JP2003223342A - Information storage managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage a space area where files can be stored. <P>SOLUTION: When this information storage managing device is provided with a plurality of storage devices M1-Mi, those storage devices M1-Mi are grouped into one volume, and a server device 2 is provided with volumes 1-3 and a volume data managing part 21 for storing and managing the corresponding relation of the total dead capacity and total dead capacity rate of the storage devices belonging to those volumes 1-3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information storage management device used in, for example, a data broadcasting system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed a system in which a broadcasting station has a data broadcasting function in addition to a television broadcasting function and which transmits programs such as video, music, and data.

By the way, since the above system handles a wide variety of programs on a large number of channels, a number of storage devices corresponding to the channels handled by the broadcasting station are required, and storage devices are added. In this case, the user must be aware of which storage device to store the required file and store it.

When storing a file in a storage device, the user must confirm the free space of the storage device.

For this reason, as the number of storage devices increases, it takes a lot of time and labor to complete the storage of files, and the burden on the user increases.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional system, when a multi-channel file is handled, the number of storage devices increases, so much time and labor are required to complete the storage of the file. This will increase the burden on the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information storage management device capable of managing a free area capable of storing a file, thereby shortening the time required for storing the file and reducing the labor of the user. It is in.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) An information storage management device including a plurality of storage devices each having a function of storing information,
A feature is provided that includes volume data management means for managing information indicating a plurality of volumes configured by dividing a plurality of storage devices and information indicating a total free area of all storage devices belonging to these volumes in association with each other. And

According to the invention of (1), when there are a plurality of storage devices, these are grouped into one volume, and this volume is associated with the total free area of all the storage devices belonging to the volume. It is possible to specify the volume at which the file is stored. Therefore, it is possible to limit the storage device to be used for each volume, and to clarify the storage area for each file.

(2) When a server device connected via a communication network is further provided, the volume data management means is provided in the server device.

According to the invention of (2), a table in which a volume and a total free area of all storage devices belonging to the volume are associated with each other can be collectively stored in the server device.

(3) It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying an empty area for each volume managed by the volume data management means.

According to the invention of (3), since the free area for each managed volume is displayed, the user or the administrator can grasp the free area by looking at the displayed contents.

(4) When a storage request for information occurs,
It is characterized by further comprising storage control means for referring to the volume data management means and storing the requested information in the storage device belonging to the volume having the largest free area.

According to the invention of (4), by sending a storage request for information from an arbitrary terminal device, the requested information can be automatically stored in the storage device having the largest free area.

(5) An alarm output means is further provided for notifying an alarm to the outside when the free area for each volume managed by the volume data management means becomes less than a predetermined value.

According to the invention of (5), when the free area for each volume becomes extremely small, an alarm may be sent to the outside to notify the user. By doing so, the user can immediately know that there is no free space in the storage device, and thus it is possible to quickly take measures such as deleting unnecessary files.

(6) When the vacant area of the volume to be alarmed managed by the volume data management means becomes a predetermined value or more while the alarm is output by the alarm output means, the alarm output means outputs the alarm It is characterized by further comprising alarm stopping means for stopping the output, and return information notifying means for notifying the return information to the outside after stopping the output of the alarm by the alarm stopping means.

According to the invention of (6), the output of the alarm is automatically stopped and the return information is sent out when the free area of the volume to be alarmed exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, when a file is deleted or the like and the free space becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the user is promptly informed that the recovery has been made without waiting for the recovery operation of the maintenance staff.

(7) Backup destination data storage means for storing information indicating a backup destination of information stored in a storage device belonging to each of a plurality of volumes, and a request for backing up information stored in any storage device If a backup occurs, the backup destination of the information stored in the arbitrary storage device is referred to from the backup destination data storage device, and a backup control device for performing control related to backup based on the reference result is further provided. Characterize.

According to the invention of (7), when there are a plurality of backup devices, the backup device and the volume are associated with each other, so that a backup device for backing up information stored in each storage device can be provided. Can be specified. Therefore, when backing up the contents of all storage devices at once, it is possible to limit the backup device to be used for each storage device, which makes it possible to perform backup in parallel, which significantly reduces the time. it can.

(8) It is characterized by further comprising update control means for updating the information indicating the free area corresponding to the volume of the volume data management means when the storage device is changed.

According to the invention of (8), for example, when a storage device is added or deleted for each volume,
Since the information indicating the free area of the corresponding volume is updated according to addition or deletion, it is possible to always update the latest information.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first internal system to which an information storage management device according to the present invention is applied.
It is a schematic block diagram which shows the embodiment of FIG.

This system is based on a LAN (Local Area Net).
work) 1. A plurality of terminal devices T1 to LAN1 are provided.
Tn and the alarm device AR are connected. The terminal devices T1 to Tn and the alarm device AR are all general-purpose devices such as personal computers.

A server device 2 is connected to the LAN 1. The server device 2 includes a plurality of storage devices M.
1 to Mi, the backup devices B1 to Bj, and the display device 3, the volume data management unit 21, the registration method storage unit 22, and the backup destination data storage unit 23.
The storage controller 24, the alarm output controller 25, the registration controller 26, and the backup controller 27.

Each of the storage devices M1 to Mi stores, for example, files relating to programs.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the volume data management unit 21 divides the storage devices M1 to Mi into volumes 1 to 3 and the total free capacity and total capacity of the storage devices belonging to these volumes 1 to 3. The correspondence with the free space rate is stored and managed together with the identification information of the storage device for each volume. The free capacity and the free capacity rate of each of the volumes 1 to 3 managed by the volume data management unit 21 are displayed on the display devices of the terminal devices T1 to Tn each time.

The registration method storage unit 22 stores the volumes 1 to 3 for each of the volumes 1 to 3, as shown in FIG. 3, for example.
Stores information indicating a registration method of the storage devices M1 to Mi.

The backup destination data storage unit 23 stores information indicating the backup destination of the files stored in the storage devices M1 to Mi belonging to each of the volumes 1 to 3, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

The storage control unit 24 receives the file storage request from the terminal devices T1 to Tn connected to the LAN 1 to the server device 2, and the volume data management unit 21.
By referring to the information managed by, the requested file is stored in the storage device M7 belonging to, for example, the volume 3 having the maximum free space or free space ratio.

The alarm output control unit 25 regularly monitors the free space or free space ratio of each of the volumes 1 to 3 managed by the volume data management unit 21, and when the value becomes less than the threshold value, the alarm information is output. Is sent to the alarm device AR to notify the outside. Further, in a state where the alarm information is being sent, when the free space or free space rate of the alarm target volumes 1 to 3 returns to a threshold value or more, the output of the alarm information is stopped and the alarm device AR is stopped. The return information is sent to notify the outside.

The registration control unit 26 refers to the registration method of the storage devices M1 to Mi for each of the volumes 1 to 3 from the information stored in the registration method storage unit 22, and controls the registration based on the reference result.

For example, when a request for backing up a file stored in the storage device M1 is made, the backup control unit 27 sets the backup destination of the file stored in the storage device M1 to the backup destination data storage unit 23. Reference is made from the stored information, and the file stored in the storage device M1 is backed up by the backup device B1 which is the backup destination based on the reference result.

The display device 3 has a volume data management unit 21.
The free capacity or free capacity rate of each of the volumes 1 to 3 managed by is displayed.

Next, various operations of the system configured as above will be described. (Registration operation of storage device to volume) Volume 1 to
The methods of registering the storage devices M1 to Mi in the memory device 3 are, for example, a method of automatically registering the storage devices M1 to Mi when the storage devices M1 to Mi start up, and a method of individually registering each of the storage devices M1 to Mi by a user's registration operation. There is a method of collectively registering a specific terminal device by an operator's registration operation.

If, for example, the storage devices M1, M2, M3 are started up, the server device 2 operates as follows.
The volume to which M1, M2, and M3 belong is searched from the registration method storage unit 22, and the registration method corresponding to this volume is determined. As a method of registering to the volume 1 to which the storage devices M1, M2, M3 belong now, a method of automatically registering at the time of startup is stored, and therefore the server device 2 causes the storage devices M1, M2, M3 to be activated at the time of startup thereof. Register to volume 1.

When a new storage device is desired to be added, it can be registered in the volume 3, for example, by an individual registration operation based on the storage information of the registration method storage section 22.

(File Storage Operation) It is assumed that, for example, the user of the terminal device T1 requests the server device 2 to store a file.

When the server device 2 receives the file storage request, it searches the volume data management unit 21 for a volume having the maximum free space or free space ratio, and determines a storage device belonging to this volume. Since the volume having the largest available capacity or the available capacity ratio is the volume 3, the file received from the terminal device T1 is stored in the storage device M7 belonging to the volume 3.

By doing so, the usage rates of the respective volumes are averaged.

(Backup Operation) In consideration of the load on the server device 2, backup is often performed at night when the usage rate is low. At night when the time is limited, the contents of all of the large-capacity storage devices M1 to Mi cannot be backed up at once.

Therefore, when backing up the files respectively stored in the storage devices M1, M2, M3, the server device 2 uses the information stored in the backup destination data storage unit 23 as the backup device B as the backup destination.
1 is determined, and the storage device M is added to the backup device B1.
The files stored in 1, M2 and M3 are backed up.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the server device 2 stores the correspondence relationships between the volumes 1 to 3 and the total free capacity and the total free capacity ratio of the storage devices belonging to these volumes 1 to 3. Volume data management unit 2
1 is provided.

Therefore, the server device 2 includes a plurality of storage devices M.
1 to Mi are connected, these storage devices M1 to M1
Mi is grouped into one volume, and the volumes 1 to 3 and all the storage devices M1 belonging to the volumes 1 to 3 are grouped.
~ Volumes 1 to 3 for storing files by associating with Mi total free space or total free space rate
Can be specified. Therefore, each volume 1
It is possible to limit the storage devices M1 to Mi to be used for each of the three, so that the area to be stored for each file can be clarified.

In the first embodiment, since the free space or free space ratio of each of the volumes 1 to 3 managed by the server device 2 is displayed on the display device 3, the user or the administrator can It is possible to grasp the free space or the free space ratio by looking at the display contents on the display 3 or the terminal devices T1 to Tn.

In the first embodiment, when the server device 2 receives a file storage request from the terminal devices T1 to Tn, the information managed by the volume data management unit 21 is referred to, A storage control unit 24 for storing the requested file is provided in the storage device belonging to the volume having the maximum free capacity or the free space ratio. Therefore, by sending a storage request for a file from the terminal device T1 to the server device 2, the requested file can be automatically stored in the storage device having the largest free space.

Further, in the first embodiment, the server device 2 is provided with the alarm output control section 25, so that the free capacity or the free capacity rate of each of the volumes 1 to 3 becomes less than the threshold value. Alarm device AR
An alarm is sent to the user and the user is notified. For this reason,
The user can immediately know that there is no free space in the storage devices M1 to Mi, so that it is possible to quickly take measures such as deleting unnecessary files. Then, when the free capacity or the free capacity rate of the volume 1 to be alarmed returns to the threshold value or more, the output of the alarm is automatically stopped and the return information is sent. Therefore, when the free space or the free space ratio becomes equal to or higher than the threshold value due to the deletion of files, the user is promptly notified that the recovery is performed without waiting for the maintenance operation of the maintenance staff. .

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the server device 2 is provided with the backup destination data storage unit 23 and the backup control unit 27, and a plurality of backup devices B1 are provided.
By providing the storage devices B1 to B3, the backup devices B1 to B3 for backing up the files stored in the storage devices M1 to Mi can be specified. For this reason,
When the contents of all the storage devices M1 to Mi are backed up at once, it is possible to limit the backup devices B1 to B3 to be used for each of the storage devices M1 to Mi, so that the backups can be performed in parallel. , Can save a lot of time.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a second internal system to which the information storage management device according to the present invention is applied.
It is a schematic block diagram which shows the embodiment of FIG. Note that, in FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG.

The LAN 1 is connected to the Internet INW via the router RT, and is further connected to the server device SV from the Internet INW.

The server device SV includes a plurality of storage devices M1 to M1.
Mi and backup devices B1 to Bj, a volume data management unit 41, and a registration method storage unit 4
2, a backup destination data storage unit 43, a storage control unit 44, an alarm output control unit 45, and a registration control unit 46.
And a backup control unit 47.

These volume data management unit 41, registration method storage unit 42, backup destination data storage unit 43, storage control unit 44, alarm output control unit 45, registration control unit 4
6 and the backup control unit 47 are the same as the volume data management unit 21, the registration method storage unit 22, the backup destination data storage unit 23, the storage control unit 24, the alarm output control unit 25, the registration control unit 26, and the backup control unit 27. Since it has a function, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the operation of the system configured as described above will be described. When storing a file, the user uses the terminal device T1 to access the Internet IN.
The server device SV is accessed via W and the necessary items regarding file storage are input. The necessary items to input are the file to be stored and the IP address assigned to the terminal device T1 from the Internet INW. Then, when the input of these necessary items is completed, a file storage request including these pieces of information is transmitted to the server device SV.

Upon receiving the file storage request, the server device SV searches the volume data management unit 41 for a volume having the maximum free space or free space ratio, and determines the storage device belonging to this volume. Then, based on the determination result, the file included in the file storage request is stored in the storage device belonging to the volume having the maximum free space or the free space ratio.

When the storage of the file is completed, the server device SV sends the information indicating the completion to the terminal device T1 for display.

The display of volume data, alarm notification, backup, etc. can be carried out in the same procedure as the file storing operation just by accessing the server SV.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
Information indicating the correspondence between a volume and the total free area of all storage devices belonging to the volume is stored in the Internet INW.
It is possible to centrally store and manage in the upper server device SV, and for example, it is not necessary to provide a management device or the like in a department, so that cost reduction can be achieved.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the volume data management unit, the registration method storage unit, the backup destination data storage unit, the storage control unit, the alarm output control unit, the registration control unit, and the backup control unit are provided in the server device has been described as an example. . But,
When the server device is not provided, each unit may be provided in the router or the terminal device.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, an example in which a plurality of storage devices are grouped and associated with a volume has been described. However, when a large-capacity storage device is provided, the storage area in the storage device may be divided and the divided area may be associated with the volume.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the registration procedure when adding a storage device has been described as an example, but even when a storage device is deleted, there is a free space corresponding to the corresponding volume in the volume data management unit. The capacity or the free capacity rate may be updated according to the deletion.

In addition, the gist of the present invention also relates to the system configuration, the storage contents of the volume data management unit, the storage contents of the registration method storage unit, the storage contents of the backup destination data storage unit, the control procedure of each control and its contents, etc. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope.

[0065]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an information storage management device that can manage a free area in which a file can be stored, thereby reducing the time required to store the file and the labor of the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of storage contents of a volume data management unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of stored contents of a registration method storage unit shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of stored contents of a backup destination data storage unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... LAN (Local Area Network), 2, SV ... server device, 3 ... Display, 21, 41 ... Volume data management unit, 22, 42 ... Registration method storage unit, 23, 43 ... Backup destination data storage unit, 24, 44 ... Storage control unit, 25, 45 ... Alarm output control unit, 26, 46 ... Registration control unit, 27, 47 ... Backup control unit, AR ... alarm device, B1 to Bj ... Backup device, INW ... Internet, M1 to Mi ... storage device, RT ... router, T1 to Tn ... Terminal devices.

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An information storage management device including a storage device for storing information, the information indicating a volume for specifying an area into which the storage area of the storage device is divided, and the information indicating a free area for each volume. An information storage management device comprising: volume data management means for managing and correlating with. 2. An information storage management device comprising a plurality of storage devices each having a function of storing information, the information indicating a plurality of volumes configured by dividing the plurality of storage devices, and the information in these volumes. An information storage management device, comprising: volume data management means for managing in association with information indicating a total free area of all storage devices to which it belongs. 3. A communication system comprising: a server device having the plurality of storage devices; and a communication terminal device which is connected to the server devices via a communication network and stores information in the plurality of storage devices. 3. The information storage management device according to claim 2, wherein the server device is provided with the volume data management means. 4. The information storage management device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a free area for each volume managed by the volume data management means. 5. A storage control for storing the requested information in an area belonging to a volume having the largest free area in the storage device by referring to the volume data management means when a storage request for the information is generated. The information storage management device according to claim 1, further comprising means. 6. When the information storage request is issued, the storage device further comprises storage control means for referring to the volume data management means and storing the requested information in the storage device belonging to the volume having the maximum free area. The information storage management device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising alarm output means for notifying an alarm to the outside when the free area for each volume managed by the volume data management means becomes a predetermined value or less. 4. The information storage management device according to any one of 3 to 3. 8. The alarm output means when the vacant area of the alarm target volume managed by the volume data management means is equal to or larger than a predetermined value while the alarm is output by the alarm output means. The alarm stop means for stopping the output of the alarm by the alarm stop means, and the return information notifying means for notifying the return information to the outside after the output of the alarm is stopped by the alarm stop means. Information storage management device described. 9. An information storage management device including at least one backup storage device, which stores information indicating a backup destination of information stored in an area belonging to each of a plurality of volumes in the storage device. When a request for backing up information stored in an area corresponding to an arbitrary volume in the storage device and a backup destination data storage means occurs, the backup destination of the information stored in the arbitrary area is The information storage management device according to claim 1, further comprising: a backup control unit that refers to the backup destination data storage unit and performs control related to backup based on the reference result. 10. An information storage management device comprising at least one storage device for backup, wherein backup destination data stores information indicating a backup destination of information stored in a storage device belonging to each of the plurality of volumes. When a request for backing up information stored in a storage unit and an arbitrary storage device occurs, the backup destination of the information stored in the arbitrary storage device is referred to from the backup destination data storage unit, 4. The information storage management device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a backup control means for controlling a backup based on the reference result. 11. The apparatus further comprises update control means for updating information indicating a free area corresponding to a corresponding volume of the volume data management means when the storage device is changed. The information storage management device according to claim 2. 12. The information storage management device according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the free space for each volume is at least one of a free space and a free space ratio.