JPH11353248A - Method and system for file transmission and storage medium stored with file transmission program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten the load on a server computer, to shorten the process time of the server computer, and to speedily refer to information by minimizing file transmission preprocesses and postprocesses when plural files are necessary at a single reference request from a client computer. SOLUTION: The server computer previously groups files by each file group which is possibly requested to be sent successively among file groups to be sent to the client computer and holds group information as management information; when the client computer issues a request to send one file for information reference, file groups pertaining to the same group with the file requested to be sent are extracted by referring to the management information and sent to the client computer, which divides the extracted group into plural file groups according to the file received from the server computer, stores them in a storage means, and accesses the file groups stored in the storage means when referring to the information thereafter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file transmission method and system, and a storage medium storing a file transmission program, and more particularly to a computer which issues a request on an information communication network and uses a service, and a service for the computer. Transmission method for transmitting a file from a server computer to a client computer when a plurality of files are required in one request from the client computer in a client computer / server computer system including a server computer providing the server And a storage medium storing a system and a file transmission program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art WWW (World Wide) on the Internet
Taking a Web) system as an example, in a server computer that provides information, information is stored in the auxiliary storage device as one small-capacity file for each information type such as text, image, and sound. When the client computer wants to refer to the stored information, the server computer uses an application called a browser to fetch the information from the server computer via the communication network into its own computer and display (refer to) the information.

[0003] Information displayed (referenced) using this browser is generally called a home page, and one screen (page) describes H indicating the contents of the screen.
It is generally constructed based on a plurality of files such as a TML file (HTML / 2.0 is defined in RFC1866) and its constituent image files and other related HTML files. . Therefore, when a request for displaying one screen is made, a plurality of files constituting the screen are obtained from the server computer.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between one screen of a homepage, an HTML file, and an image file as a component. In the figure, "sports.h" described in the HTML format on the left
The tml "file describes the homepage structure displayed as shown on the right. For details, see sports.htm
l "<IMG SRC =" sp01.gif ">" of the content described in the file is the image file "sp01.gi
"f" is a component of the screen, indicating that an image is displayed below the title display of "<< sports information >>".
The "gif format" is an image file format developed by BBS "compServe" in the United States. Most browsers support this format, and have become the standard image data format used on homepages. .・ Similarly, "<IMG SRC =" sp02.gif ">" is also an image file "sp0
2.gif "is a component of the screen, and is displayed below" sp01.gif ".

[0005] As described above, in the client computer, when one screen of the homepage "<Sports information""shown on the right side of the figure is considered as a unit of the request, the server computer sends the HT
The ML file (sports.html) and its constituent files (sp01.gif, sp02.gif) are obtained. So far, only the relationship between the HTML file and the display screen has been described.

Next, a brief description will be given of how the transition of the display screen is performed. An HTML file has a sentence data structure called a hypertext. Specifically, if you want to get more detailed information about a topic from the displayed screen, select a word (or image) on the display screen and a new screen (HTML file and its related files) will be displayed on the server computer. It is a mechanism to acquire and display more.

FIG. 9 shows an HT using hypertext.
It is an example of a display screen in an ML file and a homepage, and shows an example of file transmission in hypertext composed of a plurality of screens. In the figure, “sports.html
"<IMG SRC =" sp01.gif ">" and "<IMG SRC =" sp02.gi "
f ">" indicates that the image files "sp01.gif" and "sp02.gif" are acquired from the server computer and displayed.・ "<A HREF="baseball.html">" baseball information </A>"is ba
Indicates that it is linked to the seball.html file.

[0008] Specifically, " baseball information " is selected from the display screen "<< Sports information >>" in the upper right figure (reference request).
Then, get the linked baseball.html file (middle left figure) from the server computer, read the contents,
The image files “bs01.gif” and “bs02.gif”, which are the constituent elements, are also obtained successively, and “<< baseball information >>” is displayed (middle right figure).・ Similarly, “ Tigers ” is displayed on the “ < Baseball information>” display screen.
If you select " Information " (request for reference), the linked ti
The gers.html file (lower left figure) is acquired from the server computer, the contents are read, and the image file "tg0" which is a component
1.gif "and" tg02.gif "are also obtained, and" Tigers information "is displayed (lower right figure).

[0009] Considering such a transmission request for a series of related screen groups, the number of files for one request is further increased. In the system as described above, a conventional technique in a method of transmitting a file from a server computer to a client computer when a plurality of files are required in one reference request from a client computer will be described below.

[0010] In the server computer and the client computer, information is stored as one small-capacity file for information types such as text information, image information, and audio information. When the client computer takes in the information stored on the server computer via the communication network and the client computer takes in the information stored on the server computer via the communication network into its own computer, a transmission request is issued. And reception are sequentially performed for each file stored for each information type. In the following description, file transmission and reception between a client computer and a server computer will be specifically described taking a WWW system as an example.

When a home page is displayed by using the above-described browser, the exchange of files between the client computer and the server computer is performed by HTTP (HyperText Trans).
portProtocol: HTTP / 01 is specified in RFC1945 and is widely used as INTERNET-DRAFT published by INTERNET-SOCIETY). FIG.
4 shows a sequence of processing between a conventional client computer and a server computer. This figure shows processing between the client computer and the server computer when the homepage shown in FIG. 9 is referred to in the order of sports information, baseball information, and tigers information.

In FIG. 10, the client computer selects (requests reference to) sports information from an arbitrary home page (with a link to sports.html) displayed on a browser. HTTP is the HTML file "sports.html" which is the starting point for displaying the selected "<< Sports Information >>"
Is issued to the server computer, which is a method (instruction) for obtaining a file in HTTP, in order to obtain the file from the server computer. The server computer receives the request and sends the requested file "sports.html" to the client computer. After receiving it, the client computer (HTTP) reads "sports.html" and similarly issues "GET" to the server computer in order to obtain the image file "sp01.gif" as a component. The server computer received it and requested "sp01.gi
f "to the client computer. After receiving the same, the client computer similarly issues" GET "to the server computer to obtain the image file" sp02.gif "as a component. Receives the request, and transmits the requested image file "sp02.gif" to the client computer.The client computer has received all the files constituting one screen, and displays "<< Sports information >>". Since then, "<baseball information>", "<tigers information>"
Performs the same processing as.

As described above, conventionally, when a client computer fetches information stored on a server computer into its own computer via a communication network, transmission requests and receptions are all performed for each file stored for each information type. Are sequentially performed.

[0014]

However, in the above-described processing of the conventional server computer, the following processing occurs when a request for transmitting one file is received from the client computer. Request reception, generation of communication resources (for example, a UNIX socket, etc.) for file transmission, pre-transmission processing such as opening of a remote file (notifying the client computer of the transmission file name and indicating a file open instruction) ): File transmission processing: Post-transmission processing such as solution of communication resources after file transmission, closing of remote file, etc .: The above-described homepage of FIG. 9 is displayed on the client computer in the order of sports information, baseball information, and tigers information. In this case, the process shown in FIG. 11 occurs in the server computer in response to a request from the client computer.

As described above, conventionally, it is necessary to perform the above-mentioned processes (1) to (4) for each file of each information type. () Also occurs. This means that as the number of files to be transmitted increases, the processing before and after the transmission increases in proportion to the number of files, which imposes a load on the server computer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when a plurality of files are required in one reference request from a client computer, the server computer transmits a request to transmit a file as a starting point. After the reception, by minimizing the number of requests / transmissions with the client computer for subsequent processing, processing other than file transmission (pre-transmission processing / post-processing) is minimized, and the load on the server computer is reduced. By shortening the processing time on the server computer, the client computer obtains not only the requested file but also a group of files related thereto in its own computer in advance, so that subsequent information reference can be performed at high speed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible file transmission method and system, and a storage medium storing a file transmission program.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 1) provides a server computer storing text information, image information, and audio information as a file, issues a file transmission request to the server computer, obtains the file, and refers to the information. In a file transmission method in an electronic computer system composed of client computers, a file group to be transmitted to a client computer in advance is set in a server computer for each file group that may have a continuous transmission request. Grouping is performed (step 1), the group information is held as management information (step 2), and when a transmission request for one file for information reference is issued from the client computer (step 3), the management information is stored. To extract a file group belonging to the same group as the file of the transmission request (step 4).
The file is transmitted to the client computer (step 5), and the client computer separates the file into a plurality of file groups based on the file received from the server computer (step 6), stores the file group in a storage unit (step 7), and The information reference accesses the file group stored in the storage means (step 8).

According to the present invention (claim 2), in the server computer, when grouping by file group, one starting file which is a starting point of a request is determined, and there is a possibility that there is a request continuously from the starting file. Is predicted, the starting file and the predicted file are combined into one file as an archive file, and at least an archive file name and a group of combined files are held as management information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 3) provides a server computer 100 that stores text information, image information, and audio information as files,
A file transmission system in an electronic computer system including a client computer 200 that issues a file transmission request to the server computer 100, acquires the file, and refers to the information.
Is a file storage unit 110 for storing a group of files.
And a group classification unit 1 that preliminarily classifies a group of files to be transmitted to the client computer 200 into groups of files that have a high possibility of a continuous transmission request.
20; a management information storage unit 130 for holding group information as management information; and a management information storage unit 130 when a transmission request for one file for information reference is issued from the client computer 200. File extracting means 150 for extracting a file group belonging to the same group as the file requested for transmission, and file extracting means 1
The files extracted at 50 are transferred to the client computer 20
0, the client computer 200 includes a file receiving unit 220 that receives a file from the server computer 100, and a file group that is separated into a plurality of file groups based on the file received by the file receiving unit 220. A separating unit 230, a file group storing unit 240 for storing the files separated by the file group separating unit 230, and an access unit for accessing the file group stored in the file group storing unit 240 250.

According to the present invention (claim 4), in the group classification means 120, means for determining one starting file as a starting point of a request, and predicting a file having a high possibility of a continuous request from the starting file. Means, means for combining the starting file and the predicted file into one file as an archive file, and means for holding at least a group of files combined with the archive file name in the management information storage means as management information.

According to the present invention (claim 5), a server computer storing text information, image information, and audio information as a file, a file transmission request is issued to the server computer, and the file is acquired. A storage medium storing a file transmission program in an electronic computer system including a client computer that refers to information,
Among the files to be sent to the client computer in advance, which are installed in the server computer, the files are grouped into groups of file files that are likely to have a continuous transmission request, and the group information is managed as management information. The management information generation process held in the information storage means and, when a transmission request for one file for information reference is issued from the client computer, the management information storage process is referred to and the same group as the file of the transmission request is referred to. And a file group transmission process for transmitting the file group extracted by the file extraction process to the client computer.

According to the present invention (claim 6), in the group classification process, a process of determining one starting file as a starting point of a request and a process of predicting a file having a high possibility of a request continuously from the starting file. And a process of combining the starting file and the predicted file into one file as an archive file, and a process of holding at least a group of files combined with the archive file name in the management information storage unit as management information.

The present invention (claim 7) provides a server computer storing text information, image information, and audio information as a file, issues a file transmission request to the server computer, and obtains the file. A storage medium storing a file transmission program in an electronic computer system including a client computer that refers to information,
A file receiving process installed on the client computer that receives files from the server computer, a file group separating process that separates into multiple files based on the files received by the file receiving process, and a file group separating process A file group storage process for storing the file group in the file group storage means and an access process for accessing the file group stored in the file group storage process for referring to the information thereafter include a file group storage process.

Conventionally, in response to a request for transmission of a starting file for information reference from a client computer, the server computer transmits the starting file and a group of files constituting information to the client computer individually. Then, in response to the request to send the origin file, the server computer
A file group extracted in advance as having a high possibility of a continuous transmission request (including the starting file and the file group constituting the information) is made into one archive file and transmitted to the client computer. As a result, while the number of files transmitted from the server computer for information reference to the client computer is conventionally n, the present invention requires only one transmission.

[0025]

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a file transmission system according to the present invention. The file transmission system shown in FIG. 1 includes a server computer 100 and a client computer 200. The server computer 100 reads the file database 110 that stores files to be transmitted to the client computer 200, the file database 110, and the file starting file 160 that is the starting point of information reference, and files that are likely to be continuously requested to be transmitted. Grouping unit 120, which generates management information for managing as a group and stores it in a group management information file 130, a request receiving unit 140 that receives a request from the client computer 200, and a file obtained by the request receiving unit 140 The transmission request is acquired, and the file for which the file transmission was requested is stored in the group management information file 130
, A file related to the file is read from the file database 110, and is combined into one file (archive) and transferred to the file transmitting unit 160.
Archive transferred by the client computer 20
It is composed of a file transmission unit 160 that transmits the data to the file 0.

The client computer 200 includes a request issuing unit 210 for issuing a file transmission request, and the server computer 10
0, the file group receiving unit 220 that receives the archive transmitted from the file group 0, separates the received archive for each information type, classifies it into small-capacity files,
The storage unit 240 is composed of a file group classification unit 230 that stores the data in the file group storage unit 0 and an access unit 250 that references the information in the client computer to the file group storage unit 240 after the storage in the file group storage unit 240 is completed.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, a description will be given of a flow from when a series of screen groups (sports information, baseball information, tigers information) shown in FIG. 9 are acquired from a server computer from a reference request of a client computer to a file and displayed. .

First, as advance preparation, the server computer 10
On the 0 side, one file as a starting point (starting point file) is determined. In the present embodiment, the starting file 160 is defined as an HTML file “sports.ht” describing the configuration of “sports information”.
Next, when there is a transmission request from the client computer 200 to the starting file (sports.html), a file which is likely to be requested continuously after that is predicted and extracted by some means.

In this embodiment, the prediction is made by the following means. -<< Sports information >> A group of files that are components of one screen of "sports.html", ie, image files "sp01.gif", "s
p02.gif ”・“ Sports information ”From the“ sports.html ”screen,“ Baseball information
Information "is selectable (linked). Therefore,
Subsequently, it is predicted that “ baseball information ” is likely to be referred to, and when “ baseball information ” is selected, a group of files necessary to display “baseball information”, that is, an HTML file “b”
aseball.html "and the image files" bs01.gif "," bs02.gif "
Becomes

・ “ Tigers information ” can be selected (linked) from the “baseball information” “baseball.html” screen
It is. Therefore, it is predicted that “ Tigers information ” is highly likely to be referred to subsequently, and when “ Tigers information ” is selected, a group of files necessary to display “Tigers information”, that is, an HTML file “tigers. html "and the image files" tg01.gif "and" tg02.gif ".

The group classification unit 120 extracts a total of eight files as files having a high possibility of a continuous request. Next, the group classification unit 120 converts the starting file 160 and the extracted file group into the group information management file 12 as management information in a format as shown in FIG.
0 is stored. In the figure, the first parameter "spo
"rts.tar" indicates the name of the archive file to be created. From the second parameter "sports.html", the starting file and a group of files that are likely to be continuously requested are shown as one group. .

Thus, the advance preparation by the group classification unit 120 is completed. Next, a description will be given of a processing sequence between the client computer and the server computer until the information is referred to when a reference request for “sports information” is issued from the client computer 200. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart of processing after completion of advance preparation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) Client computer 2
00 notifies the server computer 100 of a transmission request for the starting file "sports.html" to refer to "<< sports information >>". Step 102) Upon receiving the transmission request, the server computer 100 sends the second parameter and subsequent parameters to determine whether the requested file “sports.html” is registered in the management information created in advance preparation. To check. If registered, the file group (same group) described after the second parameter is named "sports.tar" described in the first parameter as an archive file (this embodiment relates to the creation of an archive file). Then
It is assumed that "tar", which is a typical archive tool in a UNIX system for which X / open has a license, is used as a file) and sent to the client computer 200 only once. This processing for creating an archive file is performed only for the first request, and for a request for a file belonging to the same group from the client computer 100 once created, the archive file created for the first request is created. Is transmitted as it is (the second and subsequent archive files are not created).

Step 103) Client computer 2
00 receives an archive file sent from the server computer 100, separates the archive file into its original state, that is, a small-capacity file for each information type, and stores it in the file group storage unit 240 as an auxiliary storage device. I do. After storage, access those files and refer to "<< Sports Information >>".

Step 104) Thereafter, references to "<< baseball information >>" and "<< Tigers information >>" are displayed by accessing a file stored in the file group storage section 240. As described above, in the present invention, in response to a transmission request of a starting file from the client computer 200, the server computer 100 may have a continuous transmission request in advance (including the starting file and a group of files constituting information). The group of files extracted as high is configured as one archive file and transmitted to the client computer 200.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing that occurs in response to a request from a client computer according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
Requires only one transmission of the archive file, so the pre-transmission processing (request acceptance and resource reservation for transmission, etc.) and post-processing (resource release) need only be performed once.

In addition, the time required from the request from the client computer 200 to the information reference is reduced by the reduction in the pre-transmission processing and post-processing in the server computer 100, and the processing time is also reduced, and three homepages are displayed. The time required to store all the files necessary for this in the client computer 200 is reduced, and the file group storage unit 2
After the information is stored in the client computer 20, the information is referred to the client computer 20.
Since the file stored in the file 0 is accessed, information can be referenced at high speed.

Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration of FIG. 3, the group classification unit 120, the file group extraction unit 150, the request reception unit 140, and the file transmission unit 160 of the server computer 100 of FIG. , Request issuing unit 210 of client computer 200, file group receiving unit 22
0, the file group classification unit 230 and the access unit 250 are constructed as programs, or the respective processes of the server computer 100 and the client computer 200 shown in FIG. 5 are constructed as programs, and are connected to the server computer 100 and the client computer 200. The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium such as a disk device, a floppy disk, or a CD-ROM, and installing it when implementing the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when one request from a client computer can be a request for transmitting a plurality of continuous files in a server computer, after receiving a request for a file serving as a starting point, By minimizing the number of requests / transmissions with the client computer in the subsequent processing, processing other than file transmission (pre-transmission processing and post-transmission processing) is minimized, and the load on the server computer is reduced.
By shortening the processing time in the server computer, and in the client computer, not only the requested file but also a group of files related to the file are acquired in advance in the own computer,
Subsequent information reference can be performed at high speed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in the prior art, the starting file and the constituent files are individually transmitted, whereas in the present invention, the starting file and the file that may have a continuous transmission request (the constituent files) are transmitted. Group)
By transmitting them together, the request / transmission processing is reduced by eight times as compared with the conventional technology, whereby the load on the server computer is reduced and the processing time is also reduced. Will be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a file transmission system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a format of management information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart of processing after completion of advance preparation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing that occurs in response to a request from a client computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between one homepage screen, an HTML file, and an image file as a component.

FIG. 9 is a display screen example of an HTML file using hypertext and a homepage.

FIG. 10 is a processing sequence between a conventional client computer and a server computer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing processing that occurs in a server computer in response to a request from a conventional client computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 server computer 110 file storage means, file database 120 group classification means, group classification section 130 management information storage means, group management information file 140 request reception section 150 file group extraction section, file group extraction section 160 file group transmission section, file transmission Unit 170 starting file 200 client computer 210 request issuing unit 220 file receiving unit, file group receiving unit 230 file group separating unit, file group classifying unit 240 file group storing unit, file group storing unit 250 access unit, access unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A server computer that stores text information, image information, and audio information as a file, and a client computer that issues a file transmission request to the server computer, acquires the file, and refers to the information. In the file transmission method in the configured computer system, in the server computer, among files to be transmitted to the client computer in advance, grouping is performed for each file group that may have a continuous transmission request. Then, the group information is held as management information, and when a request for transmitting one file for information reference is issued from the client computer, the management information is referred to and the same group as the file of the transmission request is referred to. Extract a group of files belonging to the client computer and send it to the client computer. In the client computer, the file group is separated into a plurality of file groups based on the file received from the server computer and stored in the storage unit, and the subsequent information reference accesses the file group stored in the storage unit. File transmission method characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The server computer determines one starting file as a starting point of a request when grouping each file group, and determines a file having a high possibility of a continuous request from the starting file. 2. The file transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the starting file and the predicted file are combined into one file as an archive file, and at least a group of files combined with the archive file name is held as management information. 3. A server computer that stores text information, image information, and audio information as a file, and a client computer that issues a file transmission request to the server computer, acquires the file, and refers to the information. A file transmission system in an electronic computer system configured, wherein the server computer includes a file storage unit that stores a group of files, and a file group that is previously transmitted to the client computer. Group classification means for grouping each file group having a high possibility of a transmission request; management information storage means for holding group information as management information; transmission of one file for information reference from the client computer When the request is issued, the management information storage unit is referred to and the file of the transmission request is referred to. File group extracting means for extracting a file group belonging to the same group as the file group; file group transmitting means for transmitting the file group extracted by the file extracting means to the client computer; and Receiving file, a file group separating unit that separates a plurality of files based on the file received by the file receiving unit, and a file group that stores the file group separated by the file group separating unit. A file transmission system, comprising: storage means; and access means for accessing the file group stored in the file group storage means, for subsequent information reference. 4. The group classification means, means for determining one starting file as a starting point of a request, means for predicting a file having a high possibility of a continuous request from the starting file, 4. The file transmission according to claim 3, further comprising: means for collecting the predicted files into one file as an archive file; and means for holding at least the group of files combined with the archive file name in the management information storage means as management information. system. 5. A server computer that stores text information, image information, and audio information as a file, and a client computer that issues a file transmission request to the server computer, acquires the file, and refers to the information. A storage medium storing a file transmission program in a configured computer system, wherein a transmission request is continuously transmitted in a file group to be transmitted to the client computer in advance, which is mounted on the server computer. A management information generating process for grouping each file group having a high possibility and holding the group information as management information in a management information storage unit, and a request for transmission of one file for information reference from the client computer Is issued, the management information storage process is referred to and the file of the transmission request is referred to. A file group extraction process for extracting a file group belonging to the same group as the file, and a file group transmission process for transmitting the file group extracted in the file extraction process to the client computer. The storage medium in which it was stored. 6. The group classification process, a process of determining one starting file as a starting point of a request, a process of predicting a file having a high possibility of a continuous request from the starting file, 6. The file transmission according to claim 5, further comprising: a process of combining predicted files into one file as an archive file; and a process of storing at least the group of files combined with the archive file name in the management information storage unit as management information. A storage medium that stores programs. 7. A server computer that stores text information, image information, and audio information as a file, and a client computer that issues a file transmission request to the server computer, acquires the file, and refers to the information. A storage medium storing a file transmission program in the configured computer system, wherein the file reception process is to be mounted on the client computer and receives a file from the server computer, and based on the file received in the file reception process. A file group separation process of separating the plurality of files into a plurality of file groups, a file group storage process of storing the files separated by the file group separation process in file group storage means, The files stored in the storage process Storage medium storing a file transmission program and having an access process to access.