JP3322196B2 - Data transfer system, transfer method therefor, and recording medium recording control program therefor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transfer system, a transfer method therefor, and a recording medium storing a control program therefor, and more particularly to a method for transferring objects in a network system comprising a plurality of computer devices and other electronic devices. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In software technology of a computer device, data and a procedure for operating the data (hereinafter, referred to as a data manipulation procedure) are described.
There is an object-oriented technology that constructs software in units of packaged objects.

An object is composed of data and a method for operating the data. FIG. 11 shows the data structure of the object. As shown in FIG. 11, for example, the object 5 has a data format 51 for storing an integer and a character string, and a method 52 for operating these data.

As shown in FIG. 12, a network system using the above-described software technology includes a plurality of computer devices 6 and 7 and other devices 8 connected to a communication path 1.
Some are connected at 00. In this network system, information is exchanged between objects existing in a plurality of computer devices 6 and 7.

[0005] An example of information exchange between objects is described in the document "February 1997, Understandan.
Ding ActiveX and OLE, written by David Chapel, published by ASCII Corporation, ISBN4-7
561-1706-6 ".

[0006] When an object is distributed from one computer device to another computer device, it is general to distribute all data of the object collectively.
In this way, when all the data of the collected object has arrived and the decomposition of the arrived data is completed, all operations can be performed on the object.

There is also a system in which the existence of a document can be confirmed in advance and a preparatory operation can be performed before the document is transferred to the user. This system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-009234.

[0008]

In a network system using the above-mentioned conventional object-oriented technology, even when only a part of the data of an object is operated, it is necessary to wait for all the data of the object to be delivered. Otherwise, there is a problem that the operation cannot be actually performed.

Further, in the technique described in the above publication, prior notification of the contents of the document is made before the document is distributed. However, in this method, the contents of the previously notified document cannot be operated.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a data transfer system and a transfer method capable of performing some operations on an object without waiting for all data of the object to be delivered. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium recording the control program.

[0011]

A data transfer system according to the present invention is a data transfer system for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination, A data list including all data names included in the object and a leading distribution flag which can be arbitrarily set whether or not to pre-distribute the data of the data name, and all procedures included in the object The object is provided with a method list including a name, the data name used by the procedure of the procedure name, and an available flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available. Generating means for generating an object to be pre-distributed to the distribution destination based on a data list and the method list; And a delivery means for frontloading the objects generated by the formation means to the delivery destination in the distribution source,
Storage means for storing an object distributed from the distribution source; determining means for determining whether or not the object previously distributed from the distribution means is stored in the storage means; and Object generating means for generating an empty object when it is determined that the object has not been stored in the storage means, and assigning data of the object previously distributed from the distribution means to the empty object generated by the object generating means. Means for storing in said storage means and distribution until now
Rewrite the available flag of the procedure based on the data
Means are provided for the distribution destination.

[0012] A data transfer method according to the present invention is a data transfer method for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination. A data list consisting of a data name and a preceding delivery flag that can be arbitrarily set as to whether or not to deliver the data of the data name arbitrarily, and all of the procedure names included in the object and the procedure of that procedure name are used. The object has a method list including a data name and an available flag indicating whether a procedure of the procedure name is available. The data list and the method list are based on an external instruction. Generating an object to be pre-distributed to the distribution destination by the distribution source; Pre-delivering the object from the distribution source to the distribution destination, storing the object distributed from the distribution source in the distribution destination, and storing the object pre-delivered from the distribution source in the distribution destination Determining whether or not the
Generating an empty object when it is determined that the pre-distributed object is not stored in the distribution destination; and substituting data of the object pre-distributed from the distribution source into the generated empty object. and a step to be stored in the delivery destination Te, have been delivered up to now
A procedure for rewriting the availability flag of the procedure based on the data
And with Tep .

A recording medium on which a data transfer control program according to the present invention is recorded has recorded thereon a data transfer control program for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a source to a destination. A recording medium comprising: a data list including all data names included in the object and a preceding distribution flag which can be arbitrarily set as to whether or not to pre-distribute data of the data name; and all data included in the object. The object has a method list including a procedure name, the data name used by the procedure of the procedure name, and an available flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available. The data source and the method list according to an external instruction to the distribution source An object to be pre-distributed to the distribution destination on the basis of the object, the object generated by the generation means is pre-distributed to the distribution destination, and the data transfer control program is distributed to the distribution destination from the distribution source. To determine whether or not an object that has been pre-distributed from the distribution source is stored. If it is determined that the object that has been pre-distributed is not stored, an empty object is generated. It has been allowed to store by substituting the data of the preceding delivery object to empty object from the distribution source, until now
Based on the distributed data, check the availability flag of the procedure
It has been rewritten .

That is, in the data transfer method of the present invention,
Add a new data structure to the data structure of the object to be distributed. More specifically, type information, ID, data list, and method list are added to the data structure of the object to be distributed, and a method that handles only the data when a part of the data of the object is transferred is used. It is possible.

This makes it possible to reduce the distribution waiting time on the receiving side of the object, and the distribution side of the object can control the amount of transfer information in consideration of the state of the communication path and the like.

[0016]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an object delivery source device 1 is connected to an object delivery destination device 2 via a communication path 100.

The distribution source device 1 comprises a memory 11, a data packing means 12, and a data distribution means 13. The distribution destination device 2 comprises a memory 21, an object consistency holding means 22, and an empty object generation means. 23, and data receiving means 24.

The memory 11 of the distribution source device 1 has an object 11a to be distributed.
When distributing a, the data pack unit 12 cuts out data necessary for distribution from the object 11a and packages it. The data packaged by the data packing unit 12 is transmitted to the communication path 100 by the data distribution unit 13 and transferred to the distribution destination device 2 via the communication path 100.

The data transferred to the destination device 2 is received by the data receiving means 24. The object consistency holding unit 22 assigns the data received by the data receiving unit 24 to the empty object generated by the empty object generating unit 23 to store the object 21a in the memory 21.
Is constructed, and the object 21a can be used in the distribution destination device 2.

Here, it is assumed that the distribution source device 1 and the distribution destination device 2 are computer devices connected to a network system, respectively, and know the data structures of all types of objects handled by the own device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of an object according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows the data structure of the object after the addition. A class (: object specification) (hereinafter referred to as an object) 3 has a data format (position information and image data) 31, a method (position correction and image correction) 32, and type information (Pictur).
e) It is composed of 33, ID 34, data list 35, and method list 36.

The type information 33 of the object 3 describes the type of the object 3. For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the object 3 includes “Picture” in the type information 33.
(Photo) "is a photo object. The ID 34 of the object 3 is an identifier for identifying the type of each object, and differs for each type of object. This ID 34 is not changed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the data list 35 of FIG. In the figure, the data list 35 includes a data name a and a preceding delivery flag b corresponding to the data name a. The data list 35 describes the names of all data included in the object. In the preceding delivery flag b, information indicating whether or not the data of the corresponding data name a is to be delivered in advance is written.

The contents of the advance distribution flag 35 can be changed immediately before distribution. For example, in the case shown in FIG.
The object 3 has two data a1 and a2, "position information" and "image data".

The preceding delivery flag b1 of "position information" describes "precedent delivery", and the preceding delivery flag b2 of "image data" describes "no preceding delivery". This indicates that "position information" is delivered in advance, and "image data" is not delivered in advance. The contents of the data list 35 are changed depending on conditions such as the status of the communication path 100 and user requests.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the method list 36 of FIG. In the figure, the method list 36 includes a method name c, a partner data name d, and an available flag e of the method.

The method list 36 includes all the method names included in the object 3. For example,
In the case as shown in FIG. 4, the object 3 has a “position correction” method c1 for correcting the position and an “image correction” method c2 for correcting the image data.

The partner data name d describes the data name of the object 3 used by the method. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 4, "position information" is described in the data name d1 used by the "position correction" method, and "image data" is described in the data name d2 used by the "image correction" method. ing.

The availability flag e of the method describes whether the method is available. For example, FIG.
In the case shown in (1), since both "position information" and "image data" exist, "available" is described in the available flags e1 and e2 of "position correction" and "image correction".

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data body and a header exchanged in one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a header A has a data type A1 and a data size A
The data body B is arranged behind the header A.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing packaged data to be delivered in advance in one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, packaged data 4 is data that is pre-distributed based on the information shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and includes a data format (position information) 41, an ID 42, and a type information (Picture) 43. It is composed of

The packaged data 4 has a data format 31 of a class (object specification) 3 shown in FIG.
Out of the data to be pre-distributed. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, the data is only “position information”.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation when the delivery side performs the advance delivery in one embodiment of the present invention.
The operation shown in FIG. 7 shows a procedure on the delivery side when the data of the object 11a is delivered in advance, and is realized by a program stored in a control memory (not shown). The control memory is a floppy disk or ROM.
(Read only memory) and the like.

That is, the distribution source device 1 first determines data to be pre-distributed with reference to the data list 35 (FIG. 7).
Step S1). For example, in the case shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, "position information" is delivered in advance, and "image data" is not delivered in advance.

Next, type information 33 and ID 34 are obtained (step S2 in FIG. 7), and the type information 33 and ID 34 are obtained.
And the data format 31 to be pre-distributed are packaged (step S3 in FIG. 7). Finally, the packaged data (see FIG. 6) is distributed to other clients in advance (step S4 in FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing an operation of packaging necessary data from a distribution source object in one embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the advance delivery will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation of the advance distribution is also realized by the program stored in the control memory.

In the delivery source device 1, the data to be delivered in advance is
A data buffer (not shown) for storing data until actually distributed is prepared in the memory 11 in advance (step S11 in FIG. 8).

The preceding delivery object is determined based on an externally input user's instruction (step S in FIG. 8).
12). The data pack unit 12 of the distribution source device 1 converts the object determined by the external instruction into the ID 34
(Step S13 in FIG. 8), and the type information 3
3 is extracted (step S14 in FIG. 8) and stored in the data buffer. At this time, a header A is added to the data (body) B stored in the data buffer to avoid a problem caused by mixing various types of data.

The data packing means 12 has a data list 35
To determine which data is to be delivered in advance (step S15 in FIG. 8). In the case where the data list 35 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, the data to be delivered in advance is only “position information”. Therefore, the data pack unit 12 cuts out "position information" from the object (step S1 in FIG. 8).
6) Store in the data buffer. Also at this time, the header A is added to the data (body) B stored in the data buffer.

The data packing means 12 merges the data stored in the data buffer as described above (step S17 in FIG. 8), and generates packaged data 4. The packaged data 4 is transmitted to the data distribution unit 13 and distributed to the distribution destination device 2 by the data distribution unit 13 (Step S18 in FIG. 8).

The data stored in the data buffer becomes unnecessary when the data is distributed from the data distribution unit 13 to the distribution destination device 2. Therefore, the data pack unit 12 deletes the contents of the data buffer and prepares for distribution of the next object. (Step S19 in FIG. 8).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of receiving data that has been previously delivered according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the procedure of the distribution destination device 2 for receiving the data of the object that has been pre-distributed is shown.
This is realized by a program stored in a control memory (not shown) provided in the CPU.

The object consistency holding means 22 of the distribution destination apparatus 2 stores the data received by the data receiving means 24, that is, the packaged data 4 (data format 41, ID4
2, type information 43) is decomposed into "position information" (step S21 in FIG. 9).

Subsequently, the object consistency maintaining means 22
Is the I of all objects managed by the distribution destination device 2.
D is checked to see if there is any that matches the ID of the delivered object (step S22 in FIG. 9). This is done to see if the object has already been pre-delivered.

If no object matching the ID of the distributed object is found, the object consistency holding means 22 regards this data as data of the newly distributed object, and refers to the type information 43. The empty object generating means 23 generates an empty object (step S23 in FIG. 9).

An empty object is the same as a normal object except that there is no data and the method availability flag is not entered. Figure 1 above
In the example shown in FIG. 8, since the type information 43 of the data to be distributed includes "Picture (photo)", the distribution destination device 2 generates an empty photo object.

The object consistency holding means 22 passes the ID 42 and the distributed data to the empty object (step S24 in FIG. 9). In the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, since "position information" is distributed, the object consistency holding unit 22 passes "position information" to an empty object. Finally, the object consistency holding unit 22 rewrites the method use flag e based on the data distributed so far (step S26 in FIG. 9).

For example, in the method list table 36 shown in FIG. 4, since "position correction" uses only "position information", "available" is set in the available flag e1 of "position correction".
Is written. Similarly, since “image correction” uses “image data” that has not been distributed, “unavailable” is written in the available flag e2 of “image correction”.

If a match with the ID of the distributed object is found, the object consistency maintaining means 22 regards the data as additional data for the existing object. The object consistency holding unit 22 adds data to the existing object having the corresponding ID (step S25 in FIG. 9), and rewrites the method availability flag e in the same manner as described above (step S2 in FIG. 9).
6).

Whether or not the distribution of all the data of the object has been completed is determined based on whether or not all the available flags e of the method have become “available”. When all the available flags e are not “available”, the distribution destination device 2 sends the object ID and the data name to be distributed to the distribution source device 1.

For example, when the packaged data 4 shown in FIG. 6 is distributed, the distribution destination device 2 has not received the distribution of the “image data”. When the "image data" is required, the object ID and the requested data name ("image data") are transmitted to the distribution source device 1.

When using the method of the object in the distribution destination apparatus 2, the method is used after confirming the available flag e of the method. For example, when the method 32 of the object 3 shown in FIG. 2 is used, the use of the method is permitted only when the available flag e of the method in the method list table 36 is “available”. By doing so, for example, when the “position information” of the object shown in FIG. 4 is distributed in advance, the position of the photograph object can be corrected even if the “image data” is not distributed. .

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an empty object creating operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. An operation of creating an empty object according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of creating the empty object is also realized by the program stored in the control memory.

The computer device (distribution destination device 2) according to the embodiment of the present invention holds the data structure of all the objects to be handled in the form of a class list D. The class type information has a unique value for each class (type of object).

When generating an empty object, the "type information" of the data C sent from the distribution source device 1 is compared with the "type information" of all the classes in the class list D. This is handled by the "method for determining the type of object to be generated" 22a.

Here, if the “type information” of the data C sent from the distribution source device 1 matches the “type information” of a certain class in the class list D, the “type of object to be generated is determined. The method 22a passes the data structure of the object to be generated to the method 22b for generating an empty object.

"Method for generating an empty object"
Reference numeral 22b secures a memory space for storing a data format, a method, type information, an ID, a data list, and a method list. This memory space is treated as an empty object in which no data is stored. Data from the distribution source is stored in this memory space.

In the above-described example, it is assumed that an image is displayed on a display screen, and an image object in which a process for the image is added to the image data is described. This image object has "image data" indicating the main body of the image and "position information" indicating the display position of the image on the display screen as data.

The image object has an "image correction" method for correcting the image body and a "position correction" method for correcting the display position of the image on the display screen.

Since the "position information" of the image object is generally small and the "image data" is large, if only the display position is to be corrected, the "position information" is downloaded first.
By downloading the "image data" later, it is possible to correct the display position immediately after the "location information" download is completed, and to correct the image when the "image data" download is completed Can be displayed at the specified display position.

As described above, the type information 33, the ID 34, the data list 35, and the method list 36 are added to the data structure of the object 3 to be distributed, and when a part of the data of the object 3 is transferred, the data By making a method that handles only the object 3 available, the distribution waiting time on the receiving side of the object 3 can be reduced, and the distributing side of the object 3 can operate the transfer information amount in consideration of the state of the communication path and the like. it can.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a data transfer system for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination, A data list consisting of all included data names and an advance delivery flag indicating whether or not to advance-deliver the data of the data name, all the procedure names included in the object, and the data names used by the procedures of the procedure name And a method list including an available flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available or not. The object is preliminarily distributed to the distribution destination based on the data list and the method list according to an external instruction. Generating means for generating an object to be delivered, and a distribution means for pre-distributing the generated object to a distribution destination Storage means for storing an object distributed from the distribution source, a determination means for determining whether or not the pre-distributed object is stored in the storage means, and storing the pre-distributed object. Means for generating an empty object when it is determined that the object is not stored in the means, and means for substituting the data of the object previously delivered to the generated empty object and storing the data in the storage means. Has the effect that some operations on the object can be performed without waiting for all the data of the object to be distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data list of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a method list in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main body and a header of data exchanged in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing packaged data to be distributed in advance in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when the delivery side performs advance delivery in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing an operation of packaging necessary data from a distribution source object in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of receiving pre-distributed data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of creating an empty object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional object.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a conventional network system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 distribution source device 2 distribution destination device 3 object (class: object specification) 4 packaged data 11, 21 memory 11 a, 21 a object 12 data pack unit 13 data distribution unit 22 object consistency holding unit 23 empty object generation unit 24 Data receiving means 31, 41 Data format 32 Method 33, 43 Type information 34, 42 ID 35 Data list 36 Method list

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 13/00 G06F 9/44 G06F 15/16 H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data transfer system for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination, wherein all data names included in the object and the data thereof It is arbitrarily set whether or not to pre-deliver first name data.
A data list consisting of the current prior delivery flag, all the procedure names included in the object, the data name used by the procedure of the procedure name, and an availability flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available. Generating means for generating an object to be pre-distributed to the distribution destination based on the data list and the method list in accordance with an external instruction; and A delivery unit for delivering the object generated by the means to the delivery destination at the delivery source, a storage unit for storing an object delivered from the delivery source, and an object delivered from the delivery unit in advance. Determining means for determining whether the object is stored in the storage means; and An object generating means for generating an empty object when it is determined that the object is not stored in the storing means; and storing the data of the object previously distributed from the distribution means into the empty object generated by the object generating means. Means to store in means and distribution until now
Rewrite the available flag of the procedure based on the data
Data transfer system, comprising obtaining a means to the destination. 2. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the data list and the method list are arranged for each type of the object. 3. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the object includes unique identification information for each type. 4. A data transfer method for transferring an object constituted by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination, wherein all data names included in the object and the data thereof are provided. It is arbitrarily set whether or not to pre-deliver first name data.
A data list consisting of the current prior delivery flag, all the procedure names included in the object, the data name used by the procedure of the procedure name, and an availability flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available. A method list comprising: a method list comprising: a method for generating, at the distribution source, an object to be pre-distributed to the distribution destination based on the data list and the method list in accordance with an external instruction; Pre-distributing the object generated by the generating means from the distribution source to the distribution destination; storing the object distributed from the distribution source in the distribution destination; Determining whether an object is stored at the delivery destination; and A step of generating an empty object when it is determined that the object is not stored in the distribution destination; and a step of substituting data of the object previously distributed from the distribution source into the generated empty object and storing the data in the distribution destination And the data delivered so far
Rewriting the availability flag of the procedure based on the data transfer method. 5. The data transfer method according to claim 4, wherein the data list and the method list are arranged for each type of the object. 6. The data transfer method according to claim 4, wherein the object includes identification information unique to each type. 7. A recording medium recording a data transfer control program for transferring an object formed by packaging data and a procedure for operating the data from a distribution source to a distribution destination, wherein all of the objects included in the object are recorded. Arbitrarily set whether or not to pre-distribute the data name of
A data list consisting of the current prior delivery flag, all the procedure names included in the object, the data name used by the procedure of the procedure name, and an availability flag indicating whether the procedure of the procedure name is available. The data transfer control program pre-distributes to the distribution source to the distribution destination based on the data list and the method list according to an external instruction. The object to be generated is generated, the object generated by the generation unit is pre-distributed to the distribution destination, the data transfer control program causes the distribution destination to store an object distributed from the distribution source, and A determination is made as to whether the pre-delivered object is stored, and the pre-delivered object is stored. It is to produce an empty object when it is determined that it is not, then stored by substituting the data of the preceding delivery objects from the distribution source to the generated empty object, the based on the delivered data ever Use of procedures
Flag is rewritten recording medium recording the data transfer control program characterized Rukoto. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the data list and the method list are arranged for each type of the object. 9. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the object includes identification information unique to each type.