JP2000163431A - System and method for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the process efficiency of the whole system by decentralizing the load on servers in the system which performs data retrieval between clients and the servers through a network. SOLUTION: The information processing system selects servers 7 to 9 where clients 2 to 4 perform data retrieval and requests all the servers to performs data retrieval of the same contents in parallel. The servers performs the retrieval from data bases and send the results of the retrieving process back to the clients. The clients display the retrieval results returned from the servers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing method capable of performing data search between a client and a server connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional client-server type search system generally comprises one search server and a plurality of client groups.

Further, in a system in which data is stored in a fixed storage medium such as a CD-ROM and a plurality of data are present, the data are once stored together on one server by using data construction means and tools. are doing.

[0004] Even when there are a plurality of search servers, a client designates one search server to execute a search, and this process is sequentially repeated.

[0005]

However, in the conventional system, processing is concentrated on the search server, and a heavy load is imposed on the server. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange a search server having a large processing capacity.

[0006] Further, even in the case of distributing the load like a distributed server, the main server needs to perform processing with the sub server by mainly issuing a server request from the client. Is complicated.

Further, even if it is desired to search data in a specific field or period in advance, in order to make a request once to one search server, the search server performs processing including the request and then performs a search. Therefore, there is a problem that search overhead is large.

In the case where data is stored in a fixed storage medium such as a CD-ROM and there are a plurality of data,
There is a need for a means and a tool for once storing these media in one data, and thereafter, it is necessary to arrange them on one server, and there is a problem that the work is complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system capable of distributing the load of a server and simultaneously improving the processing efficiency of the entire system by simultaneously requesting a plurality of search servers for a search request from a client. And an information processing method.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a system for performing a data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network, wherein the server is provided in the client and selects a server for performing the data search. Selection means, search request means for requesting data search of the same contents to all of the selected servers, and search of a database provided in the server and managed in response to the data search request An information processing system is configured by including a search unit that executes a process and a unit that returns a result of the search process to the client that has requested the data search.

The present invention is also an apparatus for performing data search on a plurality of servers via a network, comprising: a server selecting means for selecting a server for performing data search; Thus, an information processing apparatus is configured by including search request means for requesting data search of the same content.

[0012] The present invention is also an information processing method for performing data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network, wherein the client selects a server for performing data search in the client; A search requesting step of requesting a data search of the same content to all of the selected servers; and
An information processing method comprising: a search step of executing a search process of a database to be managed in response to the data search request; and a step of returning a result of the search process to the client that has requested the data search. I will provide a.

Further, the present invention provides a computer
A medium recording a program for controlling data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network, wherein the control program includes:
A server for performing a data search is selected, a request for a data search of the same content is made to all of the selected servers, and a search process of a database to be managed is executed in response to the request for the data search. The present invention provides a recording medium on which a data search control program is recorded by returning a result of the search processing to a client that has requested the data search.

Here, when the client requests the plurality of servers to perform a data search, the search request unit can simultaneously request the plurality of servers to perform a search at the same time.

[0015] The client may further include display means for displaying a result of the search process returned from each server.

[0016] Each of the plurality of servers has a plurality of storage media storing data, and data search can be performed on each of the plurality of storage media simultaneously and in parallel.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Example] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a client server system according to the present invention.

The present system comprises a network 1, search server groups 2 to 4, and client groups 7 to 9.

Each server of the search server groups 2 to 4 comprises a communication program 5 for communicating with clients and a search processing program 6 for performing an actual search.

On the other hand, each client of the client groups 7 to 9 for communicating with a plurality of servers includes a communication program 10 for communicating with the plurality of servers and a communication program for identifying the selected server. Program 11
And a program 12 for making a search request to the server and displaying search results from the server.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present system will be described.

The client requests the search request program 12
Requests a search to the server as a search expression based on. With this search request, the program 11 specifies n servers specified by the client from the server groups 2 to 4. By this server specification, a search request is sent in parallel to all the servers selected through the communication program 10 at one time.

Since the search server receives the search request through the communication program 5, each server that has received the search request executes the search processing program 6 for the database managed by each server. Return the result to the client.

A client that has made a search request to n servers obtains each search result through the communication program 10. After that, the client displays the search result by the result display program 12.

Here, the client 7 is the server 2,
3 shows a case where a search request has been made to the third embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which data is divided for each field.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a search server that stores data relating to the field A. Reference numeral 14 denotes a search server that stores data on the field B. Reference numeral 15 denotes a search server that stores data relating to the field C. Reference numeral 16 also functions as a search server and a client that store the field D. 17 is
Be a client.

In this case, the client 17 issues a search request to the search server in the field A, the search server in the field B, and the search server in the field D at one time.

As a result, the search requests do not need to be concentrated on one server, and the load can be distributed. Therefore, even a computer having a small processing capacity such as the search server 16 can serve as a server and a client.

Further, for example, for every certain period or every field, C
When the data of the search content is supplied by a fixed storage medium such as a D-ROM, the plurality of CD-ROs
When it is desired to set M as a search target, it is possible to perform processing on different search servers.

[Second Example] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as in the first example is omitted, and the same reference numerals are given.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a system in which a client selects a search server.

The 18 search servers S1 include a machine field 8a
Database DB of the electric field 8b
B is stored. The database DB of the chemical field 19a is stored in the 19 search servers S2. 2
The database DB of the physical field 20a and the database DB of the electric field 20b are stored in the search server S3 of No. 0.

Here, consider a case where the client 21 wants to perform a search using a certain search formula.

The client knows the server on which the data on the system exists, and specifies what data is to be searched from when searching.

Here, the client 21 which is turned on is a search target, and the search server S1
Machine field 8a and electric field 8b, and search server S
The third electric field 20b is to be searched.

In this state, when the client executes the search, the client executes the search server S1 and the search server S
At the same time, a search request is issued at the same time to 3 and the search result is obtained.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the client issues a search request to the search server. Here, the case of the selection state of FIG. 3 is assumed.

First, when the client executes a search, it is checked which database is selected to check which search server is to make a search request (step S50).

Next, a preparation is made for making a search request to the search server having the selected database (step S51).

Next, a search request is made to the target search server simultaneously and in parallel (step S52, step S52).
53).

When a search request is received, the server performs an actual search process on each server.

Next, a search result is returned from each server to the client side (steps S54 and S55).

Finally, the client displays all the search results (step S56).

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer).
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including two devices (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile machine).

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. Then, a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or M) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
PU) can read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium, so that the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
(A mask ROM, a flash EEPROM, or the like) can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion port inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since search requests are issued simultaneously from a client to a plurality of servers at once, it is possible to reduce the concentration of load on one server and reduce the resources of the server. Processing efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, for the above reasons,
Even in a system in which a computer for a client and a computer for a server are distinguished, it is not necessary to particularly distinguish the computer, so that a system in which a computer on the client side also has a server function can be constructed.

Further, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of data stored in a fixed storage medium such as a CD-ROM for the above-described reason, these storage media are arranged in individual servers. , Put them together 1
This eliminates the need for a process of converting the data into two pieces of data, thereby improving work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration when data is divided for each field.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a case where a client selects a search target according to the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a client search process when a plurality of servers are selected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Network 2-4 Server 7-9 Client

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A system for performing data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network, wherein the server selection means is provided in the client and selects a server on which data search is performed. A search request unit that requests a data search of the same content to all of the servers; a search unit that is provided in the server and executes a search process of a managed database in response to the data search request; Means for returning a result of the search process to the client that has requested the data search. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the client requests the plurality of servers for data search, the search request unit requests the plurality of servers to search simultaneously and in parallel. The information processing system according to claim 1. 3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the client further includes a display unit that displays a result of the search process returned from each server. 4. The server according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of servers has a plurality of storage media storing data, and performs a data search on each of the plurality of storage media simultaneously and in parallel. 4. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An apparatus for performing data search on a plurality of servers via a network, comprising: a server selecting means for selecting a server on which data search is performed; and the same contents for all of the selected servers. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a search request unit for making a request for a data search. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the search request unit requests the plurality of servers to perform a search simultaneously and concurrently when requesting the plurality of servers to perform a data search. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. An information processing method for performing a data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network, the server selecting a server for performing a data search in the client; A search requesting step of making a request for a data search of the same content to all of the servers; a search step of executing, in the server, a search processing of a managed database in response to the data search request; Returning a result of the processing to the client that has requested the data search. 8. The search requesting step is characterized in that, when the client requests the plurality of servers to perform a data search, the plurality of servers request a search simultaneously and in parallel. The information processing method according to claim 7. 9. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein said client further comprises a display step of displaying a result of the search processing returned from each server. 10. The server according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of servers has a plurality of storage media storing data, and performs data search for each of the plurality of storage media simultaneously and in parallel. 10. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 11. A medium recording a program for controlling a data search between a client and a plurality of servers via a network by a computer, the control program comprising: a server for performing a data search on the computer; To make a request for data search of the same content to all of the selected servers, execute a search process of a database to be managed in response to the data search request, and execute the search process. A recording medium on which a data search control program is recorded, wherein the result is returned to a client that has requested the data search. 12. The data according to claim 11, wherein when the client requests the plurality of servers to perform a data search, the plurality of servers are requested to perform a search simultaneously and concurrently. A recording medium on which a search control program is recorded.