JP2005100103A - Storage with communicating function and server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage with a communicating function which can realize highly reliable and large capacity recording, in a recording device such as a memory card whose memory capacity is limited. <P>SOLUTION: A storage 10 such as a memory card having a memory card I/F 12 is provided with a communicating function 14 with a server and a connection information recording means 15 for storing connection information to record communication destinations. The sever which communicates with the storage 10 is made to store the image of the storage. When a reading/writing request from a host to which the storage is connected is issued, the reading/writing of the memory card image on the server specified by the connection information is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a communication function and a server that communicates with the recording apparatus.

In recent years, the amount of data has increased due to the progress of high-definition video for digital cameras, etc., but the data capacity of recording devices such as memory cards currently used for data recording is limited, and many data There is a problem that it is insufficient for recording. In addition, although it is uneasy if data is not backed up, there is a problem that backup is troublesome.
As a technique for solving such a problem, a hard disk device is added with a communication function for data communication with an external host 30 computer, so that a hard disk is not subjected to a software load for communication processing on the computer system. It has been proposed that data larger than the data capacity that can be recorded in the apparatus can be recorded (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-293316 A

  However, the conventional techniques as described above have a problem that the connection destination cannot be specified or the connection destination cannot be changed. In addition, there is a problem in terms of usability, such as being unable to read out the connection destination, not considering contacting the connection destination to other devices and accessing from other devices.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve usability by changing a connection destination or facilitating data sharing in a recording apparatus having a communication function.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention has a recording device having an I / F connected to the host 30 having a communication means for communicating with the server and a connection destination information holding means for holding the connection destination information. I have to. When there is a data read / write request from the host 30, the recording device transmits the read / write request to the server specified by the connection destination information holding means. In the present invention, the recording device is provided with a means for reading connection destination information and a means for updating, so that the connection information in the recording device can be read or updated from the device as the host 30. It is said.

  Further, according to the present invention, the server that communicates with the recording device includes first communication means with the recording device and data recording means for holding data corresponding to the recording device. When a data read / write request is received from the recording device, data is read or written from the data recorded by the data recording means.

  Further, in the present invention, in the server communicating with the recording device, in addition to the first communication means, the second communication means for processing communication from other than the recording device, and the data received from the second communication means Data processing means for processing read / write requests is provided. Thereby, the data of the recording device can be easily shared without going through the recording device.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, in the server that communicates with the recording device, when the data on the server is updated by the data processing unit, an update notification unit that notifies the recording device that the data has been updated is provided. ing. The recording device can know that the upper data of the server has been updated by receiving the update notification, and can avoid data inconsistency.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by adding a communication function to a storage having a limited capacity such as a memory card, it is possible to perform recording without worrying about the capacity of the storage. . In addition, there is an advantage in that it is not necessary to worry about backup by automatically storing it on a highly reliable server. In addition, it is easy to share data with other devices such as personal computers by making it possible to read connection information related to the storage location of data from the storage and enabling access to the server by communication from other than the above storage. There is an effect of becoming.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, by providing a cache in the recording device, there is an effect that frequently used data can be used even when communication is interrupted.

  Furthermore, since it appears to the host device 30 to read and write to the memory card, there is an effect that it is not necessary to install a network function in the terminal.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, the hardware configuration of the storage 10 with a communication function used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The storage function-equipped storage 10 is used by connecting to a device (for example, a PC, a digital camera, a camcorder, a DVD player, etc.) serving as a host 30. In this embodiment, an example in which a memory card I / F is used for connection to an information device serving as the host 30 will be described. However, the connection I / F to the host 30 device in the present invention is the memory card I / F. It is not limited to / F. It goes without saying that other I / Fs such as USB, IEEE 1394, SCSI, and SD card can also be used.

  The storage 10 with communication function includes a CPU 11, a memory card interface (I / F) 12, a cache memory 13, a communication control means (communication means) 14, a connection information recording means 15, and an update information recording means 16. It is configured.

  The CPU 11 is a means for executing various programs related to peripheral control, data processing and communication. The memory card interface 12 is a means for controlling an interface with a device serving as the host 30. The cache memory 13 is a means used for temporarily storing data read / written through the memory card interface 12. The communication control unit 14 is a unit that controls transmission / reception of data to / from a server that stores data read / written through the memory card I / F. The communication control unit 14 is a unit that controls communication in, for example, a wireless LAN, a mobile phone, or a wired LAN. The connection information recording means 15 is means for holding information for connecting to a server that stores data read and written via the memory card interface 12. The update information recording unit 16 is a unit that holds information indicating whether or not information has been updated in the server. There is no problem even if the update information recording means 16 is not provided.

  Processing functions of the CPU 11 of the storage 10 with communication function will be described. The CPU 11 of the storage 10 with communication function sends out a data read request to the connection destination information reading function F111 for reading out the connection destination information from the connection information recording means 15 and the connection destination read out from the connection information recording means 15 in accordance with an instruction from the host 30. Stored in the connection information recording means 15 in response to an instruction from the host 30 and a data write request sending function F113 for sending a data write request to the connection destination read from the connection information recording means 15. The connection destination information update function F114 for updating the connection destination information, the data update detection function F115 for knowing that the data on the server stored in the connection information recording means 15 has been updated, and the data update detection function F115 on the server. Data update for notifying the host 30 of the data update when a data update is detected. A notification function F 116, and a cache function F117 to data cache on stored in the connection information recording means 15 server. Each of these functions works as a function achievement means by the processing of the CPU 11.

  Next, the configuration of the server 20 used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since the hardware configuration of the server 200 is the same as that of a commonly used personal computer or the like, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The server 20 includes a first communication unit 21, a second communication unit 22, a first memory card access processing unit 23, a second memory card access processing unit 24, a data recording device 25, and a data update Notification means 26.

The first communication means 21 is means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the storage 10 with communication function. The second communication means 22 is means for transmitting / receiving data to / from other than the storage 10 with a communication function, such as a personal computer 50 or a WEB browser of a mobile phone. The first communication unit 21 and the second communication unit 22 may be physically the same hardware (such as a LAN card). The first memory card access processing means 23 responds to the file access request from the storage 10 with the communication function received by the first communication means 21 in response to the data from the memory card image 250 stored in the data recording device 25. It is a means for reading and updating. The second memory card access processing means 24 reads out data from the memory card image 250 stored in the data recording device 25 in response to a file access request from the personal computer 50 or the like received by the second communication means 22. It is a means for updating. The data update notifying means 26 is a means for passing through the storage 10 with communication function that the data has been updated when the memory card image 250 stored in the data recording device 25 is updated.
The data recording device 25 is a hard disk, for example, and records a plurality of memory card images 250.

  Next, an example of connection information data held by the connection information recording unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, D15a and D15b are examples of connection information data. The connection information data D15 includes a server ID for the storage function-equipped storage 10 to specify the communication destination server 20 and a card ID for specifying the memory card image 250 on the server. In other words, the server IDD 151 and the card IDD 152 are described in the connection information data D15a. The connection information data D15b is an example in which connection information is expressed in a URL format, and is described as a server IDD 151 ′ and a card IDD 152 ′.

  Next, data transmitted / received between the storage 10 with communication function and the server 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a data read request D40, a read response D41, a data write request D42, and a write response D43.

  Data read request D 40 is a data read request for acquiring data from memory card image 250. The data read request D40 includes a card ID D401 and read information D402. The card ID D401 stores the card ID recorded by the connection information storage means 15. The read information D402 stores information for specifying the position and size of data read from the memory card image 250.

  The read response D41 is a response transmitted from the server 20 to the storage with communication function 10 as a result of processing the data read request D40 by the server 20. The read response D41 includes a response D411 and read data D412. The response D411 is data indicating whether the processing for the data read request D40 has succeeded or failed. The read data D412 stores the data specified by the data read request D40 when the processing for the data read request D40 is successful.

  The data write request D42 is a request for changing the contents of the memory card image 250. The data write request D42 includes a card ID D421 and write information D421. The card ID recorded in the connection information recording unit 15 is stored in the card ID D421. The read information D422 stores information for specifying the position and size of data to be written to the memory card image 250, and the data to be written.

  The write response D43 is a response transmitted from the server 20 to the storage with communication function 10 as a result of processing the data write request D42 by the server 20. The write response D43 includes a response D431, and the response D431 stores data indicating whether the process for the data write request D42 has succeeded or failed.

  Next, an update notification D44 transmitted from the server 20 to the storage with communication function 10 when the memory card image 250 on the server 20 is updated will be described with reference to FIG. The update notification D44 stores a command (numerical value, character string, etc.) indicating that the data has been updated.

  Next, data transmitted / received between the personal computer 50 and the server 20 when accessing the server 20 from the personal computer 50 or the like will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, an example is shown in which the personal computer 50 and the server 20 communicate using HTTP, but the present invention does not limit the communication method to HTTP. FIG. 5 shows a data read request D45, a read response D46, a data update request D47, and an update response D48.

  The data read request D45 is a request transmitted when the personal computer 50 reads the memory card image 250 stored in the server 20. In the data read request D45, at least information for identifying a memory card image to be read (for example, card ID D451) and information for identifying a file (for example, file name D452) are designated.

  The read response D46 is a response transmitted from the server 20 to the personal computer 50 as a result of the personal computer 50 transmitting the data read request D45 to the server 20. The read response D46 includes at least a header portion D461 including a code indicating whether or not the read is successful, and a main body D462 of the read data.

  The data update request D47 is a request transmitted when the personal computer 50 updates the memory card image stored in the server 20. The data update request D47 includes at least information for identifying a memory card image to be read (for example, card ID D471), information for identifying a file (for example, file name D472), and write data D473.

  The update response D48 is a response transmitted from the server 20 to the personal computer 50 as a result of the personal computer 50 transmitting the data update request D47 to the server 20. The update response D48 has at least a header D481 including a code indicating whether or not the writing is successful.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which all files are read or updated has been described. However, the RANGE function defined in HTTP 1.1 may be used to specify reading / writing of only a part of data.

  Next, processing performed by the storage device with communication function 10 and the server 20 when a data write request is received from the host 30 via the memory card interface 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a data writing process 500 in the storage 10 with a communication function and a data writing process 510 in the server 20. When the storage function-equipped storage 10 receives a data write request from the host 30, a data write process 500 is executed. In the data writing process 500, first, it is checked whether or not communication is possible (step S501). If communication is possible, a data write request D42 is transmitted to the server 20 (step S502). If communication is not possible in step S501, the process proceeds to step S504.

  When the server 20 receives the data write request D42, the server 20 executes a data write process 510. In the data writing process 510, first, the data writing request D42 is received and analyzed (step S511). Next, the information specified by the write information D422 is written into the memory card image 250 specified by the card ID D421 of the data write request D42 (step S512). Then, a write response D43 is created and transmitted to the storage 10 with communication function (step S513).

  The communication function-equipped storage 10 receives the write response D43 transmitted from the server 20 (step S504). Then, the data requested to be written is stored in the cache memory 13 (step S505). Finally, the result of the writing process is notified to the host 30 (step S506).

  In the above description, an example in which the cache memory 13 is provided has been described, but the cache memory 13 may not be provided. In that case, the saving process to the cache memory in step S504 may be omitted.

  Next, processing performed by the storage with communication function 10 and the server 20 when a data read request is received from the host 30 via the memory card interface 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a data reading process 500 in the storage 10 with a communication function and a data reading process 510 in the server 20.

  When the storage function-equipped storage 10 receives a data read request D40 from the host 30, a data read process 520 is executed. In the data reading process 520, first, it is checked whether or not the target data exists in the cache memory 13 (step S521). If data exists in the cache memory 13, the requested data is read from the cache memory 13 (step S527), and the result is notified to the host 30 (step S526). If there is no data in the cache memory 13, it is checked whether or not communication is possible (step S522). If communication is impossible, an error is notified to the host 30 as a processing result (step S526). If the communication is possible, the data read request D40 is transmitted to the server 20 (step S523).

  When server 20 receives data read request D40, server 20 executes data read processing 510. In the data read processing 510, first, the data read request D40 is received and analyzed (step S511). Next, the information specified by the read information D402 is read from the memory card image 250 specified by the card ID D401 of the data read request D40 (step S512). Then, a read response D41 is created and transmitted to the storage 10 with communication function (step S513).

  The communication function-equipped storage 10 receives the read response D41 transmitted from the server 20 (step S504). Then, the read data included in the read response D41 is stored in the cache memory 13 (step S525). Finally, the result is notified to the host 30 together with the read data (step S526).

  In the above description, an example in which the cache memory 13 is provided has been described, but the cache memory 13 may not be provided. In that case, the processing of step S521, step S525, and step S527 may be omitted.

  In the above description, the processing for updating the data in the server 20 via the storage 10 with communication function has been described. However, in the present invention, data stored in the server 20 from the personal computer 50 or the like without passing through the storage 10 with communication function is described. It is also possible to access the memory card image 250. Hereinafter, a memory card image access process executed by the server 20 when there is a request for access to the memory card image 250 from the personal computer 50 or the like will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 560 denotes a memory card access process. The memory card access process 560 is executed when the server 20 receives a data read request D45 or a data update request D47. In the memory card access process 560, first, the received data is analyzed (step S561), and it is determined whether the received data is a data read request D45 or a data update request D47 (step S562). When the received data is the data read request D45, the file specified by the file name D452 is read from the memory card image 250 specified by the card ID 451 of the data read request D45 (step S563) and stored in the read response D46. (Step S564). When the received data is the data update request D47, the file specified by the file ID D472 in the memory card image 250 specified by the card ID D471 of the data update request D47 is changed to the write data D473 in the data update request D47. (Step S565). Next, an update response D48 is created and transmitted (step S566). Finally, an update notification process 550 described below is executed.

  In general, a file system is required to extract or write a file from the memory card image 250. Therefore, it is necessary to determine what the file system of the memory card image 250 is, but since the determination method is generally known, details are not described here.

  In the above process, it is possible to read or write a part of the file by using the Range function of HTTP 1.1.

  Next, update notification processing for notifying that the memory card image 250 of the server 20 has been updated to the storage with communication function 10 when updated from other than the storage with communication function 10 will be described with reference to FIG. .

  In the figure, reference numeral 550 denotes an update notification process. In the update notification process 550, first, an update notification D44 is transmitted to the storage 10 with a communication function corresponding to the updated memory card image 250 (step S551). When the transmission of the update notification D44 to the storage device with communication function 10 is successful, the process is terminated. When the transmission of the update notification D44 is unsuccessful, the update notification is transmitted again at an appropriate interval (step S552).

  When the storage function-equipped storage 10 receives the update notification D44, the cache clear process 540 is executed. In the cache clear process 540, the contents of the cache memory 13 of the storage 10 with communication function are cleared (step S541). At this time, the update information recording means 16 may be set so that the host 30 can detect that the data on the server 20 has been updated.

  In the above description, an example has been described in which the host 30 can perform both reading and writing of data on the storage 10 with communication function. In the present invention, a storage with a readable / writable communication function capable of reading and writing data, and a storage with a read-only communication function having the same connection information as the storage can be created. As a result, the same data can be easily shared by a plurality of storages with communication functions.

  In the storage with a read-only communication function, the data writing process 500 is replaced with a data writing process 570 shown in FIG. In the data writing process 570, when there is a data writing request from the host 30, a data writing error is returned (step S571).

  The data writing process 500 and the data writing process 570 may be switched by a switch attached to the storage with a communication function. In that case, it can be set to be readable and writable or read-only by user operation.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the host 30 can read and update connection information of the storage 10 with communication function. The connection information read processing and connection information update processing of the storage 10 with communication function will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 shows the connection information reading process 570. The connection information reading process 570 is executed when a connection information reading request is received from the host 30. In the connection information reading process 570, the connection information data is read from the connection information storage means 105 and notified to the host 30 (step S571).

  FIG. 13 shows the connection information update process 580. The connection information update process 580 is executed when a connection information update request is received from the host 30. In the connection information update processing 580, the contents of the connection information data in the connection information storage means 105 are updated with the connection information received from the host 30.

  By the connection information reading function of the communication function storage 10, the data storage destination of the communication function storage 10 can be known, and a data read request D45 and a data update request D47 are created using this connection information. By transmitting to 20, it becomes possible to access data in the storage 10 with communication function without going through the storage 10 with communication function. In addition, the connection information update process 580 can change the data storage destination server.

The block diagram explaining the structure of the hardware of the storage with a communication function in the Example of this invention. The block diagram explaining the structure of the server in the Example of this invention. The table which showed the data structure of the connection information in the Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the data communicated between the storage with a communication function in the Example of this invention, and a server. Explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the update notification in the Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the data communicated between the personal computer and server in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the data writing process in the storage with a communication function and server in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the data reading process in the storage and server with a communication function in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the memory card access process in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the update notification process in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the data writing process in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the connection information reading process in the Example of this invention. The flowchart which showed the connection information update process in the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Storage with communication function 11 CPU
12 memory card interface 13 cache memory 14 communication control means 15 connection information recording means 16 update information recording means 20 server 21 first communication means 22 second communication means 23 first memory card access processing means 24 second memory card Access processing means 25 Data recording means 26 Data update notification means 250 Memory card image 30 Host 50 Personal computer

Claims (7)

In a storage having an interface as a recording device for communicating with a host device,
Connection destination information holding means for recording information for specifying a communication destination;
Communication means for communicating with the server specified by the connection destination information holding means;
Connection destination information reading means for providing the connection destination information recorded by the connection destination information holding means to a device connected to the storage via the interface;
A storage with a communication function. The storage with communication function according to claim 1,
A storage with communication function, characterized in that it comprises connection destination information updating means for enabling information recorded by the connection destination information holding means to be updated from a device connected to the storage through the interface. In the storage with a communication function according to claim 1 or 2,
Update detection means for knowing that the data on the server specified by the connection destination information holding means has been updated;
A storage with a communication function, comprising: a data update notification means for notifying a device serving as a host of data update when the update detection means detects update of data on a server. In the storage with a communication function according to claim 1 or 2,
A cache function for caching data on the server specified by the connection destination information holding means;
Update detection means for knowing that the data on the server specified by the connection destination information holding means has been updated;
A storage with a communication function, wherein a cache is invalidated when an update of data on a server is detected by the update detection means. In the storage with a communication function according to claim 1 or 2,
A storage with communication function, characterized in that an error is always returned when there is a data write request from the host. First communication means for communicating with the storage with a communication function according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A recording means for holding data in a storage with a communication function;
A first data access unit that accesses data to the recording unit and a second communication unit that communicates with a device other than the storage with the communication function when a data access request is received by the first communication unit;
A server comprising: a second data access means for accessing data in the recording means when a data access request is received by the second communication means. The server of claim 6,
A server comprising update notification means for notifying that a corresponding storage with communication function is updated when data managed by the recording means is updated by the second communication means.

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