generated, and is added to the list of link information records in the link information file 1134. In step S902, the application program inquires of the operation system as to the latest modified date of the file designated by the text field 1401. This time (assumed to be time 2), and the file path and fine name (C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3 in FIG. 23) of the file designated by the text field 1401 are linked by a "file modification timing link" as one of link types in the link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment. More specifically, link information record information "processing time information field 11001=time 2, file ID information field 11002=C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3, and link type information field 11003=file modification timing link" is generated, and is added to the list of link information records in the link information file 1134. In step S903, the application program inquires of the operating system as to the current time measured by the real-time clock (1115 in FIG. 20) (the operating system of this embodiment has an interface with a timepiece means (real-time clock) as in a currently popular operating system, can detect the current time, and notifies the application program of the current time data in accordance with a request from the application program). This time (assumed to be time 3), and the file path and file name (C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3) of the file designated by the text field 1401 are linked by a "file modification timing link" as one of link types in the link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment. More specifically, link information record information "processing time information field 11001=time 3, file ID information field 11002=C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3, and link type information field 11003=file modification timing link" is generated, and is added to the list of link information records in the link information file 1134. In step S904, it is checked if the file extension ("IM3" in FIG. 23) of the file designated by the text field 1401 is the extension IM3 or MV3 appended to a file obtained by picking up an image by the still or dynamic image digital camera in this embodiment. If the file extension is neither IM3 nor MV3, "NO" is determined in step S904, and the processing shown in FIG. 28 ends. On the other hand, if the file extension is IM3 or MV3, "YES" is determined in step S904, and the flow advances to step S905. In step S905, the image pickup time data is read from the information area of the file with the extension IM3 or MV3, and the read time (assumed to be time 4), and the file path and file name of the file designated by the text field 1401 are linked by an "image pickup link" as one of link types in the link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment. More specifically, link information record information "processing time information field 11001=time 4, file ID information field 11002=C:.backslash.Directory1.backslash.Directory2.backslash.File1.IM3, and link type information field 11003=image pickup link" is generated, and is added to the list of link information records in the link information file 1134. Upon completion of step S905, the processing sequence shown in FIG. 28 ends. Referring back to FIG. 26, upon completion of the link generation processing sequence upon registration of a file shown in FIG. 28, the flow advances to step S709. In step S709, the file registration window shown in FIG. 23 is closed. After the file registration window is closed in step S709, the processing sequence of the link data search/display application program executed upon clicking of the registration button shown in the flow chart in FIG. 26 ends. The user interface of link data search/display application program of the information equipment of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 22. When the link data search/display application program is started, a link data search/display application window 1302 is displayed on a screen 1301 on the display device 1108. The information equipment of this embodiment comprises a mouse as an input device of a pointing device. Reference numeral 1303 denotes a cursor which moves in correspondence with the mouse movement, and can designate a two-dimensional position on the screen 1301. Reference numeral 1304 denotes a Search button. When the button 1304 is clicked by the mouse, the information equipment starts a search on the basis of time information in fields 1307 and 1308. Reference numeral 1305 denotes a ModeSelect button. When the button 1305 is clicked by the mouse, a mode select window shown in FIG. 24 is opened to allow mode selection. Reference numeral 1306 denotes a ResistFile button. When the button 1306 is clicked by the mouse, the file registration window shown in FIG. 23 is opened and a file on the nonvolatile storage medium 1114 managed by the operating system can be registered in the link data search/display application program by the processing sequence shown in FIG. 26. Reference numeral 1307 denotes text field 1 used for inputting a time. The user can input a date in text field 1 (1307) using an input means such as a keyboard. FIG. 22 shows a state wherein a time "19:00:00 on Sep. 15, 1994 " is input. Reference numeral 1308 denotes text field 2 used for inputting a time. The user can input a date in text field 2 (1308) using an input means such as a keyboard. FIG. 22 shows a state wherein a time "23:15:00 on Sep. 15, 1994" is input. When the user inputs "time in text field 1<time in text field 2", as shown in FIG. 22, the link data search/display application program recognizes this data as the time band between the time in text field 1 to the time in text field 2. On the other hand, when "time in text field 1>=time in text field 2" or when no time is input in text field 2, the link data search/display application program recognizes that the time in text field 1 is designated. Reference numeral 1309 denotes a search result display area for displaying the search results of document files which are found upon a search by clicking the Search button. When the mouse cursor 1303 is located on the file name or the thumbnail image of a file displayed on the search result display area, and the mouse button is clicked, the file corresponding to the file name of the thumbnail image is set in the selected state. Reference numeral 1310 denotes a user designated time field used by designating a time by the user upon formation of a user designated time link to the file in the selected state. Reference numeral 1311 denotes a Connect button. When this button 1311 is clicked by the mouse, the user designated time link between the selected file and the time in the user designated time field 1310 is formed. This operation will be described in detail later. The mode select window shown in FIG. 24 will be described below. Referring to FIG. 24, reference numeral 1501 denotes a mode select window as a user interface, which is used by the user to set a mode. Reference numerals 1502 to 1507 and 1520 to 1522 denote check boxes for setting the link types of a file to be searched for and displayed upon a file search based on information in the link information file 1134. Each check box can be toggled by the mouse between a checked state (a selected state; a state with a mark X on a GUI) and a | ||||||