JPH09219647A - File processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file processor automatically retrieving file seldom used frequency and compressing the data. SOLUTION: When the power source of a computer system 1 is turned on, a CPU 14 executes a file control processing, and when it is discriminated that the file control processing is not started this day (present date data = update date data), the CPU retrieves the file data which is not used for the prescribed period which is preliminarily set by a user or more from the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of an external storage part 17. In a file compression processing, the file data is compressed and is stored in a compressed file data storage area 17e, and the file data before a compression is deleted from the normal file data preservation area 17b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file processing device for automatically searching for and compressing infrequently used file data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art File processing devices such as an engineering work station and a personal computer are
A storage medium (eg, hard disk) that manages and stores multiple file data such as operating system and application programs.
Is provided.

In such a file processing device, in order to prevent the storage medium from running out of capacity and to secure a comfortable operating environment, the file data is compressed or the compressed file data is in a state before compression. Archiver to be restored to (Ar
Some have an application program called. The file processing device equipped with this archiver provides the user with a better operating environment such as compensating for the lack of capacity of the storage medium by compressing infrequently used file data using the archiver and storing it in the storage medium. doing.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional file processing device, the user himself / herself has to search the file data to be compressed and saved from a plurality of file data stored in the storage medium. In addition, similarly, the user must activate the archiver stored as an application program to compress the desired file data, and it takes time and effort to compress and save the file data, which is not convenient. It was

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to automatically retrieve and compress file data that is rarely used.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
From the storage means for storing the file data and the file data stored in the storage means, search for file data that has not been used for a preset period of time,
Data compression means for reading the retrieved file data from the storage means and compressing the file data,
By having the above, the above-mentioned object is achieved.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, the data compression means retrieves and compresses the file data that has not been used for a predetermined period of time or more.

Therefore, since the file data which has not been used for a predetermined period or more can be automatically searched and compressed, the memory resources in the storage medium can be utilized more effectively and a comfortable operating environment can be provided. Can be provided. As a result, the usability of the file processing device can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a storage means for storing the file data and the file data stored in the storage means are searched for file data having a preset frequency of use or less, The above object is achieved by including a data compression unit that reads the retrieved file data from the storage unit and compresses the file data.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the data compression means retrieves and compresses the file data having a preset usage frequency or less.

Therefore, it is possible to automatically retrieve and compress file data of a predetermined usage frequency or less,
The memory resources in the storage medium can be used more effectively, and a comfortable operating environment can be provided. As a result, the usability of the file processing device can be improved.

In this case, as described in claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the restoration file designating means for designating the file data to be restored and the restoration file designating means are designated. Data recovery means to recover the compressed file data to the state before compression,
Is effective.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the file data to be restored is designated by the restoration file designation means, and the designated file data is restored by the data restoration means to the state before compression.

Therefore, the file data designated by the user can be restored to the state before compression from the automatically compressed file data.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 10 are views showing a computer system of a first embodiment to which a file processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

First, the structure will be described. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a computer system 1 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the computer system 1 includes an input unit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a CPU 14, a display unit 15, a work memory 16 and an external storage unit. It is configured by 17, and each unit is connected to the bus 18.

The input unit 11 has function keys, numeric keys, character keys and other keys, and outputs various operation signals to the CPU 14 according to the user's key input operations. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 14 for controlling each unit of the computer system 1. RAM (Rand
The om access memory 13 forms a memory area for temporarily storing various data to be processed when the CPU 14 executes various control processes.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14
Is a control program stored in the ROM 12 in advance, or an operating system stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 based on each key operation signal input from the input unit 11. It is a central processing unit that controls each unit of the computer system 1 according to various application programs.

Specifically, the CPU 14 executes a file management process, which will be described later, when the power of the computer system 1 is turned on, and among the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17. From this, the user searches for file data that has not been used for a predetermined period of time or longer, stores the compressed file data in the compressed file data storage area 17e, and stores the uncompressed file data in the normal file data storage area. Delete from 17b.

Further, at this time, the CPU 14 creates management record data of the file data to be compressed and saved in the compressed file data saving area 17e, stores it in the compressed file management area 17d, and deletes it from the normal file data saving area 17b. The management record data of the file data before compression is deleted from the file management area 17a.

On the other hand, when the input unit 11 instructs the CPU 14 to restore the compressed and saved file data, the CPU 14 executes a file restoring process which will be described later, and the compressed file data saving area 17e of the external storage unit 17 is compressed and saved. The file data selected and specified by the user is read out from the stored file data and restored to the state before compression, and the restored file data is stored in the normal file data storage area 17b and the file data before restoration is It is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e.

At this time, the CPU 14 also creates management record data for the file data to be restored in the normal file data storage area 17b, and the file management area 17
Compressed file data storage area 1
The management record data of the file data before restoration to be deleted from 7e is deleted from the compressed file management area 17d.

The display unit 15 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and a liquid crystal display.
The key input data input via U14, the expanded file data, etc. are displayed.

The work memory 16 forms a memory area for storing various data necessary for controlling the computer system 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, a current date / time register 16a, an update date register 16b and a prescribed period register 16c. It is composed by.

The current date / time register 16a includes a CPU 14
The current date and time data (year, month, day, time) counted by a date and time counting circuit (not shown) is stored. The update date register 16b stores date data (year, month, day) of the latest date when the file management process described later is activated based on the date and time data stored in the current date and time register 16a. The prescribed period register 16c stores date and time data of a prescribed period set by the user in the environment setting process described later as prescribed period data.

The external storage unit 17 is a hard disk (Hard
Disk) and the like, and C via the bus 18.
The various file data transmitted by the PU 14 are written in a predetermined memory area, and the file data requested to be read by the CPU 14 is read from the predetermined memory area and transmitted to the CPU 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the external storage unit 17 is composed of a file management area 17a, a normal file data storage area 17b, an unused area 17c, a compressed file management area 17d and a compressed file data storage area 17e. There is. The compressed file management area 17d and the compressed file data storage area 17e constitute a backup file area.

The file management area 17a is a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity. For the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b, the file name and storage capacity of each file data, or Stores information such as usage date and usage time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of the file management area 17a. As shown in FIG. 4, in the file management area 17a, the record number. No. for storing data. Column, a file name column for storing file name data, a used capacity column for storing storage capacity data,
It consists of a creation date field and creation time field that stores the created date and time data, a title name field that stores the file title name data, and a usage date field and usage time field that stores the latest date and time data used. Information of each file data is managed by a plurality of record data to be recorded. Further, in the file management area 17a, the respective record data are stored in the order of oldest creation date / time data stored in the creation date column and the creation time column.

The normal file data storage area 17b is C
It is a memory area for storing file data such as various program files and various data files that are normally designated to be saved by the PU 14.

In the external storage unit 17, when new file data designated by the CPU 14 for normal saving is transmitted, the file data is temporarily stored in the unused area 17c, and then the relevant file data is stored based on an instruction from the CPU 14. The memory area portion of the unused area 17c in which the file data is stored is allocated to the normal file data storage area 17b,
The file data is stored in the normal file data storage area 17b. On the contrary, in the external storage unit 17,
When the file data deletion command is transmitted by the CPU 14, the memory area portion of the normal file data saving area 17b in which the file data for which this deletion is designated is stored is allocated to the unused area 17c, and the normal file data saving is performed. The file data is deleted from the area 17b.

That is, the normal file data storage area 1
7b is not a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity like the file management area 17a, but the storage capacity of the memory area changes according to the total storage capacity of the stored file data.

The normal file data storage area 1
In 7b, as part of the operating system,
Environment setting processing and file management processing described later, or
Stores program files related to file restoration processing.

The unused area 17c is the file management area 1
7a, normal file data storage area 17b, compressed file management area 17d, and compressed file data storage area 17
e indicates a memory area that is not allocated to any of the memory areas.

The backup file area is a compressed file management area 17d and a compressed file data storage area 17
It is a memory area configured by e and managing and storing file data compressed by a file compression process described later.

The compressed file management area 17d is a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity which is set in advance. For the file data compressed and stored in the compressed file data storage area 17e, the file name and storage capacity of each file data, Alternatively, it stores information such as usage date and usage time. The compressed file management area 17d manages information of each file data in the same record format as the memory configuration of the file management area 17a shown in FIG.

The compressed file data storage area 17e is a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity,
File data such as various program files and various data files compressed by a file compression process described later is stored. The above is the configuration of the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described. In the computer system 1 of the present embodiment, the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 is searched for file data that has not been used for a predetermined period or more preset by the user. , Compressed file data storage area 1
7e, and the file data before compression is deleted from the normal file data storage area 17b.

Here, the setting operation of the data for the predetermined period, which serves as a search reference of the file data to be compressed and saved, is performed in the following environment setting process. This environment setting process is
The computer system 1 is executed by the CPU 14.
Is a process for setting various operating environments in, and when the input unit 11 instructs to set the environment, the program file for the environment setting process stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 is saved. Read out and start the process.

In this environment setting process, the CPU 14
When the input unit 11 instructs to set the prescribed period data, first, the data currently set as the prescribed period data is read from the prescribed period register 16c of the work memory 16 and displayed on the display unit 15. . Thereafter, the CPU 14 stores the date and time data input by the user via the input unit 11 in the prescribed period register 16c of the work memory 16 as new prescribed period data,
The environment setting process ends. The above is the outline of the environment setting process executed by the CPU 14 of the computer system 1.

In the environment setting process, the unit of the prescribed period data set by the user is "year", "month", "week", "day", "hour", "minute". It goes without saying that various units such as units can be set.

Next, the CPU 1 of the computer system 1
5 shows the file management process executed in FIG.
It will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. CPU14
Then, when the computer system 1 is powered on,
The program file relating to the file management processing stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 is read and the processing is started.

First, the CPU 14 reads out the date data stored in the current date / time register 16a and the update date register 16b of the work memory 16, and determines whether or not the values of the date and time match, that is, the file management process is performed today. It is determined whether or not the file management process has already been started (step S1), and when it is determined that the file management process has already started today (current date data = updated date data), the file management process is ended.

If the CPU 14 determines in step S1 that the file management process has not started yet today (current date data ≠ update date data), the value of the update date register 16b is set to the current date / time register 1
The value of the current date data stored in 6a is updated (step S2).

Next, in the file management area 17a of the external storage unit 17, the CPU 14 sets the No. Record No. stored in the column. The management record data corresponding to the data "1" is searched (step S3), and it is determined whether or not there is the management record data (step S4). Then, the CPU 14 sets the record number. If it is determined that there is no management record data corresponding to the data “1”,
The file management process ends.

Further, the CPU 14 determines that the record No. When it is determined that there is management record data corresponding to the data “1”, the latest usage date / time data stored in the usage date column and usage time column of the management record data and the current date / time register of the work memory 16 are stored. The current date and time data stored in 16a is read out, and the unused period of this file data is calculated based on the following (Equation 1) (step S5). "Current date and time data"-"Latest use date and time data" = "non-use period" ... (Equation 1)

Next, the CPU 14 makes the work memory 16
The specified period data stored in the specified period register 16c is read and it is determined whether or not the non-use period of the file data calculated by the above (Equation 1) is equal to or longer than this specified period (step S6). Then, the CPU 14
If it is determined that the unused period of this file data is not longer than the specified period, the record number. After incrementing (+1) the data value, the process returns to step S3.

If the CPU 14 determines in step S6 that the non-use period of the file data is longer than the specified period, the CPU 14 shifts to the file compression process described later (step S7) and saves the file data. The compressed file data storage area 17e is read out from the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 and compressed.
After processing such as storing in the record No. The value of the data is incremented (+1), and the above step S
Return to 3.

In the file management process, by repeating the processes of steps S3 to S7 in this way, all the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 is stored. File data that has not been used for a specified period or more can be automatically searched from the inside.

Then, in the series of processes described above, the CPU 14 increments the record number. When it is determined that there is no corresponding management record data for the data value (step S4), it is determined that all the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 17b has been searched, and the file The management process ends. The above is the operation procedure of the file management process executed by the CPU 14 of the computer system 1.

Next, the file compression process executed as a subroutine of the file management process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and the operation explanatory diagram shown in FIG. When the CPU 14 proceeds to step S7 in the file management processing, it reads the program file for file compression processing stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17,
The process is started.

First, the CPU 14 reads the file data, which is determined in step S6 of the file management process, that the non-use period is equal to or longer than the specified period, from the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17, and the file data is read. Is compressed (step S11).

Next, the CPU 14 determines whether or not the backup file area (compressed file data storage area 17e) of the external storage unit 17 has an unused storage capacity for storing the compressed file data (step S).
12) If it is determined that there is no unused storage capacity for storing the file data in the compressed file data storage area 17e, the backup file organization process (see FIG. 8) is performed (step S13), and the backup file is stored. File data compressed and saved in the area is organized, and an unused storage capacity for storing the file data in the backup file area is secured.

The CPU 14 also executes the above step S12.
When it is determined that there is an unused storage capacity for storing the file data in the compressed file data storage area 17e, the extension of the compressed file data is
After changing to an extension that indicates compression (step S1)
4) The management record data of the compressed file data is created and stored in the compressed file management area 17d of the external storage unit 17 (step S15).

Then, the CPU 14 stores the compressed file data in the compressed file data storage area 17e of the external storage unit 17 (step S16), and stores the management record data of the uncompressed file data in the file management area 17e.
While deleting from a (step S17), the memory area part of the normal file data save area 17b in which the file data before compression is stored is an unused area 17c.
And delete the file data from the normal file data storage area 17b (step S18),
The file compression process is terminated, and the process returns to step S3 of the file management process.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation during file compression processing. As shown in FIG. 7, in the file compression process, the file data “read.me” that has not been used for a prescribed period or more is compressed (step S11),
After confirming the unused storage capacity of the backup file area (step S12), the extension of the compressed file data is changed to the extension indicating that the file has been compressed (for example, ".X").
") (Step S14).

Then, the compressed file data "r
ead. X "management record data is created and stored in the compressed file management area 17d (step S
15), and stores the file data “read.X” in the compressed file data storage area 17e (step S1).
6).

After that, the file data "rea before compression"
d. The management record data of "me" is deleted from the file management area 17a (step S17), and the file data "read.me" is deleted from the normal file data saving area 17b (step S18). The above is the operation procedure of the file compression process executed by the CPU 14 of the computer system 1.

Next, the backup file organizing process executed as a subroutine of the file compressing process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the CPU 14 proceeds to step S13 in the file compression process, it reads the program file relating to the backup file organization process stored in the normal file data storage area 17b of the external storage unit 17 and starts the process.

First, the CPU 14 displays on the display unit 15 that the backup file area (compressed file data storage area 17e) does not have an unused storage capacity for storing the file data compressed in step S11 of the file compression processing. After that (step S21), based on the key operation signal from the input unit 11, it is determined whether or not to organize (delete) the file data compressed and saved in the compressed file data saving area 17e (step S).
22). When the input unit 11 instructs the CPU 14 not to organize the file data, the CPU 14 terminates the backup file organizing process and forcibly terminates the file compressing process and the file managing process.

The CPU 14 also executes the above step S22.
In the case where the input unit 11 instructs to organize the file data, first, the management information of the file data stored in the compressed file management area 17d of the external storage unit 17 is set to the record number. A list is displayed on the display unit 15 in the ascending order of the data, that is, in the ascending order of the creation date / time data (step S23). Next, the CPU 14 determines whether or not any file data has been selected and designated by the user from the displayed list (step S24). If no file data has been selected and designated, the file data continues. It is monitored whether or not is selected and designated.

The CPU 14 also executes the above step S24.
When it is determined that the file data has been selected and designated from the list displayed in, the management record data of the selected and designated file data is deleted from the compressed file management area 17d of the external storage unit 17 (step S25), this file data is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e (step S26).

After that, the CPU 14 stores the compressed file data storage area 17e in the step S of the file compression process.
In step S27, it is determined whether an unused storage capacity for storing the compressed file data has been secured (step S27), and an unused storage capacity for storing the file data is secured in the compressed file data storage area 17e. If not, the process returns to step S23.

In the backup file organization process,
In this way, by repeatedly performing the processing from step S23 to step S27, it is possible to secure an unused storage capacity for storing the file data in the compressed file data storage area 17e.

On the other hand, the CPU 14 causes the above step S27.
When it is determined that the unused storage capacity enough to store the file data can be secured in the compressed file data storage area 17e, the backup file organization processing is ended and step S14 of the file compression processing is performed.
Return to The above is the CPU 14 of the computer system 1.
Is an operation procedure of the backup file organizing process executed in.

Next, the CPU of the computer system 1
The file restoration process executed in 14 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and the operation explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 10. When the input unit 11 instructs the CPU 14 to restore the compressed and saved file data, the normal file data saving area 17 of the external storage unit 17 is displayed.
The program file relating to the file restoration processing stored in b is read and the processing is started.

First, the CPU 14 sets the management information of the file data stored in the compressed file management area 17d of the external storage unit 17 to the record number. A list is displayed on the display unit 15 in the ascending order of data, that is, in the ascending order of creation date / time data (step S31). Next, the CPU 14 determines whether or not any file data is selected and designated by the user from the displayed list (step S).
32) If the file data is not selected and designated, subsequently, it is monitored whether or not the file data is selected and designated.

The CPU 14 also executes the above step S32.
If it is determined that the file data is selected and designated from the list displayed, the selected and designated file data is read from the compressed file data storage area 17e of the external storage unit 17 and expanded to the state before compression. (Restore) (step S33). Then, the CPU 14
Changes the extension of the restored file data to a normal extension (step S34), creates management record data for the restored file data, and stores it in the external storage unit 1
7 in the file management area 17a (step S3)
5).

Then, the CPU 14 stores the restored file data in the unused area 17c of the external storage unit 17 (step S36), and sets the memory area portion of the unused area 17c storing the restored file data as a normal file. After allocating to the data storage area 17b (step S
37) The management record data of the file data before restoration is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e (step S38), and the file data before restoration is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e (step S39).

In the file restoration processing, by performing such a series of processing, the file data selected and designated by the user can be restored and stored in the normal file data saving area 17b.

Next, the CPU 14 displays the file name of the restored file data on the display unit 15 (step S40), and then, based on the key operation signal from the input unit 11, determines whether or not to end the file restoration process. It is determined (step S41), and if the input unit 11 instructs to continue the file restoration process, the above step S31 is performed.
Return to When the input unit 11 instructs the CPU 14 to end the file restoration process in step S41, the CPU 14 ends the file restoration process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation during the file restoration process. As shown in FIG. 10, in the file restoration process, after the file data “read.X” selected and designated by the user is restored to the state before compression (step S33), the extension of the restored file data is normally set. (For example, ".me") (step S34).

Then, the restored file data "r
ead. The management record data of "me" is created and stored in the file management area 17a (step S3).
5) The file data "read.me" is stored in the unused area 17c (step S36), and this portion of the memory area is allocated to the normal file data storage area 17b (step S37).

Thereafter, the file data "rea before restoration" is restored.
d. The management record data of "X" is deleted from the compressed file management area 17d (step S38), and the file data "read.X" is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e (step S39). The above is the operation procedure of the file restoration process executed by the CPU 14 of the computer system 1.

From the above, in the computer system 1 according to the present embodiment, the user sets the file based on the management record data of each file data stored in the file management area 17a of the external storage unit 17. The file data that has not been used for a specified period of time is retrieved, the file data is read from the normal file data storage area 17b, compressed, and then the compressed file data is stored in the compressed file data storage area 17e. This file data is deleted from the normal file data storage area 17b.

Therefore, the file data which has not been used for the specified period set by the user or more can be automatically searched and compressed and stored, so that the memory resource in the storage medium can be utilized more effectively. , Can provide a comfortable operating environment.

Further, in the computer system 1 of the present embodiment, the file data selected and designated by the user is read out from the file data compressed and stored in the compressed file data storage area 17e of the external storage unit 17 before compression. The restored file data is stored in the normal file data storage area 17b, and the file data before restoration is deleted from the compressed file data storage area 17e.

Therefore, the file data selected and designated by the user can be restored to the state before compression from the file data automatically compressed and saved.
The above is the description of the first embodiment.

(Second Embodiment) Next, FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a computer system of a second embodiment to which the file processing device of the present invention is applied.

First, the structure will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the computer system 2 according to the second embodiment. Note that, in FIG. 11, the same components as those of the block configuration of the computer system 1 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 11, the computer system 2 includes the input unit 11, the ROM 12 and the R shown in FIG.
The AM 13 and the display unit 15, the CPU 21, the work memory 22, and the external storage unit 23 are connected to the bus 18.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21
Is a control program stored in advance in the ROM 12 or an operating system stored in the normal file data storage area 23b of the external storage unit 23 based on each key operation signal input from the input unit 11. It is a central processing unit that controls each unit of the computer system 2 according to various application programs.

When the computer system 2 is turned on, the CPU 21 executes a file management process described later, and the normal file data storage area 23 of the external storage unit 23.
The file data stored in b is searched for file data with a predetermined usage frequency or less preset by the user, and the file compression processing described in the first embodiment is performed for the file data (see FIG. 6). ) And backup file organization processing (see FIG. 8). When the input unit 11 instructs the CPU 21 to restore the compressed and saved file data, the CPU 21 performs the file restoration process (see FIG. 9) described in the first embodiment.

The work memory 22 forms a memory area for storing various data necessary for controlling the computer system 2, and as shown in FIG. 12A, the current date / time register 22a, the update date register 22b, and the inspection date / time register 22b. The date / time register 22c, the specified period register 22d, and the specified number of times register 22e.

The current date / time register 22a has a CPU 21
The current date and time data (year, month, day, time) counted by a date and time counting circuit (not shown) is stored. The update date register 22b stores date data (year, month, day) of the latest date when the file management process described later is activated based on the date and time data stored in the current date and time register 22a. The inspection date / time register 22c is based on the date / time data stored in the current date / time register 22a.
The latest date and time data (year, month, day, time) at the time when the file management process described later is started and the file data having a frequency less than the predetermined use frequency is actually searched is stored.

The prescribed period register 22d stores date and time data of a prescribed period set by the user in the environment setting process described later as prescribed period data. The prescribed number of times register 22e stores the prescribed number of times of data set by the user in the environment setting process described later as the prescribed number of times of data.

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an example of actual data storage in the work memory 22. The current date / time register 22a stores the current date / time data (10:05, November 20, 1995), and the update date register 22b stores the date data (95: (November 19th) is stored. The inspection date / time register 22c has the latest date / time data (95) when a file management process, which will be described later, is activated and file data having a frequency less than a predetermined use frequency is actually searched.
(October 20, 09:25) is stored, and date and time data (30 days) of a predetermined period set by the user is stored in the specified period register 22d.
2e stores data for a predetermined number of times (three times) similarly set by the user.

In this data storage example, file data that is used only three times or less is searched for every 30 days, and is compressed and stored.

The external storage unit 23 is a hard disk (Hard
Disk) and the like, and C via the bus 18.
The various file data transmitted by the PU 21 are written in a predetermined memory area, and the file data requested to be read by the CPU 21 is read from the predetermined memory area and transmitted to the CPU 21.

The external storage unit 23 is the external storage unit 17 of the computer system 1 according to the first embodiment.
Similar to (see FIG. 3), the file management area 23a, the normal file data storage area 23b, the unused area 23c, the compressed file management area 23d, and the compressed file data storage area 23e. In addition, the compressed file management area 23d and the compressed file data storage area 23e
Constitutes a backup file area.

The normal file data storage area 23
b, the unused area 23c and the compressed file data storage area 23e are the normal file data storage area 1 of the computer system 1 in the first embodiment, respectively.
7b, the unused area 17c, and the compressed file data storage area 17e have the same configurations, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The file management area 23a is a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity, and for the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 23b, the file name and storage capacity of each file data, or Stores information such as title and number of times of use.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of the file management area 23a. As shown in this FIG.
In the file management area 23a, the record number. No. for storing data. Column, file name column to store file name data, used capacity column to store storage capacity data, creation date column and creation time column to store created date and time data, and file title name data The information of each file data is managed by a plurality of record data composed of a title name column and a usage number column for storing the usage number data within a predetermined period. Further, in the file management area 23a, each record data is
The creation date and time are stored in the order of oldest creation date and time data stored in the creation time column.

The compressed file management area 23d is a memory area having a predetermined storage capacity, and for the file data compressed and stored in the compressed file data storage area 23e, the file name and storage capacity of each file data, Alternatively, information such as the title and the number of times of use is stored. In the compressed file management area 23d, as shown in FIG.
Information of each file data is managed in the same record format as the memory configuration of the file management area 23a shown in FIG.
The above is the computer system 2 according to the present embodiment.
It is a structure of.

Next, the operation will be described. In the computer system 2 of the present embodiment, the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 23b of the external storage unit 23 is searched for file data with a predetermined usage frequency or less preset by the user, The file data is compressed and stored in the compressed file data storage area 23e, and the uncompressed file data is deleted from the normal file data storage area 23b.

Here, the setting operation of the above-mentioned predetermined use frequency, which is a search reference for the file data to be compressed and saved, is performed in the following environment setting process. This environment setting process is C
This is a process which is executed in the PU 21 and sets various operating environments in the computer system 2. When the input unit 11 instructs to set the environment, it is stored in the normal file data storage area 23b of the external storage unit 23. Read the program file related to the environment setting process and start the process.

In this environment setting process, the CPU 21
When the input unit 11 is instructed to set the prescribed use frequency, first, the prescribed period data and the prescribed number of times data set as the prescribed use frequency data at this stage are stored in the prescribed period register 22d of the work memory 22 and the prescribed period data. It is read from the frequency register 22e and displayed on the display unit 15.

After that, the CPU 21 uses the date and time data input by the user through the input unit 11 as the new prescribed period data and sets the prescribed period register 2 of the work memory 22.
2d, and the number-of-uses data input in the same manner is stored in the work memory 2 as new specified number-of-times data.
2 is stored in the specified number of times register 22e, and the environment setting process is ended. The above is the CP of the computer system 2
It is an outline of an environment setting process executed in U21.

In the above environment setting process, the unit of the prescribed period data set by the user is "year", "month", "week", "day", "hour", "minute". It goes without saying that various units such as units can be set.

Next, the CPU 2 of the computer system 2
1 shows the file management processing executed in FIG.
A description will be given based on the flowchart shown in FIG. CPU2
1, when the computer system 2 is powered on, the normal file data storage area 23 of the external storage unit 23
The program file relating to the file management processing stored in b is read and the processing is started.

First, the CPU 21 reads the date data stored in the current date / time register 22a and the update date register 22b of the work memory 22, and determines whether the two values match, that is, the file management process is performed today. It is determined whether or not the file management process has already been started (step S51), and when it is determined that the file management process has already started today (current date data = updated date data), the file management process ends. The CPU 21 also executes the above step S5.
If it is determined in 1 that the file management process has not started yet today (current date data ≠ update date data), the value of the update date register 22b is set to the value of the current date data stored in the current date / time register 22a. (Step S52).

Next, the CPU 21 makes the work memory 22
Current date and time register 22a and inspection date and time register 22c
The date and time data stored in is read and the elapsed period is calculated based on the following (Equation 2) (step S5).
3). "Current date and time data"-"Examination date and time data" = "Elapsed period" (Equation 2)

After that, the CPU 21 operates the work memory 22.
The prescribed period data stored in the prescribed period register 22d is read and it is determined whether or not the elapsed period calculated by (Equation 2) is equal to or longer than this prescribed period (step S54). Then, when the CPU 21 determines that the elapsed period is not longer than the specified period, the CPU 21 ends the file management process. The CPU 21 also executes the above step S54.
If it is determined that the elapsed period is equal to or longer than the specified period, the value of the inspection date / time register 22c is updated to the value of the current date / time data stored in the current date / time register 22a (step S55).

Next, in the file management area 23a of the external storage unit 23, the CPU 21 sets No. Record No. stored in the column. The management record data corresponding to the data "1" is searched (step S56), and it is determined whether or not there is the management record data (step S5).
7). Then, the CPU 21 sets the record number. If it is determined that there is no management record data corresponding to the data “1”, the process proceeds to step S61, and the value of the usage count data stored in the usage count column of each management record data in the file management area 23a. Is cleared to "0" (step S61), the file management process is ended.

The CPU 21 also executes the above step S57.
In record number. When it is determined that there is management record data corresponding to the data “1”, the value of the usage count data stored in the usage count column of the management record data is read (step S58), and the work memory 22 stores the data. The value of the specified number of times data stored in the specified number of times register 22e is read to determine whether or not the number of times of use of this file data within the specified period is less than or equal to the specified number of times (step S59). And CP
If the U21 determines that the number of times the file data has been used is not less than the specified number of times, the record number. After incrementing (+1) the value of the data, the above step S56
Return to

The CPU 21 also executes the above step S59.
If it is determined that the number of times the file data is used is less than or equal to the specified number, the process shifts to the file compression process (see FIG. 6) described in the first embodiment (step S60), and the file data Is read from the normal file data storage area 23b of the external storage unit 23, compressed, and stored in the compressed file data storage area 23e. The data value is incremented (+1) and the process returns to step S56.

In the file management process, by repeating the processes of steps S56 to S60 in this manner, all the file data stored in the normal file data save area 23b of the external storage unit 23 is stored. It is possible to automatically retrieve file data that has been used less than a specified number of times within a specified period, that is, file data that has a specified usage frequency or less, from the inside.

Then, in the series of processes described above, the CPU 21 increments the record number. When it is determined that there is no corresponding management record data for the data value (step S57), it is determined that all the file data stored in the normal file data storage area 23b have been searched, and the file management is performed. After the value of the use count data stored in the use count column of each management record data in the area 23a is cleared to "0" (step S61), the file management process is ended. More than,
It is an operation procedure of a file management process executed in the CPU 21 of the computer system 2.

In the file management process, the frequency of use of file data is calculated by measuring the number of times of use within a predetermined period, but the method of calculating the frequency of use is not limited to the above method. Of course, for example, a method of calculating the usage frequency based on the usage interval of the same file data may be used.

Further, in the computer system 2 of the present embodiment, as in the case of the computer system 1 in the first embodiment, file compression processing and backup file organization processing are executed as a subroutine of the file management processing. Further, when the input unit 11 gives an instruction to restore the compressed and saved file data, the file restoring process is executed. Regarding these three processes in the computer system 2 of the present embodiment, the file compression process (see FIG. 6), the backup file organization process (see FIG. 8), and the file decompression process (see FIG. 6) respectively described in the first embodiment are performed. (See FIG. 9) and description thereof will be omitted.

From the above, in the computer system 2 of the present embodiment, the setting is made by the user based on the management record data of each file data stored in the file management area 23a of the external storage unit 23. The file data having a specified usage frequency or less is searched, the file data is read from the normal file data storage area 23b and compressed, and the compressed file data is stored in the compressed file data storage area 23e. The data is deleted from the normal file data storage area 23b.

Therefore, it is possible to automatically retrieve and compress and save the file data with a frequency less than the specified usage frequency set by the user, so that the memory resources in the storage medium can be utilized more effectively and comfortably. It is possible to provide various operating environments.

Further, in the computer system 2 of the present embodiment, the file data selected and designated by the user is read out from the file data compressed and stored in the compressed file data storage area 23e of the external storage unit 23 before compression. The restored file data is stored in the normal file data save area 23b, and the file data before the restore is deleted from the compressed file data save area 23e.

Therefore, the file data selected and designated by the user can be restored to the state before compression from the file data automatically compressed and saved.

Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the first and second embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and may be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course, it can be changed to. For example,
In the first and second embodiments, when the power of the computer system is turned on, the file management process is started to automatically search for file data that is rarely used,
Although the configuration is such that the file is compressed and saved, the timing for starting this file management process is not limited to the one when the power is turned on. For example, the file management process may be started every fixed period while the computer system is operating, It may be configured to be activated when it is off.

In the first and second embodiments, the file management area, the compressed file management area, and the compressed file data storage area of the external storage unit are memory areas each having a predetermined storage capacity. However, this is not limited to the above-mentioned contents, and the above three memory areas can be used in the same manner as the normal file data storage area.
When new data is transmitted by U, the storage capacity is allocated from the unused area by the storage capacity of the transmitted data, and when unnecessary data is deleted, the storage capacity is increased. May be returned to an unused area, and by applying the present invention to a computer system having such a configuration, it becomes possible to effectively utilize the memory resource of the external storage unit.

[0117]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically retrieve and compress file data that has not been used for a predetermined period or longer, so that the memory resources in the storage medium can be used more effectively. It is possible to provide a comfortable operating environment. As a result, the usability of the file processing device can be improved.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically retrieve and compress file data having a predetermined usage frequency or less, so that the memory resources in the storage medium can be utilized more effectively. It becomes possible and can provide a comfortable operating environment. As a result, the usability of the file processing device can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the file data designated by the user can be restored to the state before compression from the automatically compressed file data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a register configuration of a work memory shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of an external storage unit in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing a memory configuration in a file management area of the external storage unit of FIG.

5 is a flowchart of a file management process executed by the CPU of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a file compression process executed as a subroutine of the file management process of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation during the file compression processing of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a backup file organization process executed as a subroutine of the file compression process of FIG.

9 is a flowchart of a file restoration process executed by the CPU of FIG.

10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation at the time of the file restoration process of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block configuration diagram of a computer system according to the second embodiment.

12 is a diagram showing a register configuration of the work memory of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing a memory configuration in a file management area of the external storage unit of FIG.

14 is a flowchart of a file management process executed by the CPU of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer system 2 Computer system 11 Input section 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 CPU 15 Display section 16 Work memory 16a Current date and time register 16b Update date register 16c Regular period register 17 External storage section 17a File management area 17b Normal file data storage area 17c Unused Area 17d Compressed file management area 17e Compressed file data storage area 18 Bus 21 CPU 22 Work memory 22a Current date / time register 22b Update date register 22c Inspection date / time register 22d Regular period register 22e Regular count register 23 External storage 23a File management area 23b Regular file Data storage area 23c Unused area 23d Compressed file management area 23e Compressed file data storage area

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing file data, and a file data stored in the storage unit is searched for file data that has not been used for a preset period of time, and the searched file data is retrieved. A file processing device comprising: a data compression unit that reads out from the storage unit and compresses the file data. 2. A storage means for storing file data, and a file data stored in the storage means is searched for file data having a preset use frequency or less, and the searched file data is stored in the storage means. A file processing device comprising: a data compression unit that reads the file data and compresses the file data. 3. A restore file designating unit for designating file data to be restored, and a data restoring unit for restoring the file data designated by the restore file designating unit to a state before compression. The file processing device according to claim 1 or 2.