Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-31
2002-07-02
Jung, David (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06415301
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in particular to technology for improving data retrieval efficiency in a distributed file system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In recent years, industries such as the manufacturing industry have introduced a variety of systems such as business systems, production planning systems, production administration systems, and physical distribution systems with the aim of improving the efficiency of the various areas of business. In each system, the most recent data required for performing the various tasks are stored as files in a database. The users of each system then conduct retrieval of the database from dedicated terminals belonging to each particular system in order to refer to the desired data.
However, often the various systems have been introduced independently, and the equipment configuration and operating methods vary between systems. As a result, problems arise in those cases where data is retrieved from files distributed over a plurality of systems, as a number of data retrieval must be conducted over a plurality of systems before the desired data can be found, meaning the retrieval operation can take considerable time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention takes into consideration the above problems, with an object of integrating existing file systems and providing an integrated retrieval system with improved data retrieval efficiency by introducing so-called agents into a distributed file system.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to distribute a medium recorded with the integrated retrieval program of the present invention, so that people who acquire the medium can easily establish an integrated retrieval system.
To achieve the aforementioned objects, as a first device for solving the problems, there is provided an integrated retrieval system in a distributed file system which comprises a plurality of data management devices for distributively storing and managing data files, a plurality of cyclic control devices provided in a one-to-one ratio with the data management devices, and an input/output device for performing the input of retrieval instructions to the data management devices and the output of retrieval results from the data management devices, wherein the cyclic control devices comprise; a retrieval completion judgment device for judging whether or not a retrieval has been completed based on the retrieval instruction and retrieval results, a determination device for determining the next data management device to be retrieved when the retrieval completion judgment device has judged that the current retrieval has not been completed, and a retrieval instruction transmission device for transmitting the retrieval instruction to the data management device determined by the determination device.
With such a construction, when a retrieval of a distributed file system is conducted, a retrieval instruction is input via the input/output device. When a retrieval instruction is input, the data retrieval is executed in a data management device. A cyclic control device then judges whether or not the retrieval is completed based on the retrieval instruction and the retrieval results. Then, if the retrieval is still incomplete, the next data management device to be retrieved is determined and the retrieval instruction is transmitted to this next data management device. Following this, the retrieval instruction is transferred between the cyclic control devices and the data management devices until either the retrieval is completed, or all the data management devices have been retrieved. That is, by conducting only one retrieval operation, the retrieval instruction is automatically transferred between the cyclic control devices and the data management devices until the retrieval for the desired data is completed. Consequently, the data retrieval efficiency in the distributed file systems can be improved.
Furthermore, the construction may have a cyclic management device which manages collectively the plurality of cyclic control devices, wherein the cyclic management device is equipped with a definition file registration device for registering a definition file which defines the next data management device to be retrieved in accordance with the retrieval results, and the determination device determines the next data management device to be retrieved based on a definition file duplicated from the definition file registration device and the retrieval results.
With such a construction, the next data management device to be retrieved is determined based on a definition file duplicated from the definition file registration device and the retrieval results. That is, definition files are managed centrally in the definition file registration device, and duplicated from here to the cyclic control devices. Consequently, in those cases where it is necessary to update a definition file due to an alteration of, or an enlargement or reduction in the scale of the retrieval object, only the definition files registered in the definition file registration device need to be updated. As a result, maintenance work is reduced, enabling a reduction in running costs.
Moreover, the construction may be such that a protocol conversion device is disposed between the data management device and the cyclic control device, for converting the protocol between the data management device and the cyclic control device.
With such a construction, protocol conversion between the data management device and the cyclic control device is carried out by the protocol conversion device. Consequently, when establishing the integrated retrieval system of the present invention by utilizing an existing data management device, it is only necessary to customize the protocol conversion device to match it with the existing data management device. As a result, the integrated retrieval system can be established quickly and at low cost.
As a second device for solving the problems, there is provided an integrated retrieval method in a distributed file system which comprises a plurality of data management processes for distributively storing and managing data files, a plurality of cyclic control processes provided in a one-to-one ratio with the data management processes, and an input/output process for performing the input of retrieval instructions to the data management processes and the output of retrieval results from the data management processes, wherein the cyclic control processes comprise a retrieval completion judgment process for judging whether or not a retrieval has been completed based on the retrieval instruction and retrieval results, a determination process for determining the next data management process to be retrieved when the retrieval completion judgment process has judged that the current retrieval has been completed, and a retrieval instruction transmission process for transmitting the retrieval instruction to the data management process determined by the determination process.
With such a construction, when a retrieval of a distributed file system is conducted, a retrieval instruction is input via the input/output process. When a retrieval instruction is input, the data retrieval is executed in a data management process. A cyclic control process then judges whether or not the retrieval is completed based on the retrieval instruction and the retrieval results. Then, if the retrieval is still incomplete, the next data management process to be retrieved is determined and the retrieval instruction is transmitted to this next data management process. Following this, the retrieval instruction is transferred between the cyclic control processes and the data management processes until either the retrieval is completed, or all the data management processes have been retrieved. That is, by conducting only one retrieval operation, the retrieval instruction is automatically transferred between the cyclic control processes and the data management processes until the retrieval for the desired data is completed. Consequently, the data retrieval
Fujitsu Limited
Jung David
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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