JPH0410292A - Hard disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the number of times for actual access accompanying a mechanical operation to a hard disk by forming a file information part in a non-volatile memory cell different from the hard disk in the device. CONSTITUTION:When a file retrieval command is inputted from a CPU 12 to a hard disk device 16, the file retrieval command is inputted to a main con trol part 24. The main control part 24 judges whether or not the access destina tion shown by the file retrieval command is a file information part 23. In the case of the information part 23, an access processing is executed to the file information part 23. Namely, according to attribute information designated by the file retrieval command, the information part 23 is retrieved and memory position information corresponding to the relevant attribute is read out. By this hard disk device constituted in this way, the object of the access processing to the file information of a disk 19 is the information part 23 formed on the non-volatile memory cell. Since this non-volatile memory cell is formed by a semiconductor element, access processing time is made much shorter than the access processing accompanying the mechanical operation on the hard disk 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a hard disk device in which a large number of files are formed on the hard disk.

(Prior Art) For example, in a computer system that needs to store large amounts of data such as a database, the data is stored in an external storage device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a computer system using a hard disk device as an external storage device. That is, pass line 1
CPU2. Storage unit 3 for storing various data. Keyboard 4. CRT display5. A hard disk device 6 and the like are connected.

In the hard disk 7 of the hard disk device 6,
As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of files 8 and a file information section 9 are formed to store various data. As shown in the figure, the file control unit 9 is formed in the first area of the hard disk 7, and stores attribute information such as a file name and file number for identifying each file 8, and the corresponding file 8. The relationship with storage location information such as the start sector address and size (data length) is stored.

For example, when a file search command is input from the CPU 2, the file information section 9 is searched using attribute information specified by the file search command, and storage location information corresponding to the relevant attribute is read out. Next, the file 8 at the location specified by the read storage location information is searched, and the necessary data is continuously output or written.

However, even in the hard disk device 6 in which the necessary data is read or written in accordance with the procedure described above, there are still the following problems to be solved.

That is, when a file search command is input from outside the CPU 2 or the like, the file information section 9 is first searched, and then the actual file 8 is searched. Specifically, each track of the file information section 9 is sought (searched) while moving the magnetic head in the radial direction. Also, when searching for actual files 8, each data in each file 8 is accessed while moving the magnetic head in the radial direction.

Therefore, in order to read or write one piece of required data, at least two access processes are required between the file information section 9 and each file 8. Generally, the access process to the hard disk 7 is as follows: Since it includes the operation of mechanically moving the magnetic head, for example, RAM,
The processing time is significantly longer than that for accessing data stored in a semiconductor storage element such as a ROM. Therefore, there is a problem that the data processing speed of the entire computer system decreases.

In order to solve this problem, in addition to the hard disk 7, a cache memory formed of RAM or the like is provided in the hard disk device 6, and the data of frequently searched files and the file information of the corresponding files are stored in this cache memory. It is possible to think of a method to memorize the information. but,
Even in a hard disk device equipped with this cache memory, if a large amount of access processing to the file 8 occurs after the file information section 9 is accessed, the storage contents of the cache memory will change. therefore,
Since the hit rate when the next file information section 9 is accessed decreases, in the end, when accessing the file information section 9, the actual hard disk 7 is accessed instead of the cache memory.

Therefore, even if the hard disk device uses a cache memory, the access processing time will not be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, as another method, it is conceivable to form the file information section 9 on the hard disk 7 also in the storage section 3 composed of a RAM or the like that is directly controlled by the CPU 2 shown in FIG. 4, for example. In this case, the CPU 2 only needs to access the file information section formed in the storage section 3 and read out the storage location information of the required file, so the overall access processing time can be shortened.

However, there is a problem that the storage capacity of the storage unit 3 increases. Furthermore, when the file 8 on the hard disk 6 is deleted or changed, the contents of the file information section in the storage section 3 are changed at the same time as the file change, or the file information section on the hard disk 6 is changed. The question arises when to do it.

That is, the processing load on the CPU 2 increases.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In this way, according to the conventional hard disk drive, when searching for a file, access processing is performed twice, first in the file information section on the node disk, and then again for the file. Since this process had to be executed, there was a problem that the access processing efficiency of the entire device was reduced.

Furthermore, if the file information section is formed in the storage section of an external control section such as a CPU that accesses each file, there is a problem in that the required storage capacity increases significantly.

The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and
To provide a hard disk device that can reduce the number of actual accesses to the hard disk that involve mechanical operations and increase the access processing speed of the entire device by forming a file information section in a nonvolatile storage element different from the hard disk in the device. The purpose is to

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the above problem, the hard disk device of the present invention includes a hard disk in which a plurality of files for storing various data are formed, and an attribute that specifies each file. A nonvolatile memory element in which a file information section is formed that stores the relationship between information and storage location information in the hard disk, and attribute information specified by the file search command in response to a file search command input from the outside. a main control unit that searches the file information section of the nonvolatile storage element to read storage location information corresponding to the corresponding attribute information, and then accesses a file at a location specified by the read storage location information in the hard disk. ing.

(Function) In the hard disk device configured in this way, the file information section that stores the relationship between the attribute information and storage location information of each file is an R A that is stored and retained even when the power is cut off, for example by a battery. It is formed in a nonvolatile memory element such as M.

Therefore, when a file search command is input from an external CPU or the like, the file information section of the nonvolatile memory element is immediately accessed. Then, access to the actual file in the hard disk device is executed. That is,
Since the number of actual accesses to the hard disk that involve mechanical operations is reduced, the access processing time for the entire device is shortened.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer system incorporating a hard disk drive according to an embodiment.

C that executes various data processing on the pass line 11
PU12. A storage unit 13 composed of, for example, ROM or RAM, which stores control programs and various data for data processing. Keyboard 14 for inputting various data and operation commands, CRT for displaying search results and various calculation processing results
Display 15. A hard disk device 16 and the like for storing various files constituting a database and the like is connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hard disk device 6 includes a hard disk 19 in which a large number of files 17 for storing various data and one file information section 18 are formed, and a file 17 that is frequently searched within the hard disk 19.
A cache memory control unit 21 that controls access operations to data stored in the data cache memory 20, hard disk 19, or data cache memory 20, which is composed of a RAM, etc., that stores data; RAM that also stores
A file control unit 23 formed in a nonvolatile memory element configured with . The main controller 24 includes a file controller 23 and a main controller 24 that controls the cache memory controller 21 .

A file information section 18 formed in the top area of the hard disk 19 contains attribute information such as a file name and file number for specifying each file 17, as well as the top sector address and size (data) where the file 12 is stored. Stores the relationship with storage location information such as length).

Further, the file information section 18 formed in the external non-volatile storage element also stores the same information as the file information section 18' formed in the hard disk 19.

Note that, as described above, in the data cache memory 2o, data of the frequently searched file 17 in the hard disk 19 is stored, or data of the file control unit 18 is not stored at all.

According to the hard disk device configured in this way, when a file search command is input to the hard disk device 16 from the CPU 12, for example, the input file search command is input to the main control section 24. The main control unit 24 determines whether the access destination indicated by the file search command is the file 17 of the file control unit 23 . In the case of the file control unit 23, access processing is executed for the file control unit 23.

Specifically, the file information section 23 is searched using the attribute information specified by the file search command, and the storage location information corresponding to the relevant attribute is read out.

Further, when the access destination is the file 17, the position information specified by the previously searched attribute information is sent to the cache memory control unit 21. The cache memory control unit 21
First, the data cache memory 2o is searched using the input storage location information, and if the corresponding file is stored,
Data access processing is performed on this data cache memory 20. In addition, data cache memory 2
If the corresponding file is not found in 0, an access process involving an actual mechanical operation is executed for the data of the file 17 at the location specified by the corresponding storage location information in the hard disk 19.

According to the hard disk device configured in this way, the object of access processing to the file information section that stores the storage location information and attribute information of each file 17 of the hard disk 19 is not the hard disk 19 but the nonvolatile storage element. This is the file information section 23 that has been formed. Since this nonvolatile memory element is formed of a semiconductor element such as a RAM, the access processing time is significantly shorter than that of access processing that involves mechanical operation of the file information section 18 formed on the hard disk 19. Becomes shorter.

Therefore, the processing speed when accessing a large number of files 17 in succession can be significantly improved.

Furthermore, since the CPU 12 eventually accesses the file information section 23 formed on a non-volatile storage element such as a RAM, a caching memory for storing file information indicating storage location information and attribute information is separately installed in the storage section 13. There is no need to provide one. Therefore, since there is no need for the CPU 12 to control the caching memory of the storage unit 12,
The processing load on the PU 12 is reduced. Furthermore, the storage capacity of the storage unit 13 can be reduced.

Further, in the embodiment device, a data cache memory 20 is provided in addition to the file information section 23. The file information section 18 of the hard disk 19 is not stored in the data cache memory 20. Therefore, even if the access processing of the file information section 2B and the file 17
Even if the access process for file 17 is repeated,
When accessing the data, the hit rate, which indicates the percentage of the corresponding data existing in the data cache memory 29, does not decrease. That is, the data cache memory 29 can be used more effectively, and the access processing speed of the entire device can be further increased.

Furthermore, in the embodiment device, if the file information section 23 formed on the nonvolatile memory element has the same format as the file information section 18 formed on the hard disk 19, and furthermore, it is configured to have the same interface, It can be easily used with existing programs.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, as described above, the file information section 23 is configured to have the same format and the same interface as the file information section 18, or as an extended function,
The file information section 23 may be configured to be accessible in the same manner as the normal storage section 13. In this case, the file information section 23 can be updated only to the necessary parts, and the access processing speed can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the hard disk device of the present invention, by forming the file information part in a non-volatile storage element different from the pigeon disk in the device, mechanical operation with respect to the hard disk is not required. The actual number of accesses is reduced. Therefore, when accessing a large number of files in succession, the access processing speed of the entire device can be significantly increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a computer system incorporating a hard disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the storage contents of the hard disk, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage contents of the file information section. 4 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a general computer system, and FIG.
The figure is a diagram showing the storage contents of a hard disk in a general hard disk device. 12... CPU, 13... Storage unit, 16... Hard disk device, 17... File, 18... File information unit, 19... Hard disk, 20... Data cache memory, 21 . . . cache memory control section, 22 . . . battery, 23 . . . file information section, 24 . . . main control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a hard disk in which a plurality of files storing various data are formed; a nonvolatile memory element in which a file information section is formed to store a relationship between attribute information specifying each of the files and storage position information in the hard disk; In response to a file search command input from the outside, the file information section of the nonvolatile memory element is searched using the attribute information specified by the file search command to read out the storage location information corresponding to the corresponding attribute information, and then, a main control unit that accesses a file at a location specified by the read storage location information in the hard disk.