JP2017054162A - Information terminal, information processing system and data reading method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information terminal that can efficiently read data stored in a server.SOLUTION: An information terminal 1 comprises: a storage part 2 that stores information on a request to access a file 5 from an application operating in the terminal; and an information transmission part 3 that creates information on data scheduled to be accessed included in the file 5 on the basis of the details of the storage part 2, and transmits the created information to a server 4 managing the file 5 as information to be used by the server 4 for prefetch processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information terminal, an information processing system, a data reading method, and a computer program.

  A general application program reads necessary data from a file in which data is stored, and performs processing using the read data. For this reason, the time required for reading data greatly affects the performance (processing time) of the application program.

  As a method of improving the data reading performance, there is prefetching (prefetch). Prefetch is a method of improving read performance by reading data that is likely to be read by an application program in the future from a low-speed disk and storing the data in a high-speed memory (cache memory). There are mainly the following two types of methods.

  The first method is a method (Server-initiated replica) in which the server grasps the existence and arrangement of the cache memory and performs appropriate processing. In this method, when accessing data managed by the server, the server determines whether to read the data from the server disk or the cache memory based on the arrangement information of the data stored in the cache memory. In addition, the server estimates data to be read from the history information related to the data access pattern when accessed by each client, and stores it in the cache memory.

  The second method is a method (Client-initiated replica) in which a cache memory is uniquely generated in a client. When this method is used, the client has data arrangement information stored in the cache memory of the client. Then, the client closes the client and processes some accesses. That is, the client accesses the server when accessing data not stored in the cache memory of the own terminal, but does not access the server when accessing data stored in the cache memory of the own terminal.

  Here, as related technologies, for example, there are the following patent documents.

  In the communication system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a file stored in a file management server is divided and cached in a client terminal or a file management server. In response to the download request, the system determines whether the designated data exists in the split cache, and if it exists, uses the data from the split cache.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a communication system in which a server creates a list of files to be pre-read for application execution based on access information of users other than the target user in response to a request from a terminal. .

  Patent Document 3 discloses an information providing system in which content expected to be purchased is written in advance in a cache server of a viewer device that displays content.

  In the homepage data collection method disclosed in Patent Document 4, the cache server collects homepage data based on an access list composed of URL addresses of homepages transferred from a client. Thereafter, the cache server connects to the client and causes the client to collect the home page data.

JP 2013-020575 A JP 2010-238114 A JP 2003-099354 A JP 2000-315171 A

  The first method described above has a problem that the server must manage and control a lot of information. In addition, since the server estimates the access pattern, prefetching is effective for an application that performs sequential reading, but is often wasted for an application that performs random reading.

  Further, in the second method described above, data is managed twice in the client and the server. Therefore, there is a problem that the client has to check the server relatively frequently to maintain consistency. Further, the client does not access the server when the data requested to be accessed from the application is data cached in the client. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the server to guess the access pattern, and the server prefetch becomes inefficient.

  Even if the techniques proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 are used, it is not expected to perform effective prefetching in order to shorten the execution time of the application program, and the problem cannot be solved.

  Therefore, the present invention mainly aims to provide an information terminal or the like that can efficiently read data stored in a server.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following arrangement.

That is, an information terminal according to one aspect of the present invention is provided.
A storage unit for storing access request information for a file from an application running on its own terminal;
Based on the contents of the storage unit, information related to data to be accessed included in the file is generated, and the generated information is transmitted to the server managing the file as information used by the server for prefetch processing. Means.

An information processing system according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the same object,
A cache memory that can be accessed faster than a storage device such as a disk;
The server having cache processing means for reading corresponding data from the file based on the information transmitted from the information terminal and storing the data in the cache memory;
And the information terminal.

A data reading method according to an aspect of the present invention that achieves the same object,
Based on the contents of the storage unit that stores the access request information for the file from the application running on its own terminal, information on the data scheduled to be accessed contained in the file is generated, and the generated information is managed by the file And the server performs prefetch processing based on the information.

  Further, the object is to provide a computer program for realizing the information terminal, the information processing system, or the data reading method having the above-described configuration by a computer, and a computer-readable storage in which the computer program is stored. It is also achieved by the medium.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that data stored in the server can be read efficiently.

It is a block diagram which mainly shows the structure of the information terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a client terminal about the prefetch process of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a server about the prefetch process of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the prefetch information of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a client terminal about the file reading process of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process in a server about the file reading process of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the prefetch release process of the information processing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates illustartively the hardware constitutions of the computer (information processing apparatus) which can implement | achieve the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
It is a block diagram which mainly shows the structure of the information terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  The information terminal 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 2 that stores access request information and an information transmission unit 3.

  The storage unit 2 stores access request information for a file (data file) 5 from an application (not shown) running on the information terminal 1.

  Based on the contents of the storage unit 2, the information transmission unit 3 generates information related to data scheduled to be included in the file 5 and manages the file 5 as information used by the server 4 for prefetch processing. Send to server 4.

  As described above, the first embodiment has an effect that data stored in the server can be efficiently read, that is, acquired.

  The reason is that the information terminal 1 according to the present embodiment transmits to the server 4 information related to the data to be accessed included in the file 5 based on the content of the storage unit 2 in which the access request information from the application is stored. Because it does. This is because the information (prefetch information) is information used by the server 4 for prefetch processing. Therefore, the server 4 that has received the information can perform prefetching based on the information. This is because the server 4 can efficiently read the prefetched and prefetched data for the access from the information terminal 1 and provide it to the information terminal 1.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment based on the client terminal according to the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the information processing system shown in FIG.

  The information processing system according to this embodiment includes a client terminal 10 and a server 30.

  The client terminal 10 includes a control unit 20, a file processing unit 101, and a cache memory 102.

  The cache memory 102 is a memory that can be accessed at higher speed than a storage device such as a disk.

  The control unit 20 includes a request reception unit 201, a request processing unit 202, a prefetch information transmission unit 203, and a queue 204. The file processing unit 101 and the prefetch information transmission unit 203 are another example of the information transmission unit 3 of the first embodiment. In addition, the control unit 20 mounts an application (not shown).

  The queue 204 corresponds to the storage unit 2 in the first embodiment. The queue 204 stores requests from users and processes them in the stored order. The request stored in the queue 204 includes information indicating an instruction type such as writing or reading. For example, in the case of a read request, the request further includes information for identifying a target file to be read, information indicating a position to start reading the file, information indicating an amount to be read from the position, and the position. Information indicating the reading direction.

  The request reception unit 201 receives a request for file access from a user (application). The request reception unit 201 stores contents indicating the received request in the queue 204. A general application implements this function by using a UI (User Interface, User Interface).

  The request processing unit 202 processes a request from a user stored in the queue 204. Specifically, the request processing unit 202 sends a write or read request to the file processing unit 101. The request processing unit 202 receives the content passed from the file processing unit 101 in response to the request.

  The prefetch information transmission unit 203 generates information related to data to be read by the application based on the request contents stored in the queue 204, and sends the information to the file processing unit 101. Here, the information related to the data to be read is information related to data that needs to be pre-read in the execution of the application, that is, it is pre-read information. For example, when the number of requests stored in the queue 204 exceeds a predetermined amount, the prefetch information transmission unit 203 performs processing based on the contents of the queue 204, that is, generation of information about data that requires prefetching and a file processing unit. 101 is transmitted.

  The file processing unit 101 processes information received from the request processing unit 202 and the prefetch information transmission unit 203.

  When the file processing unit 101 receives a read request from the request processing unit 202, the file processing unit 101 checks whether data to be read is stored in the cache memory 102 of the client terminal 10. If stored, the file processing unit 101 reads the data from the cache memory 102 and passes the read data to the request processing unit 202. When the data to be read is not stored in the cache memory 102, the file processing unit 101 inquires of the server 30. That is, the file processing unit 101 transmits a request for reading information not stored in the cache memory 102 to the server 4.

  When the file processing unit 101 receives information (prefetch information) related to data that requires prefetching from the prefetch information transmission unit 203, the file processing unit 101 sends the information to the server 30.

  The server 30 includes a reception unit 301, a prefetch information processing unit 303, an access processing unit 304, a cache processing unit 305, a storage device 306, a cache memory 307, and a cache information storage unit 308.

  The storage device 306 is, for example, a disk device that stores user data, and the data stored therein includes data used in an application.

  The cache memory 307 is a memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than the storage device 306 such as a disk.

  The cache information storage unit 308 includes a capacity, a usage amount, and information regarding stored data regarding the cache memory 307. The capacity is information indicating the size of the cache memory 307. The usage amount is information representing the amount used by storing data in the cache memory 307. The information related to the stored data includes information indicating the contents of the stored data, information indicating the storage position, and storage time. The information representing the contents of the stored data is, for example, information such as a file, offset, and size shown in FIG. The information indicating the storage position is a value indicating where the data is stored in the cache memory 307, for example, an offset in the cache memory 307. The storage time is information indicating the time when the data is stored in the cache memory 307.

  When the receiving unit 301 of the server 30 receives a read request from the client terminal 10, the receiving unit 301 sends the request to the access processing unit 304. Further, the receiving unit 301 instructs the prefetch information processing unit 303 to prefetch the next data of the requested read target data.

  The access processing unit 304 determines whether the data to be read is stored in the cache memory 307 based on the information stored in the cache information storage unit 308. When stored in the cache memory 307, the access processing unit 304 reads the data from the cache memory 307 and passes the read data to the client terminal 10. If not stored, the access processing unit 304 reads the target data from the storage device 306 and passes the read data to the client terminal 10.

  The receiving unit 301 receives prefetch information from the client terminal 10 and sends the received information to the prefetch information processing unit 303.

  The prefetch information processing unit 303 issues a prefetch instruction to the cache processing unit 305 based on the received prefetch information.

  Further, the prefetch information processing unit 303 receives an instruction from the reception unit 301 and instructs the cache processing unit 305 to prefetch data to be read next to the data to be read.

  The cache processing unit 305 reads data from the storage device 306 and stores it in the cache memory 307. The cache processing unit 305 updates the cache information storage unit 308 so as to represent the contents of the cache memory 307 after data storage.

  Next, the flow of prefetch processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the client terminal in the prefetch processing of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the server in the prefetch processing of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The prefetch information transmission unit 203 of the client terminal 10 creates a list of data to be read by the application based on the request contents stored in the queue 204 (step S110). That is, the prefetch information transmission unit 203 extracts requests whose information indicating the instruction type is content corresponding to reading from the request contents stored in the queue 204, and creates a list thereof. The list is information regarding data that needs prefetching, and is prefetching information.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining prefetch information of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 5, the prefetch information includes “client”, “file”, “offset”, “size”, and “reading direction”.

  The “client” is information for identifying the own client terminal, and is, for example, the name of the own client terminal or information (for example, IP (Internet Protocol) address) that uniquely identifies the own client terminal.

  “File” is information for identifying the target file to be read, and is, for example, the file name of the target file to be read.

  The “offset” is information indicating a position where the file reading is started, and is, for example, an offset number at which the file reading is started. When reading all the data of the file, the “offset” is, for example, “0”.

  “Size” is information indicating the amount of reading of a file from the position indicated by “offset”, and is, for example, a value indicating how many bytes of data are read from the offset number set in “offset”. When reading all, the “size” is, for example, “−1”.

  “Reading direction” is information indicating the direction in which the file is read from the position indicated by “offset”, for example, information indicating whether the file is read in the forward direction or in the reverse direction from the set offset number. Normally, file access is read in the forward direction, but in the case of non-linear video editing, the reverse direction is also possible.

  The prefetch information transmission unit 203 generates these pieces of information from the information stored in the queue 204.

  Next, the prefetch information transmission unit 203 deletes information related to data that already exists in the cache memory 102 included in the created list (step S120). This is because the data already existing in the cache memory 102 does not need to be prefetched.

  Then, the prefetch information transmission unit 203 transmits the list to the server 30 via the file processing unit 101 (step S130).

  When receiving the transmitted list, the receiving unit 301 of the server 30 sends the list to the prefetch information processing unit 303.

  The prefetch information processing unit 303 issues a prefetch instruction to the cache processing unit 305 based on the list.

  The cache processing unit 305 repeatedly executes the following processing (S210 to S230 in FIG. 4) for all data included in the list.

  First, the cache processing unit 305 confirms whether or not the usage amount of the cache memory 307 exceeds the capacity of the cache memory 307 when the data is stored in the cache memory 307 (step S210). If the capacity is exceeded (“Yes” in step S210), the cache processing unit 305 does not perform processing on the data. When the capacity is not exceeded (“No” in step S210), the cache processing unit 305 determines whether or not the data has been stored in the cache memory (step S220). When the data has been stored (“Yes” in step S220), the cache processing unit 305 does not perform processing on the data. If not stored (“No” in step S220), the cache processing unit 305 reads the data from the storage device 306 and stores the read data in the cache memory 307 (step S230). The cache processing unit 305 updates the cache information storage unit 308 so as to represent the contents of the cache memory 307 after data storage.

  Until all the data included in the list is processed, the processing from step S210 is repeated (step S240).

  So far, the operation of prefetching when the server 30 receives a list to be read from the client terminal 10 has been described. Further, when receiving a read request, the server 30 prefetches the next data to be read and stores it in the cache memory 307.

  Next, the flow of the file reading process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the client terminal regarding file reading processing of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the server for file reading processing in the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  When there is a read request from the application, the file processing unit 101 first checks whether or not the data is stored in the cache memory 102 of the client terminal 10 (step S310). When the target data is stored (“Yes” in step S310), the file processing unit 101 reads the data from the cache memory 102 (step S330). If the target data is not stored in the cache memory 102 (“No” in step S310), the file processing unit 101 inquires of the server 30 (step S320). That is, the file processing unit 101 transmits a request for reading data not stored in the cache memory 102 to the server 4.

  Then, the file processing unit 101 passes the data passed in response to the inquiry in step S320 or the data read in step S330 to the application (step S340).

  The receiving unit 301 of the server 30 receives an inquiry from the client terminal 10 and passes information representing the inquiry content to the access processing unit 304.

  Next, the access processing unit 304 refers to the cache information storage unit 308 to determine whether or not the data is stored in the cache memory 307 (step S410). When the target data is stored (“Yes” in step S410), the access processing unit 304 reads the data from the cache memory 307 (step S430). If the target data is not stored in the cache memory 307 (“No” in step S410), the access processing unit 304 reads the data from the storage device 306 (step S420).

  Then, the server 30 passes the data read in step S420 or step S430 to the client terminal 10 (step S440).

  Next, the flow of prefetch release processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining prefetch release processing of the information processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The prefetch release process is a process for deleting from the cache memory 307 data that has been stored in the cache memory 307 and has passed a predetermined time. The prefetch release process is executed periodically, for example, every predetermined time.

  The cache processing unit 305 performs the following processing on all data stored in the cache memory 307.

  The cache processing unit 305 refers to the cache information storage unit 308 and determines whether a certain time has elapsed since the data was stored (step S510).

When the predetermined time has elapsed (“Yes” in step S510), the cache processing unit
The data is deleted from the cache memory 307 (step S520). Then, the cache processing unit 305 updates the cache information storage unit 308 to represent the contents of the cache memory 307 after data deletion.

  The processing from step S510 is repeated until the processing is completed for all data stored in the cache 307 (step S530).

  As described above, the second embodiment has an effect that data stored in the server can be efficiently read.

  The reason is that the information processing system according to the present embodiment performs prefetch processing at the server based on information related to data to be read by an application running on the client terminal.

  As a result, the server has a much lower possibility of wasted cache, and more efficient prefetching is possible.

  Furthermore, since the server can cache only necessary data and can reduce information to be managed and controlled, the amount of necessary memory can be reduced.

  Further, when the number of requests stored in the queue exceeds a predetermined amount, the client terminal may generate information related to data that requires prefetching and transmit the information to the server. Then, the client terminal can perform control in consideration of the communication amount between the client terminal and the server.

(Hardware configuration)
1 and 2 in the above-described embodiment may be realized by a dedicated device or circuit, but can also be regarded as a function (processing) unit (software module) of a software program. However, various configurations can be envisaged when mounting each part shown in these drawings. An example of the hardware environment in such a case will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of a computer (information processing apparatus) that can implement the first and second embodiments of the present invention. That is, FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the client terminal shown in FIG. 1 and the computer (information processing apparatus) that can realize the whole or part of the information processing system shown in FIG. Represents a hardware environment capable of realizing

  The information processing apparatus 9000 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes the following apparatuses, and has a configuration in which these are connected via a bus 9007.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 9001
-Display 9002,
・ Communication interface (I / F) 9003,
・ ROM (Read Only Memory) 9004,
RAM (Random Access Memory) 9005 and Hard disk device (HD) 9006.

  The hard disk device 9006 stores a program group 9006A and various kinds of stored information 9006B. The program group 9006A is, for example, a computer program for realizing a function corresponding to each block (each unit) of the client terminal shown in FIG. 1 and the information processing system shown in FIG. The various storage information 9006B is, for example, the storage device 306 illustrated in FIG. A communication interface 9003 is a general communication unit that realizes communication with an external device via the network 9100.

  In the information processing apparatus 9000, the CPU 9001 of the hardware executes a computer program capable of realizing the functions of the block diagram or the flowchart referred to in the description of the above-described embodiment. That is, the CPU 9001 executes the computer program using the hardware resources of the information processing apparatus 9000 shown in FIG. 9 to achieve the functions of the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, when the information processing system shown in FIG. 2 is realized by the information processing device 9000, the information processing device 9000 is a computer for executing the processing steps of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The CPU 9001 may execute the program. The computer program supplied to the information processing apparatus 9000 may be stored in a readable / writable RAM 9005 or a non-volatile storage device (storage medium) such as the hard disk device 9006.

  In the above-described case, a general procedure can be adopted as a method for supplying a computer program into the apparatus. The method includes, for example, a method of installing in the apparatus via various storage media such as a CD-ROM, and a method of downloading from the outside via a network 9100 such as the Internet. In such a case, the embodiment of the present invention can be regarded as being configured by a code constituting the computer program or a computer-readable storage medium in which the code is recorded.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information terminal 2 Memory | storage part 3 Information transmission part 4 Server 5 File 10 Client terminal 20 Control part 30 Server 101 File processing part 102 Cache memory 201 Request reception part 202 Request processing part 203 Prefetch information transmission part 204 Queue 301 Reception part 303 Prefetch information Processing unit 304 Access processing unit 305 Cache processing unit 306 Storage device 307 Cache memory 308 Cache information storage unit 9000 Information processing device 9001 CPU
9002 Display 9003 Communication interface 9004 ROM
9005 RAM
9006 Hard disk device 9006A Program group 9006B Various storage information 9007 Bus 9100 Network

Claims (8)

A storage unit for storing access request information for a file from an application running on its own terminal;
Based on the contents of the storage unit, information related to data to be accessed included in the file is generated, and the generated information is transmitted to the server managing the file as information used by the server for prefetch processing. And an information terminal. The information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a cache memory,
2. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein, when the data to be accessed is stored in the cache memory, the information transmitting unit controls the data not to be included in the information. The information transmitting unit generates information on data scheduled to be accessed based on the content of the access request information corresponding to a read request among the access request information stored in the storage unit, and the generated information The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the server managing the file as information used by the server for prefetch processing. The information transmitting means, when the access request information stored in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined amount,
4. The information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein information relating to data to be accessed is generated based on the contents of the storage unit, and the generated information is transmitted to the server managing the file as information used by the server for prefetch processing. An information terminal according to claim 1. The information is
Information for identifying the information terminal;
Information identifying the file;
Information indicating a position to start reading the file;
Information representing the amount of reading the file from the position;
The information terminal as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 containing the information showing the direction which reads the said file from the said position. A cache memory that can be accessed faster than a storage device such as a disk;
The server having cache processing means for reading corresponding data from the file based on the information transmitted from the information terminal and storing the data in the cache memory;
An information processing system comprising the information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Based on the contents of the storage unit that stores the access request information for the file from the application running on its own terminal, information on the data scheduled to be accessed contained in the file is generated, and the generated information is managed by the file A data reading method in which the server performs prefetch processing based on the information transmitted to the server. Based on the contents of the storage unit in which access request information for the file from the application is stored, information on the data scheduled to be included in the file is generated, and the generated information is used as information used by the server for prefetch processing. A computer program that causes a computer to execute processing to be transmitted to the server that manages files.

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