JPH0536239A - File storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase a speed of access of the file recorded on a magnetic tape. CONSTITUTION:A directory DI and files Fa, Fb,... corresponding to this directory DI are recorded on the magnetic tape 25N. The directory DI recorded on the magnetic tape 25N is transmitted from a data recorder 2 as the data in accordance with the instruction of a computer 1. A hard disk 21 is connected to the computer 1. The directory DI transmitted from the data recorder 2 is stored and held in this hard disk 21. So, when the desired file, e.g. the file Fa, is to be found out for file retrieval, it suffices that only the directory DI stored and held in the hard disk 21 is displayed and retrieved on a display 5, thus, the file retrieval is carried out in a comparatively short time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file storage device having a data recorder and a workstation for processing data based on the data transmitted from the data recorder, and to a file storage device having efficient file access. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional file storage device is shown in FIG.

The file storage device shown in FIG. 3 comprises a computer 1 for performing data processing and the like, a data recorder 2, a magnetic disk 3 and an input / output device 4 connected to the computer 1. The input / output device 4 has a display 5 and a keyboard 6. The data recorder 2 and the computer 1 are connected by a data line 7 and a control line 8. Further, cassette-type magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c, ... As large-capacity storage media mounted on the data recorder 2 are prepared.

In the file storage device thus constructed, the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10 are usually used.
The desired file recorded in any one of c, ... Is found, the desired file found is loaded on the magnetic disk 3, and data processing is performed using the computer 1 and the input / output device 4. ing. Further, the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b,
The data in 10c, ... Is rewritten.

Magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c, ...
There are two techniques as a conventional technique for finding a desired file from, that is, a file search method.

First, the first technique will be described. In this first technique, the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c,
A plurality of files and a directory indicating which part of the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c, ... Are recorded are recorded in each. Therefore, first, the magnetic tape 10a is attached to the data recorder 2.

The computer 5 supplies a command for reading a directory from the mounted magnetic tape 10a to the data recorder 2 through the control line 8. The directory read from the magnetic tape 10a by the data recorder 2 based on this command is supplied to the computer 1 through the data line 7 and temporarily stored in the main memory (not shown) of the computer 1.

The contents of the directory stored in the main memory are displayed on the display 5 which constitutes the input / output device 4. When the user finds a desired file in the displayed directory, the user uses the keyboard 6 to perform a key input for recording the content of the file on the magnetic disk 3.

As a result, by the operation of the computer 1, the contents of a desired file are read from the magnetic tape 10a by the data recorder 2 and stored in the magnetic disk 3 through the data line 7 and the computer 1. After this, the user can perform data processing based on the file contents stored in the magnetic disk 3. By the data processing, the contents of the file stored on the magnetic disk 3 are usually rewritten, and after the data processing, the contents of the rewritten file are transferred from the magnetic disk 3 to the magnetic tape 1 via the computer 1 and the data recorder 2.
0a, the contents of the file recorded on the magnetic tape 10a are rewritten.

If there is no desired file in the directory displayed on the display 5, the magnetic tape 10a is taken out from the data recorder 2 and then another magnetic tape 10b is loaded into the data recorder 2.
After that, as described above, the directory of the magnetic tape 10b is displayed on the display 5. In this case, the contents of the directory of the magnetic tape 10a stored in the main memory of the computer 1 are rewritten in advance to the contents of the directory of the magnetic tape 10b. In the same way,
This procedure is repeated until the desired file is found. The above description is based on the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c,
It is an explanation of a first technique for finding a desired file from.

The second technique is the magnetic tapes 10a, 10
This is a technique for finding a desired file when a directory is not recorded in b, 10c, .... In this technique, the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c, ...
A notebook (notebook) in which the identification numbers of b, 10c, ... And the contents of the files recorded on the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c ,. The user refers to the ledger to obtain a desired file, and thus the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10 on which the desired file is recorded.
can be selected (assuming that the selected magnetic tape is the magnetic tape 10a).

The magnetic tape 10 thus selected
Attach a to the data recorder 2. The files are sequentially read from the magnetic tape 10a by the operation of the computer 1. A desired file can be found from the display on the display 5, and the file can be stored in the magnetic disk 3 to perform desired data processing. The above description is for the second technique for finding a desired file.

[0013]

However, in the first technique of the above-mentioned conventional file storage device, when the desired file is to be found, the magnetic tape 10 is used.
There is a problem that the presence or absence of a file cannot be known unless a, 10b, 10c, ... Are attached to the data recorder 2, and it is unknown whether or not the file is recorded on the magnetic tapes 10a, 10b, 10c ,. There is a problem that a considerable amount of time is required for the search work until the desired file is found.

Further, according to the first technique, when the data capacity of the directory recorded on one of the magnetic tapes is larger than the storage capacity of the main memory of the computer 1,
Since the user thinks that the file corresponding to the unstored directory does not exist on the magnetic tape, there is a problem that it becomes more difficult to find such a file. In addition, if the contents of the directory recorded on the magnetic tape are destroyed for some reason, the directory cannot be restored.

In addition, in the first technique, the directory is temporarily stored in the main memory, so that when searching for a file again, the above-described search operation must be repeated from the beginning. There was a problem.

In the second technique, the management time required for creating / updating the ledger is considerably long, and the ledger itself may be lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a file storage device in which file access is made efficient.

[0018]

A file storage device according to the present invention includes a directory D, for example, as shown in FIGS.
I and the file FN (FN
= Fa, Fb, ...) on which is recorded a magnetic tape 25N
And a data recorder 2 to which this magnetic tape 25N is attached and which reads and writes to the attached magnetic tape 25N (25N = 25a, 25b, ...), and this data recorder 2 which is connected to this data recorder 2. Has a computer 1 to which the directory DI recorded on the magnetic tape 25N is transmitted as data, and a storage means 21 connected to the computer 1, and the directory DI transmitted from the data recorder 2 to the storage means 21.
Is to be stored and retained.

[0019]

According to the file storage device of the present invention, the storage means 2
Since the directory DI is stored and stored in 1,
When trying to find the desired file FN, the directory DI held in the storage means 21 may be searched, and the file search can be performed in a relatively short time. Therefore, file access can be made efficient.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the file storage device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1A, 20 is a computer system for performing data processing, and this computer system 20 comprises a computer 1 and a hard disk 21 which is a built-in magnetic disk. The hard disk 21 is a so-called non-volatile and randomly accessible memory, and includes a directory storage area 21a for storing and holding a directory described later.
The computer 1 constituting the computer system 20 is connected to the input / output device 4. The input / output device 4 has a display 5, a keyboard 6, a printer (not shown) and the like. The input / output device 4 and the computer system 20 constitute a so-called workstation.

The computer 1 constituting the computer system 20 includes a control line 8 in addition to the input / output device 4.
Is connected to the data recorder 2 via the data line 7 and to the interface 22 via the data line 7.
The interface 22 is connected to the data recorder 2 through the data line 23. The interface 22 converts the data output from the data recorder 2 into data that meets the input conditions of the computer 1, and converts the data output from the computer 1 into data that meets the input conditions of the data recorder 2. is there.

As the mass storage medium mounted on the data recorder 2, a plurality of cassette type magnetic tapes 25N are used.
(N = a, b, c, ...) Are prepared.

Each of the magnetic tapes 25N is shown in FIG.
As shown in the conceptual diagram of the magnetic tape 25N drawn in FIG.
I (I = 1, 2, ...) Is recorded. Following this directory DI, the storage areas 33a, 33
b, ... To the file FN (N = a, b,
...) is recorded.

In the directory DI, as shown in FIG. 1C, the identification number TI of the tape is recorded in the first storage area 32A of the storage areas 32, and the following storage areas 32a, 32b ,. File name FNM corresponding to file FN (N = a, b, ...)
Is recorded. The file name FNM is used as an index when searching the file FN, as described later.

A storage area 32 for the file name FNM
., a file FN corresponding to the file name FNM is attached to a part of the magnetic tape 25N.
The file recording position RN (N = a, b, ...) Representing the information of the beginning number and the ending number of the address indicating in which memory area (address) is recorded. In addition, the contents of one file FN include a plurality of magnetic tapes 25.
When entering over N, storage area 32
a, 32b, ... The remaining portion is the magnetic tape 25
Data indicating whether or not it is in N, that is, the identification number TI of another tape is recorded.

The identification number TI is a magnetic tape 25N.
The serial number corresponding to is attached. In this embodiment, the identification number TI (I = 1, 2, ...) Is recorded corresponding to the magnetic tape 25N (N = a, b, c, ...). Therefore, it is possible to know which magnetic tape 25N the directory DI corresponds to by the identification number TI.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described based on the schematic flow chart shown in FIG. Figure 2
FIG. 6 is a flowchart provided for explaining the operation when the magnetic tape 25N is mounted on the data recorder 2.

The computer 1 constituting the computer system 20 monitors whether or not the magnetic tape 25N is attached to the data recorder 2 through the control line 8 (step S1). In the example of FIG. 1A, the number of magnetic tapes loaded in the data recorder 2 at one time is one.

When any one of the magnetic tapes 25N is loaded, the computer 1 sets the directory storage area 21a of the hard disk 21 in a so-called open state, and at the same time, through the control line 8, the magnetic tape loaded on the data recorder 2 is loaded. After issuing the rewinding command for the tape 25N, a command for reproducing the magnetic tape 25N is issued.

As a result, the reproducing operation is started after the rewinding is completed, and the contents of the directory DI recorded in the storage area 32 on the tape head side of the magnetic tape 25N are
Data recorder 2 to data line 23, interface 2
2 and the data line 7 are read by the computer 1 (step S2).

In the computer 1, based on the tape identification number TI of the read directory DI, the directory DI having the tape identification number TI is the hard disk 2
It is confirmed by comparing whether or not it is already stored and held in the directory storage area 21a in 1 (step S
3).

When the directory DI having the same tape identification number TI is not stored and held, the read directory DI is stored and held in one section of the directory storage area 21a. In this way, the directory DI recorded on the magnetic tape 25N mounted on the data recorder 2 is copied to the directory storage area 21a (step S4).

If it is determined in step S3 that the directory DI having the same tape identification number TI is already stored and held, the read directory DI.
Is compared with the contents of the directory DI already stored and held in the directory storage area 21a, that is, the contents of the storage areas 32a, 32b, ... Are compared (step S5).

If the contents are not the same, a message to that effect is displayed on the display 5 (step S6), and the user follows the instructions for the following processing.

When the contents are the same and after the copying process in step S4, the contents of the directory DI are displayed on the display 5 (step S7).

The user sees the contents of the directory DI displayed on the display 5, that is, the fill name FNM, and the file name FN to be used for data processing from now on.
Select M with the keyboard 6. When this selection content is read by the computer 1, the computer 1 operates the data recorder 2 through the control line 8 based on the address where the file FN corresponding to the designated file name FNM is recorded at the file recording position RN. ..
As a result, the data from the first address to the last address of the address, that is, the data of the desired file FN is stored in the hard disk 21 through the data line 23, the interface 22, the data line 7 and the computer 1.
Then, data processing is performed based on the data stored in the data file 21b (step S8).

The same magnetic tape 2 is used after data processing.
When it is desired to perform data processing by another file FN recorded in 5N, the directory DI may be directly read from the directory storage area 21a of the hard disk 21 and displayed on the display 5, so that high speed file search is possible. become.

As described above, according to the example of FIG. 1, when the magnetic tape 25N is mounted on the data recorder 2, the directory DI recorded on the magnetic tape 25N is recorded.
Are automatically stored and held in the directory storage area 21a of the hard disk 21. Therefore, when searching for a file that has been stored and held, the file can be searched at high speed by referring to the directory storage area 21a. That is, the directory storage area 21a storing and holding the directory DI
Acts as a so-called directory file.

Further, from the data recorder 2 to the magnetic tape 2
5N, for example, trying to remove the magnetic tape 25a,
When an eject button (not shown) of the data recorder 2 is operated, the operation is recognized by the computer 1 through the control line 8. In this case, the computer 1 sends data representing the contents of the directory D1 stored and held in one section of the directory storage area 21a through the data line 7, the interface 22 and the data line 23 based on the identification number T1 of the magnetic tape 25a. By supplying the data to the recorder 2, the contents of the directory D1 of the magnetic tape 25a mounted on the data recorder 2 are rewritten to the contents of the directory D1 stored and held in one section of the directory storage area 21a. After that, the magnetic tape 25a is automatically ejected. Even if the magnetic tape 25a is ejected, the contents of the directory D1 stored in the directory holding area 21a of the hard disk 21 are retained without being erased.

As described above, according to the example of FIG. 1, the magnetic tape 25N (N) is stored in the directory storage area 21a of the hard disk 21 built in the computer system 20.
= A, b, c, ...) Directory DI recorded in
Is copied and retained. Therefore, when trying to find a desired file FN, the hard disk 2 is not loaded on the data recorder 2 without mounting the magnetic tape 25N on the data recorder 2.
It is sufficient to search the directory DI stored and held in 1. Therefore, the file search operation can be performed at high speed, and eventually the efficiency of file access can be improved.

Further, even if the data capacity of the directory DI is too large to fit in the main memory (not shown) of the computer 1, it can be easily stored and held in the hard disk 21. The inconvenience as described in 1. does not occur.

Further, even when the content of the file FN extends over the two magnetic tapes 25N, the tape identification number TI of the passing magnetic tape 25N is based on the content of the storage areas 32a, 32b, .... Display 5
Is displayed on the screen (for example, "Next, please load the No. XX tape."), So the user
According to the instruction of this display, by mounting the next magnetic tape 25N on the data recorder 2, the remaining file FN can be easily found.

Furthermore, even if the contents of the directory DI recorded on the magnetic tape 25N are destroyed for some reason, the directory DI stored and held in the hard disk 21 is copied by the magnetic tape 25N. Directory D on magnetic tape 25N
I can be easily restored.

Furthermore, the data recorder 2 of the example of FIG. 1A
Is configured such that only one magnetic tape 25N is mounted, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the data recorder is configured as a large-scale file server such as a cart machine in which a plurality of magnetic tapes are incorporated. When the magnetic tape 2
Since the mounting process of 5N is automatically performed without manual work, the file search process and the data process of a large number of files can be performed easily and at high speed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047]

As described above, according to the file storage device of the present invention, since the directory is stored and held in the storage means, when the user tries to find a desired file, the directory held in the storage means is used. Is searched, and an effect that a file search can be performed in a relatively short time is obtained. Therefore, file access can be made efficient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a file storage device according to the present invention. B is a diagram showing the recorded contents of the magnetic tape mounted in the data recorder of the file storage device of the example A. C is a diagram showing the detailed recording contents of the directory among the recording contents of the magnetic tape of B.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the file storage device shown in the example of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a file storage device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer 2 Data Recorder 21 Hard Disk 21a Directory Storage Area 25a, 25b, 25c, ... Magnetic Tape DI Directory FN File TI Tape Identification Number

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic tape on which a directory and files corresponding to the directory are recorded, and a data recorder which is mounted with the magnetic tape and which reads and writes data on the mounted magnetic tape. The data recorder includes a computer to which the directory recorded on the magnetic tape is transmitted as data from the data recorder, and a storage unit connected to the computer. The storage unit includes the data. A file storage device, characterized in that the above directory transmitted from a recorder is stored and held.