Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
  • G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/27—Server based end-user applications
  • H04N21/278—Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a multimedia information device network system, and more particularly, to easily share and use files held by multimedia information devices connected to a home network or the like.
• the present invention relates to a multimedia information equipment network system provided with a file management means.
• Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose examples of a system for sharing a file among a plurality of information devices connected via a network.
• each information device connected to the network stores files to be shared separately by each information device so that they are always synchronized.
• file synchronization refers to matching the contents of files separately stored by different information devices. Therefore, in these systems, the same file is stored in multiple information devices and there is no difference between them. Therefore, some information devices Even if a file is damaged, the file stored on another information device can be used to play the damaged file. In other words, the file sharing methods described in these documents are extremely reliable.
• Patent Document 2 assumes that the applicable network is a home network. In a home network, the power of connected information devices may be turned on or off at any time. If a shared file is updated on another information device while power is being turned off when one information device is turned off, the files stored in the information device that is turned off must be synchronized. Can not. As a result, a synchronization shift occurs between the shared files of the information devices. Patent Literature 2 discloses a method for correcting the synchronization deviation.
• Another example of centrally managing files among a plurality of information devices connected via a network is a method using a server.
• the server here is a computer that specializes in managing shared files. That is, the server stores all files to be shared on the network. Therefore, unlike the examples described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, there is no need to store the same file separately between the information devices nor to synchronize the files. Therefore, the storage capacity of the storage device as a whole system does not increase, and the load on the network due to the file synchronization does not occur.
• Patent Document 1 JP2000_222268 A (see paragraph numbers 0015 0041, FIGS. 1 and 3)
• Patent Document 2 JP2002-158673 A (see paragraph numbers 0012 0022, FIGS. 1 and 2)
• a multimedia information device connected to a home network can use a file held by each device mutually, and a system capable of centrally managing the files has been developed using a low-cost network. It is one aspect of the present invention to realize the present invention by means that does not impose a burden on the user.
• the exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned problems and other problems not described herein, while the present invention overcomes the above-described problems. It is to be understood that exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, which do not have to do so, may not overcome the problems described above.
• the unified directory list is a list of the names, sizes, storage locations, and other file attributes of each file held by each multimedia information device connected to the network. is there.
• the division of roles between the master multimedia information device and the slave multimedia information device is provided so that the unlisted list can be centrally managed under the control of the master multimedia information device. .
• a multimedia information device includes a master multimedia information device connected to one or more slave multimedia information devices via a network. (1) means for searching for a file stored in its own storage means to create its own directory list; and (2) storage means for the slave multimedia information apparatus.
• Such a multimedia information device can be realized as a file management program (program product) characterized by causing a processor of the multimedia information device to function as the means of (1) to (4). .
• the master multimedia information device can collect the directory list of the slave multimedia information device including the conventional multimedia information device. You can create an integrated directory list as Therefore, the master multimedia information device can be managed by centrally managing the files of the entire network, and can enjoy various conveniences provided by the means for searching and displaying the integrated directory list. become.
• the multimedia information device may further include (5) means for distributing the integrated directory list to the slave multimedia information device via a network. Therefore, the multimedia information device according to the present invention is realized as a file management program (program product) characterized by causing its processor to function as means (5) in addition to means (1) to (4). can do.
• a file management program program product
• the master multimedia information device can distribute the integrated directory list to the slave multimedia information device, whereby the slave multimedia information device can be delivered. Will be able to enjoy the various conveniences associated with integrated directory listings.
• a multimedia information device as another aspect of the present invention is a slave multimedia information device connected to the above-described multimedia information device via a network. Searches for stored files and restores own directory And (7) means for distributing the out-of-delay list to the master multimedia information device via the network.
• Such a slave multimedia information device can be realized as a file management program (program product) characterized by causing its processor to function as the means of (6) and (7).
• the slave multimedia information device can immediately distribute the out-of-directory directory when the master multimedia information device receives a directory list distribution request.
• the slave multimedia information device may further include (8) means for searching and displaying an integrated directory list distributed via the network of the master multimedia information device. Les ,. Therefore, a slave multimedia information device according to the present invention provides a file management program (program) that causes its processor to function as means (8) in addition to means (6) and (7). Product).
• program program
• the slave multimedia information device can enjoy various conveniences associated with the integrated directory list.
• the search condition of the means for searching and displaying a list outside the integrated directory is entered from an input field displayed on the screen. Also, as specified by the input data.
• the user of the multimedia information device can freely input a search condition, thereby improving the convenience of utilizing the integrated directory list.
• the search condition of the integrated directory list is specified by the data stored in the storage means. It may be something.
• the search conditions can be changed each time the user input. Even if you do not enter the search result, the search result based on the stored search condition is displayed as an integrated directory list. For example, in an MP3 player, Even if no search conditions are specified, only files recorded in MP3 format can be displayed. This further improves the convenience of the integrated directory list.
• a multimedia information device network system as still another aspect of the present invention is a multimedia information device network in which one or more slave multimedia information devices and one master multimedia information device are connected by a network.
• the master multimedia information device is composed of (1) a device that searches for a file stored in its own storage device and creates its own directory list, and (2) a slave multimedia information device.
• Means for distributing to the slave multimedia information device, and (5) means for searching and displaying the integrated directory list For example, and,
• At least one multimedia information device among the one or more slave multimedia information devices searches for a file stored in its own storage means and creates its own directory list.
• At least one multimedia information device among the one or more slave multimedia information devices and the master multimedia information device synchronize and hold (9) the non-integrated directory list.
• the master multimedia information device and at least one or more slave multimedia information devices each have a synchronized integrated directory list, so that Search all files freely 'Table This enables centralized management of available files.
• a file management method as still another aspect of the present invention is a file management method in the multimedia information device network system, wherein (a) a change is made to a non-delay list of the master multimedia information device. When it occurs, the master multimedia information device updates the integrated directory list based on a change in its own directory list; and (b) one of the one or more slave multimedia information devices. When a change occurs in the directory list of the slave multimedia information device, the multimedia information device of the slave notifies the master multimedia information device of the change in the directory list, and the master multimedia information device changes the directory list.
• the media information device is the directory of the multimedia information device of the slave.
• the new multimedia information device is the multimedia information device.
• the new multimedia information device notifies the master multimedia information device that it is newly connected, and (e) the master multimedia information device is notified based on the notification.
• the information device collects the directory list of the new multimedia information device and fills out the list of the master multimedia device and the list of the new multimedia information device.
• a master multimedia information device having a high master suitability is always selected as the master multimedia information device in the multimedia information device network system. This improves the file management performance of the multimedia information equipment network system as a whole.
• the file management method includes the steps (a) to (c), or (h) in addition to the steps (a) to (g).
• the master multimedia information device searches the integrated directory list to determine which multimedia information device has the next highest master aptitude. Is extracted, and the extracted multimedia information device is notified of the change of the master, and the list of its own directory is removed from the list of integrated directories, and the updated integrated directory list is updated and the extracted multimedia directory is updated. Steps of distribution to media information devices and (i) distribution of updated unlisted list Only said multimedia information device can be made and a step of starting the operation as a multi-media information devices of the master.
• the file management method includes the steps (a) to (c), the steps (a) to (g), or the steps (a) to ( In addition to step (i), (j) means for searching and displaying the integrated directory list In the step of selecting a file to be used by the cursor instruction from the file names displayed on the screen, and (k) searching the integrated directory list to determine whether there is a file identical to the selected file. (1) comparing the data transfer rate of the multimedia information device storing the same file with the selected file, if any, m) If the data transfer speed of the multimedia information device that stores the same file is faster than the data transfer speed of the multimedia information device that stores the selected file, it is used. Changing the same file to the same file.
• the file management method includes the steps (a), (c), (a), (g), and (a).
• the master multimedia information device distributes an integrated directory list to the slave multimedia information device.
• the file management method is as follows.
• the file in the mopile type multimedia information device is moved to the AC power-driven fixed type multimedia information device as soon as possible. Therefore, if the file has been moved, other multimedia information devices connected to the network at that time will not be able to connect to the network even if the mopil type multimedia information device is disconnected from the network. You can use the files you have.
• the files are stored in an integrated directory list.
• the ability to manage centrally S will be able to.
• the only file that each multimedia information device has in common is an integrated directory list, so that the required storage device capacity is greatly reduced.
• the cost of the storage device as a whole system is greatly reduced.
• the only files that need to be synchronized are the files related to the integrated directory list, the amount of file transfer associated with synchronization is greatly reduced, and the load on the network is greatly reduced.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a home network to which the present invention is applied.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file structure of a non-integrated directory list according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia information device in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which an integrated directory list is searched and the result is displayed in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example when priority search and display of an integrated directory list are performed in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship of a processing flow between a master device and a slave device when an integrated directory list is updated and synchronized in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 In an embodiment of the present invention, when a new device is connected to an operating network system and a master device is replaced with a new device, processing between the master device, the new device, and the slave device is performed. It is a figure which showed the relationship of the flow.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between processes performed between a master and a slave for master switching when an active master device leaves the network in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between processing performed between a master and a slave when an active slave device leaves the network in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 shows a processing flow when a device is powered on and the device is connected to the network in the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a search-display screen when executing the file optimum selection program according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a processing procedure of a file optimal relocation program according to the embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of a home network to which the present invention is applied.
• the network is constructed, for example, according to the IEEE802.3 standard or the IEEE1394 standard, and connected to the network are, for example, a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a PDA, a digital video recorder for recording television broadcasts, a digital video camera, and the like. Is done.
• a panel personal computer in a refrigerator or a digital camera may be connected.
• a user can operate, for example, a notebook computer to display a list of files recorded in, for example, the MPEG2 format on a display thereof. . Then, from the displayed list of files, for example, a TV drama (MPEG2 format file) held by the digital video recorder can be designated and the video can be viewed on a notebook computer.
• a TV drama MPEG2 format file
• the integrated directory list is a list of names, sizes, storage locations, and other file attributes of all files held by each multimedia information device connected to the network, as described above. In other words, it is the table of contents of the file.
• a device that is as close as possible to a computer is selected as a master multimedia information device, and the others are slave multimedia information devices.
• the desktop computer it is appropriate to use the desktop computer as the master multimedia information device.
• the multimedia information device of the media server to create and update the integrated directory list and distribute it to the multimedia information device of the slave.
• the master and slave multimedia information devices each hold the integrated directory list and synchronize them to centrally manage the files of the entire multimedia information device network system. And use it.
• multimedia information device is simply abbreviated as “device”.
• master multimedia information device is abbreviated as “master device” or simply “master”
• slave multimedia information device is abbreviated as “slave device” or simply “slave”.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file structure of the integrated directory list. Figure 2 shows the results.
• the device directory list 21 describes the attribute of each device connected to the network, and 22 is a configuration example of a field of the device directory list as a unit.
• the device directory list 22, which is the unit, contains the device name, the total storage capacity of the storage device, free storage capacity, transfer speed (read speed, write speed), device class, device status, and device type (fixed Z mobile ), Power supply type (ACZ battery), default search conditions, master device information, and other fields are provided.
• the device class indicates the suitability of the device for the present multimedia information equipment network system, that is, the suitability of the qualification as a master device.
• the device status indicates the status of the device, and indicates a status such as a running status, a stopped status (for example, when a medium is not inserted in a digital video camera or the like), a write-protected status, and the like.
• the file directory list 24 as a unit includes a file name, a file type, a file size, a location device name, a location path name, index information, a file registration date, a latest use date, a use count, and a priority. Fields such as display flags and optimized flags are provided. It is.
• the file type is a symbol indicating the recording format of the file, or a symbol designating a program to be started by the file.
• the index information is a field in which the user freely describes auxiliary information on the file. For example, it is the title of a movie, the name of a creator, or the name of a composer of a song.
• the priority display flag is a flag indicating that the file is displayed with priority
• the optimized flag is a flag indicating that the file has been moved to a device once determined to be optimum. It is.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia information device according to the present embodiment.
• This configuration is a device configuration in which the multimedia information device can be a master device and a slave device.
• the configuration of the hardware is the same as that of a personal computer, and includes a CPU and memory (not shown), and a display 44, a keyboard 45, a hard disk 46 for storing files, a DVD 47, and a network 48 as peripheral devices. It is configured to be connected.
• the directory list processing-related application programs loaded into the memory (not shown) and executed by the CPU include a self-directory list creation program 31, a self-directory list distribution program 32, a slave directory list collection program 33, an integrated There are a directory list creation program 36, an integrated directory list receiving / distributing program 34, an integrated directory list search and display program 37, a master Z slave switching control program 35, and other programs not shown. Further, a network protocol control program 42 and an input / output control program 43 are provided as a part of the ⁇ S (Operating System) program.
• ⁇ S Operating System
• the self-directory list creation program 31 is adapted to share files stored in a storage device (the hard disk 46 and the DVD 47 in FIG. 3) connected to the own device as an appropriate system. Searches for files, creates a directory list of the extracted files, and uses them as self-directory list files 38. To be stored.
• files suitable for being shared as a system are generally multimedia data such as music data, still photo data, and moving image data. Further, document data containing such data may be used. Such multimedia data is extracted by determining the so-called extension of the file and the recording format of the file.
• the self-directory list file 38 is created by the self-directory list creation program 31, it is not necessary to execute the above-described search processing each time. Instead, change the self-directory list file 38 only when files appropriate for sharing as a system are changed or deleted.
• the self-directory list creating program 31 starts the integrated directory list creating program 36, and the self-directory list file 38 is If it is a device, start the self-directory list distribution program 32 and terminate.
• the self-directory list distribution program 32 is a program that operates when the device is a slave device.
• the self-directory list distribution program 32 is started when the self-directory list creation program 31 creates or changes the self-directory list file 38, notifies the master device of the change, and notifies the master device of the self-directory list file. Distribute file 38. Note that this distribution may be a so-called difference file distribution.
• the slave directory list collection program 33 is a program for collecting a directory list of a slave device, and is a program that operates only when the device is a master device. There are two methods for collecting the directory list of the slave device. Therefore, the slave directory list collection program 33 is composed of two program parts.
• One is a program that is processed when the slave device has the self-directory list creation program 31 and the self-directory list distribution program 32.
• the slave device when the self directory list is created or changed in the slave, the slave device notifies the slave directory list to that effect.
• Slave directory list collection pro Gram 33 is activated by the notification, receives the distribution of the slave's self directory list, and creates a slave directory list # 1 # n # 391 39 ⁇ based on the distributed slave's self directory list (see Fig. 2). Then, the integrated directory list creation program 36 is started.
• the distribution performed when the self-directory list is changed may be a distribution of a so-called difference file.
• the other one is a program that is processed when the slave device does not have the self-directory list creation program 31 and the self-directory list distribution program 32.
• the slave directory list collection program 33 is started every predetermined time. Each time, the creation or modification of the file is checked by accessing the storage device of the slave device, and if created or modified, the slave directory list # 11 is created based on the information of the accessed file. Create or change the # ⁇ file 391—39 ⁇ (see Fig. 2) and start the integrated directory list creation program 36.
• the integrated directory list creation program 36 is a program that operates only when the device is a master device, and is started by the self directory list creation program 31 or the slave directory list collection program 33. Based on the self-directory list file 38 or slave directory list # 1 # ⁇ (391-39 ⁇ ) (see Figure 2) created or modified by those programs, an integrated directory list 41 is created or updated. Start the integrated directory list search and display program 37.
• the operation of the integrated directory list receiving and delivering program 34 differs depending on whether the device is a master device or a slave device. If the device is a master device, the integrated directory list receiving / distributing program 34 is activated by the integrated directory list creating program 36, and notifies that the integrated directory list 41 created or updated is distributed to the slave device. And deliver. If the device is a slave device, it receives a notification from the master device to distribute the integrated directory list 41, receives it, and creates or updates the integrated directory list 41 based on the notification. The distribution performed when the integrated directory list 41 is changed is a so-called differential file. It may be the delivery of Le.
• the integrated directory list search and display program 37 is a program for displaying the contents of the integrated directory list 41.
• the master / slave switching program is used when the device becomes a master or when the device switches from a slave to a master. This is the program that is processed. These programs are described separately below.
• FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which the device can be a master device or a slave device. However, if the device is only a slave device, there is no need to provide the application programs 31-37 shown in FIG. The slave device need only have a means for allowing other devices to access the storage device in the slave device via the network.
• the slave device displays the integrated directory list and searches for necessary files to obtain the convenience of file use, at least the integrated directory list receiving and delivering program 34 It is necessary to provide an integrated directory list search and display program 37 and an integrated directory list 41. If the slave device is provided with a self-directory list creation program 31, a self-directory list distribution program 32, and a self-directory list 38, the efficiency of the slave device directory collection process in the master device is improved, and the performance of the entire system is improved. Is improved.
• the hard disk 46 and the DV D47 are exemplified as storage devices held by the device.
• a readable / writable or read-only storage device may be used.
• a storage device constituted by a flash memory or a CD-ROM may be used.
• the display device (corresponding to the display 44) and the input device (corresponding to the keyboard 45, including the pointing device) are the force that the master device needs to keep some form of. Searching the list • Not required unless you want the convenience of display.
• the master device and the slave device have the above-described configuration, so that each has an integrated directory list and can easily synchronize them. become able to. Furthermore, the integrated directory list search / display function provided by the integrated directory list search / display program 37 as described below allows the user to obtain much convenience.
• FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams for illustrating the function of “search” display of the integrated directory list.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the integrated directory list is searched and the result is displayed.
• reference numeral 51 denotes a window for inputting a search condition, executing the search condition, and displaying the result.
• search conditions for executing a search of the integrated directory list are determined.
• a search condition is entered in an item specification input box 53 and a keyword input box 54.
• the search condition is an example in which the field of the index information is searched to extract a keyword including “whale” as a keyword.
• the search start button 55 is pressed, the search of the integrated directory list is executed, and the search result is displayed in the search result display window 52.
• the user can immediately know which file and location of which file in the network is related to the "whale" file.
• the file named Tosa off the coast is a picture of swimming off the coast of Tosa, which means that it is stored in a folder called ⁇ whale on your computer's hard disk.
• the user can operate the file using the display result. For example, when the user selects and clicks on a line with the file name “White Whale” on the device (eg, a notebook computer), the movie recorded in the TV recorder with the file name “White Whale” is displayed. It can be projected on the device.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example when priority search / display of the integrated directory list is performed.
• the “priority search” display is a function that the integrated directory list search and display program 37 (see FIG. 3) displays on the device according to default search conditions.
• the default search condition is entered in the default search condition field of the device directory list 22 (see Fig. 2) for the device. Therefore, for example, if the search condition is "File type (recording format) is MP3" and the search condition is entered in this field of the device directory list of the MP3 player, it will be integrated with that MP3 player.
• the “Priority search” of the directory list is displayed, the display is as shown in Fig. 5.
• the integrated directory list search and display program 37 see FIG.
• the integrated directory list search display program 37 refers to the field of the default search condition of the device directory list 22 (see FIG. 2) and searches the integrated directory list according to the data of the field. 'indicate. That is, priority-search display is performed in the normal processing flow.
• This "priority search" display function is very useful when the device has a function specialized for a certain purpose, such as an MP3 player, or when the type of file used by the user has a certain tendency. This is a highly useful function.
• MP3 players have only the function of playing files recorded in MP3 format.
• displaying a file like a video movie in an MP3 player would even hinder the usefulness of the file.
• search conditions like this example, only MP3 format files will be extracted and displayed on the MP3 player.
• the user can immediately know the file recorded in MP3 format in which folder on which device in the network.
• the integrated directory list shown in FIG. 4 can be searched and displayed by using the search condition input boxes 53 and 54.
• the "priority search" display function is a highly useful function for the user.
• the device is a personal computer
• priority "search” search conditions can be set. For example, files that have been registered since ** year *** month ** date, files that have been used since ** year *** month ** date, files that have been used frequently since ** year *** month *** date, Files that cannot be used, files that have been optimally relocated, etc.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the processing flow between the master device and the slave devices when the integrated directory list is updated and synchronized.
• the master The device has all the application programs 31-37 related to the directory list processing shown in Fig. 3, and the slaves A and X have at least the self directory list creation program 31 and the self directory list distribution program 32. It has an integrated directory list receiving / distributing program 34 and an integrated directory list search / display program 37.
• the master means the master device
• the slave A means the slave device when the directory list is changed in the device
• the slave X means the slave device when the directory list is not changed in the device. I do. This meaning is the same in FIGS. 7 to 9 hereinafter.
• the master When there is a change in the master directory list (Yes in S601), the master first updates its own directory list (S602), and updates the integrated directory list based on it (S604). Next, the master notifies slave A and slave X of updating the integrated directory list, and distributes the updated integrated directory list (S605). In response to the distribution from the master, slave A (in this case, the own directory list is not updated, so the flow on the No side in S611) and slave X each receive the distributed integrated directory list. (S614, S621), the integrated directory list held by each is updated (S615, S622), and the completion of the update is notified to the master (S616, S623;).
• the master confirms the update of the integrated directory list in all slaves based on whether or not the notification has been received from all slaves (Yes in S606), and notifies all slaves to that effect (S607).
• the slaves A and X recognize the completion of the update of the integrated directory list in the entire system (S617, S624). With the above process, the integrated directory list is synchronized between all devices connected to the network.
• slave A When there is a change in the directory list of slave A (Yes in S611), slave A first updates its own directory list (S612), and informs the master that it has updated its own directory list. Notify (S613).
• Master in this case, update your directory listing No, the flow on the No side in S601) receives the notification of the slave A, receives the distribution of the updated directory list of the slave A, and acquires this (S603).
• the master updates the master's integrated directory list with the acquired directory list of slave A (S604). Subsequent processing of the master, slave A, and slave X (processing after S605) is the same as the processing when the directory list of the master is changed.
• FIG. 7 shows a case where a new device is connected to an operating network system and a master device is replaced with a new device in the present embodiment. It is a figure showing the relation of the flow of processing. In the following, a description will be given of the device class before the power S for explaining the flow of this processing.
• the device class is defined in the device directory list 22 of FIG. 2 for a device included in the network system of the present embodiment, and indicates the suitability of the device for the network system. Devices with high suitability for this network system naturally have high suitability as master devices.
• Table 1 shows an example in which device classes of various multimedia equipment devices are classified into five levels.
• a server configured by a personal computer or the like is classified.
• the server is always energized with a large storage capacity such as a hard disk that has high processing performance as a computer. Servers are cost-effective, and power is the most appropriate for master devices.
• PCs are inferior to servers in terms of performance, and generally have a shorter power-on time than servers, but there is no particular problem with their suitability as master devices.
• Digital video recorders and network shared hard disks classified as class 3 network players often do not include an input device and a display device. Therefore, the degree of aptitude as a master is lower than that of a normal personal computer. However, if any input device and display device are provided, it is suitable as a master device.
• the class 1 device does not include any of the application programs 3137 related to the directory list processing shown in FIG. Therefore, it cannot be a master, and it is also a passive device as a slave. From the viewpoint of the master device, it is simply a readable / writable or read-only storage device. However, since it is premised that even a passive device is connected to a network, it is assumed that it has means for network connection (interface circuit with network, firmware of network protocol, etc.).
• a device newly connected to the network first creates its own directory list (S711), notifies the master that it has been newly connected to the network (S712), and The list is distributed to the master (S713).
• the master receives the notification and obtains a directory list of the newly connected device to be distributed (S701).
• the master reads the device class from the acquired directory list and compares it with the master device class (S702). As a result, if the device class of the newly connected device is higher (higher) than the device class of the current master (Yes in S703), the master sets the master to the newly connected device. A notification of the replacement is given (S704).
• the master distributes the integrated directory list held at that time to the device that will become the new master (S705).
• the newly connected device that is, the device that newly becomes the master receives the distributed integrated directory list (S714), and thereafter operates as the master device.
• the new master device updates the received integrated directory device by adding its own directory list (S715), and distributes the updated integrated directory list to the slave device (S716).
• the former master that has started to operate as a slave and the slave X, which is originally a slave, receive the integrated directory list to be distributed (S706, S721).
• the master directory and the slave exchange the integrated directory list update completion confirmation.
• the processing is the processing of S615, S621, and S606 and below in FIG.
• the newly connected device is Operates as a slave device.
• the newly connected device corresponds to the slave A in FIG. 6, and it can be considered that the directory list of the device A is updated and corresponds to the location where the directory list is distributed to the master device. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S604 in FIG. 6, and the integrated directory list is updated by adding the directory list of the newly connected device acquired in step S701 to the existing integrated directory list (S604). ).
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between processes performed between the master and the slave when the active master device leaves the network, when the master is changed.
• the master refers to the device directory list 21 of the integrated directory list (see FIG. 2) to search for and extract a device having the next highest device class (S801). That device is the next master device.
• the master deletes the contents of its own directory list from the integrated directory list held at that time, creates a new integrated directory list (S802), and replaces the master with the next master device.
• the slave A is notified (S803), and the created new integrated directory list is distributed to the slave A (S804), and then leaves the network (S805).
• Slave A receives the new integrated directory list (S811), operates as a master device, and distributes the new integrated directory list to slave X (S812). .
• Slave X receives the distributed integrated directory list (S821).
• the subsequent processing is the same as S622 and below in FIG.
• the processing of the new master is the same as S606 and below in FIG.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between processing performed between the master and the slave when the active slave device leaves the network.
• the slave A who wants to leave the network notifies the master that it will leave the network (S911), and then releases the network power (S912).
• the master receiving the notification updates the integrated directory list by deleting the directory list of the slave A (S901), and stores the updated integrated directory list in the slave X (a slave that remains in the network). (S902).
• Slave X receives the integrated directory list to be distributed (S921).
• the subsequent processing is the same as S622 and below in FIG. Also, the processing of the new master is the same as S606 and subsequent steps in FIG.
• FIG. 10 shows the flow of processing when the device is powered on and the device is connected to the network.
• the device that is powered on and newly connected to the network first creates its own directory list (S1001), and then connects itself to the network for other devices connected to that network.
• a notification is sent (S1002). After issuing this notification, if there is no response from other devices even after a certain period of time has passed (No in S1003), a timeout will occur (Yes in S1004), and the device that is still the master in this network It is determined that the device does not exist, and the newly connected device itself operates as a master.
• the newly connected device determines the master device based on the response data, and initially operates as a slave device, Distribute its own directory list to the master device. Then, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the device class is compared in the master device at that time (S702), and a determination is made as to whether the master can continue the master as it is or whether it is to be replaced with a newly connected device (S703). ). In any case, the newly connected device may operate as a slave or may operate as a master.
• the distribution of the integrated directory list is received from the master, received (S1006), and displayed (S1007).
• the display at this time is based on the priority search 'display function described in FIG. If the newly connected device operates as a master, the network monitoring program is started (S1011), and as shown in FIG. 7, an integrated directory list is created or updated, and the integrated directory list is updated. It is displayed (S1012). The display at this time is also based on the priority search 'display function described in FIG.
• the network monitoring program is started at regular intervals and checks whether a device of device class 1 is connected to or disconnected from the network.
• This program reads a file directly from the storage device of a device (passive device) and checks whether the file has been changed.
• files owned by device class 1 devices can also be managed by the integrated directory list.
• the master device has a file optimum selection program that executes a file optimum selection function.
• the optimal file selection function refers to a function that uses a file existing in a device that is convenient for the device to be used when there are a plurality of files determined to be the same in the integrated directory list. That means.
• a device that is convenient for the device to be used is a device that has a high data transfer rate and has a low possibility of leaving the network.
• FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a search 'display screen when the file optimum selection program is executed.
• the file optimum selection program first checks whether or not the same file exists, and if there is the same file, furthermore, the transfer speed and characteristics of the device in which those files are stored. Devices that are less likely to leave a network with a higher transfer rate (in this example, If you choose a file on a network shared hard disk). Then, the data of the file is distributed from the selected device (network shared hard disk) to the device used by the user.
• the comparison of file identity is performed by comparing file sizes, comparing head data and / or tail data of files, and in some cases, comparing all file data.
• the comparison of the transfer speed and the characteristics of the device is performed by referring to the device directory list 22 of the integrated directory list.
• the master device has a file optimal relocation program that executes an optimal file relocation function.
• the optimal file relocation function means that if it is determined that there is a more suitable device as a file storage destination, the storage destination device is changed so that the file storage device is optimized as much as possible. Function. For example, storing frequently used files on a high-speed device rather than on a low-speed device will contribute to improving the efficiency of use of the device, and also reduce the load on the network. Become.
• FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a processing procedure of the file optimal relocation program. The processing of this program is executed after the processing of updating and synchronizing the integrated directory list shown in FIG. 6 is completed in the master.
• this program When this program starts, it first searches the file directory list 21 (see Fig. 2) in the integrated directory list (S1201), and finds out whether the file has been newly registered. Check the power that is frequently used (5 or more times in this example) and if it is likely (Yes in each of S1202, S1203, and S1204), further store the file. Check if the device is a slow device. As a result, if the file is stored in the low-speed device (Yes in S1207), the device directory list 23 (see FIG. 2) of the integrated directory list is searched to determine whether or not there is another high-speed device. Check, if there is another high-speed device, check if the storage capacity of the high-speed device is free.
• the file stored in the low-speed device is transferred to the high-speed device (S1209).
• the file directory list 21 see Fig. 2 of the integrated directory list (SI201)
• the file is not in the final state (No even if it is S 1292, S1203, SI 204)
• illustration is omitted, of course, in this case as well, before transferring the file, it is checked whether or not there is room in the storage capacity of the storage device of the AC power supply device for receiving the file.
• each of the multimedia information devices includes an integrated out-of-delay list that integrates an out-of-delay list of files held by each of the devices. It has a means to always synchronize the list outside the integrated directory. Therefore, even if each multimedia information device operates independently of each other, the integrated directory list makes it possible to centrally use and manage the files of the entire system.
• the only file that each multimedia information device has in common is an integrated directory list. This is because the required storage capacity of the storage device is small compared to the case where each multimedia information device has a copy file that has been synchronized for all files, and each multimedia information device has all the files. Help me. Therefore, the cost of the whole system is greatly reduced. In addition, since the file transfer associated with synchronization is only related to the list outside the integrated directory, the network load is greatly reduced.

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• 2003
  • 2003-07-23 JP JP2003278021A patent/JP2005044155A/ja active Pending
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