JPH0676077A - Method for gathering and retrieving data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform quick retrieval for gathered data even while writing data to a recording device at the time of gathering the data using a serial access type large capacity recording device such as a magnetic tape as a recording medium. CONSTITUTION:The data for writing supplied from an input terminal 1 to the large capacity recording device 2 are simultaneously inputted to a buffer memory 7 in parallel with the writing to the recording device 2 and the data are temporarily recorded. Also, a confirmation signal for indicating that the data for the writing for one unit are surely written in the recording device 1 is inputted from the recording device 1, the data for the writing for one unit corresponding to the confirmation signal are read from the buffer memory 7 under conditions that the confirmation signal is supplied and the data are recorded in a secondary recording medium such as a floppy disk. Data retrieval is performed to the secondary recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for collecting and retrieving data using a computer or the like, and in particular,
The present invention relates to a method that enables quick search of collected data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a large amount of data needs to be collected and searched for a specific type of product, a magnetic tape device which is a recording medium having a low recording capacity and a large recording capacity is used as an external storage device. This has been generally done in the past. That is, the data supplied from the data input terminal is sequentially written in the magnetic tape device to collect the data, and when the writing is completed up to the end of the magnetic tape, the data recorded in the magnetic tape device is read to perform batch processing. I was doing a search.

As related arts related to this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57-76644 and 59-16066,
JP-A-55-160310, JP-A-56-32229
There are issues, etc. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-76644 discloses that a randomly accessible magnetic disk is used for data retrieval of the magnetic tape MT1 in FIG. In that case, in order to retrieve the desired data from the magnetic tape, all the data on the magnetic tape is once read and stored in the magnetic disk, and then the desired data is randomly accessed and read from the magnetic disk.
The process is performed by writing this on another magnetic tape. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-16066 discloses the use of a buffer memory for data transfer between a magnetic tape and a disk. In that case, data is read from the magnetic tape, the tape read data is temporarily stored in a buffer, and then the data in the buffer is stored in a disk.

[0005]

However, when data is collected using a magnetic tape device, since the recorded data cannot be read until the end of the magnetic tape is written, the data can be read. The search for couldn't be done without waiting until then. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to quickly search the collected data. Further, as is well known, since reading and writing of data is performed by a serial access method in a magnetic tape device, it generally takes a long access time to read the data, which also hinders quick retrieval. Was there. In addition, the above-mentioned JP-A-57
-76644 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-16066 has a problem that it takes a lot of processing time because each processing has to be performed sequentially.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a data collecting and searching method capable of performing a quick search for data collected using a magnetic tape device. Is. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to use a serial access type large-capacity recording device such as a magnetic tape as a recording medium to collect data. Even before writing
In other words, it is to be able to perform a quick search for collected data even during the writing of data.

[0007]

A data collecting and retrieving method according to the present invention uses a serial access type large-capacity recording device such as a magnetic tape as a recording medium, and outputs required data from an input terminal to the recording medium at any time. When writing and recording, a removable random access type relatively small capacity recording medium such as a flexible magnetic disk is used as a secondary recording medium, and the secondary recording medium is recorded in the large capacity recording device. A data collection and retrieval method for storing the same data as the stored data and reading the stored secondary recording medium to retrieve the required data, characterized by performing the following processing: Is. A process of simultaneously inputting write data provided from the input terminal to the large capacity recording device to a buffer memory in parallel with writing to the large capacity recording device and temporarily recording the data in the buffer memory. A confirmation signal indicating that one unit of writing data given to the large capacity recording device from the input terminal is surely written in the large capacity recording device is input from the large capacity recording device, and the confirmation signal is input. A process of reading one unit of write data corresponding to the confirmation signal from the buffer memory on condition that the read data is given and storing the read data in the secondary recording medium. A process of generating an alarm signal when the stored data amount of the secondary recording medium mounted for writing exceeds a predetermined amount close to the saturation amount. A process of performing a predetermined alarm sound generation or alarm display operation according to the alarm signal by an alarm device provided on at least one side of the large capacity recording device and the input terminal.

[0008]

According to the data collecting and retrieving method of the present invention, the same data as the data recorded in the large capacity recording device is stored in the secondary recording medium, and the stored secondary recording medium is read to retrieve the required data. Since the flexible magnetic disk, which is a secondary recording medium, has a small capacity, the data recorded on the magnetic tape device, which is a large-capacity recording medium, is inevitably plural flexible. It will be recorded separately on the magnetic disk. The recorded contents of the recorded flexible magnetic disk can be freely read even during the writing operation of the magnetic tape device. Therefore, the desired data of the data group already recorded in the magnetic tape device during the writing operation is the same as the data recorded without waiting for the end of the writing to the end of the magnetic tape. It is ready to be read out from the existing secondary recording medium at any time. Further, since reading of the recorded contents from the flexible magnetic disk or the like, which is a secondary recording medium, is performed by the random access method, desired data can be accessed within a short time.

In particular, according to the present invention, when data is written from the input terminal to the mass storage device, the write data is processed so as to be recorded in the buffer memory simultaneously with the writing. In addition, after confirming that one unit of data has been surely written in the large-capacity recording device, the one unit of data of the buffer memory is processed to be transferred and stored in the secondary recording medium. Is a major feature.

As a result, when writing data to the secondary recording medium, it is not necessary to read the memory of the large-capacity recording device. Therefore, even when searching for desired data, it is not necessary to read the memory of the large capacity recording device at all, and the data can be searched by simply reading the memory of the secondary recording medium. Even while writing data to the device (meaning that it is not in the middle of a writing operation, even if it has not been written to the end of the tape), only access to the secondary recording medium This has an excellent effect that it becomes possible to search for collected data with.

Moreover, since it is not necessary to read the memory of the large-capacity recording device at all and only the sub-recording medium is accessed, the search for the collected data can be performed extremely quickly in a shortened time. It has an excellent effect that it can be performed. In addition, the confirmation signal is used to confirm that the writing of data to the large-capacity recording device has been made surely, and then the data of the buffer memory is written to the secondary recording medium. Since it has a very simple structure that processing can be performed in a shortened time because it does not require, it is ensured that the storage data of the large-capacity recording device and the secondary recording medium will surely match. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the search time and prevent the reliability of the search from being impaired.

Furthermore, when the amount of data recorded on the secondary recording medium (flexible magnetic disk) during the writing operation exceeds a predetermined amount close to the saturation amount, an alarm signal is generated, and a predetermined alarm signal is generated according to the alarm signal. A warning sound is generated or an alarm is displayed to alert the operator, etc., so that the operator can take necessary measures such as replacing the flexible magnetic disk based on the warning sound. .

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The magnetic tape device 2 is a large-capacity external storage device, and as shown in FIG. 1, plays a role of recording data sequentially applied from the data input terminal 1 through the write data line L1. From the device 2, a confirmation signal ACK is sent when the given data is surely recorded, and an unconfirmed signal NAK is sent to the terminal 1 through the line L2 when it is not recorded due to an error or the like. Line L1,
A multiplexing circuit 3 is provided for taking in and multiplexing the data of L2 and the signals ACK and NAK. Data and signals ACK and NAK output from the multiplexing circuit 3
Is input to the data collection / retrieval unit 5 via the interface 4 via the line L3.

The data collection / retrieval unit 5 includes a microcomputer 6, a buffer memory unit 7, disk drive devices 8 and 10, flexible magnetic disks 9 and 11, and a terminal device 12. The data and the signals ACK and NAK input to the data collection / retrieval unit 5 are given to the microcomputer 6 and the buffer memory unit 7. The buffer memory unit 7 includes three buffer memories 7a to 7c, and under the control of the computer 6, stores given data in any of the memories 7a to 7c.

The data recorded in the buffer memory unit 7 is stored in the buffer memory 7a under the control of the computer 6.
7c are selectively read out and given to the disk drive device 8 for data collection. A flexible magnetic disk 9 is detachably set in the disk drive device 8. Disk drive device 8
Performs the operation of writing the data read from the buffer memory unit 7 to the disk 9. The disk 9 has a capacity capable of recording, for example, one day's worth of data input by the terminal 1. The amount of data recorded on the disk 9 is checked by the computer 6, and when the amount of data exceeds a predetermined amount, the computer 6 outputs an alarm signal ALM. This alarm signal ALM is input to the alarm device 13 provided on the magnetic tape device 2 side via the interface 4, and causes the alarm device 13 to ring. A photo coupler, for example, is used as the interface 4.

On the other hand, the disk drive device 10 is provided for data retrieval. In the drive device 10, the flexible magnetic disk 11 on which the data for one day has already been written by the drive device 8 is detachably set. In order to retrieve the desired data recorded on the disk 11, under the control of the computer 6,
The reading of the disk 11 is performed by the drive device 10. The terminal device 12 is composed of, for example, a keyboard unit, a printer unit, a CRT display unit, etc., and has a role of inputting a command relating to data collection or retrieval to the computer 6 and, as a result, outputting and displaying a signal given from the computer 6. To fulfill. The control of the computer 6 with respect to the buffer memory unit 7 and the drive devices 8 and 10 described above is performed based on an instruction input by the terminal device 12.

The operation of each device during data collection will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. As shown in FIG. 2, when the write data inputted by the data input terminal 1 is given to the magnetic tape device 2 via the line L1, the write data is simultaneously transmitted via the multiplexing circuit 3 and the line L3. It is given to the computer 6 and the buffer memory unit 7. Incidentally, STX is a star code supplied immediately before each write data, and plays a role of indicating the start end of the write data. ETX is an end code supplied immediately after the write data.

The computer 6 contains a program as shown in FIG. Step 14 is line L1
It is determined by the presence or absence of the start code STX that some write data has been given via L3 and L3.
Therefore, when the write data is given, step 14 is YES in accordance with the start code STX at the head of the write data.
Then, the process proceeds to step 15.

In step 15, it is determined whether or not the OK flag Fa indicating that the buffer memory 7a in the buffer memory unit 7 is in the recordable state is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to step 16 and the write data of the line L3 is stored in the memory 7a.
Next, in steps 17 and 18, it is determined whether or not the confirmation signal ACK or the unconfirmed signal NAK is received from the magnetic tape device 2. When the signal ACK is received, the process proceeds from step 17 to step 19 where the OK flag Fa of the memory 7a is reset and the disk 9 corresponding to the memory 7a is reset.
After setting the activation flag F1 of No. 1, the process returns to Step 14. On the other hand, when the signal NAK is received, the process directly returns from step 18 to step 14.

If the OK flag Fa is not set in step 15, the process proceeds to step 20. In step 20, the OK flag Fb for the buffer memory 7b
It is determined whether or not is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to step 21 and the write data is written to the memory 7
Store in b. Next, in steps 22 and 23, it is determined whether or not the signal ACK or the signal NAK is received. Signal A
When CK is received, the process proceeds from step 22 to step 24, the OK flag Fb of the memory 7b is reset, and the start flag F2 of the disk 9 corresponding to the memory 7b is reset.
After setting, returns to step 14. On the other hand, signal NAK
Is received, step 23 is directly followed by step 14
Return to.

If the OK flag Fb is not set in step 20, the process proceeds to step 25. In step 25, the OK flag Fc for the buffer memory 7c
It is determined whether or not is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to step 26, and the write data is stored in the memory 7
Store in c. Next, in steps 27 and 28, it is judged whether or not the signal ACK or the signal NAK is received. Signal A
When CK is received, the routine proceeds from step 27 to step 29, where the OK flag Fc of the memory 7c is reset and the start flag F3 of the disk 9 corresponding to the memory 7c is reset.
After setting, returns to step 14. On the other hand, signal NAK
Is received, step 28 is directly followed by step 14
Return to. In this way, the write data given from the lines L1 and L3 through the interface 4 based on the program stored in the computer 6 is stored in any one of the buffer memories 7a to 7c in the buffer memory unit 7. .

The process for writing the data stored in the buffer memories 7a to 7c to the disk 9 is performed while checking the respective activation flags F1 to F3 according to the program shown in FIG. In this program, first, in steps 30 to 32, the set and reset states of the boot flags F1 to F3 of the disk 9 corresponding to the memories 7a to 7c are sequentially determined. That is, when n = 1, the flag F1 is checked in step 31 and similarly n = 2.
In step 31, the flag F2 is checked, and when n = 3, the flag F3 is checked in step 31. Any start flag Fn
If is set, the process proceeds to step 33.

In step 33, it is determined whether the disk 9 is writable (not in use). If it is writable, it immediately proceeds to step 34, and if it is in use, it waits until it becomes writable and then proceeds to step 34. In step 34, the one corresponding to the activation flag Fn whose set is confirmed in step 31 is selected from the buffer memories 7a to 7c, and the stored content is read and written in the disk 9.

When step 34 ends, the process proceeds to step 35, and the OK flag (one of Fa to Fc) of the memories 7a to 7c whose stored contents are recorded on the disk 9 in step 34 is switched from reset to set. . As a result, the buffer memories 7a to 7c in which the OK flag is set are made writable, and the old storage of the memories is virtually cleared. When step 35 is completed, the routine proceeds to step 36, and one of the activation flags F1 to F3 whose setting is confirmed in step 31 is switched to reset.

In the example of FIG. 2, first, the buffer memory unit 7
It is shown that all the memories 7a to 7c can be stored, and the data A initially given to the line L1 is stored in the buffer memory 7a. That is, when the data A is given, step 15 of FIG. 3 becomes YES, and the data A is written in the buffer memory 7a by the processing of step 16.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows an example of the write operation of the magnetic tape device 2 corresponding to the data on the line L1 and shows that the data A is written to the magnetic tape device 2 with a certain time delay. Has been done. Since the data A is recorded, the confirmation signal ACK is output from the magnetic tape device 2. The signal ACK is given to the data input terminal 1 via the line L2, and at the same time, given to the computer 6 via the line L3. This confirms the signal ACK in step 17 in the program of FIG.
By the processing of step 19, the OK flag Fa is reset and the activation flag F1 is set. Then, in the program of FIG. 4, the setting of the activation flag F1 corresponding to the memory 7a is confirmed in step 31, and then the data A stored in the memory 7a by the processing of step 34.
Is written on the disk 9.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 2, while the data A is being written on the disk 9, the following data B is given to the lines L1 and L3 from the data input terminal 1. The data B is also stored in the buffer memory unit 7 based on the program shown in FIG. 3 in the same manner as described for the data A. However, at this time, since the OK flag Fa of the memory 7a remains reset in step 19, the data B is written in the memory 7b through NO in step 15 and YES in step 20.

The data B is not stored in the magnetic tape device 2 in the example of FIG. As a result, the unconfirmed signal NAK is output from the magnetic tape device 2. The signal NAK is given to the data input terminal 1 via the line L2, and at the same time, given to the computer 6 via the line L3. Therefore, at this time,
Branch to YES in the judgment of step 23 of the program
The flag processing of Fb and F2 remains in the initial state, and the data B is not written to the disk 9.

Subsequently, the data C is applied to the lines L1 and L3 from the data input terminal 1 as shown in FIG. The data C is also processed according to the programs shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the same manner as the data A and B. At this time, the writing of the data A to the disk 9 is completed, and the OK flag Fa of the memory 7a is set again in step 35. Therefore, the data C is stored in the memory 7a.
Memorized in. Since the data C is stored in the magnetic tape device 2 and the signal ACK is given to the computer 6, the data C stored in the memory 7a is written on the disk 9. Hereinafter, the processing based on the above-described program is repeated for the data given from the data input terminal 1 to the lines L1 and L3.

Further, the computer 6 has a program as schematically shown in FIG. 5 built therein, and at the same time when the above-mentioned processing of FIG. 3 is started, YES is determined in step 37 and the process proceeds to step 38. In step 38, it is determined whether or not the amount of data recorded on the disk 9 has reached a predetermined amount (for example, the number of electronic messages is 1000). Disk 9
It is assumed that the storage capacity is 1,500 in terms of the number of electronic messages. If the number of messages reaches 1000, step 41 described later will be given.
Jump to, and if less than 1000, proceed to step 39.

In step 39, of the data output from the data input terminal 1, the number of electronic messages of error data is 10
It is determined whether or not it has reached 0. If it reaches 100, the process jumps to step 41 described later, and if it is less than 100, the process proceeds to step 40. In step 40, the general-purpose terminal device 12
Then, it is determined whether or not a data collection end command is input to the computer 6. When the data collection end command is input, the process proceeds to step 41. In step 41, the computer 6 outputs an alarm signal to the alarm device 13 to cause the alarm device 13 to ring.

In this way, an alarm is sounded when the storage amount of the disk 9 reaches a predetermined saturation amount (for example, 1500 in terms of the number of telegrams), and the operator's attention is called. Therefore, the operator can take necessary measures such as replacement of the disk 9 based on the alarm. On the other hand, when a search command is given from the terminal device 12 during the data collection process as described above, the computer 6 causes the search disk drive device 1 to operate.
By controlling 0, the data recorded on the flexible magnetic disk 11 is read out as shown in FIG. 2, and the data retrieval and the data collection are performed in parallel. The result of the search is output and displayed from the printer and the display of the terminal device 12.

As described above, a large amount of data, which is given from the data input terminal 1 to the magnetic tape device 2 and is recorded in the magnetic tape device 2, is concurrently transferred to separate flexible magnetic disks, for example, for about one day each. It can be recorded separately. Further, the recorded flexible magnetic disk can be read out and searched for on any date by using a disk drive device for searching.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when data is written from an input terminal to a large-capacity recording device such as a magnetic tape device, the write data is buffered simultaneously with the writing. After confirming that the data recorded in the memory and one unit of data have been surely written in the large capacity recording device, the one unit of data of the buffer memory is transferred to the secondary recording medium such as a flexible magnetic disk. Since it is a configuration to store, when writing to the secondary recording medium,
There is no need to read the memory of the mass storage device. Further, even when searching for desired data, there is no need to read the memory of the large capacity recording device at all, and the data can be searched by simply reading the memory of the secondary recording medium. Even while writing data to the device (meaning that it is not in the middle of a writing operation, even if it has not been written to the end of the tape), only access to the secondary recording medium This has an excellent effect that it becomes possible to search for collected data with. Moreover, since it is not necessary to read the memory of the large capacity recording device at all and only the sub recording medium is accessed, the search for the collected data can be performed extremely quickly in a shortened time. It has an excellent effect that it becomes possible. In addition, the confirmation signal is used to confirm that the writing of data to the large-capacity recording device has been made surely, and then the data of the buffer memory is written to the secondary recording medium. Since it has a very simple structure that processing can be performed in a shortened time because it does not require, it is ensured that the storage data of the large-capacity recording device and the secondary recording medium will surely match. ,
This has an excellent effect that the search time can be significantly shortened and the reliability of the search can be prevented from being impaired. Furthermore, the fact that the secondary recording medium (flexible magnetic disk, etc.) is about to overflow will be notified to the operator by an alarm, so by taking necessary measures such as replacing the secondary recording medium, It is possible to prevent leakage of data writing on the side of the secondary recording medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a hardware device used for implementing a data collection and search method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of each unit and data in the apparatus of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing a program for storing data in a buffer memory unit, which illustrates a procedure of data collection executed under the control of the microcomputer of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program for recording data on a flexible magnetic disk, which illustrates a procedure of data collection executed under the control of the microcomputer of FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of data collection executed under the control of the microcomputer of FIG. 1 and showing a program for sounding an alarm device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Data Input Terminal 2 Magnetic Tape Unit 3 Multiplexing Circuit 4 Interface 5 Data Collection / Search Unit 6 Microcomputer 7 Buffer Memory Unit 7a to 7c Buffer Memory 8, 10 Disk Drive Device 9, 11 Flexible Magnetic Disk 12 Terminal Device 13 Alarm device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A serial access type large-capacity recording device such as a magnetic tape is used as a recording medium, and when necessary data is written and recorded from the input terminal to the recording medium at any time, a removable magnetic disk such as a flexible magnetic disk is used. A random access type recording medium having a relatively small capacity is used as a secondary recording medium, and the same data as the data recorded in the large capacity recording device is stored in the secondary recording medium and the stored secondary recording medium is stored. A data collection and retrieval method capable of reading a recording medium and retrieving required data, wherein write data provided from the input terminal to the large-capacity recording device is written in parallel with the writing to the large-capacity recording device. And simultaneously input to the buffer memory, and temporarily record the data in the buffer memory; and the large capacity recording device from the input terminal. A confirmation signal indicating that one unit of writing data given to the memory has been surely written in the large capacity recording device is input from the large capacity recording device, and the buffer is provided on the condition that the confirmation signal is given. A process of reading one unit of writing data corresponding to the confirmation signal from the memory and storing the read data in the secondary recording medium; and the secondary recording mounted for writing. The alarm signal is generated by a process of generating an alarm signal when the stored data amount of the medium exceeds a predetermined amount close to the saturation amount, and an alarm device provided on at least one side of the large capacity recording device and the input terminal. A data collecting and retrieving method characterized by performing a predetermined alarm sound generation or alarm display operation according to the above.