JP2008139357A - Karaoke data storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a karaoke data storage system in which interface performance of a karaoke terminal is appropriately maintained, while network performance is not spoiled with excellent fault tolerance. <P>SOLUTION: The karaoke data storage system comprises: a write buffer 12 in which a received karaoke data is temporarily stored; a first disk array system 14 for writing the karaoke data in a storing section with a RAID1 system; a second disk array system 15 for writing it in the storing section with a RAID5 system; and a storage control means 13 for controlling each disk array system. The storage control means 13 divides the karaoke data into a music piece data and a video data, and the music piece data is processed in the first disk array system 14 and the video data is processed in the second disk array system 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a karaoke data storage system for accumulating karaoke data received via communication means.

  In recent years, karaoke data consisting of performance data, lyrics data, background video data, etc. of a song to be sung is transmitted via a communication means such as a public telephone line, and is received and reproduced at a karaoke terminal installed in a karaoke store. The online karaoke system has become popular.

  Such karaoke data has a data format such as MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) or MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3). The karaoke data is composed of music data composed of lyric data for displaying performance data and lyric characters, and video data for displaying background video and the like. The lyric data includes text data relating to lyric characters, font data, layout data, display timing data, color change data, and the like. The video data is mainly composed of a data format of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard.

  Karaoke data is transmitted directly from the center server to a karaoke terminal installed in each of a plurality of karaoke stores through a communication line such as a public telephone line or relayed by a local server to which a plurality of karaoke terminals are connected. After that, it is transmitted to a plurality of karaoke terminals connected to the local server via LAN.

  In each karaoke terminal, music data and video data received via the communication means are temporarily stored in a write buffer and then stored in a hard disk storage device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) at a predetermined timing. Further, the music data is also stored in the backup HDD at a predetermined timing. On the other hand, video data having a large capacity compared to music data is not backed up at present because its capacity is about 200 MB to 1 GB.

  In recent online karaoke, “one-to-one video (dedicated video)” in which one video is associated with one piece of music is increasing in order to give variations to video effects. However, as described above, since the video data is not backed up, in the unlikely event that the HDD in which the video data corresponding to the one-to-one video is recorded fails, it is stored in the other HDD. The current situation is that the general-purpose video data is used as an emergency.

  For this reason, there have been cases in which the purpose cannot be achieved even though there has been a change in the video effect. Therefore, it is conceivable to back up not only the music data but also the video data. However, as described above, the video data has a large capacity, and as a result of the advancement of high-definition, the increase in the capacity of the video data becomes even more remarkable. Therefore, it is difficult to back up video data using the current apparatus.

  Incidentally, RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent (Inexpensive) Disks) is known as a technique for storing a large amount of data with redundancy. RAID is a typical implementation of a disk array, and is a technology that improves data reliability by distributing and storing data in a plurality of HDDs.

  Conventionally, various techniques for improving the reliability of data using RAID have been proposed. For example, a technique related to a network RAID system is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). The technique described in Patent Document 1 relates to a network RAID system, and includes a plurality of computers connected to each other via a network and storage means connected to each computer. A virtual RAID device is configured in the network using storage means connected to each computer.

  In addition, a technique for efficiently backing up data in consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of RAID 0 to 6 is disclosed (see Patent Document 2). The technique described in this Patent Document 2 is applied to a backup apparatus provided with a disk array system having a RAID 5 or RAID 6 configuration. Then, the usage status of the write buffer is monitored, and when the free capacity of the write buffer becomes small, the information in the write buffer is written to a separately prepared high speed disk system (RAID 0/1). The data saved in the system (RAID 0/1) is written back to the write buffer again.

JP 2006-106898 A JP 2006-268420 A

  By the way, for karaoke data, it is conceivable to use RAID 5 which is a disk array system to reduce the amount of data to be stored as a whole and to improve fault tolerance. RAID 5 generates parity as an error code in order to provide redundancy for write data, and records the original data and parity data in a distributed manner on a plurality of HDDs, thereby providing fault tolerance. It is a method that has been improved dramatically.

  However, in RAID5, write data must be distributed and written to a plurality of HDDs, and a predetermined calculation must be performed to generate a parity that is an error code. Therefore, it takes time to read and calculate data for parity generation and write processing of write data and parity data, and there is an inconvenience that rapid processing cannot be performed. That is, since there is a light penalty in RAID 5, if all of the karaoke data is processed in RAID 5, the write buffer becomes full when there is a large number of transmitted songs at one time, and good interface performance cannot be maintained. There was a risk that the network performance could not be fully utilized.

  Another RAID method is RAID1, which performs only mirroring. RAID 1 is a method in which data is made redundant by simultaneously writing the same data to a plurality of (minimum two) HDDs. RAID1 does not generate an error code such as parity, and therefore has an advantage that high-speed processing can be performed compared to RAID5. However, since RAID 1 performs mirroring by duplicating data, there is an inconvenience that the total amount of data becomes extremely large compared to RAID 5.

  Here, considering the communication karaoke system, if all of the karaoke data is to be processed by RAID5, the write buffer may be hindered by a write penalty or a large-capacity write buffer must be prepared. On the other hand, if all of the karaoke data is to be processed by RAID1, there is a problem that a large capacity HDD is required and the production cost and maintenance cost of the karaoke terminal increase.

  Therefore, paying attention to the characteristics of karaoke data including music data whose data capacity is not so large and video data having a large capacity compared with this music data, karaoke data can be efficiently used by using a plurality of RAID systems having different specifications. The development of a technology capable of performing backups has been desired.

  Note that the technique described in Patent Document 1 described above is intended to construct a virtual RAID device by comprehensively using storage means such as HDDs distributed and arranged in a network, and this technique is used as a communication karaoke system. It cannot be applied as it is. That is, in the communication karaoke system, a plurality of karaoke terminals with different owners, managers, etc. exist independently, and it is practical to use storage means such as HDDs constituting these karaoke terminals comprehensively. Is impossible.

  Further, the technique described in Patent Document 2 described above is a technique for eliminating a write penalty in a write buffer by using a plurality of RAID systems having different specifications. However, since the data once saved in the high-speed disk system (RAID 0/1) is written back to the write buffer and stored in the disk array system having the RAID 5 or RAID 6 configuration, the data storage process becomes complicated. There is an inconvenience that much processing time is required. Therefore, there are few merits even if this technique is applied to a communication karaoke system as it is.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and maintains an excellent interface performance of each terminal in a communication karaoke system, and does not impair network performance, and has excellent fault tolerance. The purpose is to provide a system.

The karaoke data storage system of the present invention has the following features in order to achieve the above-described object.
The karaoke data storage system of the present invention relates to a karaoke data storage system for storing karaoke data received via communication means. This karaoke data storage system has a write buffer for temporarily storing received karaoke data, and karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer having a relatively high write performance to a storage unit. A first disk array system for writing to a predetermined storage unit by the RAID method, a second disk array system for writing to the predetermined storage unit by a second RAID method with relatively high use efficiency of the storage unit, Storage control means for controlling the first disk array system and the second disk array system. The storage control means distinguishes the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer into first data having a small capacity and second data having a large capacity based on a predetermined criterion. Further, the storage control means controls the first data to be processed by the first disk array system, while controlling the second data to be processed by the second disk array system.
Note that “relatively” means “in comparison between the first RAID system and the second RAID system”. In addition, “the write performance to the storage unit is high” means “there is no write penalty in the write buffer, or the write penalty is extremely low”, and “the use efficiency of the storage unit is high” This means that the total amount of data stored in the storage unit is small.

  In the karaoke data storage system configured as described above, karaoke data received via communication means such as a public telephone line or an optical line is temporarily stored in a write buffer. The karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer is a first RAID system that employs a RAID system that has a relatively high write performance to the storage unit, and a second RAID that has a relatively high use efficiency of the storage unit. The data is written in the storage unit using the second disk array system employing the method.

  The storage control means determines the capacity of the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer based on a predetermined criterion, and distinguishes between the first data having a small capacity and the second data having a large capacity. Then, the first data having a small capacity is processed by the first disk array system, and the second data having a large capacity is processed by the second disk array system. The predetermined standard is a data capacity value, a data type, and the like.

  Here, in the karaoke data storage system according to the present invention, RAID 1 that stores the same data in a plurality of storage units is used as the first RAID system, and the original data and error correction codes are stored in the plurality of storage units. RAID 5 that stores data in a distributed manner can be the second RAID system.

  That is, RAID1 is a so-called mirroring method, which is fast in processing speed but requires a large-capacity storage unit and is suitable for processing first data with a small capacity. On the other hand, RAID5 is a method of storing parity data and write data in a plurality of storage units in a distributed manner. The processing speed is slow, but the capacity of the storage unit can be reduced. Suitable for processing.

The music data can be the first data, and the video data can be the second data.
That is, when the music data and the video data are compared, the music data has a smaller capacity. Therefore, the music data is processed by the first disk array system using RAID 1 and the video data is processed by the second disk array system using RAID 5, thereby improving the data processing capability and effectively using the storage unit. can do.

  As described above, according to the karaoke data storage system of the present invention, two disk array systems having different data storage processing methods are prepared, and relatively small capacity data such as music data is written to the storage unit. Are processed by a disk array system using RAID 1 or the like having a high storage capacity, and large-capacity data such as video data is processed by a disk array system using RAID 5 or the like having a relatively high storage unit utilization efficiency.

  In general, in the karaoke data transmitted from the center server in the communication karaoke system, the music data and the video data are not completely in a one-to-one relationship. Contains general-purpose video data to be used. For this reason, the ratio of the music data to the video data is about 10 to 20: 1 in the distribution music number ratio, and the ratio of the music data to the transmission data amount to the write buffer is compared with the music unit. About 20 to 30 times larger.

  Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between music data that does not have a large capacity even if mirroring processing is performed, and video data that has a large capacity compared to this music data, and so on, and back it up by a disk array system that has a different processing method. In addition to maintaining good interface performance of the karaoke terminal, it is possible to construct a system that does not impair network performance and has excellent fault tolerance.

  More specifically, music data and the like are processed at high speed, so that the stay in the write buffer is suppressed. Even if it takes time to generate parity for video data and the like, the processing amount is small, so the write buffer occupancy time is short. The write buffer can be used effectively.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a karaoke data storage system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a karaoke data storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the karaoke data storage system, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of data storage processing.

<Karaoke data storage system>
The karaoke data storage system of the present invention is constructed as a component of a karaoke terminal, and is a system for accumulating karaoke data received via communication means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the karaoke terminal 10 includes a communication interface 11, a write buffer 12, storage control means 13, a first disk array system 14, and a second disk array system 15 as constituent elements. ing.

<Communication means>
The communication means is means for transmitting karaoke data managed by the center server to the karaoke terminal 10 and transmitting data from the karaoke terminal 10 to the center server. The communication line constituting the communication means may be any line as long as it can transmit and receive data. For example, a wired line such as a public telephone line, an optical line, a dedicated communication line, or a wireless public telephone line A wireless line such as a wireless communication line can be used. In the case where an Internet line is used as the communication means, it is preferable to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in terms of enhancing security.

  In addition, the karaoke data is not transmitted directly from the center server to the karaoke terminal 10, but is once transmitted from the center server to the local server, and further to a plurality of karaoke terminals 10 connected to the local server by LAN. It is good also as a system which transmits karaoke data.

<Communication interface>
The communication interface 11 is a device for assisting transmission / reception of data between the communication line and the karaoke terminal 10. For example, a modem, a terminal adapter, a DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment), a DSL device, etc. Consists of.

<Write buffer>
The write buffer 12 is a device for temporarily storing received karaoke data, and includes, for example, a semiconductor memory. The capacity of the write buffer 12 is not particularly limited, but a capacity of, for example, about 1 MB to 8 MB is used because of the manufacturing cost and processing speed.

<First disk array system>
The first disk array system 14 is a system for writing karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer 12 to a predetermined storage unit by the first RAID method, and writes data to two HDDs. It is like that.

  The first RAID system in this embodiment is RAID1. RAID 1 is a technique for improving fault tolerance by simultaneously storing the same data in a plurality of HDDs (mirroring).

  Here, a specific recording method in RAID 1 and a data restoration method at the time of failure will be described. In RAID 1 using two HDDs, data temporarily stored in the write buffer 12 is simultaneously stored in the storage unit D (16d) and the storage unit E (16e). By performing such data storage processing, the same data is redundantly stored in the storage unit D (16d) and the storage unit E (16e).

  Data is normally read out from either the storage unit D (16d) or the storage unit E (16e) or in parallel from the storage unit D (16d) and the storage unit E (16e). If a failure occurs in the storage unit D (16d) or the storage unit E (16e), data is restored from the storage unit that is operating normally.

  The number of HDDs constituting the first disk array system 14 is preferably two in terms of reducing manufacturing costs and management costs and making the karaoke terminal 10 compact. However, the number of HDDs is not limited to this. Alternatively, the number can be three, four, or more.

<Second disk array system>
The second disk array system 15 is a system for storing the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer 12 in a predetermined storage unit by the second RAID method, and the data is sent to three HDDs. It comes to store.

  The second RAID system in this embodiment is RAID5. RAID 5 is a technique for improving fault tolerance by generating parity, which is an error code, and distributing and storing original data and parity data in a plurality of HDDs.

  Here, a specific recording method in RAID 5 and a data restoration method at the time of failure will be described. In RAID5 using three HDDs, the data is divided into three and stored in the storage unit A (16a), the storage unit B (16b), and the storage unit C (16c). Then, a parity is generated by performing an XOR (exclusive OR) operation on the data divided and stored in the storage unit A (16a) and the storage unit B (16b) and stored in the storage unit C (16c). To do. Similarly, an XOR operation is performed on the data divided and stored in the storage unit B (16b) and the storage unit C (16c) to create a parity, which is stored in the storage unit A (16a). (16c) and the data divided and stored in the storage unit A (16a) are subjected to an XOR operation to create a parity and stored in the storage unit B (16b).

  Data is read from the storage unit A (16a), the storage unit B (16b), and the storage unit C (16c) in parallel. When a failure occurs in the storage unit A (16a), an XOR operation is performed on the data stored in the storage unit B (16b) and the parity data stored in the storage unit C (16c), The data in the storage unit A (16a) is restored. Similarly, when a failure occurs in the storage unit B (16b), an XOR operation is performed on the data stored in the storage unit C (16c) and the parity data stored in the storage unit A (16a). The data in the storage unit B (16b) is restored. Further, when a failure occurs in the storage unit C (16c), an XOR operation is performed on the data stored in the storage unit A (16a) and the parity data stored in the storage unit B (16b), The data in the storage unit C (16c) is restored. Data division processing in general RAID 5 is performed in units of data blocks.

  Note that the number of HDDs constituting the second disk array system 15 is preferably three in terms of reducing manufacturing costs and management costs, and reducing the size of the karaoke terminal 10, but is not limited to this. Alternatively, the number may be four, five, or more.

<Storage control means>
The storage control means 13 is a means for controlling the first disk array system 14 and the second disk array system 15, and is configured by hardware having functions such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. Then, the CPU or the like operates according to a predetermined application program so that the function as the storage control means 13 is exhibited.

  The storage control means 13 distinguishes the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer 12 into first data having a small capacity and second data having a large capacity based on a predetermined standard. Is controlled by the first disk array system 14 and the second data is processed by the second disk array system 15.

  In the present embodiment, music data is first data, and video data is second data. As a reference for distinguishing between the first data and the second data, for example, a data capacity can be used. That is, the music data capacity is about 200 KB to 5 MB per music, and the video data capacity is about 200 MB to 1 GB. Therefore, a criterion for distinguishing between the first data and the second data is set to 10 MB, for example, and data having a capacity smaller than the reference value is determined as the first data (music data), and the reference value is determined. It is possible to determine that data having a larger capacity is second data (video data).

  Moreover, a data format can be used as another reference | standard which distinguishes 1st data and 2nd data. That is, generally, the data format of music data is MIDI, and the data format of video data is MP3. Therefore, the data format is a data format based on a standard for distinguishing the first data from the second data, and the data format is determined to be the first data (music data), and the data format is MP3. Can be determined as the second data (video data).

  Note that the first data and the second data are not limited to the music data and video data described above, and other data can be classified according to the same standard. In other words, the karaoke data mainly includes music data and video data, but also includes other identification data and control data. Therefore, it is preferable that data other than music data and video data that needs to be backed up be classified according to the same standard and subjected to backup processing.

<Other types of disk array systems>
Moreover, while maintaining the interface performance of the karaoke terminal 10 satisfactorily, the network performance is not impaired, and the fault tolerance is excellent, so that RAID1 and RAID5 are used as in the above-described embodiment. Although it is preferable, if such an object can be achieved, another RAID system can be used. In other words, in addition to the above-described RAID1 and RAID5, the RAID system includes RAID0 that performs striping processing, RAID2 that performs redundancy using a Hamming code, and a dedicated parity drive for performing access in units of bits or bytes. RAID 3 that has RAID 4, RAID 4 that has a dedicated parity drive for accessing in block units, and RAID 6 that expands RAID 5 and distributes and records multiple parities. Thus, if the above-described object of the present invention can be achieved, other RAID methods and other backup methods can be used in appropriate combination.

<Data storage processing procedure>
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the procedure of the data storage process in the karaoke data storage system of this invention is demonstrated.

  In the karaoke data storage system of the present invention, when karaoke data is received via a public telephone line, an optical line or the like (S1), reception processing is performed by the communication interface 11 and the karaoke data is temporarily stored in the write buffer 12. (S2).

  The storage control means 13 classifies the data temporarily stored in the write buffer 12 into music data and video data (S3). Then, the music data is processed in the first disk array system 14 (S4). Specifically, in the first disk array system 14, the same data is simultaneously stored in the storage unit D (16d) and the storage unit E (16e) using RAID1. On the other hand, the video data is processed in the second disk array system 15 (S5). Specifically, in the second disk array system 15, the parity is generated by using RAID5, and the original data and the parity data are stored in the storage unit A (16a), the storage unit B (16b), and the storage unit C (16c). (S5).

  After that, if a failure occurs in the storage unit, data is restored based on the RAID 1 or RAID 5 system.

  As described above, the music data is backed up by RAID1 and the video data is backed up by RAID5, so that the karaoke data can be backed up appropriately and effectively while avoiding the write penalty in the write buffer 12 as much as possible. In particular, in the current situation where high-definition video data is promoted and the capacity of video data is increasing, the karaoke data storage system of the present invention is a useful technique.

<Overall configuration of karaoke terminal>
Next, a typical example of a karaoke terminal to which the karaoke data storage system of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a karaoke terminal to which the karaoke data storage system of the present invention is applied. In addition, although the karaoke terminal shown in FIG. 3 shows the whole structure containing the karaoke data storage system mentioned above, the karaoke terminal is caught from a viewpoint different from the structure mentioned above, and each means shown in FIG. It may include some of the means described above or have overlapping concepts.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the karaoke terminal to which the karaoke data storage system of the present invention is applied includes a control means 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, a storage means 55, a communication means 56, and a video output means that are mutually connected via a bus 51. 57, operation control means 58, music tune output means 59, and transmission / reception means 60.

  The video output means 57 is connected to a display means 61, and the music tune output means 59 is connected to a microphone 62 and a speaker 63.

  The control means 52 is a means for comprehensively controlling the karaoke data storage system, including the function as the storage control means 13 described above. The control means 52 is composed of, for example, a CPU and its peripheral devices, and is stored in the ROM 53 or the like. The control function can be exhibited by operating in accordance with the prepared application program.

  The ROM 53 is a device for storing application program data and numerical data for controlling each device constituting the karaoke terminal, and is constituted by a semiconductor memory, for example. The RAM 54 is a device that functions as a temporary storage area for temporarily reading application programs and various data, and is configured by a semiconductor memory, for example.

  The storage means 55 is a means for storing various data, and comprises, for example, an HDD. The storage means 55 is a means including the first disk array system 14 and the second disk array system 15 described above.

  The video output means 57 is means for outputting video data corresponding to the selected music data to the display means 61 in synchronization with the music.

  The remote control device 64 has a GUI function. For example, an interface in which a liquid crystal display and a touch sensor are superimposed is mounted. The user of the karaoke terminal can select music or input other data using the touch sensor.

The operation control means 58 is means for controlling input data from the terminal body and the remote control device 64.
The music tune output means 59 reproduces the accompaniment data of the music selected from the karaoke data stored in the storage means 55, mixes the singing voice input from the microphone 62 and amplifies it by the amplifier function. And means for outputting from the speaker 63.

The transmission / reception means 60 is means for exchanging data with the remote control device 64 by wire or wireless.
The communication means 56 is means for communicating with the center server 65 arranged on the communication network 66 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

  Note that the devices and means constituting the karaoke terminal are not limited to those described above, and only the necessary devices and means are configured or other devices and means are appropriately added depending on the installation location and application of the karaoke terminal. can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the karaoke data storage system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the data storage process in the karaoke data storage system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the karaoke terminal to which the karaoke data storage system of this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Karaoke terminal 11 Communication interface 12 Write buffer 13 Storage control means 14 1st disk array system 15 2nd disk array system 16a-16e Memory | storage part 51 Bus 52 Control means 53 ROM
54 RAM
55 storage means 56 communication means 57 video output means 58 operation control means 59 music tune output means 60 transmission / reception means 61 display means 62 microphone 63 speaker 64 remote control device 65 center server 66 communication network

Claims (3)

A karaoke data storage system for storing karaoke data received via a communication means,
A write buffer for temporarily storing received karaoke data;
Relative to the first disk array system for writing the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer to the predetermined storage unit by the first RAID method having relatively high write performance to the storage unit A second disk array system for writing to a predetermined storage unit in a second RAID system with high utilization efficiency of the storage unit;
Storage control means for controlling the first disk array system and the second disk array system;
The storage control means distinguishes the karaoke data temporarily stored in the write buffer into first data having a small capacity and second data having a large capacity based on a predetermined criterion, and The second data is processed by the first disk array system, and the second data is processed by the second disk array system.
Karaoke data storage system characterized by that. The first RAID system is a RAID 1 system that stores the same data redundantly in a plurality of storage means,
The second RAID system is a RAID 5 system in which original data and error correction code data are distributed and stored in a plurality of storage means.
The karaoke data storage system according to claim 1. The first data is music data,
The second data is video data.
The karaoke data storage system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

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