JP2000132445A - File access system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable plural users to effectively perform the jobs even when they share a single file by providing a file rewriting means and a notifying means or the like which notifies the users who are managed by management means of the rewritten file information. SOLUTION: A server S receives a file access command and adds the user information to a user management table 16. When a file relevant to the file access command is not expanded to a file expansion memory 14, the server S functions to expand the file to the memory 14. A user 1 inputs (updates, writes, etc.), the information to the file that is expanded to the memory 14 via a client C1. Then only the changed areas of the file are notified to the users 1, 2...n (clients C1, C2...Cn) registered on the table 16 via a network NW.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file access system for a file accessed by a plurality of users, and more particularly, to a file access system for a plurality of users without interrupting file access of another user due to file access by one user. File access that allows simultaneous access to a file, and even when multiple users enter change information for a file, displays the change information in real time and reflects the changes on the file without losing the changes About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of networks in recent years, it has become common for a plurality of workers to share the same file using a network and to carry out various tasks using the shared file. For example, in a drawing creation operation using a CAD system, a plurality of persons (workers) fill in respective parts in a file. Various file access methods for sharing and using such files have been proposed.

For example, JP-A-7-85020 discloses that
In addition to a shared file system connected to a server, each client proposes a document management method including a virtual file system. According to this document management method, when sharing a document among a plurality of clients, the same document can be edited and the security against file failure can be ensured.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-182213 discloses that
A file sharing system that allocates files stored in real memory to multiple users for each logical space, copies files in real memory when updating files in real memory, and updates the copied files is suggesting. According to this file sharing system, even while a certain user is updating a file, another user can use the file before the update.

[0005]

However, in the prior art, although a plurality of users can access a file at the same time, when one user tries to update the file, another user cannot access the file. The file may be updated with old information without knowing that the file is being updated. In addition, when writing and sharing a screen at the same time as in an electronic conference room, writing may be interrupted due to deprivation of a cursor or the like by another user.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention unifies updated contents in addition to being able to access the file even when another user is using the file (that the file is always updated with the latest information). It is another object of the present invention to provide a file access method in which the processing is not interrupted even if a certain user and another user are simultaneously accessing a file.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is,
The present invention is a file access system in which a plurality of users access a file stored in a storage device. The file access memory includes a developing unit that expands a file stored in the storage device into the expansion memory, a management unit that manages a user accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory, and an expansion unit that expands the file stored in the file expansion memory. Communication means for receiving rewriting information for rewriting the expanded file; file rewriting means for rewriting a file developed in the file development memory based on the rewriting information;
Notification means for notifying the user managed by the management means of the rewritten file information.

In this file access system,
The file rewriting means corresponds to the actual processing unit 18a of the server program, and the notifying means corresponds to the API unit 18b of the server program.

With this configuration, the rewrite information received via the communication means is reflected in the file developed in the file development memory, and the information of the changed file is stored in the user management table. Is notified. Therefore, even if one user is accessing the file, other users can also access the file, and even if multiple users enter the change information for the file, the change information is displayed in real time, and the change is displayed. The contents can be reflected in the file without any loss.

In this file access system,
The notifying means may notify the user only of the changed portion of the rewritten file. As a result, the amount of data notified to the user can be reduced, so that real-time processing can be performed using a low-performance device.

The file rewriting means may store the rewritten file in the storage device when all users have finished accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory.

Thus, the rewritten file is stored in the storage device, so that the changed contents of the file are not lost. Further, the management means includes a user management table for storing user information of a user accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory,
The user information of the user who has finished accessing the file is deleted from the user management table, and when all the user information is deleted from the user management table, the file rewriting means stores the rewritten file in the storage device. It may be.

Thus, only the file being rewritten is developed in the file development memory, so that the file development memory can be used effectively. The device used by the user may include a display unit that receives and displays file information from the communication unit, and may display the file information on the display unit immediately after receiving the file information from the communication unit.

Thus, the user can visually confirm the change of the file made by another user, so that the contents of the change of the file can be easily confirmed. Also,
The file information from the notifying unit may be drawing information of a cursor displayed at a predetermined coordinate position on the display unit.

[0015] Thereby, the rewriting information (eg, the coordinate position of the cursor) input by a plurality of users can be displayed in real time, and the operation can be efficiently performed. Further, the present invention is a file access method in which a plurality of users access a file stored in a storage device. This file access method includes a step of expanding a file stored in a storage device to an expansion memory, a step of managing a user accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory, and a step of expanding the file expanded in the file expansion memory. Receiving the rewrite information for rewriting the file, rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory based on the rewrite information, and notifying the managed user of the rewritten file information.

Further, the present invention is a program readable medium for storing a program for operating a computer as a file access system in which a file stored in a storage device is accessed by a plurality of users. The program includes a step of expanding a file stored in the storage device into an expansion memory; a step of managing a user accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory;
A step of receiving rewrite information for rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory; a step of rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory based on the rewrite information; and a user who manages the rewritten file information. And notifying the user.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. <Overall Configuration> First, the configuration of a file access system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a file access system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a file access system 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, a file access system 10 includes a server S and a network NW such as a LAN.
Clients C connected to server S via
1, C2... Cn. Client C1, C
2... Cn are used by users 1, 2.

The server S is connected to a file storage unit 12 such as a magnetic disk device for storing document files. Further, the server S includes a file expansion memory 14 for expanding a file read from the file storage unit 12,
The user management table 16 storing information on the clients C1, C2,... Cn, and the clients C1, C2,.
Server processing unit 1 that performs communication with Cn and various processes based on the file expanded in the file expansion memory 14 and the file information stored in the user management table 16
8 is provided.

Each of the clients C1, C2,... Cn includes client processing units 20-1, 20-2,. As shown in FIG. 2, the file storage unit 12 stores a plurality of files 1, 2,. Each user accesses these document files 1, 2,... M.

The files 1, 2,..., M accessed by the user are expanded in the file expansion memory 14. One file may be expanded in the file expansion memory 14, or a plurality of files may be expanded.

The user management table 16 stores users 1, 2
.. N are stored. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, each piece of user information includes user identification information (I
D) 16b and an access cursor position 16c.

The user management table 16 stores a plurality of files stored in the file storage unit 12 when the plurality of files are expanded in the file expansion memory 14, that is, when a plurality of files are accessed by the user. And may be used to manage each file.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server processing unit 18
Actual processing unit 1 that executes actual processing in the server program
An API (Application Programming Interface) unit 18 serving as an interface between the OS 8a and an application program running on the OS among server programs
b and a communication processing unit 18c for executing communication with the client C1 via the network NW.

As shown in FIG. 2, the client processing unit 20 includes a communication processing unit 20a for executing communication with the server S via the network NW, and an actual processing unit 20b for executing actual processing in the server program. API (Application Programming In) of client programs
(terface) unit 20c and an application program unit 20d of the client program. <Operation> Next, the operation of the file access system
The case of drawing drawing in the D system will be described as an example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation when a certain user accesses a file and writes to the file. When the user 1 inputs a command to access a file via the client C1 (S0
1) The file access command is sent to the network N
The server S is notified via W.

When receiving the file access command, the server S adds user information to the user management table 16 (S02). Then, when the file corresponding to the file access command is not expanded in the file expansion memory 14, the server S expands the file in the file expansion memory 14 (S03). User 1
Input information (update, write, etc.) to the file expanded in the file expansion memory via the client C1
(S04). The input information is reflected (updated, written, etc.) on the file developed in the file development memory 14 (S05). Then, the user 1, 2,..., N (clients C1, C2,... Cn) registered in the user management table 16 are notified of only the changed portion of the file via the network NW (S06).
Users 1, 2,... N (clients C1, C2,... Cn)
Is preferably data including the update start position (the number of bytes from the beginning of the file), the update end position (the number of bytes from the beginning of the file), and the change content. If the data being reported is in this format,
Since the data amount can be reduced, real-time processing can be performed even with a low-performance device. It is also possible to notify each user (client) of the entire changed file.

The information input by the user 1 and the cursor position are displayed on the display units (not shown) of the clients C1, C2,... Cn (S07). When the user 1 inputs a command to end the operation (update, write, etc.) on the file (S08), the user information is deleted from the user management table 16 (S09). And
When all the information in the user management table 16 is deleted, the file developed in the file development memory 14 is written to the file storage unit 12 (S10).

The user 1 who uses the client C1
Perform the operation (update, write, etc.) on the file developed in the file development memory 14, but the same applies to the case where the other users 2, 3,... N operate the file.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the client program. When a user accesses and writes a file, the application unit 20d stores the data input by the user, the user ID, and the cursor position in the AP.
It is sent to the I unit 20c (S21). The API unit 20c sends the input data, the user ID, and the cursor position sent from the application unit 20d to the actual processing unit 20b (S2
2). Then, the real processing unit 20b transmits the input data, the user ID, and the cursor position received from the API unit 20c to the server S via the communication processing unit 20a and the network NW.
Is notified (S23).

When another user accesses the file and writes, the actual processing unit 20b transmits the input data, user ID, and cursor of the other user notified from the server S via the communication processing unit 20a and the network NW. The position is received (S24). The API unit 20c includes the actual processing unit 2
The input data, the user ID, and the cursor position sent from 0b are sent to the application unit 20d (S25). Then, the application unit 20d reflects the data and the cursor position input from another user on the screen of the display unit (not shown) (S26).

FIG. 6A shows the operation by the server program, and FIG. 6B shows the files developed in the file development memory. When a certain user accesses the file, the API unit 20c transmits information (input data, user ID, user ID, etc.) input from the client used by the user via the communication processing unit 18c of the server S.
The cursor position and the like are passed to the actual processing unit 18a (S31).
The actual processing unit 18a stores information on the user who has requested access (user identification information 16b and access cursor position 16
It is checked whether or not c) is registered in the user management table 16a. If the information of the user is not registered in the user management table 16a, the information of the user is added to the user management table 16a (S32). . If the accessed file is not expanded in the file expansion memory 14, the actual processing unit 18a expands all the contents of the file in the file expansion memory 14 (S33).

Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the actual processing unit 18a reflects the information input from the client in the file development memory (S34). In FIG. 6B, black squares 14a, 14a... Indicate original information that has not been changed by the user, and white squares 14b, 14b. Indicates the information written in the file,
white squares 14c and 14 rotated 45 ° with respect to b
c indicate information written in the file by another user (user 2).

After that, when the real processing unit 18a receives a notification from the user to terminate the access, the real processing unit 18a deletes the information of the user from the user management table 16 (S3).
6). When all the users have finished using the file, that is, when all the user information is deleted from the user management table 16, the actual processing unit 18a reads the information (the information written by the user) developed in the file development memory 14. ) Reflect on the file (S36).

While any user is accessing the file, the actual processing unit 18a sends the changed information in the file development memory 14 and the cursor positions of all users to the API unit 18b (S37).

The API unit 18b transmits the changed information of the file development memory 14 and the cursor positions of all users, which have been passed from the real processing unit 18a, to the clients C1, C2,... Cn via the communication processing unit 18c. This notifies all the users registered in the user management table 16 (S38).

As described above, the information developed in the file development memory 14 can be changed (written, deleted, etc.) by a plurality of users, so that a plurality of users can access the file at the same time. The information change by the user can be surely reflected in the file. In addition, since the processing (writing processing, etc.) of a plurality of users is displayed on the client in real time, even if a plurality of users perform information changing processing (writing processing, etc.) at the same time, the processing by one user is not performed by another user. Process is not interrupted. <Display Example> A display example by the file access system that operates as described above will be described with reference to a map creation operation using CAD as an example.

FIG. 7 shows a screen 30 displayed on the display unit of the client C1. This screen 30 includes Shinjuku Station 31
A map of the vicinity is displayed. Railway lines 32a and 32b passing through Shinjuku Station 31 and roads near Shinjuku Station 31 are displayed.

FIG. 7A shows a screen 3 showing a map being created.
0. Screen 30 includes cursors K1, K2, and K3.
Is displayed. That is, three users are accessing the map file. The cursor K1 is operated by the user 1 of the client C1, and the cursor K1
2, K3 are operated by other users 2, 3.

FIG. 7B shows a screen 3 showing the map being edited.
0. 7B, the user 3 operates the cursor K3 to delete the railway line 32a, the user 1 operates the cursor K1 to draw a line 33 indicating a road, and the user 2 operates the cursor K2. Lines 34 and 35 indicating roads
Is drawing.

FIG. 7C shows a screen 3 showing the map being edited.
0. In FIG. 7C, the user 3 draws the railway line 32c by operating the cursor K3, and the users 1 and 2 jointly operate the cursors K1 and K2 to draw the lines 36 and 37 indicating the road. are doing. Then, when the new user 4 accesses the map file, the information of the user 4 is registered in the user management table 16 (S32 in FIG. 6), and the cursor K4 is displayed.

When the editing of this screen 30 by a certain user is completed, the information of the user is deleted from the user management table 16 and the cursor is no longer displayed. When all information changes by the user are completed, the edited (changed) information is reflected in the file.

As described above, in a work such as a work of creating a drawing using a CAD system, a plurality of persons fill in a part in charge of a file, respectively.
This file access system can be used effectively.

Further, when a plurality of users share a screen, even if a certain user is performing a writing process or the like and another user accesses the file, the user's writing process is performed on the file in real time. Since the user's writing process is displayed on the client of the accessing other user, the writing process of the user is not interrupted by accessing the file by the other user.

[0046]

According to the present invention, a plurality of users can freely access a file, information for changing a file is not lost, and one user's processing is performed by another user to access a file. Since the operation is not interrupted, the work can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a file access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a file access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a user management table.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining file write processing by a user;

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of a client program.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of a server program.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example by the file access system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 S server C1, C2... Cn client 12 File storage unit 14 File expansion memory 16 User management table 18 Server processing unit 18a Real processing unit 18b API unit 18c Communication processing unit 20 Client processing unit 20a Communication processing unit 20b Real processing unit 20c API unit 20d application section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hidehiro Inagaki 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Keiichi Ogawa Unoki 98, Unoki-cho, Kawakita-gun, Ishikawa Prefecture No. 2 F-fu Co., Ltd. F-term (reference)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A file access system in which a file stored in a storage device is accessed by a plurality of users, wherein expansion means expands the file stored in the storage device to expansion memory, and expansion to the file expansion memory. Management means for managing a user who is accessing the expanded file; communication means for receiving rewriting information for rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory; and expansion means for expanding the file in the file expansion memory based on the rewriting information. A file access system comprising: a file rewriting means for rewriting a file which has been rewritten; and a notifying means for notifying a user managed by the management means of the rewritten file information. 2. The file access system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the user only of a changed portion of the rewritten file. 3. The file rewriting means stores the rewritten file in the storage device when all users have finished accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory. 3. The file access system according to 2. 4. The management means includes a user management table for storing user information of a user accessing a file developed in the file development memory, and stores user information of a user who has finished accessing the file in the user. 4. The file rewriting unit according to claim 1, wherein the file rewriting unit stores the rewritten file in the storage device when all the user information is deleted from the management table and all the user information is deleted from the user management table. File access system. 5. An apparatus used by the user includes display means for receiving and displaying file information from the communication means, and upon receiving the file information from the communication means, displays the information on the display means immediately. 2. The file access system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The file access system according to claim 5, wherein the file information from the notifying unit is drawing information of a cursor displayed at a predetermined coordinate position on the display unit. 7. A file access method in which a file stored in a storage device is accessed by a plurality of users, wherein the step of expanding the file stored in the storage device to a development memory; Managing the user accessing the expanded file, receiving the rewrite information for rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory, and converting the file expanded in the file expansion memory based on the rewrite information. A file access method, comprising: a step of rewriting; and a step of notifying a managed user of the rewritten file information. 8. A program readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to operate as a file access system in which a plurality of users access files stored in a storage device, wherein the program is stored in the storage device. Expanding a file in an expansion memory; managing users accessing the file expanded in the file expansion memory; and receiving rewrite information for rewriting the file expanded in the file expansion memory. A computer-readable medium comprising: a step of rewriting a file expanded in the file expansion memory based on the rewriting information; and a step of notifying a user who has managed the rewritten file information.