JP2000305819A - Method for automatically retaining file and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an automatic file retaining method and a computer system capable of minimizing damage by retaining prepared document file as much as possible even when there occurs a system down. SOLUTION: The computer system includes a monitor part 1, application software 2 and a storage device part 3. The monitor part 1 monitors free memory capacity and other parameters indicating the signs of system down at a fixed period. The application software 2 receives a parameter sent from the monitor part 1 at the fixed period whenever necessary and judges whether the parameter indicates a sign of system down or not. When judged that the parameter indicates a sign of system down, automatically retains a data file in operating in the storage device part 3. Since the data file is automatically retained in consideration of a sign of system down, data to be lost due to the system down can be more reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data file auto-save function in a computer system. In particular, the present invention relates to a file automatic saving method for detecting a sign of a system failure and automatically saving a data file. The present invention also relates to a computer system that can execute such an automatic storage method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art If a computer goes down during operation of the computer, data and files that have been handled up to that point are lost. Therefore, an auto save function for periodically saving a file in a storage device while working on a computer is employed in many application softwares.

The auto-save function is a function for automatically saving a working file to a storage device when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number of types is reached. .

[0004] By using such a function, even if the computer goes down, the damage can be minimized by using the file automatically saved by the auto save function. Since such an auto save function is an important function for protecting a file from system down, many inventions have been proposed for this function.

[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-369745 discloses an invention relating to an improved auto save function. The invention described in the same publication is an invention in which files to be subjected to auto-save are limited to truly necessary backup files. More specifically, only files that are compilable and executable among the files that have been candidates for auto-save are subjected to auto-save. As a result, it is said that the memory capacity can be reduced and the file management can be made more efficient.

[0006] Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-60075 discloses that
A document processing device having a document recovery function is shown. The document processing device described in the same publication, when terminated without registering the document data, when overwriting and registering the original document data, the document data that was not registered or the document data that was erased by overwriting It has a function to save automatically. Then, it is described that the automatically saved document data can be called in accordance with a user's instruction, and the document data can be recovered.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-153093 discloses an invention relating to a document processing apparatus. According to the invention described in the same publication, when shifting to a multi-document editing mode for editing a plurality of documents, it is possible to exchange document data so that data to be stored is not erased. A possible document processing device is realized.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-179975 describes an invention relating to a file processing system. The file processing system described in the above publication saves the storage period information of the data file and the file creation date information together with the data file, and automatically stores the data file when the storage period of the file has elapsed. Has the function of deleting. As a result, it is described that the storage capacity of the recording medium can be effectively used.

Japanese Patent No. 2540750 discloses an invention relating to a data input device. The data input device described in the publication is a device that temporarily stores input data in a memory and then writes the data to a file on an external storage device.

It has been conventionally known that this type of data input device automatically writes data to an external file at regular time intervals to cope with a sudden power failure or the like.
However, since the writing process is executed at regular intervals during data input, there is a problem in that the data input operation is interrupted.

Therefore, in the data input device described here, a mechanism has been proposed in which it is detected that the input user has interrupted data input, and data is written to an external file during the interrupt period. .

[0012]

As described above, the conventional automatic file saving function does not particularly consider whether or not there is a danger of the system going down when saving. However, since the saving of the file is performed in order to cope with the system down, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the danger of the system down.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic file saving method and a computer system in consideration of the risk of system down.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a function of automatically saving an unsaved file based on various signs of system failure. by this,
In the event of a system failure, you can minimize the damage by saving the created document files as much as possible.

More specifically, the present invention employs the following means. In order to achieve the above object, a method for automatically saving a file according to claim 1 of the present invention detects a parameter that may be a sign of a system failure in a method for automatically saving a data file on a computer system that handles the data file. Determining whether a parameter detected in the parameter detecting step indicates a system down sign. If the parameter indicates a sign of system down, an unsaved data file is stored in the storage unit. And a step.

With this configuration, the data file is saved when there is a sign of a system down.
The contents of the data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved.

Further, in the automatic file storing method according to the second aspect, the parameter detecting step is configured to detect the parameter at regular intervals. With such a configuration, when there is a sign of a system down, automatic saving is performed at regular intervals.

In the automatic file saving method according to a third aspect of the present invention, the parameter detecting step detects an unused free memory capacity as the parameter, and the saving step determines whether the unused free memory capacity is a predetermined capacity. When the number is smaller than the reference value, the configuration is such that it is determined that it indicates a sign of a system down.

It is empirically known that a system down is likely to occur when the available memory capacity is reduced. With such a configuration, a data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved.

In the automatic file storing method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the parameter detecting step detects a paging file amount as the parameter, and the storing step determines whether the paging file amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value. It is configured to determine that it indicates a sign of a system down.

It is empirically known that a system down is likely to occur when the amount of a paging file is reduced. Therefore, with such a configuration, a data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for automatically saving a file, the parameter detecting step detects a free space of the hard disk as the parameter, and the storing step includes a step of determining that the free space of the hard disk is smaller than a predetermined reference value. In such a case, the configuration is such that it is determined to indicate a sign of a system down.

It is empirically known that a system down is likely to occur when the free space of the hard disk becomes small. With such a configuration, a data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the file automatic saving method, the parameter detecting step detects a usage rate of a processor as the parameter, and the saving step includes determining that the usage rate of the processor is larger than a predetermined reference value. In such a case, the configuration is such that it is determined to indicate a sign of a system down.

It has been empirically known that a system down is likely to occur when the usage rate of the processor becomes high. With such a configuration, a data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the method for automatically saving a file, the parameter detecting step detects a surface temperature of the processor as the parameter, and the storing step includes the step of determining that the surface temperature of the processor is higher than a predetermined reference value. In such a case, the configuration is such that it is determined to indicate a sign of a system down.

It is empirically known that a system down is likely to occur when the surface temperature of the processor becomes high. With such a configuration, a data file immediately before the system down can be automatically saved. .

Further, in the automatic file storing method according to claim 8, the parameter detecting step detects a temperature inside a computer system housing as the parameter,
The storing step is configured to determine that a sign of a system down is indicated when the surface temperature inside the computer system housing is higher than a predetermined reference value.

It is empirically known that the system is likely to be shut down when the temperature inside the housing of the computer system becomes high. With such a configuration, the data file immediately before the system is shut down is automatically saved. Can be done.

[0030] The method for automatically saving a file according to claim 9 is configured to further include a setting step of setting the predetermined reference value by a user of the computer system. What values of various parameters are likely to cause a system down depends on each computer system. Therefore, if the configuration is such that the user can set the reference value for each computer system,
The data file immediately before the system down occurs can be automatically saved.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic file saving method, the parameter detecting step is executed by a program on the computer system detecting the parameter in the computer system at regular intervals. . If the above parameters are detected by a program, it is not necessary to newly provide hardware.

[0032] In the automatic file saving method according to the eleventh aspect, the program is a part of an operating system. In particular, if a part of the operating system is configured to detect the parameter, it is not necessary to create a special program other than the operating system.

[0033] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the program is an independent program separate from an operating system.
According to such a configuration, the parameter can be detected independently of the operation of the operating system.

A method for automatically saving a file according to a thirteenth aspect, wherein the parameter detecting step is executed by hardware constituting the computer detecting the parameter in the computer at regular intervals. . According to such a configuration, parameters can be detected without using software resources such as a memory, and therefore, there is no possibility that normal operations of the computer system will be affected.

A method of automatically saving a file according to claim 14, wherein the step of erasing the unsaved data file stored in the storage means when the handling of the data file is completed on the computer system,
Is further included. According to such a configuration, the data file does not wastefully occupy the storage area on the storage means.

[0036] In a file automatic saving method according to a fifteenth aspect, the storing step includes the step of:
It is configured to save with a single file name. Saving under a single file name means that the next auto-save will be performed to overwrite the previously auto-saved data file. By doing so, the storage capacity of the storage means can be saved.

[0037] Further, in the automatic file storage method according to a sixteenth aspect, the storing step includes the steps of:
It is configured to save with a different file name every time it is saved. Saving with a different file name means that a previously auto-saved data file remains without being overwritten. In this way, the data including the history of the data file can be automatically saved in the storage means.

[0038] In a file automatic saving method according to a seventeenth aspect, the saving step is performed by application software that handles the data file. Since the application software handling the data file determines the necessity of automatic storage, the data file can be automatically stored efficiently.

Further, in the automatic file saving method according to claim 18, the erasing step is performed by application software that handles the data file. Further, since the application software recognizes the end of the handling of the data file, if the application software deletes the automatically saved data file, the data file can be efficiently deleted.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the application software is a word processor program for handling a document file, and the data file is the document file. With such a configuration, the editing result in the middle can be automatically saved especially when a word file is being edited by a word processor.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the computer system handling data files, a parameter detecting means for detecting a parameter which may be a sign of a system down, and a parameter detected by the parameter detecting means being a sign of a system down. Is determined, and if the sign is indicated, a storage unit for storing the unsaved data file in the storage unit is included. With such a configuration, a computer system that can execute the above-described automatic storage method is obtained.

[0042]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment shows an example in which the operation is performed by program control. First, FIG.
1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer system to which a file automatic storage method according to an embodiment is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system includes a monitor unit 1, application software 2, and a storage unit 3. The monitor unit 1 monitors, at regular intervals, parameters such as the amount of free memory and other indicators that may indicate a system down. The monitor unit 1 may be configured by software or hardware. Moreover, you may comprise combining software and hardware. When configured by software, it is preferable to incorporate the software into a part of the operating system, or it may be configured as software independent of the operating system.

The monitor 1 executes a parameter detecting step of the present invention. Also, this monitor unit 1
Corresponds to the parameter detecting means of the present invention. Various parameters can be considered as parameters monitored by the monitor unit 1. For example, it is preferable to use the amount of free memory as a parameter. It is empirically known that if the amount of free memory becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the possibility of system down increases.

It is also preferable to use the amount of paging file as a parameter. It has been empirically known that when the paging file amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the possibility of a system failure increases. The paging file amount is the amount of the virtual memory swap file.

It is also preferable to use the free space of the hard disk as a parameter. It has been empirically known that if the free space of the hard disk becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the possibility of system down increases.

It is also preferable to employ, as parameters, the utilization rate of the processor, the surface temperature of the processor, the internal temperature of the computer system housing, and the like. It is also empirically known that if these values are equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the possibility of system down increases.

It is preferable that the user set the reference values for judging that these values indicate a sign of system down. It is because it is preferable to set a different reference value for each computer system because the actual value of the system down depends on the operating environment of each computer system.

The monitor unit 1 does not always monitor the parameters, but detects the parameters at regular time intervals and sends them to the application program 2. This is because if parameters are constantly monitored continuously, automatic saving of data files will occur continuously while the sign of a system failure is indicated, which may hinder normal operations of the computer system.

The application software 2 receives parameters sent from the monitor unit 1 at regular intervals as needed, and determines whether the parameters indicate a sign of a system down. If it is determined that the parameter indicates a sign of a system down,
The working data file is automatically saved in the storage unit 3.

The application software 2 executes the storing step of the present invention. The application software 2 corresponds to a storage unit of the present invention.

Whether or not a parameter indicates a sign of a system down is determined by comparison with a predetermined reference value, as described above. Application software 2
Is, for example, a word processor program. In this case, the data file is a document data file.

When the handling of the data file by the application software 2 is completed, the data file automatically saved in the storage unit 3 is deleted (deleted). This deletion is performed by the application software 2 as part of the termination processing. This erasing process corresponds to the erasing step of the present invention.

The storage unit 3 is, for example, a hard disk drive, but any means may be used as long as the storage contents are not lost even if the system goes down. For example, it is also preferable to use a CD-R, MO, or other non-volatile memory.

Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step A1, the monitor unit 1 monitors the amount of free memory and other parameters that may be a sign of a system down. In step A2, each parameter is checked at regular time intervals and sent to the application software 2. In step A3, the application software 2 checks the parameters received from the monitor unit 1.

In step A4, it is determined whether or not the parameter indicates a sign of system down. If the parameter indicates a sign of system down, step A4 is executed.
The process proceeds to 5 and if no sign of a system down is indicated, the process proceeds to step A1. In step A1, the parameter is checked again after a certain period of time.

In step A 5, the application software 2 automatically saves the working data file in the storage unit 3.

The file name used in the automatic saving may be any file name as long as it can be recognized that the automatic saving is performed. Further, it is preferable that the file name to be used is changed every time automatic saving is performed, but the same file name may be used.

When the same file name is used, each time the file is automatically saved, the previously automatically saved file is overwritten. On the other hand, if the file name is changed for each automatic save operation, the previously automatically saved file remains without being overwritten. It is preferable that the user can freely set any of the processes. Regardless of the processing, when the application software 2 ends normally, all the files that have been automatically saved so far are deleted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Since the data file is automatically saved in consideration of a sign of a system down, data lost due to the system down can be further reduced.

[0062]

According to the present invention, even in the event of a system failure, an automatic file saving method and a computer system that can minimize damage by saving created document files and the like as much as possible can be obtained.

If the user can set a reference value indicating whether a parameter indicates a sign of a system down, an optimum reference value can be set for each computer system.

Further, since the application software saves the data file, the automatic saving of the data file can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a configuration of a computer system to which a file automatic storage method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a file automatic saving method according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 monitor section 2 application software 3 storage section

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A method for automatically saving a data file on a computer system handling a data file, comprising: a parameter detecting step of detecting a parameter which may be a sign of a system failure; and a parameter detected in the parameter detecting step. Determining whether or not indicates a sign of a system failure, and if the sign indicates, saving a data file that has not been saved in the storage means. 2. The file automatic storage method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter detection step detects the parameter at regular intervals. 3. The parameter detecting step detects an unused free memory capacity as the parameter, and the storing step includes, when the unused free memory capacity is smaller than a predetermined reference value, a sign of a system down. 2. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the file is stored. 4. The parameter detecting step detects a paging file amount as the parameter, and the storing step determines that a system down sign is indicated when the paging file amount is smaller than a predetermined reference value. 2. The file automatic saving method according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The parameter detecting step detects a free space of a hard disk as the parameter, and the storing step indicates a sign of a system down when the free space of the hard disk is smaller than a predetermined reference value. 2. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The parameter detecting step detects a usage rate of a processor as the parameter, and the saving step indicates a sign of a system down when the usage rate of the processor is larger than a predetermined reference value. 2. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein: 7. The parameter detecting step detects a surface temperature of a processor as the parameter, and the storing step indicates a sign of a system down when the surface temperature of the processor is higher than a predetermined reference value. 2. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The parameter detecting step detects a temperature inside the computer system casing as the parameter, and the storing step includes: when the surface temperature inside the computer system casing is higher than a predetermined reference value. 2. The file automatic saving method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the down sign is present. 9. The automatic file saving method according to claim 3, further comprising: a setting step of setting the predetermined reference value by a user of the computer system. 10. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter detecting step is executed by a program on a computer system detecting the parameter in the computer system at regular intervals. . 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the program is a part of an operating system. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the program is an independent program separate from an operating system. 13. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter detecting step is executed by hardware constituting the computer detecting the parameter in the computer at regular intervals. . 14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: erasing an unsaved data file saved in the storage means when the handling of the data file is completed on the computer system. How to save files automatically. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the saving step saves the data file under a single file name. 16. The automatic file saving method according to claim 1, wherein the saving step saves the data file with a different file name every time the data file is saved. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step is performed by application software that handles the data file. 18. The automatic file saving method according to claim 14, wherein the erasing step is executed by application software that handles the data file. 19. The file automatic saving method according to claim 17, wherein the application software is a word processor program for handling a document file, and the data file is the document file. 20. A computer system for handling a data file, comprising: a parameter detecting means for detecting a parameter which may be a sign of a system down; and determining whether or not the parameter detected by the parameter detecting means indicates a sign of a system down. And a storage unit for storing the unsaved data file in a storage unit when an indication is given.