JPH08163536A - Server - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To store information of large capacity with excellent economy and to improve the operability from the user and the serviceability to the users by configuring an information storage means of the server through the combination of a large storage means and a high access speed storage means. CONSTITUTION: The server 1 is provided with a lst information storage means 3 of a large capacity and a 2nd information storage means 4 storing part of the information of the means 3 whose access speed is higher than the transfer speed. The means 3, 4 are controlled by a control means 5 in response to a request from a client terminal equipment 2 and data from the means 4 are fed to a terminal equipment 2. Through the configuration of combination of low speed and high peed information storage means, large capacity information is stored without deteriorating the economy and the server in which the operability by the user and the serviceability to the user are enhanced is realized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Table of Contents) Industrial Application Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (FIGS. 1 to 3) Actions (FIGS. 1 to 3) Embodiments (a) Description of one embodiment (FIGS. 4 to 11)-(b) Description of second embodiment (FIGS. 12 to 15)-(c) Description of third embodiment (FIGS. 16 to 19)-(d) Other effects of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, VOD (Video).
Suitable for multimedia servers such as On Demand),
Regarding server device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in constructing a server device for transferring stored information to a client terminal, a storage medium having a low access speed (hereinafter, referred to as a low speed storage medium) is used. , A storage medium having a high access speed (hereinafter referred to as a high-speed storage medium) is used.

Here, the low-speed storage medium is composed of a magneto-optical disk or the like, but since it is low in price, it is possible to construct a storage medium having a large storage capacity. It is used when considering importance. For example, when a large amount of information such as a movie is stored in the low-speed storage medium in the server device, when a request is made in the server device from the client terminal, information about the movie corresponding to the request is sent from the low-speed storage medium to the client terminal. It is transferred so that the movie can be viewed from the client terminal.

Further, the high-speed storage medium can improve the operability of information from the client terminal, and is used when the operability of the client terminal is important when constructing a system. On the other hand, in the system for providing information from the server device to the client terminal as described above, when the user side client terminal receives various information typified by, for example, movies accumulated in the server device, There is a demand for user-friendly operability with respect to transferred information.

[0006]

However, in order to provide information to the client terminal from the above-mentioned server device and to construct a system with good operability from the user side, only the low-speed storage medium should be used in the server device. In the case of using, since the transfer speed is slow, for example, only one user (client terminal) can simultaneously provide information from one low-speed storage medium.

Further, even when the server device is provided with a means for managing the use schedule of the low-speed storage medium in advance so that the medium use requests from the client terminals do not conflict with one low-speed storage medium, the server device is temporarily stopped. Alternatively, if a low-speed storage medium is used to respond to an operation request such as rewinding, data transfer will be delayed, and this will conflict with the medium use request to other users. There is a problem that it may be interrupted and the serviceability to the user is degraded.

On the other hand, when only the high-speed storage medium is used for the server device, there is a problem that the cost for constructing the system becomes high in order to be able to store a large amount of information. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and uses a combination of a low speed storage medium and a high speed storage medium as an information storage medium of a server device to store a large amount of information while keeping costs low. It is an object of the present invention to provide a server device that is capable of improving the operability from the user side and improving the serviceability to the user.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the first invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a server device, which is a request from a connected client terminal 2. In accordance with the above, the stored information is provided, and the first information storage means 3, the second information storage means 4, and the control means 5 are provided.

Here, the first information accumulating means 3 is for accumulating information in response to a request from the client terminal 2, and the second information accumulating means 4 is for the first information accumulating means 3. The second information storage means 4 has an access speed set to be higher than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2 unit.

Further, the control means 5 includes a client terminal 2
On the basis of a request from the client terminal 2, the information stored in the first information storage means 3 is transferred to the second information storage means 4, and the information stored in the second information storage means 4 is transferred to the client terminal 2 The transfer is controlled to (claim 1). Further, the second information storage means 4 can be constituted by at least one information storage medium provided for each type of information or each client terminal 2 (claim 2), and the first information storage means. It is also possible to configure 3 as a low-speed storage medium and the second information storage means 4 as a high-speed storage medium (claim 3).

Further, the control means 5 includes a client terminal 2
It is also possible to provide a first transfer control means for transferring the information accumulated in the second information accumulating means 4 to the client terminal 2 in response to the operation request received from (claim 4). Further, when the first information storage means 3 is composed of a plurality of information storage media in which the same type of information is divided and stored, the control means 5 responds to the information provision request from the client terminal 2. The first information storage means 3
And a wait time calculating means for calculating an access wait time for the first information accumulating means 3 based on the use schedule information from the use schedule registering means. Based on the access waiting time information from the calculating means, an absorption availability determination means for determining whether the access waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the second information storage means 4 and a determination result from the absorption availability determination means. Based on the above, if the information can be absorbed, a second transfer control unit that controls transfer of information from the first information storage unit 3 to the second information storage unit 4 and information of a predetermined length in the second information storage unit 4 are stored. A third transfer control unit for controlling transfer of the stored information to the client terminal 2 when the stored information is stored can be provided (claim 5).

Further, the control means 5 uses the use schedule registration means so that the access waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the second information accumulating means 4 when the absorption is impossible based on the judgment result from the absorption possibility judging means. Based on the use schedule reset control means for resetting the use schedule by the use schedule information and the use schedule information reset by the control by the use schedule reset control means, the length of the access wait time calculated by the wait time calculation means is changed. Based on the results of the waiting time length determination unit and the waiting time length determination unit, if the access waiting time is long, the request rejection unit that rejects the information provision request from the client terminal 2 and the waiting time length determination unit If the access waiting time is short based on the determination result of No. 1, information is transferred from the first information storage unit 3 to the second information storage unit 4. It may be provided with a fourth transfer control means for controlling transfer (claim 6).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the principle of the second invention. In FIG. 2, 8 is a server device, and the server device 8 responds to a request from the connected client terminal 2. It provides the accumulated information, and has a first information accumulating means 3, a second information accumulating means 4, a third information accumulating means 6 and a control means 7. Here, the first information storage means 3 and the second information storage means 4
Has a function similar to that shown in FIG. 1 described above, and the third information storage means 6 stores the head portion of a plurality of types of information.

Further, the control means 7 transfers the information accumulated in the first information accumulating means 3 to the second information accumulating means 4 in accordance with the information providing request from the client terminal 2 and responds thereto. After the transfer of the head portion of the information from the third information storage means 6 to the client terminal 2, the transfer of the remaining information from the information stored in the second information storage means 4 to the client terminal 2 is controlled. .

The access speed of the second information storage means 4 and the third information storage means 6 is set to be higher than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2 (claim 7). Further, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the principle of the third invention. In FIG. 3, 11 is a server device, and this server device 11 is stored in response to a request from a connected client terminal 2. It provides information and comprises a first information storage means 3, a second information storage means 4, a fourth information storage means 9 and a control means 10.

Here, the first information storage means 3 and the second information storage means 4 have the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the fourth information storage means. Means 9
Stores information corresponding to an operation request received from the client terminal 2. Further, the control unit 10 stores the information stored in the first information storage unit 3 in the second information storage unit 4 based on the request from the client terminal 2.
Information stored in the second information storage means 4 is transferred to the client terminal 2, and is stored in the fourth information storage means 9 based on an operation request from the client terminal 2. The transfer information is transferred to the client terminal 2.

The access speed of the second information storage means 4 and the fourth information storage means 9 is set to be higher than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2 (claim 8).

[0019]

In the server device of the first aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the client terminal 2 is controlled by the control means 5.
On the basis of a request from the client terminal 2, the information stored in the first information storage means 3 is transferred to the second information storage means 4, and the information stored in the second information storage means 4 is transferred to the client terminal 2 The accumulated information is provided to the client terminal 2 by controlling the transfer to.

Further, by making the access speed of the second information storage means 4 faster than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2, it is possible to simultaneously provide information to a plurality of client terminals. Further, the second information storage means 4 is configured by at least one information storage medium provided for each type of information or each client terminal 2 so that a plurality of different information can be transmitted to a plurality of client terminals. Can be provided at the same time.

Further, by configuring the first information storage means 3 by a low-speed storage medium and the second information storage means 4 by a high-speed storage medium, one piece of information forming the second information storage means 4 is formed. Information can be simultaneously provided from a storage medium to a plurality of client terminals. further,
The first transfer control means of the control means 5 can transfer the information stored in the second information storage means 4 to the client terminal 2 in response to an operation request received from the client terminal 2.

In the case where the first information storage means 3 is composed of a plurality of information storage media in which the same type of information is divided and stored, the use schedule setting means is controlled by the control means 5. , A usage schedule of the first information storage means 3 is set in response to an information provision request from the client terminal 2, and the waiting time calculation means uses the first information storage means based on the usage schedule information from the usage schedule registration means. 3, whether or not the absorption wait time can be absorbed by the absorbability determination means based on the access wait time information from the wait time calculation means by the access speed of the second information storage means 4. To judge.

If it can be absorbed, the second transfer control means controls transfer of information from the first information storage means 3 to the second information storage means 4, and the second information storage means 4 controls the transfer of information. When the information of a predetermined length is stored, the third transfer control means can transfer control the stored information to the client terminal 2. If it cannot be absorbed, the usage schedule resetting control means resets the usage schedule by the usage schedule registration means so that the access waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the second information storage means 4.
The waiting time length judgment means judges the length of the access waiting time calculated by the waiting time calculation means based on the usage schedule information reset by the control by the usage schedule reset control means, and if the access waiting time is long, When the request refusal means rejects the information provision request of the client terminal 2 and the access waiting time is short, the fourth transfer control means causes the first information accumulating means 3 to the second information accumulating means 4 to inform the information. Can also be transfer-controlled.

In the server device of the second invention shown in FIG. 2 described above, under the control of the control means 7, the data is stored in the first information storage means 3 based on the information provision request from the client terminal 2. Existing information is transferred to the second information storage means 4, and the head portion of the corresponding information is transferred to the third information storage means 4.
After the transfer control from the information storage means 6 to the client terminal 2 is performed, the remaining information is transferred from the information stored in the second information storage means 4 to the client terminal 2 to transfer the stored information to the client terminal 2. Provide to 2.

Further, by setting the access speeds of the second information storage means 4 and the third information storage means 6 to be higher than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2, a plurality of client terminals 2 can be provided. Information can be provided at the same time. Further, the server device of the third invention shown in FIG. 3 described above controls the information stored in the first information storage means 3 into the second information under the control of the control means 10 based on the request from the client terminal 2. Of the information stored in the second information storage means 4 and the transfer control of the information stored in the second information storage means 4 to the client terminal 2, and the fourth information storage means based on the operation request from the client terminal 2. By controlling transfer of the information accumulated in 9 to the client terminal 2, the accumulated information is provided to the client terminal 2 while responding to an operation request from the client terminal 2.

Further, by setting the access speeds of the second information storage means 4 and the fourth information storage means 9 to be higher than the transfer speed for each client terminal 2, a plurality of client terminals 2 can be provided. Information can be provided at the same time.

[0027]

【Example】

(A) Description of First Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the server device 21 and a plurality (for example, m units) of client devices 22-1 to 22-m connected to the server device 21 allow VOD (Video On D).
emand) The system 20 is configured.

That is, in this VOD system 20, the server device 21 stores various information such as movies, and the client terminal 22 connected via the public line.
Through -1 to 22-m, the user can interactively retrieve necessary information from the server device 21 (in this case, watch a movie). Also,
As shown in FIG. 5, the server device 21 includes a low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, a high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, a management processor 25, and an I / O unit 26 which are interconnected via a bus 27.
It has

Here, the low-speed large-capacity storage medium (first information storage medium) 23 is the client terminals 22-1 to 22-.
A plurality of (for example, n) magneto-optical disks (MO) 23-1 to 23-n having a low access speed are stored, for example, for accumulating a plurality of movie information corresponding to a request from m. ing. By the way, this magneto-optical disk 2
In 3-1 to 23-n, information of the same type, that is, information of the same movie is divided into, for example, n pieces and accumulated. For example, the information for each 10-minute broadcast time in a movie is stored in each of the magneto-optical disks 23-1 and 23-2.
It can be divided into 3-n and accumulated.

When transferring the information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, the information is transferred in the divided order. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the first information I1 is
Magneto-optical disks 23-1 and 23-23 according to the order of division.
The information stored in 4, 23-5, ..., The second information I2 are the magneto-optical disks 23-2, 23-4, 23-6,
The information stored in the ..., and the third information I3 is the information stored in the magneto-optical disks 23-3, 23-4, 23-6 ,. It is supposed to be done.

The high-speed small-capacity storage medium (second information storage means) 24 stores a part of the information from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 and has an access speed of the client terminal 22-1. It is composed of magnetic disks (HD) 24-1 to 24-p, etc., which have a transfer speed higher than that of a unit of .about.22-m. Furthermore, high-speed small-capacity storage medium 2
The four magnetic disks 24-1 to 24-p are, for example, for each number of client terminals 22-1 to 22-m (that is, p = m).
Alternatively, it is provided for each type of information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, and is constituted by a ring buffer as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, the magnetic disk 24
-1 to 24-p are the position (A) of the write pointer of information from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 and the read pointer of information from the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. The length t of information before being provided to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m with the position (B)
_f and the length t _p of the information after provision are set, so that the operation request from the clients 22-1 to 22-m can be dealt with as described later.

Further, the management processor (control means) 25
Transfers the information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 and stores it in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 based on the requests from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. The transfer of the stored information to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m is controlled.
Specifically, in the management processor 25, when the operation request received from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m is fast-forward, the position of the read pointer from the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is shortened by t _f. , T _p is advanced so as to be long, while in the case of rewinding, the position of the read pointer is moved in the opposite direction so that t _f is long and t _p is short. The position is controlled so that it remains at its original position.

As mentioned above, the high-speed small-capacity storage medium
Length to store at 24 (t_f, T_p) Has changed
In the case of management processor 25, promptly start
When setting (t_fo, T_po) To return to
ing. Specifically, (t_f<T_fo, T_p> T_po) Place
In this case, from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 2
Transfer time to 4 (t_tra) Is shortened, while (t_f> T
_fo, T_p<T_po), From the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23
Transfer time to high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 (t_tra) Long
I do.

Further, the management processor 25 sets a medium use schedule (use schedule) as an access schedule to the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 in response to information provision requests from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. It is like this. As a result, in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, the access request is transmitted to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-.
Although there is no competition between m, waiting time (access waiting time) occurs for the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m waiting for access.

Further, in the management processor 25, when the medium use schedule is set so that the information can be transferred to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m without interruption, for example, the setting is performed as shown in FIG. Whether or not the waiting time predicted to occur in the scheduled medium usage can be absorbed by the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is confirmed.
Here, FIG. 8 shows certain client terminals 22-1 to 22-.
9 is a diagram showing a medium use schedule when information provision is requested from m. As shown in FIG. 8, information is provided from the high-speed large-capacity storage medium 24 to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. In this case, usually, a predetermined time (t _len )
A predetermined magneto-optical disk 23-1 for each section of
The information from 23-n is transferred, but in section ₁ shown in FIG. 8, a waiting time (t _wai1 ) occurs.

In the management processor 25, this waiting
The time is t for the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24. _fCan be absorbed by
Then, medium use of the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 (see (a))
As shown in equation (1) at the start of
on₁At the end of_fIs the initial setting value (t_fo)
be able to. t_f= T_fo-T_wai1 ・ ・ ・ (1) Also, section₂Waiting time t occurring at
_wai2Becomes as shown in Expression (2). Therefore, medium use
After performing (see (b)), wait time t_{wa i2}The fast
It cannot be absorbed by the small capacity storage medium 24. That is,
section ₂At the end of_fIs shown in equation (3)
Then, it is impossible to return to the initial setting value.

T_wai2> (T_len-T_tra) (2) t_f= T_fo-A (t_wai2+ T_wai1-T_len) <T_fo A = t_len/ T_tra ・ ・ ・ (3) section₃Then, from the high speed small capacity storage medium 24
Shortening the transfer time by increasing the transfer speed
Section (see (c)), so section ₂And s
section₃The information transfer that should take place in
Can, section₃At the end of_fThe first
Set period (t_fo) Can be returned to.

If the operation request from the user cannot be absorbed by the high-speed large-capacity storage medium 24, a medium use schedule is newly made as a new information use request, and a waiting time occurs as in the above case. It is designed to check whether or not can be absorbed. Further, in the management processor 25, when it is predicted that a waiting time that cannot be absorbed by t _f will occur during information provision in advance, the operation request or the new information use request is made to wait or rejected. .

Further, when the magnetic disks 24-1 to 24-p of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 are simultaneously providing a plurality of information, the management processor 25 stores the plurality of information as t _len / q (q : Positive integer) It is designed to be synchronized and managed in units. The I / O unit 26
Is a server device 21 and client terminals 22-1 to 22
It functions as an input / output interface with -m.

The operation of the server device having the above-described structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the block diagram shown in FIG. That is, the user selects the client terminals 22-1 and 22-2.
When a request for providing information is made to the server device 21 through 2-m, the management processor 25 receives the request from the user via the I / O unit 26 (step A in FIG. 9).
1, see FIG. 11).

Then, in the management processor 25,
In response to the information provision requests from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m, a medium use schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is set (step A2), and the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is set to the medium use schedule information. The waiting time for the waiting time is calculated, and it is confirmed (determined) whether this waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 (step A3).

Here, in the management processor 25, when the calculated waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the high speed small capacity storage medium 24 (YES route of step A3), the low speed large capacity storage medium 23 stores the high speed small capacity storage. Information transfer to the medium 24 is started (step A4).
(See FIG. 11). When the information accumulated in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is accumulated for a predetermined length t _f , the requested client terminals 22-1 to 22-m are transmitted via the I / O unit 26. Information is provided to the user by transferring the information to the user (step A5, see FIG. 11).

If it is determined in step A3 that the waiting time cannot be absorbed by the access speed of the high speed small capacity storage medium 24, the waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the high speed small capacity storage medium 24. The usage schedule is reestablished, and the waiting time for the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is calculated based on the reestablished usage schedule (step A6).

If the calculated waiting time is short, the user who made the request is made to wait (from the "short" route in step A6 to step A7). After that, when the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 can be accessed, information is provided to the user as in the processing in steps A4 and A5 described above. If the calculated waiting time is long, the client terminal 22-1 that made the request is
22-m, the information provision request is rejected (from the “long” route in step A6 to step A8).

By the way, the user selects the client terminal 22.
When an operation request for the information provided to the server device 21 is issued through -1 to 22-m, the management processor 25 causes the I / O unit 26 to operate in the same manner as the process in the flowchart shown in FIG. A request to that effect is received through (step B1 in FIG. 10, refer to FIG. 11).

Then, in the management processor 25,
It is checked whether or not the received operation request can be handled by only the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 (step B2). (Step B3, see FIG. 11). Here, in step B2, when the operation request cannot be handled by only the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, the management processor 25 resets the usage schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, and this rebuilding is performed. The waiting time for the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is calculated based on the used schedule (step B5).

If the calculated waiting time is short, the user who made the request is made to wait (from the "short" route in step B5 to step B6). After that, when the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 can be accessed, the information from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, and the information stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is stored. Client terminals 22-1 to 22-
By transferring to m, the operation request from the user is handled (step B3, see FIG. 11).

If the calculated waiting time is long,
The operation request from the user is rejected (from the “long” route in step B5 to step B7). Further, in step B3, when the information stored in the high speed small capacity storage medium 24 is transferred to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m, the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m
If the operation request from is continued, it is checked again whether or not the request can be met only by the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 (from YES route of step B4 to step B2).
Processing for the operation request similar to the above case is performed.

As described above, according to the server device of the first embodiment of the present invention, the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 stores the information corresponding to all the requests from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. In addition, the information stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is stored in the client terminal 22.
-1 to 22-m, it is possible to simultaneously provide information to multiple users by accumulating a large amount of information while keeping the cost for constructing the system low. On the other hand, since operability from the user side can be improved, there is an advantage that serviceability to the user can be improved.

Further, the client terminals 22-1 to 22-
When the management processor 25 does not change the usage schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 when it responds to the operation request for m, it does not overlap the usage request of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 of another user. There is also an advantage that it becomes easy to manage the usage schedule of the medium. Further, in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, the same type of information, that is, the same movie information and the like is divided and stored,
It is possible to shorten the time for one user to monopolize one low-speed large-capacity storage medium, and to prevent the information being provided from being interrupted when usage requests from multiple users concentrate on one medium. can do.

(B) Description of Second Embodiment FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
Also in the case shown in FIG. 12, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, the server device 30 and a plurality (for example, m) of client devices 22- connected to the server device 30-.
A VOD (Video On Demand) system 20 is configured by 1 to 22-m.

Further, in the server device 30 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 or FIG.
It differs from the server device 21 according to the embodiment in that the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28 for cueing is provided. That is,
The high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28 for cueing stores the head portion of all types of information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23, and is composed of a magnetic disk 28a and has an access speed of Client terminal 2
It is set to be higher than the transfer rate for the 2-1 to 22-m unit.

Reference numeral 31 is a management processor, which manages the client terminals 22-1 and 22-2.
The head portion of the requested information is controlled to be transferred from the high-speed small capacity storage medium for cue 28 to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m on the basis of the information providing request from 2-m.
The remaining information is transferred from the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m.

In other words, this management processor 31
Transfers the information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, and the head portion of the information corresponding to the request is transferred from the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28 for cueing to the client terminal 22-. After the transfer is controlled to 1 to 22-m, the remaining information is extracted from the information stored in the high speed small capacity storage medium 24 to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-22.
The transfer is controlled to -m.

12 and 13, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment denote the same parts. The operation of the server device according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 and the block diagram shown in FIG. That is,
When the management processor 31 receives a request from the user via the I / O unit 26 (step C1 in FIG. 14 and see FIG. 15), step A in the first embodiment described above.
Similar to 1 to step A3, the medium use schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is set (step C2), and it is confirmed (determined) whether the waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 ( Step C3).

Here, in the management processor 31, when the waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 (YES route of step C3), the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 changes to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24. Meanwhile, while the information transfer is started (step C4, FIG.
Via the I / O unit 26, the head portion of the information to be provided to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m requested by the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28 for cueing is provided. It is started (step C5, see FIG. 15).

After that, when the information stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is accumulated for a predetermined length t _f , the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28 is switched from the indexing high-speed small-capacity storage medium 28. , Client terminal 22-
Information subsequent to the head portion of the information to be provided is transferred to 1 to 22-m (step C6, see FIG. 15). In addition, in step C3, when it is determined that the waiting time cannot be absorbed by the access speed of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, the usage schedule is re-established as in the case of FIG. Based on the planned usage
The waiting time for the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is calculated (step C7).

If the calculated waiting time is short, the user who made the request is put on standby (from the "short" route of step C7 to step C8), and then the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 can be accessed. Then, information is provided to the user as in the processing in steps C4 to C6 described above. If the calculated waiting time is long, the client terminal 22-1 that made the request is
22-m, the information provision request is rejected (from the “long” route in step C7 to step C9).

As described above, according to the server device of the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the advantages obtained in the first embodiment, the server device for high speed small capacity storage medium 28 for cueing is provided. Therefore, there is an advantage that the responsiveness to the information use request from the user can be improved. (C) Description of Third Embodiment FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
Also in the case shown in FIG. 16, the server device 32 and the server device 3 are the same as in the first and second embodiments described above.
VOD (Video On Demand) by a plurality (for example, m) of client devices 22-1 to 22-m connected to 2
The system 20 is configured.

In addition, in the server device 32 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
It differs from the server device 21 according to the embodiment in that it includes an operation-supporting high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29. That is, the operation-corresponding high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 stores information according to the operation request received from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m.
9a, the access speed is set to be higher than the transfer speed for each of the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m.

Reference numeral 33 is a management processor, and this management processor 33 is a client terminal 22-1 to 22-2.
2-m, the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 based on the request from
The information stored in the above is transferred to the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24, and the information stored in the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is controlled to be transferred to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. This is the same as that in the first embodiment (see reference numeral 21).

On the other hand, the management processor 33 sends an operation request from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the operation-corresponding high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 based on the operation request from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m. The information stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for operation control is controlled so that the information is transferred in a corresponding manner.
It controls to transfer to ~ 22-m.

Specifically, the client terminals 22-1 to 22-1
When the operation request from 22-m is a fast-forward operation of information, the operation-responsive high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 stores the information from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 in a skipped format in the frame format, for example. By doing so, it is possible to transfer as fast-forward information to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m.

The client terminals 22-1 to 22-
If the operation request from m is an information rewind operation,
In the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for operation, the information from the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 is stored in the frame format in a time-reversed format, so that the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m receive the information. It can be transferred as rewind information.

Further, the client terminals 22-1 to 22-22
When the operation request from -m is a temporary stop operation of information, the same high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for operation continues to store the same frame in the frame format for the information from the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23. As a result, the temporary stop information can be transferred to the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m.

16 and 17, the same symbols as those in the first embodiment indicate the same components. The operation of the server device according to the third embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 18 and the block diagram shown in FIG.

That is, the user selects the client terminal 22-1.
22-m, when an operation request for information provided to the server device 21 is made, the management processor 3
2 receives a request to that effect via the I / O unit 26 (step D1 in FIG. 18, see FIG. 19). Then, the management processor 32 determines whether or not the deviation from the initial setting caused by the operation request can be absorbed by the high-speed storage medium 24 (step D2). Information is transferred from the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 to the operation-supporting high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 in a format corresponding to an operation request such as fast-forward, rewind, or pause (step D).
3, see FIG. 19).

Then, the information stored in the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for handling the operation is transferred to the client terminal 22.
The information corresponding to the operation request is transferred by transferring to -1 to 22-m (step D4, see FIG. 19). Here, in step D2, when the high-speed storage medium 24 cannot absorb the deviation from the initial setting caused by the operation request, in the management processor 32,
The usage schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is reset, and the waiting time for the low-speed large-capacity storage medium 23 is calculated based on the restored usage schedule (step D7).

If the calculated waiting time is short, the user who made the request is put on standby (step D7).
When the low-speed small-capacity storage medium 23 can be accessed from the "short" route of step D8), the information corresponding to the operation request can be transferred, as in steps D3 and D4 described above. If the calculated waiting time is long, the operation request from the user is rejected (from the “long” route in step D7 to step D9).

Further, the client terminals 22-1 to 22-22
When the operation request from -m continues, the loop processing from step D2 described above is performed again (YES route from step D5 to step D2). When the operation request from the client terminals 22-1 to 22-m has been completed, the high speed small capacity storage medium 29 for operation is switched to the high speed small capacity storage medium 24. In this case, the read pointer of the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 24 is moved to the position corresponding to the end of the operation (from NO route of step D5 to step D6).

As described above, the server device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has the same advantages as those of the first embodiment described above, and further includes the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for operation. Therefore, there is an advantage that the control for providing information corresponding to the operation request from the user can be simplified. In the present embodiment, the high-speed small-capacity storage medium 29 for handling operations is composed of one magnetic disk 29a, and this magnetic disk 29a collectively responds to a plurality of types of operation requests. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is composed of, for example, three magnetic disks,
Depending on the operation request from the user, the magnetic disks to be used may be divided for each of the fast-forward operation, rewind operation, and pause operation.

(D) Others The server device according to the present invention is not limited to the mode in each of the above-described embodiments, and can be realized by combining, for example, the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

[0074]

As described in detail above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the server devices described in 3 to 3, it is possible to accumulate a large amount of information while suppressing the cost for constructing the system at a low level, improve the operability from the user side, and extend the serviceability to the user. There is an advantage that can increase.

Further, according to the server device of the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the first information accumulating means is constituted by a low speed accumulating medium and the second information accumulating means is constituted by a high speed accumulating medium. Therefore, there is an advantage that information can be simultaneously provided to a plurality of users. Also,
According to the server device of the present invention described in claim 4, there is an advantage that the first transfer control means can easily provide the information corresponding to the operation request from the user.

Further, according to the server device of the present invention as set forth in claims 5 and 6, the time for which one user occupies one low-speed and large-capacity storage medium is shortened by the first information storage means and control means. In addition, it is possible to prevent the information being provided from being interrupted when usage requests from a plurality of users concentrate on one medium. Also,
According to the server device of the present invention as set forth in claim 7, since it is provided with the third information storage means, there is an advantage that the responsiveness to the information use request from the user can be improved.

Further, according to the server device of the present invention as defined in claim 8, since it is provided with the fourth information storage means,
There is an advantage that the control for providing information corresponding to the operation request from the user can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram of a second invention.

FIG. 3 is a principle block diagram of a third invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a usage schedule of the low-speed large-capacity storage medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a high-speed small-capacity storage medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a medium use schedule set by the management processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining an operation of the server device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a server device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the server device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a server device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the server device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 8 and 11 Server device 2 Client terminal 3 First information storage means 4 Second information storage means 5, 7, 10 Control means 6 Third information storage means 9 Fourth information storage means 20 VOD system 21, 30, 32 Server device 22-1 to 22-m Client terminal 23 Low-speed large-capacity storage medium (first information storage means) 23-1 to 23-n Magneto-optical disk 24 High-speed small-capacity storage medium (second information storage) Means) 24-1 to 24-p, 28a, 29a Magnetic disk 25, 31, 33 Management processor (control means) 26 I / O section 27 Bus 28 High-speed small-capacity storage medium for cueing (third information storage means) 29 High-speed small-capacity storage medium for operation (fourth information storage means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Koichi Egawa 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Yasushi Inamoto 1015 Kamedota, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa (within Fujitsu Limited) 72) Inventor Kiichi Matsuda 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A server device that provides accumulated information in response to a request from a connected client terminal, and first information accumulating means for accumulating information in accordance with the request from the client terminal. , Second information storage means for storing a part of the information from the first information storage means, and information stored in the first information storage means based on a request from the client terminal. And a control means for controlling the transfer of the information stored in the second information storage means to the client terminal while transferring the information stored in the second information storage means, and the access speed of the second information storage means is A server device, which is configured to be faster than a transfer speed for each client terminal. 2. The second information storage means comprises at least one information storage medium provided for each type of the information or each client terminal. Server device. 3. The first information storage means comprises a low-speed storage medium, and the second information storage means comprises:
The server device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the server device comprises a high-speed storage medium. 4. The control means comprises a first transfer control means for transferring the information stored in the second information storage means to the client terminal in response to an operation request received from the client terminal. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the server device is a server device. 5. The first information storage means is composed of a plurality of information storage media in which the same type of information is divided and stored, while the control means responds to an information provision request from the client terminal. According to the usage schedule setting means for setting the usage schedule of the first information storage means, and the access waiting time for the first information storage means based on the usage schedule information from the usage schedule registration means. A wait time calculation means for calculating, and whether or not the access wait time can be absorbed by the access speed of the second information storage means based on the access wait time information from the wait time calculation means Second transfer control means for controlling transfer of information from the first information storage means to the second information storage means when the absorption is possible based on the determination means and the determination result from the absorption possibility determination means. A second transfer control means for controlling transfer of the stored information to the client terminal when the predetermined length of information is stored in the second information storage means. The server device according to claim 1. 6. The use according to the determination result from the absorption permission / inhibition determination means, if the access waiting time can be absorbed by the access speed of the second information storage means when the access waiting time cannot be absorbed. The usage schedule resetting control means for resetting the usage schedule by the schedule registration means, and the access calculated by the waiting time calculating means based on the usage schedule information reset by the control by the usage schedule resetting control means Waiting time length judgment means for judging whether the waiting time is long or short, and request refusal means for refusing the information provision request of the client terminal when the access waiting time is long based on the judgment result from the waiting time length judgment means, When the access waiting time is short based on the judgment result from the waiting time length judging means, the first information accumulating means transfers to the second information accumulating means. Fourth to control information transfer
6. A transfer control means is provided.
The server device described. 7. A first information storage means for storing a plurality of types of information in a server device that provides the stored information in response to a request from a connected client terminal, and the first information. An information provision request from the client terminal, which comprises a second information storage means for storing a part of the information from the storage means and a third information storage means for storing a head portion of the plurality of types of information. Based on the above, the information stored in the first information storage means is transferred to the second information storage means, and the leading part of the corresponding information is transferred from the third information storage means to the client terminal. And a control means for controlling transfer of the remaining information from the information accumulated in the second information accumulating means to the client terminal, the access information of the second information accumulating means and the third information accumulating means. Scan speed, characterized in that it is configured to be faster than the transfer rate for the client terminal unit,
Server device. 8. A server device for providing accumulated information in response to a request from a connected client terminal, and first information accumulating means for accumulating information in accordance with the request from the client terminal. A second information storage means for storing a part of the information from the first information storage means, and a fourth information storage means for storing information according to an operation request received from the client terminal, Based on a request from the client terminal, the information stored in the first information storage means is transferred to the second information storage means, and the information stored in the second information storage means is transferred to the client terminal. Transfer control to
The second information accumulating means and the fourth information accumulating means, the control means controlling the transfer of the information accumulated in the fourth information accumulating means to the client terminal based on the operation request from the client terminal. The access speed of the means is configured to be higher than the transfer speed for the client terminal unit,
Server device.