JP2007249297A - Data management system and file sharing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data management system that can manage data sharing or non-sharing on a file basis even among a plurality of storage means in separate locations. <P>SOLUTION: The data management system comprises a plurality of networked data management units, and relates each file shared in the data management system with flag information capable of uniquely identifying the file in the system. The data management units acquire files related with the flag information from other data management units according to the flag information. Each file can thus be managed for sharing in a limited sharing area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing technique for sharing data among a plurality of arbitrary storages.

  Conventionally, RAID is known as a technique for collecting and managing a plurality of hard disks and sharing and managing data as if they were one hard disk. RAID is a system that strengthens disk integrity by distributing and storing data, and there are six levels from RAID-0 to RAID-5 depending on the level of integrity. For example, RAID-0 distributes data evenly among a plurality of disks and records the data in parallel, thereby increasing the speed of data reading and writing. RAID-5 is a method of generating an error correction code called parity from data and recording it in a distributed manner together with the data, and improves the integrity by distributing the data and the parity.

In addition, as for managing shared data in a distributed manner, Patent Document 1 distributes memory resources necessary for storing a network information management database, and each agent unit manages the information in the network information management database in a distributed manner. Thus, a network information management apparatus capable of reducing the memory capacity provided in each agent unit is described.
JP 2001-331458 A

  By the way, from the viewpoint of a user who uses RAID, a plurality of hard disks are virtually treated as a single hard disk, and a plurality of hard disks cannot be handled separately. This point is the same for Patent Document 1, and from the viewpoint of a user who uses the network information management device, the memory resources of each agent unit cannot be used separately.

  Moreover, although the data described in RAID and Patent Document 1 are managed in a distributed manner, they do not realize the distributed management of data with a hard disk or memory installed at a remote place.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a plurality of storage units can be virtually handled as a single storage unit and data can be shared and managed. On the other hand, a plurality of storage units can be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data management system capable of individually managing data and handling each as separate storage means.

  Further, the present invention can handle a plurality of storage means virtually as one storage means even when the plurality of storage means are installed in a remote place away from the location, and data can be It is a further object to provide a data management system that can be shared and managed between sites.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a data management system that can flexibly and easily set whether data is shared or individually managed for each file recorded in the storage means.

  In order to solve the above problems, a data management system according to the present invention is a data management system in which a plurality of data management units are connected to a network, and each of the data management units includes storage means for storing an arbitrary file, A communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from an arbitrary data management unit connected to the network; and a control unit that controls the storage unit and the communication unit. Then, a group of data management units that share the file in units of files is created, and each of the storage means included in the data management unit belonging to the group is associated with the predetermined file to be shared and the data management system The flag information that can uniquely identify the file is stored. Further, the control means provided in the data management unit reads the file when the file is stored in the storage means provided in the data management unit, and the flag information alone is stored in the storage means. Includes flag information for one or more data management units including at least a first data management unit in which a file associated with the flag information is managed among a plurality of data management units connected to the network. A file transmitted through the communication means and associated with the flag information is received from the first data management unit.

  At this time, the control means included in the data management unit further stores the file in the other data management unit when the file is stored alone in the storage means included in the data management unit without being associated with the flag information. It is desirable to manage individually without sharing with the unit.

  The data management unit constituting the data management system according to the present invention includes a storage unit for storing data, a communication unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from another data management unit connected to the network, a storage unit, Control means for controlling the communication means. Here, the storage means stores flag information associated with a file managed by another data management unit and uniquely identifying the file. The control means transmits the flag information stored in the storage means to the other data management unit via the communication means, and receives a file associated with the flag information from the other data management unit.

  Further, the data management unit constituting the data management system according to the present invention includes a storage means for storing data, a communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from another data management unit connected to the network, a storage means, Control means for controlling the communication means. Here, the storage means stores a file of a program, content, and other electronic data, and flag information associated with the file and uniquely identifying the file. When the communication means receives flag information from another data management unit, the control means searches the storage means based on the received flag information, and when the file associated with the flag information is stored, the control means To send the file to another data management unit.

  In the data management system and data management unit configured as described above, flag information is stored in association with a file to be shared among a group of data management units. Here, the flag information has a function as an identifier for uniquely identifying each file in the data management system. By using this flag information, a plurality of arbitrary data management units can be grouped in units of files. This makes it possible to share and manage data by handling a plurality of arbitrary storage means virtually as one storage means in units of files. At the same time, if the flag information is not associated with the file, the files can be individually managed by the plurality of storage units, and therefore the plurality of storage units can be handled as separate storage units.

  At this time, even if a plurality of storage means are installed at remote locations away from the location, the plurality of storage means can be treated as a single storage means by using flag information. It is possible to share and manage data between remote locations.

  Furthermore, since flag information can be associated with a file in units of files to be recorded in the storage means and at an arbitrary time, it is possible to flexibly and easily set whether data is shared or individually managed. Become.

  The data sharing method according to the present invention includes a storage unit for storing data, a communication unit for transmitting / receiving data between other data management units connected to the network, and a control for controlling the storage unit and the communication unit. Means for sharing a file with another data management unit, wherein the control means obtains flag information stored in the storage means, and for the other data management unit And transmitting the flag information acquired by the communication means, and receiving the file associated with the flag information from another data management unit.

  The data sharing method according to the present invention includes a storage unit for storing data, a communication unit for transmitting / receiving data between other data management units connected to the network, and a control for controlling the storage unit and the communication unit. Means for sharing a file with another data management unit, wherein the communication means receives flag information from the other data management unit, and the control means is based on the flag information. And searching for the storage means, and when the file associated with the flag information is stored in the storage means, transmitting the file to another data management unit using the communication means.

  In the file sharing method configured as described above, any plurality of data management units can be grouped in units of files by using flag information associated with the file to be shared. This makes it possible to share and manage data by handling a plurality of arbitrary storage means virtually as one storage means in units of files. At the same time, if the flag information is not associated with the file, the files can be individually managed by the plurality of storage units, and therefore the plurality of storage units can be handled as separate storage units.

  At this time, even if a plurality of storage means are installed at remote locations away from the location, the plurality of storage means can be treated as a single storage means by using flag information. It is possible to share and manage data between remote locations.

  Furthermore, since flag information can be associated with a file in units of files to be recorded in the storage means and at an arbitrary time, it is possible to flexibly and easily set whether data is shared or individually managed. Become.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to execute each step of the file sharing method of the present invention. The program of the present invention can be installed or loaded on a computer through various recording media such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory, or via a communication network.

  In the present invention, “means” does not simply mean a physical means, but also includes a case where the function of the means is realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the following embodiments are exemplifications for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention only to the embodiments. Furthermore, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the data management system 100 is configured by connecting a plurality of data management units 10 </ b> A, 10 </ b> B, and 10 </ b> C via a network 30.

  Each of the data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C includes storage means 20A, 20B, and 20C such as a hard disk device, and controls the storage means 20A, 20B, and 20C such as data reading and writing. And database management. Further, the data management unit 10A cooperates with the other data management units 10B and 10C connected to the network 30 to store the data stored in the storage units 20B and 20C included in the other data management units 10B and 10C. Has the ability to share. Similarly, the data management units 10B and 10C have a function of sharing data stored in a storage unit included in another data management unit in cooperation with the other data management unit.

  In the present specification, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C, they will be collectively referred to as the data management unit 10. Similarly, the storage means 20A, 20B, 20C, etc. will be collectively referred to as the storage means 20 etc. when it is not necessary to distinguish between them.

  The storage unit 20 is a storage such as a hard disk device controlled by the data management unit 10. Here, the storage means 20 may be configured to be connected to the internal bus of the data management unit 10, or may be configured to be externally connected to the unit 10 via a local connection terminal such as a USB. Also good.

  The network 30 is a communication line for transmitting and receiving information between the plurality of data management units 10 and between the data management unit 10 and its client terminal 40. For example, any of a LAN, the Internet, a dedicated line, a packet communication network, a telephone line, a corporate network, other communication lines, combinations thereof, and the like may be used, regardless of whether they are wired or wireless.

  The client terminal 40A is a client computer that can access the data management unit 10A via the network 30. Similarly, the client terminals 40B and 40C are client computers that can access the data management units 10B and 10C, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, in the data management system 100, the data management unit 10A, the storage means 20A, and the client terminal 40A are connected by a LAN 30A, and the data management unit 10B, the storage means 20B, and the client terminal 40B are connected by a LAN 30B. It is assumed that the data management unit 10C, the storage means 20C, and the client terminal 40C are connected by a LAN 30C, and each LAN 30A, LAN 30B, and LAN 30C are connected via the Internet 30I. However, it goes without saying that the system configuration of the data management system 100 is not limited to this.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the data management unit 10. The data management unit 10 includes a communication module 12, a control module 14, and a storage unit 20.

  The communication module 12 is a module including communication means for performing communication such as data transmission / reception with another arbitrary data management unit 10 connected to the network 30. The communication module 12 communicates with a communication module of another arbitrary data management unit 10 connected to the network 30, thereby enabling data sharing and management in cooperation between the plurality of units 10.

  The control module 14 is a module having control means for controlling reading and writing of data with respect to the storage means 20 included in each data management unit 10 and for controlling transmission and reception of data with respect to the communication module 12. It is. Under the control of the control module 14, the database constructed in the storage unit 20 is operated, maintained, and managed, and can be linked with other data management units 10.

  A module is a unit of components having a group of functions, and is realized by dedicated hardware or by a processing unit such as a CPU executing a predetermined program stored in a memory or the like. Each module is configured by software. Each module described above may be configured by a single piece of hardware, each module may be configured by individual dedicated hardware, or may be configured by software to one or more computers. Each module may be mounted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a logical structure of data stored in a plurality of storage means 20 distributedly arranged in the network 30. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the data management unit 10, the network 30, and the like are not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the structure of data stored in the storage unit 20 is given in association with each file 22 and a file part 22 in which files of programs, contents, and other electronic data are recorded. Grouping flag for grouping arbitrary data management units 10 connected to the network 30 in units of files and sharing the files among the grouped data management units 10 , And a flag portion 24 in which is recorded.

  The file recorded in the file unit 22 is a unit of data recorded in the storage unit 20, and is the same as a file managed in a normal file system.

  The grouping flag (hereinafter simply referred to as “flag”) recorded in the flag section 24 is flag information given in association with a file that is shared and managed among the plurality of data management units 10, and is a data management system. Each file handled in 100 functions as an identifier for uniquely identifying each file. This flag is preferably automatically given by generating a random number based on a predetermined algorithm when file sharing is set by each data management unit 10.

  In such a data structure, the data recorded in each storage means 20 is (1) when the file is recorded alone without a flag, and (2) when the file and flag are recorded as a set. (3) When the flag is recorded alone without a file, there are three recording formats: As described in detail below, in the case of (1) above, the files are individually managed by the data management unit 10 that directly manages the files. On the other hand, in the cases (2) and (3), the file is shared among the plurality of data management units 10 including the storage unit 20 that records the same flag as that associated with the file. Controlled.

  Hereinafter, a description will be given along a specific example shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, files X, Y, and Z are files individually managed by the data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively. The file W is a file associated with the flag F123 and shared by the three data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C, and the file V is associated with the flag F987 and shared by the two data management units 10A and 10B. It is a file.

  First, the file X recorded in the storage unit 20A will be described. File X is not associated with a flag. That is, it corresponds to the case of (1) above. At this time, the file X is individually managed by the data management unit 10A, and the unit 10A and the client terminal 40A that can access the unit 10A can refer to the file X. However, the data management units 10B and 10C and the client terminals 40B and 40C accessing these units 10B and 10C cannot refer to the file X.

  Similarly, the file Y and the file Z are not set with a flag (not associated). As a result, the file Y is individually managed by the data management unit 10B, and the file Z is individually managed by the unit 10C.

  Next, the file W recorded in the storage unit 20A will be described. The file W is stored in the storage unit 20A in association with the flag F123. The storage means 20B and 20C store the same flag F123 as the flag F123 associated with the file W. As a result, the file W is shared by the three data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C. That is, in addition to the data management unit 10A managing the storage means 20A storing the file W being able to refer to the file W, other data managing the same flag F123 as the flag F123 associated with the file W It is also possible to refer to the file W from the management units 10B and 10C.

  As for the file V, the entity of the file V is recorded in the storage unit 20B, and a flag F987 is given. The flag F987 is recorded only in the storage units 20A and 20B, and is not recorded in the storage unit 20C. Thus, regarding the file V, the storage units 20A and 20B are grouped, and the file V can be referred to from the data management units 10A and 10B that manage the storage units 20A and 20B. On the other hand, the file V cannot be referenced from the data management unit 10C that manages the storage unit 20C that does not have the flag F987 (that is, is not grouped by the flag F987).

  In summary, the data management unit 10A and the client terminal 40A of the unit 10A can refer to three files: a file X that is individually managed, and a file W and a file V that are shared and managed among a plurality of units. Further, the data management unit 10B and the client terminal 40B of the unit 10B can refer to three files: a file Y that is individually managed, and a file W and a file V that are shared and managed among a plurality of units. Furthermore, the data management unit 10C and the client terminal 40C of the unit 10C can refer to two files: a file Z that is individually managed and a file W that is shared and managed among a plurality of units.

  As described above, by using the data structure according to the present embodiment, that is, the data structure that manages the file and the flag in association with each other, the data management unit 10 that can share the file in units of each file is arbitrarily set (group It is possible to

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow when the data management unit 10 refers to a file recorded in the storage unit 20. Here, for the sake of explanation, processing when referring to the files X, W, and V from the client terminal 40A will be described according to the specific example shown in FIG.

  First, the client terminal 40A accesses the data management unit 10A via the communication module 12A (S50). The control module 14A searches the storage unit 20A provided in the unit 10A in order to acquire the attributes (file name and the like) of the file that can be referred to by the unit 10A (S51). At this time, the control module 14A directly acquires the file attributes from the storage unit 20A for the files stored in the storage unit 20A (file X and file W in the example of FIG. 3) (S52).

  On the other hand, when only the flag is stored alone in the storage unit 20A and the file itself is not stored (in the example of FIG. 3, the flag F987), another storage connected to the network 30 using the flag is used. The file attribute is acquired from the means 20B or 20C. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, after the control module 14A acquires the flag F987 from the storage unit 20A, the flag F987 is stored in the storage unit 20B or 20C for the other data management units 10B and 10C connected to the network 30. Inquires by multicast whether or not the file entity is associated with the file (S53).

  Note that it is preferable that all data management units 10 connected to the network 30 of the data management system 100 be multicast targets, but one or more data management units set in advance by an administrator of the data management system 100 or the like. Multicasting may be performed only for 10. For example, when the shared file is managed only by the predetermined data management unit 10, communication traffic can be reduced by setting the latter.

  In the data management units 10B and 10C that have received the inquiry, the control modules 14B and 14C search the respective storage units 20B and 20C to determine whether a file associated with the flag F987 exists. Thus, in the example of FIG. 3, since it can be seen that the file V is associated with the flag F987 in the storage unit 20B, the control module 14B reads the file attribute of the file V from the storage unit 20B, and the data management unit 10A (S54).

  The data management unit 10A collects the file attribute acquired from the file stored in the storage unit 20A and the file attribute acquired from the other storage unit 20B or 20C using a flag, and transmits the collected file attribute to the client terminal 40A ( S55). Based on the received file attribute information, the client terminal 40A outputs the file names, etc. of the files X, W, and V that can be referred to (S56).

  Thereafter, the user of the client terminal 40A designates a file to be referred to with a pointing device or the like based on the output file name or the like (S57). Then, if the control module 14A is a file stored in the storage means 20A (file X and file W in the example of FIG. 3), the control module 14A reads the file directly with reference to the storage means 20A and sends it to the client terminal 40A. Present. Further, in the case of a file (file V in the example of FIG. 3) in which only the flag is stored alone in the storage unit 20A, the flag is multicasted to the flag in the same manner as steps S53 and S54 described above. The associated file is read from the other storage means 20B or 20C and presented to the client terminal 40A (S58).

  In steps S54 to S55, the data management unit 10A that has received the file attribute of the file V stores information related to the data management unit 10B to the storage unit 20B that is the transmission source of the file attribute in association with the flag F987. You may record on means 20A etc. Thereby, when reading the file V in step S58, the control module 14A knows that the file V is stored in the storage means 20B, so that it is not necessary to multicast the flag.

  Thus, from the viewpoint of the user of the client terminal 40A, the file X individually managed by the data management unit 10A is stored in the storage means 20A provided in the data management unit 10A, but a plurality of data management units 10A, 10B, 10C are stored. The file W that is shared and managed between and the file itself is not stored in the storage means 20A, but the file V that is shared and managed between the plurality of data management units 10A and 10B is distinguished by a flag. It is possible to handle them in a mixed manner.

  In addition, each process step of the said process flow can be arbitrarily changed in order within the range which does not produce contradiction in the processing content, or can be performed in parallel.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For this reason, the said embodiment is only a mere illustration in all points, and is not interpreted limitedly.

  For example, in this embodiment, the case where there are three data management units 10 including the storage unit 20 is described as an example, but the number of data management units 10 connected to the network 30 is limited to three. Instead, any two or more data management units 10 may be used as long as they can communicate with each other via the network 30. Each data management unit 10 may have a plurality of client terminals 40.

  In the present embodiment, the files X, Y, and Z shown in FIG. 3 are described as being individually managed by the data management units 10A, 10B, and 10C, respectively. Can also be shared and managed. For example, when a file X that has been individually managed in the unit 10A is changed to shared management, a person who has authority for managing the file X newly assigns a flag to the file X and sets the same flag as this flag. This can be realized by storing in another storage means 20B or 20C.

  At this time, by designating the data management unit 10 that permits the sharing of the file X, the control module 14A automatically associates the flag with the file X, and the control module 14 of the designated unit 10 The flag common to the flag given by the control module 14A may be automatically stored.

  Furthermore, a file that has been shared and managed among a plurality of data management units 10 can be changed to individual management afterwards. This can be realized by deleting a flag associated with a file that is shared and managed. It is also possible to change the sharing range of files that have already been shared and managed by adding or deleting flags to each storage means 20 as appropriate.

  In this way, the data management system 100 is set so that the individually managed files are shared and managed afterwards, and conversely, the files that are shared and managed are set to be individually managed afterwards. It is possible to Even if it is set afterwards, it is possible to arbitrarily select the data management unit 10 that can share a file and set a sharing group on a file basis. There is an effect that it can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, a flag is not assigned to a file individually managed by each data management unit 10. However, even if a file and a flag are stored in the storage unit 20 as a set. If the same flag as the flag is not stored in the other storage means 20, the file can be handled as individually managed.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an identifier (flag information) that uniquely identifies a file is recorded in the flag section 24. In addition to this, the storage means 20 in which the file is stored or the file is stored. Information for identifying the managed data management unit 10 may be recorded. This makes it possible to specify the storage means 20 in which the shared file is stored, so that it is not necessary to multicast the flag to a plurality of data management units 10 in the above-described step S53 (FIG. 4), etc. It is possible to reduce traffic and improve processing speed.

  In the present embodiment, it goes without saying that functions of a conventionally known file system may be added as appropriate. For example, by setting an access authority to a file stored in the storage unit 20 separately from the flag, each file can be managed more flexibly.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data management system 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a data management unit 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a logical structure of data stored in a storage unit 20. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of a data management unit 10.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Data management unit, 12 Communication module, 14 Control module, 20 Storage means, 22 File part, 24 Flag part, 30 Network, 40 Client terminal, 100 Data management system

Claims (8)

A data management system in which a plurality of data management units are connected to a network,
Each of the data management units includes:
Storage means for storing arbitrary files;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from any of the data management units connected to the network;
Control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means;
With
A group of data management units that share the file in units of files is created, and each of the storage means included in the data management unit belonging to the group is associated with the predetermined file to be shared and managed in the data management system Flag information that can uniquely identify the file is stored.
The control means included in the data management unit includes:
If the file is stored in the storage means of the data management unit, read the file,
In the case where only flag information is stored alone in the storage means, first data in which at least a file associated with the flag information is managed among a plurality of data management units connected to the network Transmitting the flag information to the one or more data management units including the management unit via the communication means, and receiving a file associated with the flag information from the first data management unit;
Data management system. The control means included in the data management unit further includes:
When the file is stored alone in the storage means included in the data management unit without being associated with the flag information, the file is individually managed without being shared with other data management units.
The data management system according to claim 1, wherein: Storage means for storing arbitrary files;
A communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from other data management units connected to the network;
Control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means;
With
The storage means stores flag information associated with a file managed by the other data management unit and uniquely identifying the file,
The control means transmits the flag information stored in the storage means to the other data management unit via the communication means, and receives a file associated with the flag information from the other data management unit. To
Data management unit. Storage means for storing data;
A communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from other data management units connected to the network;
Control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means;
With
In the storage means,
Files of programs, content and other electronic data, and
Flag information associated with the file and uniquely identifying the file;
Is stored,
When the communication unit receives flag information from the other data management unit, the control unit searches the storage unit based on the received flag information, and a file associated with the flag information is stored. Sometimes, using the communication means, the file is transmitted to the other data management unit.
Data management unit. Data management comprising storage means for storing data, communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from other data management units connected to the network, and control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means A unit for sharing files with the other data management unit, comprising:
The control means obtaining flag information stored in the storage means;
The communication means transmitting the acquired flag information to the other data management unit;
The communication means receiving a file associated with the flag information from the other data management unit;
A file sharing method comprising: Data management comprising storage means for storing data, communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from other data management units connected to the network, and control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means A unit for sharing files with the other data management unit, comprising:
The communication means receiving flag information from the other data management unit;
The control means searching the storage means based on the flag information;
When the file associated with the flag information is stored in the storage means, the step of transmitting the file to the other data management unit using the communication means;
A file sharing method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the file sharing method according to claim 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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