JPH07311772A - Data preservation device and hierarchical data preservation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a hierarchical data preservation system with improved extendability. CONSTITUTION:The data preservation devices 1a-1c are hierarchically interposed between a network N and a lowest data preservation device 2. The data preservation devices 1a-1c are composed of controllers 11a-11c and data storage devices 12a 12c. When data are supplied from a host device, the controllers 11a-11c store the data in their own data storage devices 12a 12c or transfer the data to the low-order data preservation device by a prescribed judgement standard. When a data request is supplied from the host device, their own data storage devices 12a-12c are retrieved and the pertinent data are taken out and sent out to the host device when they are present. When the pertinent data are not present, the data request is transferred to the lower-order device and when the pertinent data are sent from the lower-order device, they are transferred to the host device. Thus, when the number of the hierarchically connected data preservation device is increased/reduced, constitution is easily changed so as to provide storage capacity suited to the required capacity of the data capable of being taken out within practical response time at all times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data storage device and a hierarchical data storage system, and more specifically,
The present invention relates to a data storage device capable of configuring a data storage system having a high degree of freedom of expansion and a hierarchical data storage system having a high degree of freedom of expansion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional data storage device. The data storage device 2 includes a control device 21 and a data storage device 22. The control device 21 is connected via a network N to an image diagnostic device X such as a CT device and an MRI device. The data storage device 22
Comprises a relatively small capacity, relatively high speed storage medium 23 and a relatively large capacity or removable, relatively low speed storage medium 24. The storage medium 23
Is a hard disk device having a storage capacity of, for example, 200 Mbytes to 1 Gbytes. Further, the storage medium 24 is
For example, a magneto-optical disk device having a storage capacity of 1 Gbyte or more and a removable magneto-optical disk device capable of exchanging a magneto-optical disk cartridge having a storage capacity of 128 Mbytes to 1 Gbyte per sheet.

When data is given from the image diagnostic apparatus X via the network N, the control unit 21 stores the data in the storage medium 23. Then, at a predetermined timing such as when a predetermined time comes or when the stored data reaches a predetermined amount, a part of the data stored in the storage medium 23 (for example, data whose reception time is old) is stored in the storage medium. Two
Move to 4. Next, when a data request is given from the image diagnostic apparatus X via the network N, the control device 21 searches the storage medium 23 of the data storage device 22, retrieves the corresponding data, and retrieves the data from the network N.
To the image diagnostic apparatus X via. On the other hand, the storage medium 2
If there is no corresponding data in 3, the corresponding data is retrieved by searching the storage medium 24 and sent to the image diagnostic apparatus X via the network N.

[0004]

In the above conventional data storage device 2, the capacity of data that can be taken out within a practical response time is determined by the storage capacity of the storage media 23, 24. However, since it is not easy to increase the storage capacity of the storage media 23 and 24, it is not easy to increase the capacity of data that can be taken out within a practical response time. Therefore, in anticipation of the future, the storage capacity of the storage media 23, 24 has been increased from the beginning. However, in this case, in the first period, the storage medium 23, 2
There is a problem that the storage capacity of 4 is unnecessarily increased. Further, when the required data capacity that can be taken out within a practical response time is larger than initially expected, there is a problem that it cannot be easily dealt with. Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data storage device capable of easily configuring a data storage system that always has a storage capacity adapted to the required capacity of data that can be taken out within a practical response time. The second object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hierarchical data storage system that always has a storage capacity suitable for the required capacity of data that can be retrieved within a practical response time.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention comprises a control device and a data storage device, and when the control device receives data from the outside, the control device stores the data according to a predetermined criterion. Stored in the data storage device or transferred to a lower data storage device, and when a data request is given from the outside, search in the data storage device,
If applicable data is taken out and sent to the data request source, if there is no applicable data, the data request is transferred to the lower data storage device, and if the lower data storage device sends the applicable data, the data request is made. (EN) Provided is a data storage device which is characterized in that it is originally transferred.

According to a second aspect, the present invention comprises a control device and a data storage device, wherein the control device stores data in the data storage device when the data is given from the outside, and a data request is given from the outside. And the lowest data storage device that searches the data storage device to retrieve the corresponding data and sends it to the data request source, and one data storage device according to the first aspect above or one that is hierarchically connected. There is provided a hierarchical data storage system characterized by comprising two or more data storage devices according to the first aspect.

[0007]

In the data storage device according to the first aspect, when data is given from the outside, the data is stored in the data storage device or transferred to a lower data storage device according to a predetermined criterion. Also, when a data request is given from the outside, first, the data storage device is searched, and if there is corresponding data, it is sent out to the data request source. The data request is transferred, and when the corresponding data is sent from the lower data storage device, it is transferred to the data request source. As described above, since the operation is performed with respect to the relatively upper device and the relatively lower device, for example, an arbitrary number of devices may be hierarchically interposed between the image diagnostic device X and the data holding device 2 in FIG. Can be done. Further, since the total storage capacity can be easily changed depending on the number of intervening units, it is possible to easily configure a data storage system that always has a storage capacity suitable for the required capacity of data that can be retrieved within a practical response time. Like

In the data storage system according to the second aspect, one or two or more data storage apparatuses according to the first aspect are hierarchically connected, and the lowest data storage apparatus is connected to the lower level. Therefore, the total storage capacity can be easily changed depending on the number of data storage devices according to the first aspect. Therefore, the configuration can be easily changed so as to always have a storage capacity suitable for the required capacity of data that can be taken out within a practical response time.

[0009]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The data storage device 1 includes a control device 11
And a data storage device 12. The control device 11 is connected to a relatively upper device UX and a relatively lower device LX. The relatively upper device UX is, for example, the image diagnostic device X or another data storage device 1. Further, the relatively lower device LX is
For example, another data storage device 1 or the data storage device 2 of FIG. The data storage device 12 includes a storage medium having a relatively small capacity and a relatively high speed. This storage medium is, for example, a hard disk device having a storage capacity of 200 Mbytes to 1 Gbytes.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the control device 11. In step S1, it is determined whether data has been received from the host device. If not received, the process proceeds to step S2, and if received, the process proceeds to step S10. Step S2
Then, it is determined whether a data request has been received from the host device.
If not received, the process proceeds to step S3, and if received, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S3, it is determined whether data is received from the lower device. If not received, the process proceeds to step S4, and if received, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S4, it is determined whether a data deletion command has been received from the host device. If not, go to step S5,
If received, the process proceeds to step S40. In step S5, it is determined whether the data storage device 12 has a free space. If there is a space, the process returns to step S1. If there is no space, the process proceeds to step S50.

In step S10, a data saving process is executed. This data storage process will be described later with reference to FIG. After this data storage processing is completed, the above-mentioned step S
Return to 1. In step S20, a data extraction process is executed. This data extraction process will be described later with reference to FIG. After completion of this data extraction processing, the above-mentioned step S1
Return to. In step S30, a data transfer process is executed. This data transfer process will be described later with reference to FIG. After this data transfer process is completed, the process returns to step S1. In step S40, data deletion processing is executed. This data deletion process will be described later with reference to FIG. After this data deleting process is completed, the process returns to step S1. In step S50, a data movement process is executed. This data movement process will be described later with reference to FIG. After this data movement processing is completed, the process returns to step S1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flow chart of the data storage process (S10). In step S11, the host device U
Whether or not to store the data received from X in the data storage device 12 is determined by a predetermined determination criterion. If it is determined that the data is stored in the data storage device 12, the process proceeds to step S12. If it is determined that the data is not stored in the data storage device 12, the process proceeds to step S13. Examples of the judgment criteria include the following. Data having a time stamp older than the period or time limit assigned to the user is stored in the data storage device 12.
I don't remember. The data of the category assigned to the user is stored in the data storage device 12. For example, the image data of the head is stored in the data storage device 12. Alternatively, the image data of children is not stored in the data storage device 12. When the received data is composed of a plurality of data having different time stamps or a plurality of data having different categories, the respective data are judged separately. In step S12, the data is stored in the data storage device 12
Remember. Then, the process ends. Step S13
Then, the data is transferred to the lower device LX. Then, the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flow chart of the data extraction process (S20). In step S21, the data storage device 12 is searched, and if the data corresponding to the data request is found, it is taken out. In step S22, it is determined whether the corresponding data can be retrieved from the data storage device 12. If it can be taken out, step S23 follows. If it cannot be taken out, step S24 follows. In step S23, the extracted data is sent to the upper device UX. Then, the process ends. In step S24, the data request is transferred to the lower device LX. Then, the process ends. If only the relevant part can be extracted from the data storage device 12, the step S23 is executed for the extracted data, and the step S24 is executed for the data that cannot be extracted.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flow chart of the data transfer process (S30). In step S31, the lower device L
The data received from X is stored in the data storage device 12. In step S32, the data received from the lower device LX is transferred to the upper device UX. In step S33, the data stored in step S31 is designated and a data deletion command is sent to the lower device LX. Then, the process ends. By the above steps S31 and S33, the most recently accessed data is moved to the uppermost data storage device.
Since the most recently accessed data is likely to be accessed again in the near future, it is moved to a higher-level data storage device that can be retrieved with a shorter response time.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of the data deleting process (S40). In step S41, the data storage device 12 is searched for the data corresponding to the data deletion command. In step S42, it is determined whether the corresponding data is in the data storage device 12. If the corresponding data is stored in the data storage device 12, the process proceeds to step S43. If not, the process proceeds to step S44. Step S4
In 3, the corresponding data is deleted from the data storage device 12. Then, the process ends. In step S44,
The data deletion command is transferred to the lower device LX. Then, the process ends. If only the relevant part exists in the data storage device 12, the step S43 is executed for the data, and the step S44 is executed for the remaining data.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart of the data migration process (S50). In step S51, a part of the data in the data storage device 12 is selected according to a predetermined selection criterion and sent to the lower device LX. Examples of the selection criteria include the following. The data with the oldest time stamp. Data with the oldest date and time stored in the data storage device 12. In step S52, the data sent to the lower device LX is deleted from the data storage device 12. Then, the process ends.

Since the above data storage device 1 operates with respect to the relatively upper device UX and the relatively lower device LX, it is possible to hierarchically connect an arbitrary number of devices. Then, the total storage capacity can be easily changed depending on the number of connected units. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily configure a data storage system that always has a storage capacity suitable for the required capacity of data that can be retrieved within a practical response time.

-Second Embodiment- FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a data storage system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The data storage system 100 has a configuration in which the three data storage devices 1a, 1b, 1c of the first embodiment are connected in a hierarchical manner, and the lowest data storage device 2 is connected to the lower part thereof. The control device 11a of the highest-level data storage device 1a receives the CT device,
It is connected to an image diagnostic apparatus X such as an MRI apparatus.

The lowest data storage device 21 comprises a control device 21 and a data storage device 22. The control device 21 is connected to the upper data storage device 1c.
The storage device 22 includes a storage medium 23 having a relatively small capacity and a relatively high speed, and a storage medium 24 having a relatively large capacity or removable and a relatively low speed. The storage medium 23
Is a hard disk device having a storage capacity of, for example, 200 Mbytes to 1 Gbytes. Further, the storage medium 24 is
For example, a magneto-optical disk device having a storage capacity of 1 Gbyte or more and a removable magneto-optical disk device capable of exchanging a magneto-optical disk cartridge having a storage capacity of 128 Mbytes to 1 Gbyte per sheet.

When the data is given from the upper data storage device 1c, the control device 21 stores the data in the storage medium 23. Then, at a predetermined timing such as when a predetermined time comes or when the stored data reaches a predetermined amount, a part of the data stored in the storage medium 23 (for example, data whose reception time is old) is stored in the storage medium. Move to 24. Further, when a data request is given from the upper data storage device 1c, the control device 21 searches the storage medium 23 of the data storage device 22 and if there is corresponding data, retrieves the higher data storage device 1c. Send to.
On the other hand, if there is no corresponding data in the storage medium 23, the storage medium 24 is searched, the corresponding data is taken out, and sent to the upper data storage device 1c. Further, when the data deletion command is given from the upper data storage device 1c, the control device 21 searches the storage medium 23 of the data storage device 22 and deletes the corresponding data if any. On the other hand, if there is no corresponding data in the storage medium 23, the storage medium 24 is searched and the corresponding data is deleted.

In the data storage system 100 described above, the total storage capacity can be easily changed by increasing or decreasing the number of the data storage devices 1a to 1c. That is,
The configuration can be easily changed so as to always have a storage capacity adapted to the required capacity of data that can be retrieved within a practical response time.

[0023]

According to the data storage device and the hierarchical data storage system of the present invention, the configuration can be easily changed so as to always have a storage capacity suitable for the required capacity of data that can be taken out within a practical response time. Like

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a control device of the data storage device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flow chart of data storage processing in the flow chart of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flow chart of a data extraction process in the flow chart of FIG.

5 is a detailed flowchart of the data transfer process in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart of data deletion processing in the flow chart of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of the data movement process in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data storage system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional data storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a to 1c Data storage device 11, 11a to 11c Control device 12, 12a to 12c Data storage device 2 (bottom) Data storage device 21 Control device 22 Data storage device 23 Storage medium (high speed) 24 Storage medium (low speed) 100 Data Storage System N Network X Diagnostic Imaging Device UX Upper Device LX Lower Device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A control device and a data storage device,
When the data is given from the outside, the control device stores the data in the data storage device or transfers the data to a lower data storage device according to a predetermined criterion, and when the data request is given from the outside, the data Search the storage device, if there is applicable data, take it out and send it to the data request source.If there is no applicable data, transfer the data request to a lower data storage device, and then send the applicable data from the lower data storage device. When the data is sent, the data storage device is characterized in that it is transferred to the data request source. 2. A control device and a data storage device,
The control device stores the data in the data storage device when the data is given from the outside, retrieves the corresponding data from the data storage device when the data request is given from the outside, and sends the data to the data request source. A hierarchy comprising a data storage device and one data storage device according to claim 1 above it or two or more data storage devices according to claim 1 connected hierarchically. Type data storage system.