JP2004013479A - Communication network and remote file access method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple communication network and a file access method for obtaining a favorable application response time and requiring no explicit synchronization of file update contents from a user at the terminal when the application function of the terminal connected to a LAN accesses a file stored in a file server inside the other LAN connected via an external network. <P>SOLUTION: When the application function on the terminal accesses the file stored in the file server, a local copy is stored in the terminal for various operations such as editing. At the same time, a session is established between the terminal and the file server, and when an application agent function matching the application function in the terminal carries out transmission with the application function via the session, an operation carried out on the file by the application function in the terminal is reflected on the file in the file server, and file contents are synchronized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention employs a file access method for remotely accessing a file (remote file) of a request destination communication device from a request source communication device in a distributed system in which a plurality of communication devices are connected by a communication network, and applied this method. Related to communication networks.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, communication networks represented by the Internet have been rapidly developing. Along with this, we use various terminals such as personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones to connect to a communication network operated by a network service provider (NSP), exchange emails, It is common to browse the World Wide Web (WWW).
[0003]
Also, a constant connection service to the communication network using various access technologies such as an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) and a cable television network has been provided.
[0004]
Considering that the always-on service will be further spread, it is necessary to construct a local area network (Local Area Network, LAN) in a house or the like and to constantly connect the local area network to the NSP network via a router or the like. Is expected to become more common. A terminal such as a PC or a personal digital assistant (PDA) is connected to the LAN, as well as a file server or the like that stores a remote file (common file) commonly accessed by a plurality of terminals.
[0005]
Conventionally, various types of files stored in a file server or the like are generally accessed only from terminals connected to the same LAN as the file server or the like. However, under the above-described circumstances, the user carries the terminal even when going out, and file access from an external network to a LAN to which the file server is connected, such as a public wireless LAN represented by a hot spot or the like. It is thought that the demand for will increase.
[0006]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a network in which a plurality of LANs such as the above-mentioned home LAN and wireless LAN are interconnected by the NSP network. The communication network 600 illustrated in FIG. 9 mainly includes an NSP network 500 that mainly provides a network connection service, and a plurality of LANs (Home in FIG. 9) connected to the NSP network 500 via a router 801 by wire or wirelessly. LAN: 300 and Visited LAN: 400) and another network 700 typified by another NSP network, a fixed telephone network, a mobile telephone network, etc., connected to the NSP network 500 via a gateway 802. ing.
[0007]
In FIG. 9, Home LAN: 300 is a LAN to which a certain terminal is normally connected. For example, when a certain person has built a home LAN at home and uses a terminal such as a personal computer that is normally connected to the home LAN, the Home LAN of the terminal is the home LAN. Visited LAN: 400 is all LANs other than the Home LAN. For example, when the user carries a PC connected to the in-home LAN and goes out, and connects to a public wireless LAN provided with a service at a cafe or an airport, the public wireless LAN is a Visited LAN.
[0008]
The home LAN: 300 is connected to a file server 100 having a file server function 101 and a storage 102 for storing common files and the like. At least one terminal 200 is connected to the HomeLAN: 300. The terminal 200 executes the installed application function 201, accesses the common file (remote file) stored in the storage 102 in the file server 100 by the file server function 101 of the file server 100, and Can be operated.
[0009]
In the network shown in FIG. 9, when the terminal 200 is connected to the Home LAN: 300, when the application function on the terminal accesses a file stored in the file server, The file may be directly accessed to read, change, and write. On the other hand, as a result of moving the terminal and being connected to the Visited LAN: 400 and accessing a common file in the file server 100 as a remote file, the following two methods can be considered.
[0010]
The first method is to directly access an access target file stored in the file server 100 as in the case where the terminal 200 is connected to the Home LAN: 300. This method has an advantage that the application function 201 on the terminal can perform file access in the same manner as when the terminal is connected to the Home LAN. However, on the other hand, in general, the access line connecting the LAN and the NSP network must be connected to the file server 100 via the NSP network 500 under the condition that the speed is low, so that the response time of the file access increases. However, there is a problem that comfortable file operations may be hindered. Further, since data is frequently transmitted and received on the NSP network 500, it leads to an increase in traffic of the NSP network 500, and in some cases, increases communication costs.
[0011]
The second method is that, when the terminal is connected to the Visited LAN: 400, the file to be accessed stored in the file server is acquired before the application function accesses the file, A local copy is stored in a local storage area (such as a hard disk drive) in the terminal, and the copy is accessed from an application function.
[0012]
According to the second method, since the file to be accessed is stored in the terminal as a copy, the problem that the response time in the first method increases can be solved. However, since the application function accesses (reads, edits, writes, etc.) the copy in the terminal, it synchronizes the contents of the master file on the file server 100 with the copy file in the terminal at an appropriate time. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform it and it is complicated.
[0013]
As a related art related to the present invention, although its use is different from that of the present invention, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-29766 (information service device based on the Internet WWW) discloses a technology relating to remote file access. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-106412 (File Editing System and Shared File Editing System) describes a technique relating to the operation of a shared file in a shared file system of a computer or a database system.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the conventional technology, and to solve a problem in which an application function in a terminal connected to a LAN is used for a file stored in a file server in another LAN connected via an external network. Communication network that achieves good application response time by using a local copy file when accessing, and eliminates the need for the user of the terminal to explicitly synchronize file update contents. And to provide a file access method.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the problem, in the invention according to claim 1, a file server that stores a remote file commonly accessed from a plurality of terminals, and an application that is connected to the file server via a network and operates the remote file In a network including a plurality of terminals equipped with functions, the file server has an application agent function for operating the remote file in correspondence with the application function of the terminal, and the application function of the terminal is the file function. When accessing the remote file in the server, the remote file is obtained from the file server, temporarily stored as a local file in a local storage area in the terminal, and the local file is stored in the application. Processing, the operation history corresponding to the processing is transmitted as an up message to the application agent function of the file server, and the application agent function of the file server is processed based on the operation history in response to the received message. Is executed on the remote file, and the completed process is transmitted to the terminal as a downlink message.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication network according to the first aspect, the file server further includes a session management function for controlling communication between the application agent function and a terminal, and each of the terminals includes the application application function. A session function for controlling communication between the function and the file server is further provided.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication network according to any one of the first and second aspects, when an application function in a terminal operates a local file, an operation history of each operation on the local file is recorded. In advance, the application function makes an operation request of a common file to the file server according to the operation history, triggered by a predetermined specific event.
[0018]
According to the invention described in claim 4, in the communication network according to any one of claims 1 and 2, when an application function in the terminal operates a local file, an operation history of each operation on the local file is recorded. In this case, the application function issues a remote file operation request to the file server in accordance with the operation history at a predetermined time interval.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the communication network according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the terminal implements a plurality of application functions, and the file server implements a corresponding plurality of application agent functions. I do.
[0020]
In each of the above communication networks, when a remote file is accessed from a terminal, the remote file is copied as a local file in the terminal, and by operating this local file, the response of the application is improved, and the operation history is stored. Then, the file is transmitted to the file server as appropriate, and the file server synchronizes the file by reflecting the operation of the terminal on the remote file. As a result, traffic between the terminal and the file server can be reduced, and the usability of the user can be improved.
[0021]
The method according to the present invention includes a file server for storing a remote file commonly accessed from a plurality of terminals, and an application function connected to the file server via a network to operate the remote file. A method for accessing a remote file in a network system including a plurality of terminals, wherein when the application function of the application execution terminal accesses the remote file in the file server, the terminal executes a predetermined process from the file server. Obtain a remote file, save it once as a local file in a local storage area in its own terminal, store an operation history of processing on the local file performed by the application function, and, at an appropriate time, The transmitted to the file server, in the file server performs the processing according to the operation history content received for the remote file, and transmits the executed processing to the terminal. As described in claim 7, the transmission of the operation history content to the file server may be performed at a predetermined specific event of the application function or at a predetermined time interval. .
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, when an application function on a terminal accesses a file stored in a file server, the file function acquires the file and stores it as a local copy in a local storage area in the access source terminal. Save and perform various operations such as editing on the copy. At the same time, a session is established between the session management function in the terminal and the session management function in the file server, and an application agent function corresponding to the application function in the terminal is activated in the file server. Thereafter, information about various operations performed by the application function on the terminal on the file copy is transmitted / received between the application function and the application agent function via the session established between the session management functions, so that the information in the terminal is transmitted to the terminal. The operation performed on the file by the application function is reflected on the file in the file server, and the file contents are synchronized.
[0023]
In order to manage a session for transmitting and receiving information between the application function and the application agent function, a session management function is provided in the terminal and the file server. The session management function is a session used by the called user of the session (mainly the application agent function in the file server) in response to a request from the calling user of the session (mainly the application function in the terminal). Establishes and disconnects sessions with management functions.
[0024]
In addition, the session management function includes a call receiving user of the session (an application agent function corresponding to the calling user) according to a request from a calling user of the session (mainly, an application function in the terminal). Can be activated and terminated, and the use of the same session by multiple calling and called users can be supported. Further, the session management function transmits a message including the content of the file operation to the called user in response to a request from the calling user, and transfers the message from the received message to the called user. A process for extracting the operation content of the file to be performed is performed.
[0025]
An application agent function is provided in the file server in addition to the session management function. The application agent function is paired with the application function in the terminal, and operates the corresponding file stored in the file server according to the file operation content transmitted through the session.
[0026]
Since this application agent function is not used directly by a user who wants to edit a file, processing related to a user interface or the like irrelevant to file operation is removed from the application function. Of course, it is also possible to provide the application function itself including the above-mentioned user interface processing in the file server and to fulfill the role of the application agent function.
[0027]
As described above, as a feature of the present invention, an application function, an application agent function, and a session management function are provided on a terminal and a file server. When the application function in the terminal accesses a file in the file server, The application function edits the file once copied from the server to the local storage area, and sends and receives messages indicating various operations on the file to and from the corresponding application agent function started on the file server, thereby enabling file access. Good response time and synchronization of file contents between the terminal and the file server can be realized at the same time.
[0028]
[Embodiments] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a communication network to which the present invention is applied. The communication network illustrated in FIG. 1 has substantially the same configuration as the communication network in FIG. 9 except for the detailed configuration of the file server and the terminal. That is, the communication network 600A is mainly composed of an NSP network 500 for mainly providing a network connection service, and a plurality of LANs (Home LAN: 300A in FIG. 1) connected to the NSP network 500 via a router 801 by wire or wirelessly. And a Visited LAN: 400A), and another external network 700 typified by another NSP network, a fixed telephone network, a mobile telephone network, or the like connected to the NSP network 500 via a gateway 802.
[0029]
In each LAN (300A, 400A,...), A plurality of terminals are connected (only one terminal 200A is shown in the figure), and terminals connected to the same LAN are connected to each other. Then, communication with a file server (for example, 100A) can be performed. Further, by accessing the NSP network via the router 801 which is a contact point with the NSP network 500, it is possible to communicate with the router 801 in the NSP network and terminals connected to other LANs. It is.
[0030]
Each terminal 200A has an application function 202 (202a, 202b,...) And a session management function 203. The application function 202 is represented by, for example, a word processor or a spreadsheet, and can perform various operations such as new creation, editing, and deletion of a unique file handled by each application function. The storage location of the file handled by the application function 202 is a local storage area (not shown) in the terminal 200A or the storage 102 in the file server 100A. It should be noted that a plurality of application functions can be included in a single terminal.
[0031]
The session management function 203 manages establishment and disconnection of a session with the session management function 104 on the file server side according to a request from the application function 202. The calling user of the session is mainly the application function 202 in the terminal 200A, and the called user is mainly the application agent function 103 or the application function in the file server 100A. . Further, the session management function 203 transmits and receives a message related to a file operation in the session according to a request from the application function.
[0032]
In the file server 100A, a file server function 101, a storage 102, an application agent function 103 (103a, 103b,...) Corresponding to the application function, and a session management function 104 similar to the terminal-side session management function are provided. Equipped. The session management function 104 establishes a session with the session management function 203 on the terminal side, and transmits and receives messages related to file operations on the session in accordance with a request from the application agent function 103.
[0033]
The application agent function 103 receives, via the session management function 104, a history of operations performed on the file by the application function 202 in the terminal, and performs an operation on the file (common file) stored in the storage 102 in the file server. The operation (process) indicated by the operation history is reflected. The main part of the application agent function 103 is a function obtained by removing user interface processing unrelated to file operations from the application function 202 on the terminal side.
[0034]
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the application functions (202a, 202b,...) And the session management function 203 in the terminal 200A and the application agent functions (103a, 103b,...) And the session management function 104 in the file server 100A in the present embodiment. FIG.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 2, each application function in the terminal sends an activation / termination of an application agent function to the session management function 104 on the file server side via a predetermined interface defined between the application function and the session management function 203. Pass requests and file content synchronization requests. The session management function 203 has a function of multiplexing requests from a plurality of application functions on a session.
[0036]
On the other hand, each application agent function in the file server communicates with the application agent from the terminal via an interface defined between the application agent function and the session management function (equivalent to an interface between the application function and the session management function). Receives a function start / end request and a file content synchronization request. The session management function 104 has a function of distributing a multiplexed request to a plurality of application agent functions.
[0037]
Subsequently, in the communication network of FIG. 1, a terminal connected to the Visited LAN accesses a file stored in a file server connected to the Home LAN, edits the file, and then edits the file. An example of the procedure when the closing process is performed will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0038]
FIG. 3 shows that in the communication network of the embodiment, the terminal 200A connected to the Visited LAN: 400A can open a file stored in the file server 100A connected to the Home LAN: 300A and perform editing work. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing until it becomes possible.
[0039]
The application function (for example, 202a) in the terminal 200A connected to the Visited LAN: 400A includes an identifier indicating a file to be accessed to the file server function 101 in the file server 100A connected to the Home LAN: 300A. Send a file acquisition request. An example of such an identifier is a uniform resource locator (Uniform Resource Locator, URL). On the file server side, the file server function 101 that has received the request transmits the requested file to the request source application function 202a.
[0040]
The application function 202a in the terminal that has received the desired file first stores the received file as a local file in a local storage area (for example, a memory or a hard disk) and opens the local file. Subsequently, the application function 202a passes a start request of the application agent function 103a corresponding to the application function 202a to the session management function 203 in the terminal. The start request includes the name of the application agent function and the identifier (URL) of the file stored in the file server 100A.
[0041]
The session management function 203 in the terminal establishes a session with the session management function 104 in the file server only when the session between the session management function and the session management function 104 in the file server is not established. In order to establish, a session establishment request message is generated and transmitted to the file server 100A. The session management function 104 in the file server receives and analyzes the session establishment request message, generates a response message in response to the message, and transmits the response message to the terminal 200A.
[0042]
After that, the session management function 203 in the terminal receives and analyzes the response message, generates a confirmation message for the response message, and transmits it to the file server 100A. At this point, a session has been established between the two session management functions. However, these steps for establishing a session are not executed when a session between both session management functions has already been established.
[0043]
An example of a protocol that defines the format of a message transmitted and received between the session management functions and the transmission and reception of the message is a session initiation protocol (SIP).
[0044]
When the session establishment between the session management functions is successful, the session management function 203 in the terminal uses the application agent function name and the file identifier included in the received activation request to request the activation of the application agent function 103. A message is generated and transmitted to the session management function 104 in the file server 100A. FIG. 4A shows an example of the instant message generated in this step.
[0045]
The session management function 104 in the file server that has received the instant message analyzes the received message and extracts the application agent function specified by the terminal and the description related to the request passed to the application agent function. Since the instant message includes an application agent activation request and a file identifier, the session management function 104 activates the designated application agent 103 and passes the file identifier.
[0046]
When the application agent function 103 is activated, it requests the file server function 101 to acquire the specified file. When the requested file is obtained, the application agent function 103 in the file server opens the file. Then, a response to the effect that the activation of the application agent function and the opening of the specified file have been completed is transmitted to the session management function 104.
[0047]
Upon receiving the response, the session management function 104 generates a response message to the previous instant message, and transmits the response message to the session management function 203 in the terminal. FIG. 4B shows an example of this response message. The session management function 203 in the terminal analyzes the response message and notifies the application function 202 that the activation of the application agent function has been completed. At this point, the application function 202 in the terminal is ready to operate the file.
[0048]
FIG. 5 shows a process in which a terminal connected to Visited LAN 400A performs a file operation in the communication network of the present embodiment, and the contents of the operation are reflected in a file in a file server connected to Home LAN 300A. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of the processing of FIG.
[0049]
When the application function 202 in the terminal operates a local file of the terminal itself, an operation history of each operation on the local file is recorded. In such a situation, the application function 202 issues a file content synchronization request to the session management function 203, triggered by a predetermined specific event (for example, the save processing of the local file). This synchronization request includes operation history information for the file recorded in the application function 202.
[0050]
Upon receiving the synchronization request, the session management function 203 generates an instant message including the operation history and transmits the instant message to the session management function 104 on the file server 100A. FIG. 6A shows an example of the instant message generated in this step. In the message illustrated in FIG. 6A, the part passed to the application agent function 202 inserts the character string “foo” at the position of offset 80 of the specified text file (local file), To the position of offset 95.
[0051]
The session management function 104 that has received the instant message extracts the history of operations performed on the local file by the application function 202 in the terminal from the received instant message, and notifies the application agent function 103 in the file server. The application agent function 103 operates / updates a file on the file server according to the notified operation history, and writes back the updated file to the file server. After that, a response to the file content synchronization request is transmitted to the session management function 104.
[0052]
Upon receiving the response, the session management function 104 generates a response message to the instant message, and transmits the message to the session management function 203 in the terminal via the NSP network 500. FIG. 6B shows an example of this response message. When the session management function 203 in the terminal detects that the file in the file server has been updated normally as a result of receiving the response message, a notification is sent to the application function 203 and the transmitted portion of the operation history is deleted. Then, the synchronization processing ends. On the other hand, when it is detected that the content synchronization has failed, the application function 203 is notified of the fact and the processing is terminated.
[0053]
By using the procedure described above, even during the file operation by the application function, the file operated by the application function in the terminal and the file on the file server can be synchronized by performing file synchronization triggered by a specific event. Can be synchronized. Further, since the synchronization work is performed in the background of the operation of the terminal application, the good response of the application is not impaired by the synchronization processing of the file contents.
[0054]
Next, in the communication network 600A of the embodiment, the terminal 200A connected to the Visited LAN: 400A closes the local file corresponding to the remote file stored in the file server 100A connected to the Home LAN: 300A. The following describes the processing when this is done. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of processing in this case.
[0055]
When the application function 202 in the terminal 200A closes the local file, the application function 202 passes a termination request of the application agent function 103 on the file server side corresponding to the application function to the session management function 203 in the terminal. This termination request includes the name of the application agent function and the identifier (URL) of the file stored in the file server.
[0056]
The session management function 203 that has received the termination request generates an instant message requesting termination of the application agent function using the application agent function name and the file identifier included in the received termination request, and performs session management in the file server. Send to function 104. FIG. 8A shows an example of the instant message generated in this step.
[0057]
The session management function 104 in the file server that has received the instant message via the NSP network 500 analyzes the received message, and describes the application agent function specified by the terminal and the description of the request passed to the application agent function. Take out. Since the instant message includes the end request of the application agent and the file identifier, the session management function 104 passes these data to the predetermined application agent function 103.
[0058]
After closing the file specified by the file identifier, the application agent function 103 to which the data has been passed transmits a response to the effect that the application agent function has been terminated to the session management function 104, and Terminate execution.
[0059]
Upon receiving the response, the session management function 104 generates a response message to the previous instant message and transmits it to the session management function 203 in the terminal. FIG. 8B shows an example of this response message. The session management function 203 in the terminal analyzes the response message and notifies the application function 202 that the termination of the application agent function 103 has been completed. Waiting for this notification, the application function 202 stops.
[0060]
As described above, in the method of accessing a remote file in the communication network of the present embodiment, when the application function of the application execution terminal accesses the remote file in the file server, the terminal executes a predetermined process from the file server. The remote file is acquired and stored as a local file in a local storage area in the terminal once, and the operation history of the processing on the local file performed by the application function is stored, and the operation history is stored at an appropriate time. The content is transmitted to the file server. The file server performs a process on the remote file according to the received operation history content, and transmits the executed process to the terminal. The transmission of the operation history content to the file server is performed at a predetermined specific event of the application function or at a predetermined time interval. In the embodiment, each of the above-described steps is controlled by a session management function provided in each of the terminal and the file server.
[0061]
According to the communication network of the present embodiment described above, a session management function is provided in the terminal and the file server, a session is established between the session management functions, and the application function and the application agent function that are users of the session are provided. By transmitting and receiving the operation history of the file as an instant message using this session, the application function in the terminal can obtain a good response by directly editing the local file. Also, by synchronizing the content with the file on the file server in response to a specific event being edited, the content of the file on the terminal and the file server can be synchronized without explicitly synchronizing the file content separately. Becomes possible. In addition, since this synchronization processing is performed in the background of the application function, good response is not impaired.
[0062]
In the embodiment, even when the terminal is connected to the Home LAN, the above-described file access method may be applied, and the effect of reducing traffic in the Home LAN can be similarly obtained.
[0063]
The present invention can be implemented without being limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a file synchronization request from the terminal may be made at a predetermined time interval, or may be used together with a file synchronization request triggered by a specific event described in the embodiment.
[0064]
In the embodiment, the case where the home LAN has a file server, the same terminal is temporarily connected to the Visited LAN, and the shared file in the file server is used via the NSP network as an external network has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied generally to communication network systems that access shared files in a file server via a network to which the file server is connected or via an external network. That is, the effects described above can be similarly obtained by implementing the application agent function and the session management function as described above on the file server, and implementing the application function and the session management function as described above on the terminal side. be able to.
[0065]
The present invention can also be applied to a system in which a plurality of users simultaneously edit a shared file. In such a case, an appropriate file management function manages access and update of the shared file.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a session management function is provided in each of a terminal and a file server connected via a communication network, a session is established between the session management functions, and a user of the session is provided. By transmitting and receiving the file operation history as an instant message using the session between the application function on the terminal side and the application agent function on the file server side, the application function in the terminal can be improved by directly editing the local file. Response is obtained. Also, by synchronizing the contents of the local file and the shared file on the file server, for example, triggered by a specific event during the editing process, the terminal can be synchronized even if the user does not explicitly synchronize the file contents separately. In addition, it is possible to synchronize the contents of the file on the file server, and the usability of the user is good. Since this synchronization processing is performed in the background of the application function, it does not hinder a favorable response.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a communication network according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a relation between an application function and a session management function in a terminal and an application agent function and a session management function in a file server in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processing from when a terminal opens a file stored in a file server to when an editing operation is performed in the communication network of the embodiment.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of an instant message generated by a session management function in a terminal, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a response message generated by a session management function in a file server;
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of a process in which a terminal operates a file in the communication network according to the embodiment, and the content of the operation is reflected in a file in a file server.
6A is a diagram illustrating an example of an instant message generated by a session management function in a terminal, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of a response message generated by a session management function in a file server;
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of processing when a terminal closes a local file in the communication network according to the embodiment.
8A is a diagram illustrating an example of an instant message generated by a session management function in a terminal, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating an example of a response message generated by a session management function in a file server;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a network in which a plurality of LANs are connected to each other.
[Explanation of symbols]
100A… File server
101: File server function
102 ... Storage
103 (103a, 103b, ...) ... application agent function
104: (in server) session management function
200A… Terminal
202 (202a, 202b, ...) application function
203: Session management function
300A… Home LAN
400A… Visited LAN
500 ... NSP network ((Network Service Provider network)
600A… Communication network
700: External network
801 router
802 ... Gateway

Claims (7)

In a network including a file server storing a remote file commonly accessed from a plurality of terminals, and a plurality of terminals mounted with an application function for operating the remote file connected to the file server via a network,
The file server has an application agent function for operating the remote file corresponding to the application function of the terminal,
When the application function of the terminal accesses the remote file in the file server, the remote function acquires the remote file from the file server and temporarily stores the local file in a local storage area in the terminal. The local file is processed by the application function, the operation history corresponding to the processing is transmitted to the application agent function of the file server as an upward message, and the application agent function of the file server is transmitted in response to the received message. A communication network, comprising: executing a process based on an operation history on the remote file; and transmitting a completed process to the terminal as a downlink message. The file server further includes a session management function for controlling communication between the application agent function and a terminal,
The communication network according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminals further includes a session function for controlling communication between the application function and a file server. When an application function in the terminal operates a local file, an operation history of each operation on the local file is recorded, and the application function is transmitted to the file server by a predetermined specific event. 3. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein an operation request for a common file is made according to an operation history. When the application function in the terminal operates a local file, the operation history of each operation on the local file is recorded, and the application function transmits the operation history to the file server at a predetermined time interval. 3. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein a request for operating the remote file is made according to the request. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein the terminal has a plurality of application functions, and the file server has a plurality of corresponding application agent functions. A remote system in a network system including: a file server that stores a remote file commonly accessed from a plurality of terminals; and a plurality of terminals that are connected to the file server via a network and have an application function for operating the remote file. File access method,
When the application function of the application execution terminal accesses the remote file in the file server,
The terminal obtains a predetermined remote file from the file server, and once saves it as a local file in a local storage area in the terminal itself,
An operation history of processing on the local file performed by the application function is stored,
Transmitting the operation history content to the file server at an appropriate time,
The file server performs a process on the remote file according to the received operation history content,
Sending the executed process to the terminal;
A remote file access method characterized by the following. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transmission of the operation history content to the file server is performed when an application function is triggered by a predetermined specific event or at a predetermined time interval. Remote file access method.

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