JP2007018453A - Data storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower costs of a network capable of data storage for exchanging data equally among any devices dispersed on a network without deteriorating network throughput. <P>SOLUTION: Retrieval of a storage place, creation of a stored document, and deposit of the generated document are performed in a data deposit part 11. In a data storage part 21, in response to the retrieval of the storage place from the data deposit part 11, a document is deposited when it is storable. When a data receiving part 41 makes a reception request of the data to the data storage part 21, a document delivery part of the data storage part 21 delivers the data, the documents received by a document combining part of the data receiving part 41 are combined to restore original data. In the data storage part 21, when the stored document satisfies a disposal condition, it is discarded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data storage system in which data is distributed and stored using a device including an external storage device connected to a network.

  Conventionally, data of a device connected to a network is a file server based on a client / server system on the network when the device does not have sufficient external storage capacity or when data is exchanged between different devices. Etc. and storing the data here, a relay method using a file server in which other devices refer to the stored data has been adopted.

JP 2005-6223 A JP 2004-355470 A

  However, in such a conventional client / server system, there is a problem that server information must be set in a device on the client side. This means that when data is exchanged between clients, one client and the other client must have the same server settings, so a third client with different server settings If you want to exchange data, you need to change the server settings on either client. Such a restriction significantly reduces the degree of freedom of data exchange between arbitrary clients.

  Also, if many client devices try to store data using a specific file server, access to the file server will be concentrated and the load on the file server will increase, reducing the network throughput. There was a problem.

  In addition, when data storage on a specific file server is concentrated, to reduce the load on the file server and increase network throughput, the capacity of the file server can be increased or the processing capacity can be increased. Then, the new problem that the cost for it increases will arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and can store data for exchanging data equally between any devices distributed on a network, and a file server for storing data becomes unnecessary. An object of the present invention is to provide a data storage system in which access to a server is not concentrated and network throughput is not lowered, and the cost for enhancing server capacity is not incurred.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 uses a resource of devices distributed on a network, and a plurality of devices cooperate with each other so that any device can operate. A data storage system for storing and using data to be used on a network, wherein the network generates or possesses data to be stored on the network, and performs a deposit process for storing the data on the network. Data depositing means for performing data pick-up processing for data stored on the network, data depositing means for depositing data from the data depositing means and storing the data on the network, and data pick-up from the data pick-up means Less than the data storage means to deliver the data stored on the network by request Also a plurality of devices comprising one can be connected at least one set, by utilizing the resources available device while in cooperation between devices, characterized in that storing data on a network.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the data storage system according to the first aspect, the data stored on the network is fragmented for each specified amount determined on the network to be used. Each of the plurality of pieces of data is documented and stored on the network in units of the documented individual documents.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data archiving system according to the second aspect, a file name or a data name uniquely assigned by the device that generated the data is attached to the data stored on the network. , Each document fragmented from the data includes a fragmented data list description, a document page indicating a fragmented data page, and a document name including the file name and data name related to the data in general, A URL indicating the address of the device that has deposited this data on the network as a document, a document discard that specifies a data storage and disposal method, and an expiration date that indicates the data storage expiration date when the storage disposal is timed It is characterized by having at least one description of.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the data depositing unit has a storage place for storing the generated document on the network. A document storage search unit for searching, a document generation unit for generating a document for storing the data with the data name on the network, and a document generated by the document generation unit by the document storage search unit And a document depositing unit that deposits the retrieved storage location.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the data collection unit retrieves a document stored on the network from the network. And a document combining unit that combines the received fragmented document data in the order of document pages and restores the original data before depositing the data.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the data storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device of the data storage means includes a nonvolatile external storage means, and the data The storage means is assigned a storage area for storing a document in the external storage means for a storage location search from the data depositing means or other data storage means, and there is an empty space in the allocation area. A response unit that responds that the deposit is possible in some cases, a document deposit unit that stores a deposited document sent from the data deposit unit in an empty space in the storage area, and a document collection from the data collection unit A document delivery unit that delivers a stored document in response to a request, and a document disposal unit that discards a document stored in the document storage unit. That.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the data storage system according to the sixth aspect, the document storage unit searches for the next storage location when there is no free space in the storage area for storing the stored document. It is characterized by depositing documents in the found storage location.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the data storage system according to claim 6, wherein the document delivery unit makes a document delivery request to the next storage location when the document to be delivered is not stored. And

  In the data storage system according to claim 1, the plurality of devices distributed on the network include at least one of a data depositing unit, a data receiving unit, and a data storage unit, and the device is at least on the network. Since data is stored on the network by utilizing available device resources while coordinating between devices, data can be exchanged equally between any devices distributed on the network. Data storage is possible, and a file server is not required, and the cost associated with a decrease in network throughput and server reinforcement can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data storage system that fragments data stored on a network into a predetermined amount determined on the network, and documents each of the plurality of pieces of the fragmented data in a network. Since the file is stored above, it is possible to divide and store even a file having an enormous amount of data by using device resources.

  In the data storage system according to claim 3, a file name or a data name is assigned to data stored on the network, and each fragmented document includes a fragmented data list description, a document page, and data in general. Since at least one of the document name concerned, the URL of the device deposited on the network as a document, the data storage and disposal method, and the expiration date of data storage is described, the fragmented document data is The effect is that it can be combined and easily restored to the original file.

  A data storage system according to claim 4 is a document storage / retrieval unit for searching for a storage location where the data depositing unit stores the document on the network, and a document for storing the data with the data name on the network. A document generation unit for generating data and a document depositing unit for depositing the generated document in the storage location searched for, so that a series of processes for depositing data on the network can be easily performed using a device. There is an effect that can be.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data archiving system including a document taking-in unit that takes a document stored on the network from the network, and a document combining unit that joins the retrieved document data in order of document pages. Therefore, there is an effect that the original data can be correctly restored by taking the documents stored on the network and combining them in the order of the document pages.

  In the data storage system according to claim 6, when the device of the data storage means includes a nonvolatile external storage means, and the data storage means has an empty space in the storage area of the external storage means for the data storage location search. A response unit that enables depositing, a document depositing unit that stores a deposited document from the data depositing unit in an empty space in the storage area, and a document delivery unit that delivers the stored document in response to a document retrieval request from the data retrieving unit And a document discarding unit that discards documents stored in the document storage unit. By using a device equipped with a non-volatile external storage means, data can be transferred to the network without using a file server. Can be stored easily.

  In the data storage system according to claim 7, when there is no empty space in the storage area for storing the document stored by the document storage unit, the next storage location search is performed and the document is stored in the found storage location. Even when it becomes impossible to store a document deposited on the way, it is possible to continue storing data without any problem by using another device.

  The data storage system according to claim 8 is configured such that when the document delivery unit does not store the document to be delivered, a document delivery request is made to the next storage location. Even if it is moved to, the document can be reliably taken over and delivered.

  Embodiments of a data storage system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  A feature of the present invention is that data is exchanged between devices on the network, and a device having an external storage unit connected to the network is used for distributed storage without using a file server when storing the data. In the point. This makes it possible to store data for exchanging data equally between any devices distributed on the network, eliminating the need for a file server and reducing the cost required for network throughput degradation and server reinforcement. it can.

  1 is a network configuration diagram of a data storage system according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a data depositing unit in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a data take-up unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a standard structure of a fragmented document, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a storage management table, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a standard structure of a cooperation processing document. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining data deposit processing, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining document deposit processing, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining document withdrawal processing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, devices such as a scanner 10, a first PC 20, a second PC 30, a printer 40, and a third PC 50 are connected on a network 60.

  The scanner 10 includes a data depositing unit 11 as data depositing means for storing data on the network 60. The first PC 20 and the third PC 50 include data storage units 21 and 51 as data storage units for storing data on the network 60, and external storage units 22 and 52 to which storage areas for storing documents are allocated. It has. Further, the printer 40 includes a data take-up unit 41 as data take-up means for taking data stored on the network 60.

  In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, when the image data read from the document reading unit 12 of the scanner 10 cannot be stored in its own device, the read image data is stored using a device on the network, The printer 40 takes the image data stored on the network and prints it out.

  At that time, in order to print out the image data read by the scanner 10 with the printer 40, the printer 40 is notified of the cooperation processing document having the structure shown in FIG. 7 for each image data read from the scanner 10. . The printer 40 picks up the image data from the “location of the image file” described in the <url> </ url> tag of the cooperation processing document shown in FIG. 7, and prints the image data. Output.

(Data stored on the network)
Data to be stored on the network 60 is fragmented with a predetermined amount determined on the network 60, the fragmented data is documented, and this document is used as a unit of data to be stored on the network.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the standard structure of this document includes at least a document name, a document page, a document discard, an expiration date, a URL, etc. in addition to the fragmented data description surrounded by <data> </ data> tags. Are listed.

  First, the document name clearly indicates a file name or data name of fragmented data enclosed by <document name> </ document name> tags.

  Subsequently, the document page clearly indicates the page number of the data fragmented by a specified amount (eg, 1024 bytes) determined on the network, surrounded by <document page> </ document page> tags. To do. This page number is an integer value starting from 1, and 0 is clearly indicated on the last page of the data.

  The document discard specifies the document discard method of the data stored on the network surrounded by the <document discard> </ document discard> tags. This document discard includes a method of discarding a document with an expiration date, a method of delivering and discarding all documents, and a method of discarding a document every time it is delivered, and can be selectively set.

  Further, the expiration date clearly indicates the storage expiration date of the document stored on the network, which is enclosed by the <expiration date> <// expiration date> tag. This item is valid only when document discard is specified as “Discard document on expiration date”.

  The URL clearly indicates the address of the device that has deposited the data on the network surrounded by the <URL> </ URL> tags.

  The data is composed of a data sequence of data pages obtained by dividing data stored on the network surrounded by <data> </ data> tags.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the data depositing unit, data taking-in unit, and data storage unit, which are the main components of the present invention, will be described.

(Data Deposit Department)
As shown in FIG. 2, the data depositing unit 11 fragments the data storage name search unit 111 for searching for a storage location for storing the generated document on the network, The document generation unit 112 generates a document to be stored on the network, and the document storage unit 113 stores the document generated by the document generation unit 112 in the storage location searched by the document storage search unit 111.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the data depositing process by the data depositing unit 11 is performed by assigning a unique name in the device to image data read by the cooperation processing unit 13 of the scanner 10 via the document reading unit 12. In addition, it requests the data depositing unit 11 to store the image data on the network.

  The data depositing unit 11 that has received the named image data performs a broadcast to search for a storage location for storing the image data on the network 60, and the device that first responded to the broadcast transmits the device of the image data. The storage location is determined (step S100). The device capable of storing data returns at least a local network address and a uniquely determined storage ID for storage within the local device in response to the broadcast.

  Next, a document profile having a common notation of documents for documenting the image data for storing the image data on the network is created (step S101). In the profile document name, the image data passed from the cooperation processing unit is described, and in discarding the profile document, it is arbitrarily described according to the necessity of the data. In this case, for example, “deliver and discard all documents” is written (see FIG. 5).

  The URL of the profile describes the address of the scanner 10. Then, the profile notation in step S101 and the next document are created. In the document data, image data is fragmented with a prescribed amount (eg, 1024 bytes) determined on the network, and page data is transferred. Further, the fragmented page number is written on the document page of the document (step S102).

  A request for depositing the created document is made with the storage ID determined by the device for the device determined in step S100 for the document created in step S102 (step S103).

  Next, in step S104, if there is an unsent page where the image data is fragmented, the process returns to step S102 to deposit the data of the next page. If all the data has been sent, the “image file location” is transmitted to the cooperation processing unit 13 with the network address and storage ID transmitted by the device determined in step S100. The cooperation processing unit 13 of the scanner 10 describes the “image file location” notified from the data depositing unit 11 in the “image file location” of the cooperation processing document shown in FIG. Send to 40.

(Data collection part)
Next, the configuration of the data take-up unit 41 in FIG. 3 is obtained by combining the document take-up unit 411 that takes a document stored on the network from the network and the fragmented document data that has been taken in order of the document pages. It is composed of a document combining unit 412 that restores the original data before deposit.

  In order to obtain the image data from the “location of the image file” described in the cooperation processing document acquired by the cooperation processing unit 43 of the printer 40, the data collection unit 41 receives the data with the “location of the image file”. Ask.

  Upon receiving the “image file location”, the data take-up unit 41 uses the network address and the storage ID described in the “image file location” to transfer the storage ID and the data transfer destination to the device having the network address. A document collection request is made with its own network address.

  The data sequence described in the data tag of the document sent in response to the request is extracted, and the divided data is combined by the document combining unit 42.

  These operations are performed for all documents of the data. After all the pages are collected, the data acquired based on the document name described in the retrieved document is notified to the cooperation processing unit. Upon receiving the data acquisition notification, the cooperation processing unit 43 of the printer 40 prints out the image data using the print output unit 42.

(Data storage department)
As a device including a data storage unit for storing data on a network, a personal computer such as a first PC 20 or a third PC 50 that includes a nonvolatile external storage unit 22 (52) such as a hard disk and is connected to the network 60, There are devices such as storage. In these devices, a part of the external storage unit 22 (52) is allocated to store data on the network of the data storage unit 21 (51).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the data storage unit 21 (51) includes a response unit 211 (511) for responding to a broadcast for searching for a data storage location, and a deposit sent from the data depositing unit 11. A document storage unit 212 (512) that stores a document in an empty space in the storage area of the external storage unit, and a document transfer unit 213 (a) that transfers a document stored in response to a document transfer request from the data transfer unit 41 513) and a document discard unit 214 (514) for managing the discard of the documents stored in the document storage unit 212 (512).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the data storage unit 21 (51) determines a storage ID for each data stored in the assigned external storage unit 22 (52), and stores the number of documents stored in the storage ID. It has a storage management table 215 (515) that includes the number of stored documents, storage position, storage area free size, storage destination storage location, disposal method, storage expiration date, number of documents discarded by expiration, and number of documents discarded by expiration. ing.

  The number of stored documents indicates the number of stored documents for which a deposit request has been made to the storage ID. The number of stored documents indicates the number of documents in which the stored documents requested to be stored in the storage ID are recorded and stored. The storage position and the storage area free size are the positions where the area of the external storage unit 22 (52) allocated for the data storage unit 21 (51) for recording and storing the document with the storage ID is further allocated to the storage ID. And its capacity. The storage destination storage location indicates the address of the device and the storage ID when the storage area for storing and recording the document with the storage ID is lost and the document storage is transferred to the data storage unit of another device. ing. The disposal method and the storage expiration date indicate the deletion method of the document with the storage ID and the expiration date when the deletion method has an expiration date. The number of expired documents and the number of expired documents stored is backup data of the number of documents stored and the number of documents stored in the expired period as the erasure method of the deposited documents with the storage ID.

(Response part of the data storage part)
In response to a broadcast for searching a storage location issued from another device on the network 60, a document of data to be newly stored in the area of the external storage unit 22 (52) allocated for data storage is stored. If there is enough free space to store, a unique storage ID that does not overlap with the storage ID of the above-described storage management table 215 (515) is determined, and this determined storage ID is registered in the storage management table 215 (515). Then, it responds to the storage location search source with its own address and a uniquely determined storage ID.

(Document Storage Department of Data Storage Department)
The document depositing unit 212 (512) in FIG. 4 performs document depositing processing according to the order shown in FIG. First, if the storage ID of the custody request is registered in the custody management table for the deposit of the document requested by the storage ID and the document, the storage ID and the document of the custody request are confirmed. The document storage ID and the document to be stored are stored, and the process proceeds to step S201.

  If the storage ID of the storage request is not registered in the storage management table (unregistered), the next document storage request is awaited.

  If this custody document for the document storage ID is the first document, the process proceeds to step S202 to set the document information for the document storage ID to the storage ID of the storage management table 215 (515), and the document with the document storage ID has already been entered. Is stored, the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S202, the storage position for recording the stored document and the storage area are allocated to the storage ID corresponding to the document storage ID of the storage management table 215 (515), and the allocated area size is set to the storage area free size. The number of stored documents and the number of stored documents are cleared, the disposal method and the expiration date are set in the document disposal tag and the expiration date tag of each deposited document, and the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, the number of documents stored in the storage ID and the number of expired documents stored for the document storage ID in the storage management table is counted up, and the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S204, if the storage location of the storage ID for the document storage ID in the storage management table is set, the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S205, if there is a free size sufficient to record the document in the storage area free size of the storage ID for the document storage ID in the storage management table 215 (515), the process proceeds to step S206 and only the document is recorded. If there is no free size, the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S206, the stored documents are recorded in the storage position of the storage ID with respect to the document storage ID of the document storage table of the storage management table 215 (515), and the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S207, the storage size of the storage management table 215 (515) with respect to the document storage ID is incremented with the number of documents stored for the storage ID and the number of documents stored for the expiration date, and the free space size is updated with the document size recording the free space size. The process returns to step S200 for the next document deposit request.

  In step S208, a broadcast is performed to search for a storage location for storing the data document on the network.

  In step S209, the device that first responded to the broadcast in step S208 is determined as the storage location for the stored document, and the address of the device that responded by the broadcast and the storage ID determined by the device are stored in the document storage ID of the storage management table. Is set as a storage location for the storage ID of the storage ID.

  In step S210, for the device set in the storage destination storage location of the storage ID corresponding to the document storage ID in the storage management table 215 (515), a storage document storage request is made with the storage ID determined by the device. To do. Then, the process returns to step S200 for the next document deposit request, and the above process is repeated.

(Document delivery section of the data storage department)
The document delivery unit 213 (513) in FIG. 4 performs document delivery processing according to the order shown in FIG. First, if the storage ID of the collection request is registered in the storage management table 215 (515) in step S300 for the collection of the document specified by the storage ID and the device address of the document collection destination, The requested storage ID and delivery device address are delivered, and the process proceeds to step S301 as the storage ID and delivery device address. If it is not registered in the storage management table 215 (515), it waits for the next document collection request.

  In step S301, the number of documents stored in the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID in the storage management table is counted down, and the process proceeds to step S302.

  In step S302, if the number of stored documents of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is 0, the process proceeds to step S303, and if the stored document is 1 or more, the process proceeds to step S304.

  In step S303, for the device set in the storage destination storage location of the storage ID for the delivery storage ID in the storage management table, the storage destination device address and the storage ID set in the storage destination storage location. To make a document collection request, and the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S304, the storage document is extracted from the storage position of the storage ID corresponding to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table, this document is sent to the transfer destination device address, and the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305, the number of stored documents of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is counted down, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S306, if the discard method of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is “document discard is discarded at every delivery”, the process proceeds to step S307, and if the discard method is other than that, the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S307, the document sent to the receiving device in step S304 is deleted from the storage record, and the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S308, if the discard method of the storage ID for the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is “document discard is discarded at every delivery”, the process proceeds to step S309, and if the discard method is not, the process proceeds to step S311.

  In step S309, if the stored document number counter of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is 0, the process proceeds to step S310. If the document number counter is 1 or more, the process proceeds to the next document transfer request. Return to S300.

  In step S311, if the storage ID discarding method for the delivery storage ID in the storage management table is “deliver all documents and discard”, the process proceeds to step S312; otherwise, “discard the document with an expiration date”. ", And the process proceeds to step S314.

  In step S312, if the stored document number counter of the storage ID for the delivery storage ID in the storage management table is 0, the process proceeds to step S313, and if the document number is not 0, the process returns to step S300 for the next document collection request. .

  In step S313, all documents stored in the storage ID corresponding to the delivery storage ID in the storage management table are deleted, and the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S310, the storage ID corresponding to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is deleted from the storage management table, and the process returns to step S300 for the next document transfer request.

  In step S314, if the stored document number counter of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table is 0, the process proceeds to step S315. If the stored document number counter is not 0, the process proceeds to step S300 for the next document transfer request. Return to.

  In step S315, the number of stored documents and the number of stored documents of the storage ID with respect to the delivery storage ID of the storage management table are returned to the original by the number of deadline custody documents and the number of deadline custody documents, and a step is performed for the next document collection request. Return to S300.

(Document disposal department of data storage department)
When the discard method based on the storage management table is “discard document with expiration date”, all documents stored with the storage ID are deleted from the external storage unit for the storage ID that has passed the storage expiration date. At the same time, the storage ID is deleted from the storage management table.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, since devices such as personal computers connected to the network and used individually can be used for data storage, there is no need to provide a file server or the like on the network. Since the network throughput is not lowered due to the concentration of access and the server capacity does not need to be increased, an inexpensive network can be provided.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, even if not all data stored on the network can be stored in one device, these can be stored in a distributed manner, so that the storage area is set according to the state of each device. It can be used effectively.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even in the case of distributed storage in a plurality of devices, it is not necessary to recognize the storage location of the distribution destination for each data, and it is only necessary to recognize the location of the device stored first. It is possible to store convenient data.

  As described above, the data storage system according to the present invention is suitable for a data storage system in which a plurality of devices are connected on a network and data is exchanged between devices or data is frequently stored. ing.

It is a network block diagram of the data storage system concerning this Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the data depositing part of FIG. It is a block diagram of a data collection part. It is a block diagram of a data storage part. It is a figure which shows the standard structure of the fragmented document. It is a figure which shows an example of a storage management table. It is a figure which shows the standard structure of a cooperation process document. It is a flowchart explaining a data depositing process. It is a flowchart explaining a document custody process. It is a flowchart explaining a document withdrawal process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Scanner 11 Data deposit part 111 Document storage search part 112 Document generation part 113 Document deposit part 12 Document reading part 13 Cooperation processing part 20 1st PC
21 Data storage unit 211 Response unit 212 Document storage unit 213 Document delivery unit 214 Document discard unit 215 Storage management table 22 External storage unit 30 2nd PC
31 External Storage Unit 40 Printer 41 Data Collection Unit 42 Print Output Unit 43 Cooperation Processing Unit 50 3rd PC
51 Data Storage Unit 51 Data Storage Unit 511 Response Unit 512 Document Storage Unit 513 Document Delivery Unit 514 Document Discarding Unit 515 Storage Management Table 52 External Storage Unit

Claims (8)

A data storage system that uses resources of devices distributed on a network and stores and uses data used by any device on the network by linking multiple devices together.
On the network,
Data depositing means for generating or possessing data to be stored on the network and performing deposit processing for storing the data on the network;
Data collection means for collecting data stored on the network;
A plurality of data storage means for storing data from the data depositing means and storing the data on the network, and transferring at least one data stored on the network in response to a transfer request from the data taking means At least one set of devices is connected,
A data storage system that stores data on a network by utilizing available device resources while coordinating between devices.   The data to be stored on the network is fragmented for each predetermined amount determined on the network to be used, and the plurality of fragmented data are respectively documented, and the network for each documented individual document unit. The data storage system according to claim 1, wherein the data storage system is stored above. The data stored on the network is given a file name or a data name uniquely given by the device that generated the data,
Each document fragmented from the data includes a fragmented data list description, a document page indicating a fragmented data page, a document name including the file name and data name related to the data in general, URL indicating the address of the device that has deposited the data as a document on the network, document disposal that specifies the data storage and disposal method, and expiration date that indicates the data storage expiration date when storage disposal is timed The data storage system according to claim 2, comprising at least one description. The data depositing means is:
A document storage search unit for searching a storage location for storing the generated document on the network;
A document generation unit for generating a document for storing the data with the data name on the network;
4. The data according to claim 1, further comprising: a document depositing unit that deposits the document generated by the document generating unit in a storage location searched by the document storage / searching unit. Storage system. The data collection means includes
A document pick-up unit that picks up documents stored on the network from the network;
A document combining unit that combines the fragmented document data that has been collected in order of document pages and restores the original data before depositing the data. Data storage system. The device of the data storage means is
Comprising non-volatile external storage means,
The data storage means includes
In response to a storage location search from the data depositing means or another data storage means, a storage area for storing the document is allocated to the external storage means, and the storage area is stored when there is free space in the allocated area. A response unit that responds that can be inserted;
A document depositing unit for storing a deposited document sent from the data depositing means in an empty space in the storage area;
A document delivery unit that delivers a stored document in response to a document delivery request from the data delivery means;
The data storage system according to claim 1, further comprising: a document disposal unit that discards a document stored in the document storage unit.   7. The data according to claim 6, wherein when there is no empty space in the storage area for storing the stored document, the document storage unit searches for the next storage location and deposits the document in the found storage location. Storage system.   The data storage system according to claim 6, wherein the document delivery unit makes a document delivery request to the next storage location when the document to be delivered is not stored.

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