JPH0442336A - Back-up system and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the increase of the storage capacity by updating the stored back-up data so as to hold the back-up data obtained at a time point far from the present time point at an interval larger than the back-up data obtained at a time point close to the present time point in each back-up state by making use of a finite number of back-up storage areas. CONSTITUTION:An information processor consists of a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an I/O 24, a display device 25, a keyboard 26, a back-up control means 27, and a storage means 28. Then the data are backed up in sequence in plural storage areas at each fixed time. In this case, the stored back-up data are updated so that the back-up data set at a time point far from the present time point are held at an interval larger than the back-up data set at a time point close to the present time point. Thus the back-up data on a long period can be stored in the back-up areas in the same number as those of a conventional back-up system. Then the increase of the storage capacity can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a file backup method in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) or a word processor (word processor).

[Prior Art] Conventionally, file backup has been performed by backing up necessary files when a user inputs a command or when an application program is terminated.

Furthermore, to improve usability, it had a backup method that automatically stores backup data at certain intervals or after certain inputs.

Incidentally, related devices of this type include, for example, the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-137343.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology has the problem that a large-capacity storage means is required to store all the backup data because backup is performed every time a specific condition occurs.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the increase in storage capacity while making it possible to use not only the latest backup data but also past backup data during backup.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to use not only the latest backup data but also past backup data during backup, while reducing the increase in the price of storage means due to an increase in storage capacity.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a backup method according to the present invention is a backup method for an information processing device having a storage area capable of storing a plurality of backup data.
Data is backed up sequentially to the plurality of storage areas at predetermined intervals, and at that time, previously stored backup data is updated so that backup data from a point farther from the current time is retained at sparser intervals than backup data from a nearer point. This is what I decided to do as I went along.

According to another aspect, the backup method according to the present invention includes:
In a bank-up method for an information processing device that has a finite storage area that can store multiple pieces of backup data,
Every time a specific condition occurs, data is backed up to the limited number of storage areas, and at that time, the backup data is updated so as to thin out the already stored backup data, and the thinning rate of the old backup data is changed to the new one. This method is characterized in that the thinning rate is higher than the thinning rate of backup data.

In this method, the specific condition is, for example, the passage of a certain period of time, an instruction from an operator, a certain amount of input data, a certain amount of data change, or a combination thereof.

An information processing device according to the present invention is an information processing device that requires data backup, and includes a plurality of storage areas in which the contents of each stage are transferred to the next stage, and a storage area in the first stage each time a specific condition occurs. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a backup control means for storing backup data and sequentially causing the transfer of the subsequent storage area each time a specific condition occurs a greater number of times.

In this information processing device, each stage may have a plurality of storage areas, and the content of suicide may be updated in the latter stage with older backup data among the contents of the plurality of storage areas in the previous stage.

Further, each stage may be configured with different types of storage means having different access speeds.

From another point of view, the information processing device according to the present invention is an information processing device that requires data backup.
A finite storage area that can store multiple backup data, and a backup that updates the already stored backup data so that backup data from a point far from the current time is retained at sparser intervals than backup data from a nearer point. The invention is characterized by comprising a control means.

[Operation] The backup control means utilizes a finite number of backup storage areas, and at the time of each backup, backup data from a point far from the current time is retained at sparser intervals than backup data from a near point. It operates to update the backup data of.

To do this, one method is to set multiple occurrences of specific conditions for backup for each backup area,
Determine whether or not backup is to be executed for each backup area when a specific condition occurs. When a periodic condition of every 10 minutes is specified as a specific condition (backup is automatically performed every 10 minutes), there are four backup areas (backup area A).

For example, backup areas A and B are backed up every time a specific condition occurs, and backup areas C and D are backed up every time a specific condition occurs twice (every 20 minutes). One possible method is to perform a backup. In this case, when a specific condition occurs, the backup data is transferred to the backup area B under the control of the backup control means before writing data to the backup area A. (The same applies to the backup areas B, C, and D below.) In this way, the backup data is stored in the backup area A, and the backup data is sequentially stored in the backup areas B, C, and D.
It is configured to shift to D as necessary. As a result, the backup data held for the past two times from the present time will be held at intervals of 10 minutes, and the backup data for the previous two times will be held at intervals of 20 minutes. As a result, it is possible to store long-term backup data in the same number of backup areas as in the conventional backup method, and it is possible to reduce the increase in storage capacity. Note that a method that does not shift the contents of the backup area may also be considered.

The backup control means that can select a plurality of storage means according to the backup area can control a plurality of different storage means. As a result, for example, in the backup areas A, B, C, and D,
is stored in a high-speed and expensive storage medium, and the backup area C
, D can use inexpensive storage means. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the increase in the price of storage means due to an increase in storage capacity.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of an information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 21 is a CPU that controls the entire information processing device, 22 is a ROM that stores data such as programs that do not need to be rewritten, 23 is a RAM that is a rewritable storage area such as a program work area, and 24 is a ROM that stores data that does not need to be rewritten. Connected to information processing equipment and sends and receives data to and from the outside ■
/○ control section, 25 is a display device connected to the I10 control section and outputs display data, 26 is a keyboard for inputting characters, 27 is a backup control means for controlling backup, 28 is a storage means for storing backup data It is. The backup control means 27 is the CPU 21
may also serve as

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the operation of the backup control means 27. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the backup area number for identifying the backup area for storing each backup data in the storage means 28, and the vertical axis indicates the occurrence of a specific condition, which is the condition for backing up each backup area. Shows the number of times. That is, the areas with backup area numbers 1 and 2 are backed up every time a specific condition occurs, and the area with backup area numbers 3 and 4 is backed up every two times when a specific condition occurs.
The areas with backup area numbers 5 and 6 are backed up every four times when a specific condition occurs.

In the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, processes such as scientific calculations and word processing are performed.

The processing results are saved in a storage device such as a floppy disk. Processing results that change as the process progresses are based on specific conditions such as the execution of a backup command by the user, the passage of a certain amount of time, a certain amount of data input from the keyboard, a certain amount of data updating, or a combination of these. Depending on the occurrence, the backup control means 27 backs up the data to the storage means 28.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the backup operation when the backup described above is executed by the backup control means that performs the operation of FIG. 1. In this operation example, the specific condition is a periodic condition of 10 minute intervals.

The configuration is such that specific conditions occur every 10 minutes and backups are performed automatically. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates the backup area number, and the vertical axis indicates the elapsed time in minutes from the start of operation of the information processing device. In addition, the number in the box outside the backup area indicates when the backup data held at that time was newly backed up. In this embodiment, the configuration has six backup areas.

This configuration is thought to consist of six stages of storage areas, but
It can also be considered that it consists of three stages of storage areas, with each stage having two storage areas. In the latter case, in the example of FIG. 3, data is transferred between two storage areas within each film. Note that in the figure, *” indicates that the contents of the storage area have been updated.

In FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus stores data in the backup area 1 when 10 minutes have passed since the start of operation. Next, after 20 minutes have elapsed, the data in the backup area 1 is transferred to the backup area 2, and new data is stored in the backup area 1.

When 30 minutes have passed, the data in backup area 2 is transferred to backup area 3, and the data in backup area 1 is further transferred to backup area 2. Then, new data is stored in the backup area 1. When 40 minutes have elapsed, as shown in FIG. 1, the data in the backup area 3 is not backed up until the specific condition occurs twice, so it is not backed up. Here, backup area 1
data is transferred to backup area 2, new data is stored in backup area 1, and the process ends. 50
When the minute has passed, the specific condition has occurred twice, so the data in the backup area 3 is transferred to the backup area 4, and the data in the backup area 2 is transferred to the backup area 3. Furthermore, the data in the backup area 1 is transferred to the backup area 2, and new data is stored in the backup area 1. As a result, in the backup area 3.degree. 4, a backup is performed every time the specific condition occurs twice.

Thereafter, by similar operations, backup is performed in the backup area 5.6 every four times the specific condition occurs.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the backup control means 27 that performs the backup operation described above. In the figure, reference numeral 41 indicates a backup area for storing individual backup data in the storage means 28.

The backup control means 27 performs backup control corresponding to each backup area 41. That is, the backup areas 41a and 41b are controlled by the backup control means 27a, and the backup areas 41c and 41b are controlled by the backup control means 27a.
41d is controlled by the backup control means 27b,
Further, the backup areas 41e and 41f are controlled by a backup control means 27c. The backup control means 27a, 27b, and 27c each meet specific conditions 1.
2. Perform a backup if this occurs four times.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the processing of the backup control means 27. In FIG. 5, the backup process performs a process 51 until a specific condition occurs. Depending on the occurrence of specific conditions,
Process 52 is executed and the number of occurrences of the specific condition is counted. Next, in process 53, the number of occurrences is compared with a set value, and if the specified number is satisfied, backup process 54 is executed. If the number of occurrences is less than the specified value in process 54, process 51 is repeated. In FIG. 5, the above specified values are set to 111'' for the backup control means 27a, 1'2'' for the backup control means 27b, and 114'' for the backup control means 27c. Thus, the backup control shown in FIG. 1 is realized.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to store even more past backup data in the same number of backup areas as in the conventional backup method, and it is possible to reduce the increase in storage capacity.

In the above explanation, backup control was performed by sequentially transferring (shifting) the contents of the backup area.
The method of controlling the backup area to be used is not particularly limited to this. In other words, a method that does not transfer content between storage areas may also be considered. In this case, instead of always storing the latest backup data in backup area 1 as described above, as shown in Figure 7, new backup data is stored in the backup area that holds the existing backup data to be thinned out. backup data will be overwritten. As can be seen from the figure, the latest backup data is sequentially stored in recording areas 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2, 5,
2. It is stored as... Looking at the entire backup area, the point in time of backup data that is retained at each point in time after every 10 minutes is the third factor.
Method in Figure %Formula% In addition to the above-mentioned effects, the method shown in FIG. 7 eliminates the need for data transfer between backup areas, so that efficient backup can be performed.

Further, in the specific example of the embodiment, one condition is assumed as the specific condition, but it is also possible to make the occurrence of any one of a plurality of conditions or a combination thereof the occurrence of the specific condition. This is not limited to a simple logical OR relationship, but any logical condition can be set, such as not performing a backup even after a certain period of time has passed if the data change amount does not reach a certain value.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a storage means having a slow access speed is used for the subsequent backup area. In the figure, 61 is a high-speed storage means such as a semiconductor memory, 62 is a medium-speed storage means such as a hard disk, and 63 is a low-speed storage means such as a magneto-optical disk. The backup control means 27 performs the same backup control as in the previous embodiment. Backup areas a and b in the storage means 61
1, the storage means 62 has a backup area C9d, and the storage means 63 has backup areas e and f, respectively.

Backup area a that is frequently backed up
, b in the high-speed storage means 61, the backup speed can be increased. Furthermore, by placing the backup areas e and f, which are backed up infrequently, in the inexpensive storage means 63, the price of the information processing apparatus can be reduced.

This makes it possible to reduce the increase in the price of storage means due to an increase in storage capacity.

Note that if data is transferred between multiple backup areas within the same storage means, the backup situation will be similar to that shown in Figure 3, but data will not be transferred within the same storage means, and data will be transferred between different types of storage means. If data transfer is performed only in , the backup situation will be as shown in FIG. 8. In the method shown in FIG. 8, the number of times data is updated in the backup area is greater than in the method shown in FIG. 7, but significantly less than in the method shown in FIG. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the increase in the price of storage means due to an increase in storage capacity.

Note that although the method shown in FIG. 8 is suitable for the configuration shown in FIG. 6 that uses a different type of storage means for backup, it is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. Application is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even more past backup data can be stored in the same number of backup areas as in conventional backup methods, and backup efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, by selectively using a plurality of types of storage means at the time of backup, it is possible to reduce the increase in the price of storage means due to an increase in storage capacity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a graph for explaining the principle of a backup method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information processing device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a backup control in FIG. 2. 4 is a block diagram of the backup control means, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the backup control means, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the operation of the backup control means, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the backup control means suitable for the embodiment of FIG. 21... CPU, 22... ROM, 23 ・
RA, M, 24... Ilo, 25... Display device, 2
6...Keyboard, 27...Backup control means, 28...Storage means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a backup method for an information processing device having a storage area capable of storing a plurality of backup data, data is backed up in the plurality of storage areas sequentially at predetermined time intervals, and at that time, data is backed up from the current A backup method characterized by updating previously stored backup data so that backup data from a distant point in time is retained at sparser intervals than backup data at a nearer point in time. 2. In a backup method for an information processing device that has a finite number of storage areas that can store multiple pieces of backup data, data is backed up in the finite number of storage areas each time a specific condition occurs, and at that time, A backup method characterized in that the backup data is updated so as to thin out the backup data of the older one, and the thinning rate of the older backup data is higher than the thinning rate of the new backup data. 3. The specific conditions include the passage of a certain amount of time, instructions from the operator,
Claim 2 characterized in that it is either a fixed amount of input data, a fixed amount of data change, or a combination thereof.
Backup method described. 4.In an information processing device that requires data backup, there are multiple stages of storage areas where the contents of each stage are transferred to the next stage, and backup data is stored in the storage area of the first stage each time a specific condition occurs. . An information processing apparatus comprising: backup control means for sequentially performing the transfer of the subsequent storage area each time a specific condition occurs a greater number of times. 5. According to claim 4, each stage has a plurality of storage areas, and the latter stage updates the contents of its own stage with older backup data among the contents of the plurality of storage areas in the previous stage. Information processing device. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein data is not transferred between a plurality of storage areas within the same stage. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein each stage is composed of different types of storage means having different access speeds. 8.In an information processing device that requires data backup, there is a finite storage area that can store multiple pieces of backup data, and when backing up, backup data from a point far from the current time is stored at sparser intervals than backup data from a nearer point in time. An information processing apparatus comprising: a backup control means for updating already stored backup data so as to maintain the backup data.