JP2001034486A - System for starting task - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load of a computer by obtaining only the set of desired data at a use side by judging synchronicity between data belonging to plural data items necessary at the time of starting a task. SOLUTION: Data changing according to a time are stored in an internal storage part 14 for each item, and at the same time, together with a time mark and a synchronicity judging period, is managed by a data management program 11. At the time of reading data from the internal storage part 14 at the time of task start necessitating plural parameters, the synchronicity of the necessary parameters is judged by the data management program 11. The validity/ invalidity of the task start is judged based on the judged result, and the task start, an inquiry for the origin of the storage of task necessary data, and waiting for the writing of the task necessary data, and the interruption of the task start processing or the like is operated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention determines the synchronism between data of a plurality of data items when a task requires data of the plurality of data items in a system generated from a processing device in which the data is distributed. The present invention also provides a synchronization determination method that does not depend on changes in the system structure. Further, a method is provided in which the data use side can obtain data desired by the use side by enabling the synchronization determination between the data of a plurality of data items based on the determination criteria of the task. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for calling stored data, for example, there is a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-237209. According to this method, a data expiration date is set, and at the time of calling, a data storage computer is accessed and updated only when the expiration date has passed, thereby reducing the network load. The operation of this system is as shown in FIG.
When requesting necessary data to the cache management unit 32, a determination is made on the basis of information such as the expiration date of the data stored in the cache management table 33, and if the data in the application computer 34 is valid. For example, data is called from the cache storage unit 35,
If not valid, the data is called from the data storage computer 36 via the network 37. With such a method, the application program 31 can use the latest value of data without increasing the network load.

[0003]

For example, when processing is performed using various sensor data discretely generated in a plant, the latest value of the data of a necessary data item is updated using the above-described method. get. Here, it is desired that information in a plant that performs processing using various sensor data can be used, for example, in a higher-level management system that performs quality management and the like in addition to being used in processing related to control. In addition, many kinds of products are made on the same line, and many control items change depending on various factors such as cost and other factors in the control process, and unique control items are set. Because it is difficult to do so, it is necessary to have an environment where information can be used in various ways and easily. Conventionally, data acquisition is prevented by a method of reading data in a short cycle or a method of setting a start condition for a necessary data item on an application side, thereby avoiding an omission of necessary data. However, in order to satisfy the above requirements, the former method has various usages, so that, for example, many applications according to each usage purpose exist at the same time, and the efficiency in consideration of other processing is considered. This method, which cannot perform a general process, places a large load on a computer. Also, in the latter method, since the usage method is diversified, there are many changes in the setting of the starting conditions and new settings on the application side, and it is necessary to change and set the application structure each time. Need. In addition to these, in the above-mentioned system, since the system is frequently modified, it is necessary to easily add a computer for generating data.

In such a system, when there is a data generation sequence 71 of the sensor A and a data generation sequence 72 of the sensor B as shown in FIG. By judging that there is a relationship and not passing the combination 74 to the task when starting the task, but passing only the combination 73, the load on the computer can be reduced and efficient processing can be performed. In the cache management method shown in the above prior art, in order to consider the relationship between data as described above, it is necessary to newly build an application suitable for the system configuration. It is necessary to remodel the application. Therefore, the influence range of the system modification becomes wide. As described above, in the method of reading a plurality of parameters from the data storage location and activating the task, when the synchronization of those parameters is considered in order to reduce the load on the computer, a large number of man-hours are required for system modification. There was a point. In addition, on the data consumer side,
In order to newly acquire only the data desired by the user, there was also a problem that a system modification such as a change in an application structure was required.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem in the prior art, it is possible to determine the synchronization between data belonging to a plurality of data items necessary at the time of task activation, and to obtain only a desired data set desired by the user. By doing so, the object is to reduce the load on the computer. At the same time, it is another object of the present invention to provide a task starting method that can easily add a computer or the like that generates data.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for acquiring only data desired by a user by performing a synchronization determination based on a determination criterion of the user without modifying the system.

[0006]

According to the task activation method of the present invention, a computer that stores a plurality of data and a computer that uses the data are connected to a common transmission medium, and a computer on the user side is used. In the above, when data is transmitted from a computer storing the data and changes with time, the data is stored in a storage device together with a data generation time and a data write time for each data item at the time of data reception.

Further, at the time of reading data at the time of starting a task, a plurality of data items are read out based on a set evaluation criterion by using a time period obtained from a synchronization determination period, a data generation time, and a data write time. The synchronization determination between the data belonging to the data items is performed, and based on the result, appropriate data reception standby, immediate activation of the task, interruption of the task activation, and the like are performed. , Based on the determination result. In particular, in the synchronization determination, it is possible to set a synchronization determination period of a parameter necessary for the synchronization determination based on the evaluation criterion of each task for each task.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration to which the present invention is applied. A data storage computer 1 that stores program processing data and data such as managed sensors is connected to a transmission medium 3. There is a data utilization computer 2 that acquires the data of the data storage computer via the transmission medium 3. Here, the data storage computer and the data use computer need not necessarily be different computers, but may be the same computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a software configuration inside the data storage computer 1. Internal processing program 51
Indicating the result of the processing described above, or data obtained from the sensor 55 via the transmission medium 56 using the transfer memory is written into the internal storage 52 via the internal storage management program 53. When writing data, a data write time 42 is written together with the data 41 for each item as shown in FIG. The data 41 and the data write time 42 are transmitted via the transmission medium 3 through the communication management 54 when the internal storage management program 53 writes the data, periodically, or when requested by the data use program. To the data utilization computer 2. Here, as the transmission method, any method such as broadcast communication in which the receiving side selectively receives data without specifying the receiving node, and one-to-one communication in which the address of the receiving node is specified and transmitted may be used.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration inside the data utilization computer. The data management program 11 records processing data of the internal processing program 12 in its own node and data received via the transmission medium 3 processed by the communication management 13 in the internal storage 14 and reads out the recorded data. . Here, when broadcast communication in which a receiving node is not specified as a communication method is used, the communication management 13 also performs a process of determining whether to selectively receive a message. The data held in the internal storage 14 is indicated in the item table 17 by the storage destination address. In the item table 17, a plurality of temporally different data exist for each item which is a data item. The time when this data was generated and the time when it was written to the internal storage 14 are stored in the item table 17 for each data, and the item name for each item. The item table 17 also stores a synchronization determination period that is a range before and after a reference time used when determining synchronization. Here, the data generation time or the data write time is set by the data management program 11 or the activation program 15 as the reference time. The parameter management table 18
In, the setting of parameters, which are necessary data items for each task, and the setting of the parameter synchronization determination period are performed for each task. When the task starts, the synchronization determination between the necessary parameters is performed based on the contents of the parameter management table. Is performed. Reference numeral 15 denotes an activation program that activates the task 16 based on the data recorded in the internal storage 14 and the synchronization determination result by the data management program 11.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the item table 17 of the data management program 11. In this figure, an example is shown in which a synchronization determination period 22 indicating a time used for determining synchronization with another item is set for each item. The item table 17 stores a plurality of data for each item. Elements stored for each item are an item name 21 indicating an identifier of each item, a synchronization determination period 22, and a plurality of data of the item. An address 24 at which data is stored, a data generation time 23 indicating the time at which the data was generated by the processing program or the sensor data was recorded, and a write time 25 indicating the time at which the data was written to the internal storage 14 were defined for each data. Is stored in the item table 17. Note that a format in which the time width before and after the reference time is independently stored in the determination regarding the synchronization determination period may be used.

As for the format of the item table 17, there are the following formats. First, there is a form in which the storage unit has a ring shape, and a determination is made as to whether or not overwriting is possible in accordance with the capacity of the entire item. Further, there is a form in which the storage unit is formed in a ring shape for each item, and whether or not overwriting is possible is performed according to the capacity of each item. There is also a form in which elements in the item table 17 are deleted as time passes.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the parameter management table 18. The parameter management table 18 roughly includes items of a task name 61, an item name 62, and a synchronization determination period 63. In the item name 62, the items are divided for each item. For each task, items necessary for starting the task and unnecessary items are shown. At the same time, in the synchronization determination period 63, if it is necessary to set the synchronization determination period of the item for each task, the synchronization determination period is stored.
Is stored. FIG. 10 also shows an example in which the management program 11 retains the reference time 64 for each task and the set value of the post-processing 65 when NG is obtained as a return value in the synchronization determination processing. The reference time 64 and the post-processing 65 can be set by either the activation program 15 or the data management program 11.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, it is assumed that the task 16 is activated by using data of a plurality of items recorded in the internal storage 14. FIGS. 4 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the synchronization determination process between data stored in the internal storage 14 performed by the data management program 11, and the flow of the synchronization determination process differs depending on the activation method.

The task 16 is activated by the activation program 15 or periodically by an internal processing mechanism of the data management program 11. In these cases, first, the data management program 11 acquires a plurality of item names required for task activation from the parameter management table 18 based on the task names, and uses this as an identifier to determine the synchronization between the items. Do. Also, parameter management table 1
If the required parameter setting value of the synchronization determination period 63 in 8 is not -1, the synchronization determination period 63 is acquired for each item. Here, for items for which the synchronization determination period 63 is not obtained, the item table 1
7, the synchronization determination period 22 of the item is obtained. In these types of task activation, the data management program 11 determines the synchronization of the data in the internal storage 14 in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the data management program 11 executes the data management program 11 or the activation program 1 in ST11.
Waiting for writing of data of a required item for a certain period of time from an arbitrary determination time set by 5. Here, the certain time reflects the setting of the reference time of the required item. This reference time can be set, for example, by acquiring the reference time 64 of the parameter management table 18 by the data management program 11. Here, the data generation time 23 and the data writing time 25 can be set as the reference time. In the case where the reference time is the data generation time 23, the certain time is an assumed delay time when data delay is considered for each item, and immediately when evaluation is not performed at a relative time. In the case of the data write time 25, a value specifying a range temporally before the reference time of the synchronization determination period is shown. If the time after the lapse of a predetermined time from the determination time is earlier than the current time, the standby is not performed. When the data generation time 23 is mainly used as the reference time, for example, in a system where it is difficult to set routine processing in advance, for example, in a system in which the user side evaluates past states interactively, For example, when a defect occurs. When the data write time 25 is used as the reference time, it is mainly the case of sequential data processing for processing in control that can be determined in advance in a manufacturing line or the like. Next, first, in ST12, it is checked whether or not data of a required item exists by referring to the item table 17. Next, in ST13, the presence or absence is determined. If data exists for all items, the process proceeds to ST14. However, if even one item has no data, this process returns NG and terminates the synchronization determination process.
In ST 14, a reference time is obtained from the item table 17 for each item of data required for task activation. Next, a synchronization determination is performed in ST15.

In ST15, it is first checked for each data whether or not the determination time exists within the time width derived from the reference time and the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 63. Here, if there is at least one piece of data in which the time width of the data includes the determination time in all the required items, the data management program 11 reads the data value from the internal storage 14 using the address 24 shown in the item table 17. The data is passed to the task 16 to be activated, and the task is activated. Here, when there are two or more data satisfying the determination condition in the determination process of ST15, only the data required by the task to be started is passed. At the same time, GOOD is returned from this process, and the synchronization determination processing ends. However, in any data of any one required item, the reference time and the synchronization determination period 2
If there is no determination time in the time width of the synchronization determination period derived from 2 or the synchronization determination period 63, NG is returned, and the synchronization determination process ends. Here, in the synchronization determination, an evaluation may be performed using a relative time in consideration of a data delay for each item. Or,
In the synchronization determination at the time of task activation by the activation program 15, a determination time can be set for each item.

The processing performed after the synchronization determination processing is completed and NG is returned can be set by, for example, acquiring the post-processing 65 of the task in the parameter management table 18 by the data management program 11. It is. First, there is no conformance data in the synchronization judgment, but what is performed when each required item has at least one data, except for the conformance data, using the latest value of each item, as a parameter to the startup task as a parameter It is a way to pass. Next, when the NG is returned, the task activation can be unconditionally interrupted. Alternatively, there is also a process of waiting until writing suitable data by the synchronization determination. In addition, it is possible to make an inquiry about a data write source. The setting conditions are NG
Can be set so as to determine the processing to be performed depending on the factor. Of these conditions, in the start-up data write waiting process and the data write source inquiry process, if data write occurs, the data synchronization determination process is performed again. Further, it is also possible to change the above-mentioned setting conditions according to the number of times of the synchronization determination processing in the process.

For task activation by these methods,
Prior to the task activation, the suppression item synchronization determination processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is also performed for each task or for the suppression item data set as the entire processing computer. Here, the data management program 11 acquires the synchronization determination period 63 of the suppressed item from the parameter management table 18 unless the setting of the synchronization determination period 63 of the suppressed item is −1.
Here, if the synchronization item determination period 63 of the suppressed item is not obtained, then the synchronization item determination period 22 of the suppressed item is obtained from the item table 17. The procedure for determining the synchronization of data in the internal storage 14 by the data management program 11 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the synchronization determination of the suppression item is performed after the synchronization determination of the required data, this processing is immediately performed. Otherwise, the process waits until the predetermined time elapses from the determination time. Do. When determining the synchronization of the suppressed items, the data management program 11 first checks whether or not the data of the set suppressed items exists by referring to the item table 17 in ST21. Next, in ST22, it is determined whether or not the data of the suppression item exists, and if at least one data exists, the process proceeds to ST23. However, if no data exists, the synchronization item determination process returns NG and the synchronization determination process ends. When NG is returned, the task activation is not interrupted. ST
At 23, the reference time is obtained from each data belonging to the suppression item in the item table 17.
Next, in ST24, the synchronization of the suppression item is determined. In ST24, the reference time and the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 6
A check is made to determine whether or not the determination time exists within the time width derived from Step 3. Here, if the determination time is not included in the time width of any data of the suppression item, NG is returned, and the suppression item synchronization determination processing ends. However, if there is even one piece of data whose time width includes the determination time, GOOD is returned and the activation process of the task to be activated is interrupted.

Further, in some tasks, a task is started by writing data of an item set for each task. Here, the set item is set as a start item. In this case, the number of activation items set for each task may be plural, and the same item may be the activation item between tasks.
When data is written in the activation item, the data management program 11 starts activation processing for all tasks that set the item as the activation item. When the activation process is started, the data management program 11 obtains a plurality of item names 21 required for task activation from the parameter management table 18 based on the task names, and uses these as identifiers to determine the synchronization between the items. Is performed. At the same time, if the required parameter setting value of the synchronization determination period 63 in the parameter management table 18 is not -1, the synchronization determination period 63 is acquired for each item.
Here, for an item for which the synchronization determination period 63 has not been obtained, the synchronization determination period 22 of the item is subsequently obtained from the item table 17. In this type of task activation, the data management program 11 performs a synchronization determination process between data stored in the internal storage 14 according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the synchronization determining process, the data management program 11 first obtains a reference time from the item table 17 for each item of data required for task activation in ST31. Here, the reference time indicates either the data generation time 23 or the data write time 25. When the data management program 11 obtains the reference time 64 of the parameter management table 18, which time is the reference time Can be set. Next, a synchronization determination is performed in ST32.

In ST32, first, the reference time and the time width derived from the synchronization judgment period 22 or the synchronization judgment period 63 and the writing of the start item are performed for each item data required for task start other than the start item. It is checked whether there is an overlap between the reference time of the data and the time width derived from the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 63. If there is at least one item for which there is no overlapping data, the process proceeds to ST34 and the process described below is performed. Otherwise, proceed to ST33, and for all items,
Returns GOOD if there is no possibility of writing data that has a longer overlap than the currently overlapping data,
The synchronization determination processing ends. If any of the items required for task activation has a possibility that data having a longer overlap than the currently overlapped data may be written, the process proceeds to ST36. The ST 36 waits for data writing until the possibility disappears. ST
At 36, it is also possible to proceed to ST37 when all the items have been written. Next, in ST37, it is determined whether or not data writing has been performed during standby. If data writing has been performed, the process returns to ST32, and the synchronization determining process of ST32 is performed again. If the data has not been written during standby, GOOD is returned, and the synchronization determination processing ends. Here, when there is a plurality of pieces of data that overlap in the time width of the data and the time width of the write data of the activation item in all the necessary items, the data having a long overlap is selected. Then, the data management program 11 reads these data from the internal storage 14 using the address 24 shown in the item table 17. Here, in the synchronization determination, an evaluation may be performed using a relative time in consideration of data delay for each item.

In ST34, the process waits for data writing of an item for which no data satisfying the search condition exists. This waiting time is a time until there is a possibility that data overlapping the time width of the activation item and the time width of the data of the item may be written. When writing is performed for all the items, the next ST35 is executed. The process proceeds to. Also, when the standby time within the above range has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next ST35. In ST35, it is determined whether or not all data writing of the item has been performed. If all data has been written, the process returns to ST32, and the synchronization determining process of ST32 is performed again. If even one of the items has not been written, NG is returned and the synchronization determination processing ends.

The processing to be performed after the synchronization determination processing is completed and NG is returned is set by, for example, acquiring the post-processing 65 of the task in the parameter management table 18 by the data management program 11. Can be done. First, there is no conformance data in the synchronization judgment, but it is performed when each required item has at least one data, except for the conformance data, using the latest value of each item, as a parameter to the start task as a parameter It is a way to pass. Next, when the NG is returned, the task activation can be unconditionally interrupted. Alternatively, if the reference time is the data generation time 23, it is possible to wait for the data writing and make an inquiry about the data writing source. The setting conditions can also be set so that the processing to be performed is determined depending on each NG factor. Among these conditions, when data writing by inquiry processing to the data writing source or data writing by data writing standby occurs, data synchronization determination processing is performed again. Also, according to the number of times of the synchronization determination process in the process, it is also possible to change the above-described setting conditions. The synchronization determination processing of the suppression item is performed for each time or for the data of the suppression item set as the entire processing computer. After waiting until there is no possibility that data overlapping with the reference time of the write data of the activation item and the time width derived from the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 63 will not be written to the suppression item, FIG. Synchronization determination processing of the suppression item as shown in the flowchart is performed. In the suppression item synchronization determination process, the data management program 11 acquires the suppression item synchronization determination period 63 from the parameter management table 18 unless the setting of the suppression item synchronization determination period 63 is −1. Here, if the synchronization item determination period 63 of the suppressed item is not obtained, then the synchronization item determination period 22 of the suppressed item is obtained from the item table 17. The procedure for determining the synchronization of data in the internal storage 14 by the data management program 11 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When determining the synchronism of the suppression item, the data management program 11 first refers to the item table 17 in ST21 to check whether the data of the set suppression item exists.
Next, in ST22, it is determined whether or not the data of the suppression item exists, and if at least one data exists, the process proceeds to ST23. However, if no data exists, the synchronization item determination process returns NG and the synchronization determination process ends. When NG is returned, the task activation is not interrupted. In ST23, a reference time is obtained from each data belonging to the suppression item in the item table 17. Here, the reference time is either the data generation time 23 or the data write time 25, and the data management program 11 obtains the value of the reference time 64 of the parameter management table 18 to determine which time is the reference time. It is possible to set whether to use the time. Next, in ST24, the synchronization of the suppression item is determined. In ST 24, the reference time and the synchronization determination period 22
Alternatively, it is checked whether there is an overlap between the time width derived from the synchronization determination period 63, the reference time of the write data of the activation item, and the time width derived from the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 63. Is performed. Here, if no overlap exists for any data of the suppression item, NG is returned, and the synchronization determination processing of the suppression item ends. However, if there is a piece of data whose time width overlaps with the time width of the write data of the activation item, GOOD is returned and the activation processing of the task to be activated is interrupted.

Further, when the task 16 is activated by the activation program 15, the activation program 15 or the data management program 11 also activates the task 16 even when the task is periodically activated by the internal processing mechanism of the data management program 11. In some cases, the synchronization determination period is set together with an arbitrary determination time that is set. When the activation process is started, the data management program 11 acquires a plurality of item names 21 required for task activation from the parameter management table 18 based on the task names, and uses these as identifiers for those items and the activation program 1.
5 or the synchronization determination between the determination time set by the data management program 11 and the determination time width obtained from the synchronization determination period. If the required parameter set value of the synchronization determination period 63 in the parameter management table 18 is not -1, the synchronization determination period 63 is also acquired for each item. Here, for an item for which the synchronization determination period 63 has not been obtained, the synchronization determination period 22 of the item is subsequently obtained from the item table 17. In the task activation of these methods, the data management program 11 performs a synchronization determination process between data stored in the internal storage unit 14 according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the synchronization determining process, the data management program 11 first obtains a reference time from the item table 17 for each item of data required for task activation in ST31. Here, the reference time indicates either the data generation time 23 or the data write time 25. For example, the data management program 11 sets the reference time 64 by acquiring the value of the reference time 64 in the parameter management table 18. I can do it. Next, a synchronization determination is performed in ST32.

In ST32, it is first determined whether or not there is an overlap between the reference time and the time width derived from the synchronism judgment period 22 or the synchronism judgment period 63 and the judgment time width for each data of the items necessary for the task activation. Is checked. If there is at least one item for which there is no overlapping data, the process proceeds to ST34 and the process described below is performed. If not, then ST3
Proceeding to step 3, if there is no possibility that data having a longer overlap than the currently overlapping data is written in all the items, GOOD is returned, and the synchronization determination processing ends. If any of the items required for task activation has a possibility that data having a longer overlap than the currently overlapped data may be written, the process proceeds to ST36. The ST 36 waits for data writing until the possibility disappears. ST3
In 6, it is also possible to proceed to ST37 as soon as the data writing of the item is completed. Next, in ST37, it is determined whether or not data writing has been performed during standby, and if data writing has been performed,
Returning to ST32, the synchronization determination process of ST32 is performed again. If the data of the item has not been written while waiting, GOOD is returned, and the synchronization determination processing ends. Here, if there is a plurality of pieces of data having an overlap in the data time width and the determination time width in all the necessary items, the data having a long overlap is selected. Then, the data management program 11 reads these data from the internal storage 14 using the address 24 shown in the item table 17. Here, in the synchronization determination, an evaluation may be performed using a relative time in consideration of data delay for each item. Alternatively, in the synchronization determination at the time of task activation by the activation program 15, it is also possible to set a determination time and a synchronization determination period for each item.

In ST34, the process waits for data writing of an item for which there is no data satisfying the determination condition. This standby time is a time until there is a possibility that data having an overlap between the determination time width and the time width of the data of the item is likely to be written. When all the items have been written, the processing proceeds to the next ST35. Advances. Also, when the standby time within the above range has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next ST35. In ST35, it is determined whether or not all data writing of the item has been performed. If all data has been written, the process returns to ST32, and the synchronization determining process of ST32 is performed again. If even one of the items has not been written, NG is returned and the synchronization determination processing ends.

The processing performed after the synchronization determination processing is completed and NG is returned can be set, for example, by acquiring the value of the post-processing 65 of the task in the parameter management table 18 by the data management program 11. It is possible. First, there is no conformance data in the synchronization judgment, but what is performed when each required item has at least one data, except for the conformance data, using the latest value of each item, as a parameter to the startup task as a parameter It is a way to pass. Next, when the NG is returned, the task activation can be unconditionally interrupted.
Alternatively, if the reference time is the data generation time, it is possible to perform a process of waiting for writing of compatible data based on the synchronization determination and an inquiry to a data writing source. The setting conditions can also be set so that the processing to be performed is determined depending on each NG factor. Of these conditions, in the start-up data write waiting process and the data write source inquiry process, if data write occurs, the data synchronization determination process is performed again. Further, it is also possible to change the above-mentioned setting conditions according to the number of times of the synchronization determination processing in the process.

Separately from the process of determining data synchronization between items necessary for task activation, the synchronization of the suppression item with the data of the suppression item set for each task or as a whole processing computer before the task activation. Sex determination processing is performed. After waiting until there is no longer a possibility that data overlapping with the determination time width is written to the suppression item, the suppression item synchronization determination processing as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed. Here, in the suppression item synchronization determination processing, the data management program 11 sets the suppression item synchronization determination period 63 from the parameter management table 18 unless the setting of the suppression item synchronization determination period 63 is −1. get. Here, if the synchronization item determination period 63 of the suppressed item is not obtained, then the synchronization item determination period 22 of the suppressed item is obtained from the item table 17. The procedure for determining the synchronization of data in the internal storage 14 by the data management program 11 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When determining the synchronization of the suppressed items, the data management program 11 first refers to the item table 17 in ST21 to check whether the data of the set suppressed items exists.
Next, in ST22, it is determined whether or not the data of the suppression item exists, and if at least one data exists, the process proceeds to ST23. However, if no data exists, the synchronization item determination process returns NG and the synchronization determination process ends. When NG is returned, the task activation is not interrupted. In ST23, the reference time is obtained from each data belonging to the suppression item in the item table 17. Here, the reference time is either the data generation time 23 or the data write time 25, and the activation program 15 or the data management program 11 sets which time is used as the reference time. For example, when the setting is performed by the data management program 11, the reference time can be set by acquiring the value of the reference time 64 of the parameter management table 18. next
In ST24, the synchronization of the suppression item is determined. ST
In 24, it is checked whether or not each data has an overlap between the reference time and the time width derived from the synchronization determination period 22 or the synchronization determination period 63 and the determination time width. Here, if no overlap exists for any data of the suppression item, NG is returned, and the synchronization determination processing of the suppression item ends. However, if there is a piece of data whose time width overlaps with the judgment time width, GOOD is returned,
The activation process of the task to be activated is interrupted.

In any of the activation methods, if the return value in the synchronization determination for all the parameters necessary for task activation as described above is GOOD and the return value for the synchronization determination of the suppression item is NG, The task is activated based on the data obtained by these. If the return value of the synchronization determination for the necessary parameter and the return value of the synchronization determination of the suppression item are both NG, the activation of the task is determined according to the setting.

Further, as a fourth embodiment, an application to a delivery sorting system for newspapers or the like which requires quick sorting as shown in FIG. 12 will be described. In FIG. 12, first, the newspapers printed at 81 are sent one by one to 82 for loading on a transmission path 83, and these are grouped at 82 into bundles for each delivery area, each of which has an ID meaning a delivery area. Is attached. These bundles are sent via a transmission line 83 to a loading point 84 on a truck for delivery. At 84, the truck is loaded on a truck for each delivery area indicated by the ID. In this system, there are a plurality of loading points 84 on the truck.

In the system to which the present invention is applied, when a newspaper is bundled in 82 and loaded into the transmission path 83, as shown in FIG. 13, an ID 91 indicating a delivery area, a loading time 92 in the transmission path and a synchronization A message consisting of the validity period 93 is transmitted to the computer 86 that manages the sensor 85. Here, the sensor 85 is a sensor that detects passage of a bundle of newspapers. Further, the computer 86 stores a destination of the truck and a stop position indicating at which end of the transmission path the vehicle stops. Regarding the relationship between the reaction time of the sensor 85 installed at the branch point to the transmission path for sending the luggage to the truck loading the newspaper in the delivery area corresponding to the ID 91 and the loading time to the transmission path, the loading time 9
2 and the synchronization validity period 93. If it is determined that there is synchronization, the ID is checked. If the bundle is a relevant bundle, the route is changed and sent to the transmission path to the track. Cargo trucks to be loaded. Here, to determine the synchronization, using the estimated arrival time at the branch point derived from the loading time to the transmission path and the transmission speed,
The determination is made based on the relative time. By adopting the above-described method, the computer 86, which aims to sort the bundle of newspapers into the corresponding trucks according to the delivery destination, can perform processing according to the position of the trucks. In addition, the number of loading points to the truck, the number of loading points to the transmission path, and the application change at the time of changing the location need only be changed at the expected arrival time, so that the man-hour required for the change is reduced. Further, since the ID recognizer does not need to read the ID when all the bundles pass, the processing load on the ID recognizer can be reduced. Furthermore, when a bundle of newspapers passes in front of an ID recognizer, the ID reading process does not have to be performed by all ID recognizers, so that quick sorting can be performed.

[0037]

According to the present invention, since the synchronization judgment period 22 or the synchronization judgment period 63 is attached to the data as a parameter, time-related data can be linked without considering the system configuration. The processing load on the computer can be reduced by passing it as a parameter to the task to be added and started.

Further, since there is little need to modify the application when modifying the system, such as when adding a data generation computer, the burden on system maintenance and design can be greatly reduced.

Further, on the data use side, by setting the synchronization judgment period 63, it is possible to set an evaluation criterion in the synchronization judgment for each task, so that only the data desired by the use side can be obtained without modifying the system. Acquisition can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram premised on this activation method.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the inside of a data utilization computer in which this activation method is used.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an item table called from inside a management program.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a synchronization determination process in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a synchronization item determination process of a suppression item.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a synchronization determination process in the second and third embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a conventional system configuration diagram that uses the latest value of data that changes with time.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an internal storage inside the data storage computer.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the inside of a data storage computer in which this activation method is used.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a parameter management table called from inside the management program.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a combination between sensor data.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a delivery sorting system.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a format of a message transmitted to a computer that manages a sensor when loading on a transmission path.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsumi Kono 1099 Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term in Hitachi, Ltd. System Development Laboratory (Reference) 5B098 AA10 FF01 GA04 GC17 GC18

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a distributed computer system in which a computer having a storage device is connected to a common transmission medium and data is exchanged with each other, a data providing side attaches a time when the data is generated to the data and transmits the data. The side using the data receives the data transmitted from the data providing side, stores the received data in the storage device together with the identifier indicating the data item, the time when the data occurred, and the time when the data was obtained, at the time of task activation, Using the period for determining the synchronism between the data of a plurality of data items stored in the storage device required for starting the task, using the period, determining the most suitable data for each data item required for starting the task, Task start method to pass those data to