JP2015103184A - Information processing device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the entire amount of a storage area in an information processing device for allocating the storage area for storing resources acquired by a user to each user.SOLUTION: The information processing device includes: a resource management part 13 for storing a URI and a corresponding resource by writing the URI and the resource in a shared cache storage area 14 when detecting that the URL is stored in a plurality of exclusive cache storage areas 15, and sharing the resource by erasing a set of the URI and the resource from the exclusive cache storage areas 15; and a browser 12 for acquiring a resource from a storage area for storing the resource in the case that the resource specified by a URI designated by a user is stored in the shared cache storage area 14 or an exclusive cache storage area 15 allocated to the user, and from a web server 1 on the basis of the URI designated by the user in the case that the resource is not stored.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

  As a technique for reducing the cache capacity of the proxy server, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes the following technique.

  That is, when receiving an acquisition request in which the storage location of the object is specified from the first client, the proxy server transmits the object to the first client in response to the acquisition request, and sets the storage destination and the address of the first client. Remember in pairs. On the other hand, the first client stores the object acquired from the proxy server in the cache. In this state, when a request specifying the storage destination of the object acquired by the first client is received from the second client, the proxy server transmits the address of the first client to the second client. The second client acquires the object from the first client by transmitting an object acquisition request to the first client.

JP 2001-154902 A JP 2001-034525 A JP 2000-137642 A

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the total amount of a storage area in an information processing apparatus that allocates a storage area for storing resources acquired by a user for each user.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a shared storage unit that stores resources referred to by a plurality of users, a dedicated storage unit that is allocated to each user and that is used only by the user, and any user When the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is stored in the shared storage unit or the dedicated storage unit assigned to the user in response to the resource acquisition request from An acquisition unit that acquires the resource from the storage unit and acquires the resource from the storage destination of the resource specified by the resource acquisition request when the resource is not stored in any of the storage units; and the acquisition unit The resource is allocated to the shared storage means or the user according to the resource attribute information acquired by It characterized by having a a resource management means for managing the resources so as to be stored in the exclusive storage means associated.

  In addition, when the resource management unit detects that the same resource is stored in the plurality of dedicated storage units, the resource management unit stores the resource only in the shared storage unit.

  In addition, in the same resource stored in each of the plurality of dedicated storage means, when a common part that is the same and a special part that is not the same are mixed, a separation means that separates the resource into a common part and a special part And the resource management means stores the common part of the resource separated by the separation means in the shared storage means, and stores the specific part of the resource in each of the dedicated storage means assigned to the user. And when the resource specified by the resource acquisition request from any user is stored separately in the shared storage means and the dedicated storage means, the acquisition means can share the resource from the shared storage means. By extracting and combining the specific parts of the resource from the dedicated storage means assigned to the user, And obtaining the resource.

  Further, the resource management means detects that the unique part of the resource stored separately in the shared storage means and the dedicated storage means is stored only in the dedicated storage means assigned to a single user. Then, the common part and the specific part of the resource are combined and stored in the exclusive storage means assigned to the user.

  The program according to the present invention includes a computer having a shared storage unit that stores resources acquired by a plurality of users and a dedicated storage unit that is allocated to each user and stores resources used only by the user. When the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is stored in the shared storage unit or the dedicated storage unit assigned to the user in response to the resource acquisition request from When the resource is acquired from the storage means and not stored in any of the storage means, the acquisition means for acquiring the resource from the storage destination of the resource specified by the resource acquisition request, by the acquisition means According to the acquired attribute information of the resource, the resource is stored in the shared storage unit or the resource information. Resource management means for managing the resources so as to be stored in the exclusive storage unit assigned to the user, is intended to function as a.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus that allocates a storage area for storing resources acquired by a user for each user, the total amount of the storage area can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to share the resource at the timing when it is detected that the resource is stored in a plurality of exclusive storage units, and to reduce the total amount of the storage area in the information processing apparatus. it can.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the total amount of the storage area in the information processing apparatus can be further effectively reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the resource is detected to be stored so that only a single user can be referred to, the resource stored separately is synthesized and assigned to the user. It can be stored only in the storage means.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus that allocates a storage area for storing resources acquired by the user for each user, the total amount of the storage area can be reduced.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system and a block configuration of an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of data stored in a dedicated cache storage area according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of data stored in a shared cache storage area in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating resource acquisition processing according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing resource sharing processing in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of data stored in each cache storage area before sharing resources in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of the data memorize | stored in each cache storage area after sharing a resource from the state of the data shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing resource sharing processing in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of content of resources separated by resource sharing processing in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of data stored in each cache storage area after separating resources in the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a network system and a block configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which a web server 1 and an image forming apparatus 10 are connected via a network 2. Each web server 1 stores resources acquired by the image forming apparatus 10. The term “resource” here is not limited to documents and files that can be referred to, but is a generic term for various things that can be identified, referenced, and processed on a web server by a browser. The image forming apparatus 10 is an image forming apparatus equipped with an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine having various functions such as a copy function and a scanner function, and is a device having a computer as an information processing apparatus built therein. In FIG. 2, the CPU 21 controls the operation of various mechanisms mounted on the apparatus such as the scanner 24 and the printer engine 26 according to a program stored in the ROM 29. The address data bus 22 is connected to various mechanisms to be controlled by the CPU 21 to perform data communication. The operation panel 23 is user interface means for receiving instructions from the user and displaying information. The scanner 24 reads a document set by a user and accumulates it in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 25 or the like as electronic data. The HDD 25 stores an electronic document read using the scanner 24. The printer engine 26 prints an image on output paper in accordance with an instruction from a control program executed by the CPU 21. A network interface (I / F) 27 connects the network 2 and is used for accessing the web server 1 using a browser. The RAM 28 is used as a work memory during program execution and a communication buffer during electronic data transmission / reception. The ROM 29 stores various programs relating to control of the apparatus, encryption of electronic data, and transmission / reception of electronic data. By executing various programs, each component described later exhibits a predetermined processing function. The external media interface (I / F) 30 is an interface with an external memory device such as a USB memory or a flash memory.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a user interface (UI) unit 11, a browser 12, a resource management unit 13, a shared cache storage area 14, and a dedicated cache storage area 15. Note that components not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted from FIG.

  The exclusive cache storage area 15 is provided as an exclusive storage means and is a storage area allocated for each user, and stores resources used only by the user. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of data stored in the exclusive cache storage area 15 in the present embodiment. In the exclusive cache storage area 15, a resource storage area for storing the resource is associated with a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) as information for specifying the resource. Since the dedicated cache storage area 15 is allocated for each user, the table-type storage area shown in FIG. 3 is associated with a user ID as information for specifying the user.

  The shared cache storage area 14 is provided as a shared storage unit, and stores resources referred to by a plurality of users. The dedicated cache storage area 15 stores resources used individually by each user, while the shared cache storage area 14 stores resources shared by a plurality of users. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of data stored in the shared cache storage area 14 according to the present embodiment. In the shared cache storage area 14, a resource storage area for storing the resource is associated with a URI as information for specifying the resource.

  The user interface unit 11 cooperates with the operation panel 23 to receive information input from the operation panel 23, and displays resource contents, messages, and the like on the operation panel 23. The browser 12 is a browser unit that operates in cooperation with the user interface unit 11 and displays the resource acquired from the web server 1 in response to a resource acquisition request from the user. In particular, the browser 12 according to the present embodiment is provided as an acquisition unit, and in response to a resource acquisition request from any user, the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is allocated to the shared cache storage area 14 or the user. If the resource is stored in the dedicated cache storage area 15, the resource is acquired from any one of the stored cache storage areas 14, 15 and is not stored in any cache storage area 14, 15. In this case, the resource is acquired from the web server 1 specified by the URI specified by the resource acquisition request. The resource management unit 13 manages resources by storing the resources acquired by the browser 12 by writing them in the shared cache storage area 14 or the dedicated cache storage area 15 and reading the resources in response to requests. In particular, the resource management unit 13 in the present embodiment is provided as resource management means, and the resource is allocated to the shared cache storage area 14 or the user according to the resource attribute information acquired by the browser 12. Resources are managed so as to be stored in the storage area 15. In the present embodiment, the resource management unit 13 is a separate component from the browser 12, but may be configured as a function of the browser 12. The same applies to the user interface unit 11.

  The constituent elements 11 to 13 in the image forming apparatus 10 are realized by a cooperative operation between a computer mounted on the image forming apparatus 10 and a program operating on the CPU 21 mounted on the computer. The storage areas 14 and 15 are realized by the HDD 24 or the RAM 23 mounted on the image forming apparatus 10.

  Further, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. A program provided from a communication unit or a recording medium is installed in a computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 21 of the computer sequentially executing the program.

  Next, resource acquisition processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the user requests acquisition of the resource by inputting information specifying the resource to be acquired from a predetermined screen displayed on the operation panel 23, the user interface unit 11 accepts the resource acquisition request (step 101). . The resource acquisition request includes a user ID as information for specifying the user who performed the operation and a URI as information for specifying the resource. The user ID may be input at the start of operation of the image forming apparatus 10 or specified by reading from an IC card carried by the user.

  When the browser 12 receives the resource acquisition request from the user interface unit 11, whether or not the resource specified by the URI specified by the user is stored in the shared cache storage area (hereinafter also simply referred to as “shared cache”) 14. Confirm. When the resource is stored in the shared cache 14 (Y in Step 102), the browser 12 acquires the resource from the shared cache 14 (Step 103).

  Subsequently, the browser 12 confirms whether or not the resource specified by the URI specified by the user is stored in the exclusive cache storage area (hereinafter also simply referred to as “exclusive cache”) 15 assigned to the user. To do. The browser 12 refers only to the exclusive cache 15 associated with the user ID included in the resource acquisition request. When the resource is stored in the user's exclusive cache 15 (Y in Step 104), the browser 12 acquires the resource from the exclusive cache 15 (Step 105). Note that the existence of the resource may be confirmed by using the exclusive cache 15 before the shared cache 14.

  When the resource specified by the URI specified by the user is not stored in the shared cache 14 or the exclusive cache 15 (N in Step 104), the browser 12 assigns the resource specified by the URI to the corresponding web server. 1 (step 106).

  Incidentally, the header added to the resource acquired from the web server 1 includes a Cache-Control header defined by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). In the Cache-Control header, information for designating the operation of the cache server is designated. Among them, “public” that enables sharing of resources among a plurality of users, “private” that does not share resources, “No-cache” or the like that completely invalidates the cache function can be designated.

  When the browser 12 acquires a resource from the web server 1, the resource management unit 13 refers to the setting content in the cache server Cache-Control header that is one of the attribute information of the resource, and Determine the storage destination. In other words, if “public” is set in the Cache-Control header, the resource management unit 13 determines that the resource is sharable (“shared” in step 107), and writes the resource to the shared cache 14. Store (step 108). Further, if “private” is set in the Cache-Control header, the resource management unit 13 determines that the resource is not shared (“exclusive” in step 107), and the resource is assigned to the user. The data is stored by writing in the cache 15 (step 109). If other settings have been made, the cache may not be cached or may be stored in one of the caches.

  In the present embodiment, when the resource specified by the user is acquired as described above, the browser 12 displays the acquired resource on the operation panel 23 in cooperation with the user interface unit 11.

  By the way, when the above resource acquisition processing is repeatedly performed, a resource specified by the same URI is acquired by a plurality of users, and as a result, there is a possibility that the resources are stored in a plurality of exclusive caches 15. That is, a plurality of the same resources are stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus 10, which is not preferable in terms of use efficiency of the storage area as the whole image forming apparatus. Therefore, in this embodiment, the resource is shared. The resource sharing process in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process may be performed subsequent to the resource acquisition process shown in FIG. 5, or may be performed at an appropriate timing such as periodically, separately from the resource acquisition process.

  The resource management unit 13 refers to the URI stored in each of the dedicated caches 15 and compares them (Step 121). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of resources stored in the shared cache 14 and the exclusive cache 15. In this example, resources 41 a and 41 b specified by the same URI “http://www.e.jp/eeee” are stored in the exclusive cache 15 allocated to the user A and the user B, respectively. . When it is detected that the same resource of the same URI is stored in a plurality of exclusive caches 15 (Y in step 122), the resource management unit 13 stores the URI and the corresponding resource by writing them in the shared cache 14 ( In step 123), the set of URI and resource is deleted from the corresponding exclusive cache 15 (step 124).

  FIG. 8 shows the state of the shared cache 14 and the private cache 15 after executing the resource migration process of writing the resource to the shared cache 14 and deleting it from the private cache 15 from the state illustrated in FIG. As in this example, the resources 41a and 41b stored in each of the plurality of exclusive caches 15 are stored only in the shared cache 14 as resources 41c.

  In the present embodiment, the resources acquired by a plurality of users in this way are shared by storing them in the shared cache 14. As shown in the relationship illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, when two users individually hold the same resource, the storage capacity for one resource is reduced by sharing the resource. If five users hold the same resource, the storage capacity for four resources is reduced. If the same URI is not stored in the plurality of exclusive caches 15 (N in step 122), the resource management unit 13 does not move the resource from the exclusive cache 15 to the shared cache 14.

  In this embodiment, the setting contents in the Cache-Control header added to the resource and used for cache control in the intermediate server are effectively used as the resource attribute information. It may be used as attribute information, or attribute information may be set separately for the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, only the user's own cache 15 that issued the resource acquisition request is referred to in step 104 of FIG. 5, but the resource is not stored in the user's own cache 15. Referring to the other user's exclusive cache 15, if it exists, the resource may be acquired from the cache and then moved to the shared cache 14.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the case where resources are shared in units of resources has been described. This embodiment is characterized in that the resource is divided into units, that is, the common part is shared by stepping down to the resource contents and separating the common part of the resource contents from the specific part that is not. .

  The apparatus configuration in the present embodiment may be the same as that in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. However, the resource management unit 13 according to the present embodiment further has a function as a separating unit, and is stored in each of the plurality of dedicated caches 15 and has the same URI, the same common part, and the other unique characteristic. When parts are mixed, the resource is separated into a common part and a specific part.

  Hereinafter, the resource sharing process according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The resource management unit 13 refers to the URI stored in each of the dedicated caches 15 and compares them (step 221). By the way, even when a plurality of users specify the same URI to display a resource, different information may be displayed depending on cookie or the like. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing processing for separating resources into a common part and a specific part in the present embodiment, but the upper positions in FIG. 10 are dedicated to user A and user B, respectively. A display example of the resource stored in the cache 15 is shown. In this example, the user A and the user B have the same URI “http://www.c.jp/ccc”. The description contents 42a and 42b are partly different from “Mr. B”. That is, the contents of the resource may be different even with the same URI.

  When it is detected that the same URI is stored in a plurality of exclusive caches 15 (Y in step 222), the resource management unit 13 analyzes and compares the contents of each resource, and whether the contents are the same among all the resources. It is determined whether or not (step 223). If the contents of all resources are the same (Y in step 224), the resource management unit 13 writes the URI and the corresponding resource in the shared cache 14 as in steps 123 and 124 in the first embodiment. Store (step 225), and further delete the URI and resource set from all corresponding exclusive caches 15 (step 226).

  On the other hand, when the contents of all the resources are not the same (N in Step 224), the resource management unit 13 separates the common part that is the same among all the resources and the unique part that is not the same (Step 227). Then, the resource management unit 13 stores the common portion of the URI and the corresponding resource by writing it in the shared cache 14. At this time, a symbol (“(1)” in the example of FIG. 10) 43a for specifying the position where the specific part has been inserted is inserted into the resource. On the other hand, the resource management unit 13 stores the unique part of the URI and the corresponding resource by writing it in the corresponding user's exclusive cache 15 (step 228). At this time, symbols (b (1) ”in the example of FIG. 10) 43b and 43c for specifying the position of the common part into which the special part is inserted are added to the description of the special part and stored. Then, the resource management unit 13 deletes the existing resource before separation from each dedicated cache 15.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of resources stored in the shared cache 14 and the exclusive cache 15 while the state after the separation is shown in the lower position in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of data stored in the cache storage areas 14 and 15 after the resources are separated in the present embodiment. In the shared cache 14, a resource storage area for storing the resource is associated with a URI as information for specifying the resource. In the resource storage area of the shared cache 14 in the present embodiment, a resource ID as information for identifying a resource, the contents of the shared part included in the resource, and the dedicated cache 15 storing the specific part of the resource The link information for specifying the corresponding user is configured as a set. In the link information, the user ID of the user is set. In the exclusive cache 15, a resource storage area for storing the resource is associated with a URI as information for specifying the resource. In the resource storage area of the exclusive cache 15 in the present embodiment, a resource ID as information for specifying a resource and the contents of a specific part included in the resource are configured as a set.

  As described above, when the resource is stored separately, the browser 12 determines that the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is stored separately in the shared cache 14 and the dedicated cache 15. , The common part of the resource is obtained from the shared cache 14, and the specific part of the resource is obtained from the user's exclusive cache 15 specified by the user ID included in the resource acquisition request, respectively. The resource is obtained by combining. The browser 12 displays the resource acquired in this way on the operation panel 23 in cooperation with the user interface unit 11.

  If resources are not stored separately, the description may be omitted because it may be the same as in the first embodiment.

  By the way, the acquired resource may be deleted from the caches 14 and 15 due to aging. For example, when the separated resource is shared by three or more users, when the resource is deleted from the cache of one user, the resource management unit 13 deletes the user ID of the user from the link information of the shared cache 14 At the same time, the resource information (URI, resource ID, unique partial resource) stored in the user's exclusive cache 15 is deleted. Further, when the separated resource is shared by two users, when deleting the resource from the cache of one user, the resource management unit 13 does not need to store the resource in the separated form. , Combining the common part of the resource stored in the shared cache 14 associated with the resource ID and the unique partial resource stored in the user's private cache 15 that does not delete the resource, The resource is stored in the exclusive cache 15 of the user who does not delete the resource. In accordance with the synthesis and storage, information on the separated resources, that is, information on the resources stored in the shared cache 14 and information on the specific partial resources stored in the exclusive cache 15 of each user are deleted.

  As described above, when the resource management unit 13 in this embodiment detects that the resource does not need to be separated, the resource management unit 13 synthesizes the resource and stores it only in the dedicated cache 15 of the corresponding user. Note that this composition processing may be performed constantly or may be performed periodically.

  Note that the information processing apparatus that performs cache data management in each of the above embodiments has been described as an example of being mounted in the image forming apparatus 10, but an apparatus in which a cache data storage area is shared by a plurality of users. If so, the above embodiments may be applied.

  1 Web server, 2 network, 10 image forming apparatus, 11 user interface (UI) unit, 12 browser, 13 resource management unit, 14 shared cache storage area, 15 dedicated cache storage area, 21 CPU, 22 address data bus, 23 operation Panel, 24 Scanner, 25 Hard disk drive (HDD), 26 Printer engine, 27 Network interface (I / F), 28 RAM, 29 ROM, 30 External media interface (I / F).

Claims (5)

Shared storage means for storing resources referenced by multiple users;
Dedicated storage means for storing resources allocated for each user and used only by the user;
In response to a resource acquisition request from any user, if the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is stored in the shared storage unit or the dedicated storage unit assigned to the user, it is stored. Acquiring the resource from any one of the storage means, and if not stored in any of the storage means, an acquisition means for acquiring the resource from the storage destination of the resource specified by the resource acquisition request; ,
Resource management means for managing resources so that the resource is stored in the shared storage means or the dedicated storage means assigned to the user according to the resource attribute information acquired by the acquisition means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the resource management unit detects that the same resource is stored in a plurality of the dedicated storage units, the resource management unit stores the resources only in the shared storage unit. . In the same resource stored in each of the plurality of dedicated storage means, when a common part that is the same and a special part that is not the same are mixed, the separation means for separating the resource into the common part and the special part ,
The resource management means stores the common part of the resource separated by the separation means in the shared storage means, and stores the specific part of the resource in each of the dedicated storage means assigned to the user,
When the resource specified by the resource acquisition request from any user is stored separately in the shared storage unit and the dedicated storage unit, the acquisition unit stores the common part of the resource from the shared storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resource is acquired by extracting and combining the specific parts of the resource from the exclusive storage unit assigned to the user.   When the resource management means detects that the unique part of the resource stored separately in the shared storage means and the dedicated storage means is stored only in the dedicated storage means assigned to a single user, The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the common part and the unique part of the resource are combined and stored in the dedicated storage unit assigned to the user. A computer having a shared storage unit that stores resources acquired by a plurality of users and a dedicated storage unit that is allocated to each user and stores resources used only by the user,
In response to a resource acquisition request from any user, if the resource specified by the resource acquisition request is stored in the shared storage unit or the dedicated storage unit assigned to the user, it is stored. Acquiring the resource from any of the storage means, and if not stored in any of the storage means, an acquisition means for acquiring the resource from the storage destination of the resource specified by the resource acquisition request;
Resource management means for managing resources so as to store the resource in the shared storage means or the dedicated storage means assigned to the user according to the resource attribute information acquired by the acquisition means;
Program to function as.

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