JPH11143761A - Information processor, its control method and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly extract link data by providing an analyzing means which analyzes the link address of the link data and a deciding means that decides whether or not the link data is read based on decision result of the analyzing means. SOLUTION: A data analyzing part 106 shows data on a display device 101 by analyzing data read from an external storage device 105 and transferring it as display data to a data displaying part 107. On the other hand, when link data is included in data that is currently shown in parallel with it, a link destination analyzing part 108 analyzes the link address. A data look-ahead selecting part 109 refers to a link data look-ahead decision table 109a based on the analytical data and decides whether or not the link data be performed look-ahead. As the result of decision, in the case of performing look-ahead, a data look- ahead indicator 110 performs look-ahead of the link data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for reading data from an external storage device locally or distributed on a network and displaying the contents, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, World Wide, an information retrieval service widely used in the Internet, has been developed.
The Web (hereinafter, referred to as WWW) is a system in which various media data such as documents, images, sounds, and the like are hyperlinked between WWW servers distributed in the Internet. Internet users can freely retrieve such data using a client program called a WWW browser. These WWW browsers use a graphical user interface (GU).
I) is provided, and the user can retrieve and display the address of the target data by inputting it from a keyboard or the like. In addition, a character string, an icon, or the like indicating a hyperlink included in the data being displayed is instructed from a keyboard or clicked with a mouse to retrieve and display other linked data (hereinafter, referred to as link data). You can do it.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, a character string or an icon indicating a hyperlink included in the data being displayed is instructed from a keyboard.
Alternatively, the retrieval of other link data is started when the mouse is clicked. Therefore, it takes time to retrieve the data distributed to servers around the world via the network, and the data capacity is large. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an information processing system that handles hyperlinked data, an information processing apparatus, a control method therefor, and a computer readable method capable of quickly extracting link data. It is intended to provide memory.

[0005]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, an information processing apparatus which reads data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displays the content thereof, and in the case where the data includes link data, analyzing means for analyzing a link address of the link data. And determining means for determining whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analyzing means.

Preferably, the determination means determines whether or not to read the link data by referring to information indicating a country name included in a link address of the link data.

Preferably, the determination means determines whether to read the link data by referring to information indicating a data type included in a link address of the link data.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises setting means for setting whether to read the link data based on a link address of the link data.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises reading means for reading the link data into a buffer based on a result of the judgment by the judging means, wherein the reading means reads the link data contained in the data. The reading of the link data is started before the flag instructing to read the link data included in the command is designated.

Preferably, when the flag is instructed, link data corresponding to the flag is read from the buffer and displayed.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a stopping means for stopping reading of the link data.

Preferably, the stopping means stops reading the link data when the input device instructs to stop reading the link data.

Preferably, the stopping means stops reading the link data when an input device instructs to display data different from the currently displayed data. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a method of controlling an information processing apparatus that reads data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displays the content thereof, wherein when the data includes link data, the link address of the link data is analyzed. And a determining step of determining whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analyzing step.

A computer-readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling an information processing device for reading data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displaying the content, wherein the data includes link data; A program code for an analysis step of analyzing a link address of link data; and a program code for a determination step of determining whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analysis step.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a display device constituted by a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, which displays read data. An input device 102 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and inputs an address of data to be read, and instructs to read link data of a link destination. A data address resolution unit 103 analyzes the address of the read data input from the input device 102. A data reading completion determination unit 104 determines whether the data analyzed by the data address analysis unit 103 has been read. And, as a result of the determination,
If the data has not been read yet, the relevant data is passed to the data analysis unit 106 from the external storage device 105 distributed locally or on a network. On the other hand, if the data has already been read, the corresponding data is extracted from the data prefetch buffer 111 and passed to the data analysis unit 106.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an external storage device for storing data, which is configured locally or distributed on a network. Reference numeral 106 denotes a data analysis unit, and the external storage device 105
Analyze the data read from. A data display unit 107 controls the display of the data analyzed by the data analysis unit 106 on the display device 101. 108 is a link destination analysis unit that analyzes the link address of the link data of the data currently displayed on the display device 101,
The analysis result is passed to the data prefetch selection unit 109.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a data prefetch selection unit, which refers to a link data prefetch determination table 109a, which will be described later, based on the analysis result passed from the link destination analysis unit 108, and determines whether to prefetch the link destination link data. Judge. Here, the pre-reading means reading the link data into a data pre-reading buffer 111 (described later) in advance before the display of the link data is instructed by the user.
Then, in the case of pre-reading, it instructs the data pre-reading instruction unit 110 to pre-read the data. The link data prefetch determination table 109a is a table storing information indicating whether to prefetch link data based on a link address, and this setting is performed by the user from the input device 101. Reference numeral 110 denotes a data prefetch instruction unit which reads data from the external storage device 105 and stores it in the data prefetch buffer 111, and sets information of the read data in the data read completion determination unit 104.

A data prefetch buffer 111 stores data read by the data prefetch instruction unit 110. Reference numeral 112 denotes a data pre-reading stop unit, for example, when the input device 102 instructs to stop pre-reading of data during pre-reading of data, or when instructed to read data different from the data currently being displayed. Then, the data prefetch instruction unit 110 is instructed to stop the data prefetch.

The actual data processing in the link destination analysis unit 108, the data prefetch selection unit 109, the data prefetch instruction unit 110, and the data prefetch stop unit 111 is performed by the data address analysis unit 103, the data read completion determination unit 10
4. It is preferable to configure the external storage device 105, the data analysis unit 106, and the data display unit 107 to perform parallel processing as a process or a thread different from the actual data processing in order to increase processing efficiency.

Next, an outline of the operation of the information processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a data address is input from the input device 102, the data address analysis unit 103 analyzes the data address, and the data read completion determination unit 104 determines whether the data has already been read. If the data has not been read yet, the corresponding data is read from the external storage device 105 and passed to the data analysis unit 106. on the other hand,
If the data has already been read, the data is retrieved from the data prefetch buffer 111 and passed to the data analysis unit 106.

The data analysis unit 106 is provided in the external storage device 10
The data read from 5 is analyzed and passed to the data display unit 107 as display data, so that the data is displayed on the display device 101. On the other hand, in parallel with this, if the data currently being displayed includes link data, the link destination analysis unit 1
08 analyzes the link address. Then, the data prefetch selection unit 109 refers to the link data prefetch determination table 109a based on the analysis result, and determines whether to prefetch the link data. As a result of the determination, when prefetching, the data prefetch instruction unit 110 prefetches the link data. Here, the pre-read link data is stored in the data pre-read buffer 111, and the information of the read link data is set in the data read completion determining unit 104. When the input device 102 instructs to stop the prefetching of the link data during the prefetching of the link data or instructs to read the link data different from the link data currently displayed, the data prefetching is performed. The stop unit 112 instructs the data prefetch instruction unit 110 to stop prefetching the link data.

Next, a specific example of processing executed by the link destination analysis unit 108 and the data prefetch selection unit 109 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the processing executed by the link destination analysis unit and the data prefetch selection unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, how the link destination analysis unit 108 analyzes the link address of the link data of the data being displayed and whether the data prefetch selection unit 109 prefetches the link data is determined. How to make a determination will be described.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a screen display example of a data display program for displaying data according to the present invention. Here, a case where the data being displayed includes link data is shown. Reference numeral 202 denotes an example of a link data prefetch determination table 109a in which information indicating whether to prefetch each country is set. Here, it is set so that link data having a link address whose country name is Japan is read ahead.

In the above configuration, when the link point (the character string of “this is” in 201) displayed on the data display program is clicked with, for example, a mouse,
The link destination analyzing unit analyzes the link address. If the link address is http://www.aaa.co.jp/i in Example 1)
In the case of ndex.html, the country is determined to be Japan from the address “jp”, and the link data prefetch determination table 2
From 02, it is determined that this link data is prefetched. The link address is http: //www.bbb.c in Example 2)
In the case of om / index.html, the country is determined to be the United States from the address “com”, and it is determined from the link data prefetch determination table 202 that this link data is not prefetched. Similarly, if the link address is http: / in Example 3)
In the case of /www.ccc.uk/index.html, the country is determined to be the United Kingdom from the address “uk”, and it is determined from the link data prefetch determination table 202 that the link data is not prefetched.

Next, processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the program of the information processing apparatus is started, the processing is started and waits for an input from the input device 102 such as a keyboard or a mouse (step S10).
1). If there is an input from the input device 102, it is determined whether the input is a data address (step S).
102). If the input is a data address (YES in step S102), the process proceeds to step S104, where the data address analysis unit 103 analyzes the data address. On the other hand, if the input is not a data address (step S10
2 is NO), it is determined whether or not the input is an instruction to read link data (step S103). If the input is an instruction to read link data (YE in step S103)
S), and proceed to step S105. On the other hand, if the input is not a link data reading instruction (N in step S103)
O), and return to step S101.

If it is determined in step S103 that the input is an instruction to read link data,
When the process from 104 has been completed, the data read completion determining unit 104 determines whether or not the data at the analyzed data address has already been read (step S105).
If the data has not been read (NO in step S105), the process proceeds to step S106, and the external storage device 105
Read the corresponding data from. On the other hand, step S10
In step 5, if the data has been read (YES in step S105), the flow advances to step S109 to retrieve the corresponding data from the data prefetch buffer 111.

Next, the read data is passed to the data analysis unit 106 for analysis. The read data is passed to the data analysis unit 106, and the contents are analyzed (step S107). The analyzed data is passed to the data display unit 107 as display data, and the data display unit 107 displays the data on the display device 101 (step S10).
8). When the data display is completed, step S1 is performed again.
Return to 01.

On the other hand, if the data currently being displayed includes link data in step S108, the link destination analyzing unit 108 analyzes the link address (step S110). Then, the analysis result is passed to the data prefetch selection unit 109. The data prefetch selection unit 109
Based on the analyzed link address, it refers to the link data prefetch determination table 109a and determines whether or not to prefetch the link data (step S111).
If prefetching is not to be performed (NO in step S111), the process returns to step S101. On the other hand, when prefetching (step S
If YES at step S111, the process proceeds to step S112, where the data prefetch instruction unit 110 prefetches data from the external storage device 105 (step S112).

Next, the prefetched data is stored in the data prefetch buffer 111 (step S113). Next, information that the data has been read is registered in the data read completion determining unit 104 (step 114). here,
It is determined whether there is an instruction to end the program (step S115). When there is a termination instruction (step S1
(YES at 5), and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no end instruction (NO in step S115), step S101
Return to

As described above, according to the first embodiment, information indicating whether or not to prefetch link data is set in advance in the link data prefetch determination table 109a according to the link address of the link data. For example, it is possible to control so that link data from a distant place such as a foreign country is not prefetched. As a result, the load on the system in data transfer on the network can be reduced, and the traffic of data flowing on the network can be reduced.

The link destination of the link data included in the data is analyzed by utilizing the time during which the user is reading the data being displayed, and if necessary, the link data is prefetched and stored in the data prefetch buffer 111. Is performed in the background. Thereby, even when the input device 102 is instructed to take out the link data, the link data can be displayed quickly.

It is determined whether the data specified from the input device 102 has been read. If the data has not been read yet, the data is taken out from the external storage device 105. The data is passed to the unit 106. As a result, unnecessary reading of data from the external storage device 105 can be prevented, and data can be displayed quickly.

Further, by providing the link destination analyzing unit 108 which analyzes the link address of the link data and can pass the information to the data look-ahead selecting unit 109, it is possible to quickly determine the link address of the link data. it can.

Also, based on the information passed from the link destination analyzing unit 108, it is determined whether or not to prefetch the link data, and in the case of prefetching, a data prefetch selection instruction can be given to instruct to prefetch the link data. Section 109 is provided. As a result, it is possible to reduce the load on the system and the traffic of data flowing on the network, which are caused by unnecessary prefetching of the link data and a long time for the reading. Further, the present invention provides a data prefetch instruction unit 110 that can read data from the external storage device 105 and store the data in the data prefetch buffer 111, and can set information of the read data in the data read completion determination unit 104. As a result, a quick display process of the data stored in the data prefetch buffer 111 can be realized.

Also, when an instruction to stop the prefetching of the link data during the prefetching of the link data or an instruction to read the link data different from the link data currently being displayed is made, the link data is read. The present invention provides a data prefetch stop unit 112 that can instruct to stop prefetching of data. As a result, it is possible to release the system and network resources required for the reading process, and to immediately start another process.

(Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, the link destination analysis unit 108 analyzes the link address of the data being displayed to the link data, and the data prefetch selection unit 109 determines whether or not to prefetch the link data. It was an example of the case. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the link destination analyzing unit 108 analyzes not only the link address but also the data type of the link data. Accordingly, the data prefetch selection unit 109 can determine whether to prefetch according to the data type as well as the link address of the link data.

Hereinafter, a specific example of processing executed by the link destination analysis unit 108 and the data prefetch selection unit 109 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of the processing executed by the link destination analysis unit and the data prefetch selection unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, how the link destination analysis unit 108 analyzes the data type of the link data of the data being displayed, and whether the data prefetch selection unit 109 prefetches the link data or not. How to make a determination will be described.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 301 denotes a screen display example of a data display program for displaying data according to the present invention. Here, a case where the data being displayed includes link data is shown. Reference numeral 302 denotes an example of a link data prefetch determination table 109a in which information indicating whether to prefetch for each data type is set. Here, it is set so that link data having a link address whose data type is text is prefetched.

In the above configuration, when a link point (a character string of “this” in 301) displayed on the data display program is clicked with, for example, a mouse,
The link destination analyzing unit 108 analyzes the linked data type. If the data type is http: //www.ab in Example 1)
In the case of c.co.jp/xyz.html, the data type is determined to be text from the data name “html”, and the link data prefetch determination table 302 determines that the link data is prefetched. Also, the data type is htt in Example 2)
In the case of p: //www.abc.co.jp/xyz.jpeg, the data name "jp"
eg ", the data type is determined to be image data, and from the link data prefetch determination table 302, it is determined that the link data is not prefetched. Similarly, the data type is http://www.abc of Example 3). In the case of .co.jp / xyz.au, the data type is determined to be voice data from the data name “au”, and the link data prefetch determination table 30
From 2, it is determined that this link data is not prefetched.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, information indicating whether or not to prefetch link data is set in advance in the link data prefetch determination table 109a according to the link address of the link data. For example, it is possible to control not to prefetch data such as audio data that requires a long time to read. As a result, the load on the system in data transfer on the network can be reduced, and the traffic of data flowing on the network can be reduced.

Further, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, a link destination analyzing unit 108 that can analyze the data type and the like of link data and pass the information to the data prefetch selecting unit 110 is provided. Thereby, the data type of the link data can be quickly determined.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) Etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an information processing system that handles hyperlinked data, it is possible to quickly extract link data and provide an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0058]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing a specific example of processing executed by a link destination analysis unit and a data prefetch selection unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of processing executed by a link destination analysis unit and a data prefetch selection unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 display device 102 input device 103 data address analysis unit 104 data read completion determination unit 105 external storage device 106 data analysis unit 107 data display unit 108 link destination analysis unit 109 data prefetch selection unit 109a link data prefetch determination table 110 data prefetch instruction unit 111 Data prefetch buffer 112 Data prefetch stop unit

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for reading data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displaying the contents thereof, wherein when the data includes link data, the link address of the link data is analyzed. An information processing apparatus, comprising: an analyzing unit that performs the analysis; and a determining unit that determines whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analyzing unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether to read the link data by referring to information indicating a country name included in a link address of the link data. Information processing device. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether to read the link data by referring to information indicating a data type included in a link address of the link data. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting whether to read the link data based on a link address of the link data. 5. A reading means for reading the link data into a buffer based on a result of the determination by the determining means, wherein the reading means is included in the data when reading the link data included in the data. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reading of the link data is started before a flag instructing to read the link data is instructed. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the flag is designated, link data corresponding to the flag is read from the buffer and displayed. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stop unit for stopping reading of the link data. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stopping means stops reading of said link data when instructed to stop reading of said link data from an input device. 9. The stopping means, when instructed by the input device to display data different from the currently displayed data,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein reading of the link data is stopped. 10. A control method for an information processing apparatus for reading data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displaying the content, wherein when the data includes link data, a link of the link data is used. A control method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: an analysis step of analyzing an address; and a determination step of determining whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analysis step. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the determining step determines whether or not to read the link data by referring to information indicating a country name included in a link address of the link data. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the determining step determines whether to read the link data by referring to information indicating a data type included in a link address of the link data. The control method of the information processing apparatus described in the above. 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a setting step of setting whether to read the link data based on a link address of the link data.
The control method for an information processing device according to claim 1. 14. Based on the determination result of the determination step,
The method further comprises a reading step of reading the link data into a buffer, wherein the reading step includes, when reading link data included in the data, before a flag instructing reading of the link data included in the data is indicated. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reading of the link data is started. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein when the flag is instructed, link data corresponding to the flag is read from the buffer and displayed. 16. The control method according to claim 10, further comprising a stop step of stopping reading of the link data. 17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein, in the stopping step, when reading of the link data is instructed from an input device, reading of the link data is stopped. Control method. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in the stopping step, reading of the link data is stopped when an instruction to display data different from the currently displayed data is given from an input device. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus. 19. A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling an information processing device for reading data from an external storage device distributed locally or on a network and displaying the content, wherein link data is included in the data. If included, a program code for an analysis step of analyzing a link address of the link data, and a program code for a determination step of determining whether to read the link data based on an analysis result of the analysis step are provided. A computer readable memory characterized by the following.