WO2003046727A1

WO2003046727A1 - Information providing system, information providing method, and information providing program

Info

Publication number: WO2003046727A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/010432
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naoto Matsumoto
Original assignee: Netarc, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-11-27
Filing date: 2002-10-08
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: JP2003162444A; AU2002365521A1

Abstract

An information providing system includes an information storage unit (24) for storing information data such as character data and image data, a server program (31) for receiving from a terminal (10) request information by a plurality of protocols corresponding to the information data formats and outputting an acquisition request for acquiring predetermined information data according to the received request information, a protocol conversion unit (35) for converting each acquisition request into a single protocol, and an information acquisition unit (34) for fetching information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit (24) according to the acquisition request converted into a single protocol.

Description

Specification

Information providing system, information providing method, and information providing program

The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, and an information providing program for providing information through a network constructed by connecting terminals to each other by a communication line. Background art

Conventionally, in data communication, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, each user having terminals 10a to 101 has a communication function provided in their own terminals 10a to 101. To connect to the communication network. This allows each user to obtain desired information data from the first server 20 via the connected communication network.

In addition, each user connects his / her own terminal 10a to terminal 101 to a communication network, and stores his / her information data in the first server 20 via the connected communication network. You can also. Thereby, each user can store a large amount of information data stored in the hard disk of their own terminal 10a to terminal 101 in the first server 20. 10a- The amount of information data in the hard disk of the terminal 101 can be reduced.

However, the first server 20 connected to each user's terminal 10a to terminal 101 by a plurality of lines can send a large amount of information data from a plurality of terminals 10a to 101 at a time. When a request is sent, a large amount of information data corresponding to the request must be processed. Also, when the first server 20 returns information data to the corresponding terminals 10a to 101 at a time, the first server 20 There is a disadvantage that the line capacity is significantly consumed. Furthermore, in the first server 20 which has been requested for a large amount of information data at one time, the line capacity of the first server 20 is significantly consumed, and as a result, each of the corresponding terminals 10a to 10 There is also a disadvantage that the response time to 1 becomes slow.

Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 2, cache servers 30a to 30d that can temporarily store information data separately from the first server 20 are installed to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks. There is a system in which the cache server 3.0a to cache server 30d temporarily stores past information data acquired from the first server 20 in a cache.

According to this system, when the same information data is requested again from each of the terminals 10a to 101, the cache server 30a to the cache server 30d becomes the cache server 30a to the cache server. From the information data stored in the cache at 30d, the same information data as the information data requested again can be transmitted to each terminal 10a to 101. Access to the information data requested from the first server 20 can be reduced.

However, when the cache server 30a to cache server 30d determines that the information data requested from the terminal 10a to terminal 101 is not stored in the cache, first, the cache server 3 0a ~ Cache server 3

A protocol analysis institution within 0d analyzes the protocol of the information data requested from terminal 10a to terminal 101 (for example, http, FTP, etc.). The cache server 30a to the cache server 30d make a request for information data corresponding to the protocol to the first server 20 based on the analyzed protocol. For this reason, the cache servers 30a to 30d take a long time to analyze the protocol, and the information corresponding to the terminal 10a to the terminal 101 that has requested the information data is required. Slow response time for returning data There was a disadvantage.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and does not request the first server for information data without analyzing the protocol of the information data requested by each terminal. Furthermore, even when a large amount of information data is requested from each terminal to the first server through a plurality of lines, the load on the lines accessed by the first server is reduced, and the processing load on the first server is reduced. It is an object to provide an information providing system, an information providing method, and an information providing program which can be distributed. Disclosure of the invention

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when information is provided through a network constructed by connecting terminals to each other through a communication line, information data such as character data and image data is stored and stored. From the terminal, outputs an acquisition request to acquire the required information data based on the received request information, and converts each acquisition request into a single protocol. And acquiring information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the acquisition request converted into a single protocol.

According to such an invention, the user terminal accesses the information data processing unit to obtain information data (transmits request information), and the information data processing unit responds to each request information. Since all the acquisition requests to be performed are converted into a single protocol, the terminal can acquire information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the converted acquisition request using the single protocol. As a result, the terminal can acquire the corresponding information in a shorter time than acquiring the information data based on the request information according to the plurality of protocols corresponding to the information data format. Further, another invention is to temporarily store information data corresponding to the obtained acquisition request in the cache storage unit, and to search whether the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage unit, When the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is retrieved from the cache storage unit, the retrieved information data is transmitted to the terminal, and the information data corresponding to the acquisition request cannot be retrieved from the cache storage unit. In this case, the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is acquired from the information storage unit storing the information data.

According to such another invention, the cache storage unit temporarily stores the information data corresponding to the obtained acquisition request. Therefore, when the terminal requests the same information data from the terminal again, Since the same information data is already stored in the cache storage unit, the information data corresponding to the acquisition request can be acquired in a short time.

As a result, by providing a plurality of information providing servers having a cache storage unit, the number of times the information providing server accesses the information storage unit can be reduced, and the information storage unit is accessed from the information providing server. In this case, it is possible to reduce the line load during communication, that is, the amount of communication with the information storage unit.

Further, the information storage unit can reduce the load when processing the information data requested by the terminal. Further, in the information storage unit, a reduction in the processing capacity of the information storage unit can be improved by reducing the line load. Further, the information storage unit can shorten the response time to the terminal by reducing the line load and improving the processing capability of the information storage unit. From these, the present invention can also improve the bodily sensation speed when acquiring information data desired by the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional information providing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional cache system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block diagram of the information providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the information providing method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a block diagram of the information providing system according to the first modification, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block diagram of the information providing system according to the second modification, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inside of a general-purpose computer in the providing system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a recording medium for storing the information providing program of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(A) Embodiment

(A-1) Basic configuration of information provision system

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the information providing system according to the present embodiment. The information providing system according to the present embodiment provides information through a network constructed by connecting terminals 10 to each other via a communication line.

In the present embodiment, the information providing system includes an information storage unit 24 (information storage unit) for storing information data such as character data and image data, and a plurality of protocols each corresponding to the information data format. Server program 31a to server program 31c that receives request information from the terminal 10 and outputs an acquisition request to acquire required information data based on the received request information (information data processing ), An information acquisition unit 34 that notifies the protocol conversion unit 35 of a conversion request for converting the acquisition request into a predetermined protocol, and a protocol conversion unit 35 that converts each acquisition request into a single protocol. (Protocol converter) and a single protocol A communication IZF 39 (information acquisition unit) for acquiring information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit 24 based on the converted acquisition request.

The terminals 10a to 10f transmit to the server programs 31a to 31c request information according to a plurality of protocols corresponding to the formats of the information data. The terminals 10a to 10f also receive information data corresponding to request information from the server programs 31a to 31c. The terminals 10a to 10 # are, for example, personal computers, mobile phones, PDAs, and the like.

Specifically, the terminals 10a to 10f generate request information for requesting information data based on a predetermined protocol by causing a user to operate an operation unit (not shown). The terminals 10a to 10f transmit the generated request information to the slave programs 31a to 31c. The terminals 10a to 10f that have received the information data corresponding to the request information from the server programs 31a to 31c store the received information data in an information storage unit (not shown).

Here, the protocol means a method for transmitting and receiving information data between the terminals 10a to 10f and the server programs 31a to 31c. This protocol includes, for example, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), Microsoft Multimedia Earnings Protocol (MMS), and Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). In the present embodiment, the information data means data composed of character data, image data, and the like.

The information providing unit 30 acquires information data from the information server 20 in response to a request from the terminal 10 and transmits the acquired information data to the corresponding terminal 10. In the present embodiment, the information providing unit 30 includes a server program 31 a to a server program 31 c, a virtual file unit 32, a cache management unit 33, It has an information acquisition unit 34, a protocol conversion unit 35, a search unit 36, a cache storage unit 37, a communication I / F 38, and a communication I / F 39.

The server programs 31a to 31c are information data processing units that output acquisition requests for acquiring required information data based on the request information received by the communication I / F 38. . The communication I / F 38 receives request information from the terminal 10 according to a protocol corresponding to the information data format. The communication I / F 38 outputs the received request information to the server programs 31a to 31c. As shown in FIG. 3, the server programs 31a to 31c are required to perform control for returning information data corresponding to the obtained request information to the corresponding terminal 10, as shown in FIG. The request information input from the communication IZF 38 is output to the virtual file section 32. The request information received by this communication I / F 38 can be regarded as being output directly to the virtual file section 32 without being conscious of the server programs 31a to 31c. Can be.

Specifically, the server program 31a to server program 31c that has received the request information from the terminal 10 interprets the protocol forming the request information based on the received request information. The server programs 31 a to 31 c interpreting this protocol output an acquisition request for acquiring information data corresponding to the request information to the virtual file unit 32 for each interpreted protocol. The virtual file unit 32 to which the acquisition request has been input from the server programs 31a to 31c outputs the input acquisition request to the cache management unit 33.

The cache management unit 33 manages the search unit 36 and the cache storage unit 37. Specifically, the cache management unit 33 to which the acquisition request has been input for each server program from the virtual file unit 32 stores the information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the input acquisition request in the cache storage unit 3. Search from 7 A search command signal for search is output to the search unit 36.

The search unit 36 is for searching whether or not the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage unit 37. Specifically, the search unit 36, to which the search command signal is input from the cache management unit 33, caches the information data corresponding to the obtain request based on the obtain request included in the input search command signal. Search from the storage unit 37. When the search unit 36 searches the cache storage unit for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the cache management unit 33 transmits the information data searched by the search unit 36 to the terminal 10.

On the other hand, if the search unit 36 cannot retrieve the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the cache storage unit 37, the cache management unit 33 acquires the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit 24. I do.

Specifically, when the search unit 36 cannot search the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the search disable signal indicating that the information unit corresponding to the acquisition request cannot be searched for Is output to the cache management unit 33. The cache management unit 33 to which the search impossible signal is input from the search unit 36 outputs the acquisition request input from the virtual file unit 32 to the information acquisition unit 34 based on the input search impossible signal. The cache management unit 33 acquires information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit 24 through the information acquisition unit 34, the protocol conversion unit 35, and the file management unit 23.

The information obtaining unit 34 receives a conversion request for converting request information into a predetermined protocol in order to obtain the corresponding information data from the information server 20 via the communication network 50. Output to Further, the information acquisition unit 34 to which the information data is input from the protocol conversion unit 35 outputs the input information data to the cache management unit 33. The information acquisition unit 34 stores the input information data in the cache storage unit 37. Two

The 9-protocol conversion unit 35 converts each acquisition request into a single protocol. Specifically, the protocol conversion units 3.5 to which the acquisition request has been input from the information acquisition unit 34 convert the protocol constituting the acquisition request into a single protocol based on the input acquisition request. The protocol conversion unit 35 that has performed the conversion outputs the acquisition request converted into a single protocol to the communication IZF 39.

Here, a single protocol means to unify protocols (HTTP, NNTP, etc.) composed of different protocols into one protocol. One protocol is, for example, WE BD AV (Web-based

Di s t r ibu t ed Au thoring and Vers oning Pro toco 1), NFS (Ne two'rk File Sys i era Protocol), CIFS (Common Internet File system Protocol), iS

CSI (IP over SCSI protocol).

The cache storage unit 37 is a cache storage unit that temporarily stores information data corresponding to the acquisition request obtained from the information storage unit. Cache storage unit ₃ 7, for example, such as special-purpose machine and the like to be stored in the center and information data. When a predetermined time set in a time section (not shown) for managing time has elapsed, the cache storage section 37 stores information stored in the cache storage section 37 among the information stored in the cache storage section 37. The oldest information data may be deleted.

Communication I / F 39 is a _t specifically intended to send and receive data to and from the communication I ZF 26 includes a communication I / 'F 3 9 acquisition request converted from the protocol conversion unit 35 is input The input acquisition request is transmitted to the communication I / F 26. Further, the communication IZF 39 that has received the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the communication I / F 26 outputs the received information data to the protocol conversion unit 35. The output information is transmitted to the terminal 10 via the cache management unit 33, the virtual file unit 32, and the server programs 31a to 31c.

The information server 20 (or the first server) stores information such as character data and image data. Report data. In the present embodiment, the information server 20 has a file management unit 23, an information storage unit 24, a protocol conversion unit 25, and a communication I / F (TCP / IP) 26. .

The file management unit 23 manages the entire information server 20. The communication I / F 26 transmits and receives data to and from the information providing unit 30. The protocol converter 25 converts the acquisition request received by the communication I / F 26 into a predetermined protocol. The protocol conversion section 25 converts the information data input from the file management section 23 into a predetermined protocol. The information storage unit 24 is an information storage unit that stores information data such as character data and image data. The information storage unit 24 is, for example, a dedicated device that mainly stores information data.

The communication network 50 means a communication network for performing communication between the terminal 10 and the communication IZF 38 and between the communication IZF 39 and the communication I / F 26 as shown in FIG. I do. The communication network 50 is, for example, the Internet. As a result, the terminal 10 can communicate with the communication I / F 38 using the Internet, so that the owner of the terminal 10 can easily use the information providing unit by using the terminal 10. 30 can be accessed.

(A-2) Information provision method using information provision system

In the present embodiment, the information providing method by the information providing system having the above configuration can be implemented according to the following procedure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the information providing method according to the present embodiment. First, the terminal 10 performs a step of transmitting request information to the server programs 31a to 31c (S101).

Specifically, the terminal 10 generates request information for requesting information data based on a predetermined protocol by causing a user to operate an operation unit (not shown). The terminal 10 transmits the generated request information via the communication I / F 38 to the above-mentioned program. PC leak 2/10432

It is transmitted to one of the server programs 31a to 31c corresponding to the 11-port protocol. The communication I / F 38 outputs request information to the server programs 31a to 31c via the communication network 50.

The server programs 31 to 31c acquire request information from the terminal 10, as shown in FIG. The server programs 31a to 31c output the obtained request information to the virtual file part 32. This request information can be viewed as being output directly to the virtual file section 32 without being conscious of the server programs 31a to 31c.

Next, the server program 31a to 31c performs a step of trying to acquire information data through the virtual file part (virtual file system) 32 (S102). Specifically, the server programs 31a to 31c, which have obtained the request information from the terminal 10, interpret the protocol configuring the request information based on the obtained request information.

The server program 31a to 3lc interpreting this protocol outputs an acquisition request for acquiring required information data to the virtual file section 3-2. The virtual file unit 32 to which the acquisition request has been input from the server programs 31a to 31c outputs the input acquisition request to the cache management unit 33. The cache management unit 33 to which the acquisition request has been input from the virtual file unit 32 receives the search command signal for searching the information database corresponding to the acquisition request based on the input acquisition request. Output to 6.

Next, the search unit 36 performs a step of searching the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request (S103). Specifically, the search unit 36 to which the search command signal has been input from the cache management unit 33 receives an information message corresponding to the acquisition request included in the search command signal based on the input search command signal. Search from cache memory 37. When the search unit 36 cannot search the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the search unit 36 caches a search disable signal indicating that the information data cannot be searched. Output to the management unit 33. The cache management unit 33 to which the search impossible signal is input from the search unit 36 outputs the acquisition request input from the virtual file unit 32 to the information acquisition unit 34 based on the input search impossible signal.

On the other hand, when the search unit 36 searches the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the search unit 36 outputs the searched information data to the cache management unit 33. I do. The information data retrieved by the retrieval unit 36 is sent to the terminal 10 via the virtual file unit 32, the server program 31a to the server program 31c, the communication IZF 38, and the communication network 50. Sent.

Next, the information acquisition unit 34 notifies the protocol conversion unit 35 of a conversion request for converting the acquisition request into a predetermined protocol in order to obtain information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information server 20. (S104). Then, the protocol conversion unit 35 performs a step of converting the input acquisition request into a single protocol (S105).

Specifically, the protocol conversion unit 35 to which the acquisition request (including the conversion request) has been input from the information acquisition unit 34, simply executes a protocol constituting the acquisition request based on the input acquisition request. Convert to one protocol. The protocol converter 35 outputs the acquisition request converted to the single protocol to the communication IZF 39.

Then, the information acquisition unit 34 performs a step of storing the information data acquired from the information server 20 in the cache storage unit 37 (S106). Specifically, the communication I / F 39 to which the acquisition request has been input from the protocol conversion unit 35 transmits the input acquisition request to the communication I / F 26.

After that, the communication IZF 26, which received the acquisition request from the communication IZF 39, T / JP02 / 10432

13 The acquisition request is output to the protocol conversion unit 25. An acquisition request is input from the protocol conversion unit 25. The file management unit 23 acquires information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit 24 based on the input acquisition request. The information data is transmitted to the communication I / F 39 via the communication I / F 26. The information acquisition unit 34 stores the information data input through the protocol conversion unit 35 in the cache storage unit 37.

Then, the server programs 31a to 31c transfer the information data stored in the cache storage unit 37 to the terminal 1 corresponding to the server program 31a to 31c in accordance with a specific protocol structure. The step of replying to 0 is performed (S107). Specifically, the server programs 31a to 31c acquire information data temporarily stored in the cache storage unit 37 through the virtual file unit 32. The server programs 31a to 31c convert the obtained information data into a predetermined protocol, and transmit the converted information data to the corresponding terminal 10. According to the invention according to the present embodiment, based on an acquisition request constituted by a single protocol, the information acquisition unit 34 outputs an information message corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit. Since the information can be acquired, the information acquiring unit 34 can acquire the information data corresponding to the acquisition request in a short time and efficiently.

In addition, even when there is an acquisition request using a multiple protocol corresponding to each format of the information data, the protocol conversion unit 35 does not interpret the protocol constituting the acquisition request one by one, and Are all converted to a single protocol. As a result, the developer of this system can acquire the corresponding information data from the information server 20 with the single protocol described above, so that the cache server 30a to the cache server 30d (see FIG. 2) ) Within the protocol extension and modification of the protocol analysis institute, which is required to support new protocols. JP02 / 10432

14 Eliminates the need for extra development time. As a result, the developer can shorten the development period for the service using the new protocol, and can greatly reduce the development cost.

In addition, since the server programs 31a to 31c can use the functions of the cache management unit 33, the search unit 36, the information acquisition unit 34, and the protocol conversion unit 35 through the virtual file unit 32. The present system can perform a process of acquiring the corresponding information data without having a protocol analysis institution in the cache server 30a to the cache server 30d in FIG. It should be noted that the server programs 31a to 31c can have exactly the same properties as the server program 21 in FIG.

Further, when the same information data is requested again from the terminal 10, the information providing unit 30 transmits the same information data to the information server 20 because the information data is already stored in the cache storage unit 37. It is not necessary to request the same information data again. As a result, the information providing unit 30 can reduce the number of accesses to the information server 20. Further, the information providing unit 30 can reduce the line load with the information server 20, that is, the communication traffic with the information server 20. Furthermore, the information providing unit 30 can reduce the processing capacity load on the information server 20. The cache management unit 33 can transmit the searched information data to the terminal 10. In this case, the cache management unit 33 does not need to acquire the information from the information storage unit 24. For this reason, the cache management unit 33 can reduce the number of accesses to the information storage unit 24. As a result, the cache management unit 33 can reduce the line load connected to the information storage unit 24, that is, the amount of communication with the information server 20. Also, the cache management unit 33 reduces the processing capacity load on the information storage unit 24. Can be

In addition, only when the search unit 36 cannot retrieve the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the cache storage unit 37, the cache management unit 33 stores the information data corresponding to the acquisition request in the information storage unit 24. Therefore, the cache management unit 33 can reduce the number of accesses to the information storage unit 24 and the amount of communication with the information server 20.

As a result, by providing a plurality of information providing units 30 each having the cache storage unit 37, the number of times the information providing unit 30 accesses the information server 20 and the amount of communication with the information server 20 are reduced. Can be reduced more. Further, in the information server 20, the reduction in the line load can further improve the decrease in the processing capacity of the information server 20. Further, the information providing unit 30 can return the corresponding information data to the terminal 10 in a short time by the above improvement. Thus, the information providing unit 30 can also improve the bodily sensation speed at the time of acquiring the information desired by the user.

Finally, since the terminal 10 can communicate with the communication I / F 38 using the Internet, the owner of the terminal 10 can easily use the information providing unit by using the terminal 10. 30 can be accessed.

(B) First modification

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the server program 31a to the server program 31c may be replaced with the HTTP server 31a as shown in FIG.

Thus, when the HTTP server 31a receives an acquisition request for a Web page or the like from the terminal 10, the protocol conversion unit 35 converts the received acquisition request into a single protocol. Just convert it and respond to the acquisition request PT / JP02 / 10432

Information data such as 16 pages can be obtained from the information server 20.

That is, the protocol converter 35 converts the received acquisition request into the single protocol. The protocol conversion unit 35 that has performed the conversion can acquire the corresponding information data from the information server 20 using the single protocol after the conversion. For this reason, the protocol conversion unit 35 does not need to convert each protocol into a specific protocol included in the acquisition request. Therefore, the information providing unit 30 transmits the information data corresponding to the acquisition request to the terminal 1 in a short time. You can reply to 0.

The server programs 31a to 31c may be replaced with WMT (Windows Media Technology) servers 31b as shown in FIG. Here, the WMT server 31b is a server for creating and reproducing streaming format “ASF” format content that can uniformly handle multimedia content such as audio and video.

Accordingly, even when the WMT server 31b receives an acquisition request for requesting image information having a large amount of data from the terminal 10, the protocol conversion unit 35 simply transmits the acquisition request. The image data corresponding to the acquisition request can be acquired from the information server 20 only by converting to one protocol. As a result, the protocol conversion unit 35 can transmit the image information having a large data amount corresponding to the acquisition request to the terminal 10 in a shorter time.

Further, the server programs 31a to 31c may be replaced with P2P (Peer to Peer) servers 31c as shown in FIG. Here, the P2P server 31c is a server that connects a large number of personal computers (P2P servers) to one another and shares information resources such as files and computing power. Thereby, the P2P server 31c can share the information data stored in the information server 20 between the P2P servers, and the information providing unit 30 Can reduce the amount of acquisition requests sent to it can.

In addition, by providing a plurality of HTTP servers 31a, WMT servers 31b, or P2P servers 31c as described above, the information acquiring unit 34 can reduce the number of accesses to the information server 20. Thus, the load on the line connected to the information server 20 and the load on the processing capacity of the information server 20 can be further reduced. Finally, the server programs 31a to 31c correspond to all the server programs used on the Internet, in addition to the HTTP server, WMT server, and P2P server described above. can do. (C) Second modification

The present invention is not limited to the first modification and the embodiment described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the search unit 36 is deleted, and the cache list unit 40 and the operation unit 41 are replaced with each other. May be provided.

The operation unit 41 is for instructing a predetermined command from outside. The operation unit 41 is, for example, a keyboard. More specifically, the cache management unit 33, to which a predetermined command has been input from the operation unit 41 by the operation of the administrator, changes the cache storage unit 37 or the cache list unit 40 according to the input command. Change the content. Thus, the administrator who manages the information providing unit 30 can flexibly change the contents of the cache storage unit 37 or the cache list unit 40 through the operation unit 41 and the cache management unit 33.

The cache list section 40 stores a list of information stored in the cache storage section 37. Specifically, the cache management unit 33 that has acquired the information data from the information acquisition unit 34 stores the acquired information data in the cache storage unit 37. In addition, the cache management unit 33 stores the acquired list of information data (for example, the title) in the cache list unit 40. In this embodiment, this list includes, for example, the total capacity of storing the information data in the cache storage unit 37, the current capacity of the information data stored in the cache storage unit 37, Free space in storage unit 37, cache Cache directory name in storage unit 37 · Cache directory capacity · Free space in cache directory 'Number of files (information data), date and time when information data was stored, information The date and time when the data was deleted, the number of times the cache management unit 33 referred to the cache list unit 40, the directory name, the file name, and the file size.

Thus, the cache management unit 33 can easily grasp the contents of the information data stored in the cache storage unit 37 by referring to the list stored in the cache list unit 40. Further, the cache management unit 33 can obtain the corresponding information data from the cache storage unit 37 by referring to the list. Note that the cache management unit 33 may execute the function of the search unit 36.

This modified example having the above configuration can be implemented by the following procedure. First, the terminal 10 performs a step of transmitting request information to the server programs 31a to 31c. Specifically, the terminal 10 generates request information for requesting information data based on a predetermined protocol by causing a user to operate an operation unit (not shown). The terminal 10 transmits the generated request information to one of the server programs 31a to 31c corresponding to each protocol via the communication IZF 38. The communication IZF 38 outputs request information to the server programs 31a to 31c via the communication network 50.

Next, the server program 31 a to 31 c performs a step of trying to acquire information data through the virtual file part (virtual file system) 32. More specifically, the server program 31a that has obtained the request information from the terminal 10 to the server program 31a Gram 31 c interprets the protocol that makes up the request information based on the obtained request information.

Then, the server programs 31 a to 31 c that have interpreted the protocol forming the request information output an acquisition request to the virtual file unit 32 for each interpreted protocol. Thereafter, the virtual file unit 32 to which the acquisition request has been input from the server programs 31a to 31c outputs the input acquisition request to the cache management unit 33 for each server program.

Next, the cache management unit 33 performs a step of confirming whether or not the list of information data requested from the terminal 10 exists in the list stored in the cache squirrel 1 and the unit 40. In this case, if the cache management unit 33 determines that the list of information data requested from the terminal 10 does not exist in the list stored in the cache list unit 40, the cache management unit 33 The input acquisition request is output to the information acquisition unit 34.

On the other hand, when the cache management unit 33 determines that the list of information information requested from the terminal 10 exists in the list stored in the cache list unit 40, the cache management unit 33 adds The corresponding information data is obtained from the cache storage unit 37. The cache management unit 33 outputs the obtained information data via the virtual file unit from the server program 31a to the server program 31et.

Next, in order to obtain the information stored in the information server 20, the information obtaining unit 34 first sends a conversion request for converting the obtaining request to a predetermined protocol to the protocol converting unit 35. Perform the step of notifying. Next, the protocol conversion unit 35 performs a step of converting the acquisition request into an acquisition request composed of a single protocol.

Specifically, an acquisition request (including a conversion request) is input from the information acquisition unit 34 The protocol converter 35 converts a protocol constituting the acquisition request into a single protocol based on the input acquisition request. The protocol converter 35 outputs the acquisition request converted to the single protocol to the communication I / F 39.

Next, the communication IZF 39 to which the acquisition request has been input from the protocol conversion unit 35 transmits the input acquisition request to the communication I / F 26. After that, the communication IZF 26 that has received the acquisition request from the communication I 39 outputs the received acquisition request to the protocol conversion unit 25. The file management unit 23 to which the acquisition request has been input from the protocol conversion unit 25 acquires the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit 24 based on the received acquisition request. The acquired information data is transmitted to the communication I / F 39 via the communication I / F 26.

Then, the cache management unit 33 to which the information is input from the information acquisition unit 34 determines whether or not the storage capacity corresponding to the input information data is in the cache storage unit 37. I do. In this case, if there is a storage capacity corresponding to the input information data, the cache storage unit 37 stores the input information data. ■

On the other hand, when the cache storage unit 37 does not have the storage capacity corresponding to the input information data, the cache storage unit 37 refers to the list stored in the cache list unit 40. Delete information data that has been recorded a small number of times and the storage date and time has not passed much. At this time, the cache management unit 33 deletes the list corresponding to the deleted information data from the cache list unit 40. After that, the cache management unit 33 that has freed the storage capacity of the information data stores the input information data in the cache storage unit 37.

Thereafter, the server programs 31a to 31c transfer the information data stored in the cache storage unit 37 through the virtual file unit 32 according to a specific protocol structure handled by the server programs 31a to 31c. Perform the step of replying. concrete First, the server programs 31 a to 31 c acquire the information data stored in the cache storage unit 37 through the virtual file unit 32. The server programs 31a to 31c convert the acquired information data into a predetermined protocol. The server programs 31a to 31c transmit the information data converted into a predetermined protocol to the corresponding terminal 10.

(D) Information provision program

The steps described in the above information providing method can be realized by executing a dedicated program written in a predetermined programming language on a general-purpose computer 300 such as a personal computer.

As shown in FIG. 7, the general-purpose computer 300 includes a communication unit 310 for transmitting and receiving an acquisition request between the communication I / F 38 and the communication I / F 39, and a hard disk for storing information data. 302, a memory 304 for temporarily storing data read from the hard disk 302 and a calculation result by the CPU 306, and processing contents processed by the general-purpose combination 300 A monitor 305 for displaying data, a CPU 306 for performing various arithmetic processing, an input / output unit 303 for inputting / outputting predetermined data, and a bus 307 for interconnecting these devices. It has.

The communication unit 301 transmits and receives data between the communication I / F 38 and the communication I / F 39. The communication unit 301 is, for example, a communication device that transmits and receives data via a communication line such as LAN. Note that the communication unit 301 may be a wireless communication unit such as a wireless LAN.

The hard disk 302 stores the dedicated program described above. The hard disk 302 also functions as a cache storage 37 that temporarily stores information data obtained from the information storage 24.

The input / output unit 303 inputs and outputs predetermined data. I / O section 3 0 3 02 10432

22 includes, for example, a display device for displaying data contents, a reading device for reading a dedicated program stored in a CD / CD—RZFD, etc., and an input / output device such as a printer device for printing data information. No.

The CPU 306 functions as various processing units by executing a dedicated program installed on the hard disk 302. Specifically, the CPU 303 includes a protocol conversion unit 35 that converts the acquisition request received by the communication unit 301 into a single protocol, and a search unit 36 that transmits information data corresponding to the acquisition request to the hard disk 30. If the search is performed from the information stored in the cache storage unit 37, the search unit 36 transmits the searched information data to the terminal 10; A cache management unit 33 that obtains the information corresponding to the request from the information storage unit 24, a virtual file unit 32 that outputs the acquisition request obtained by the server program 31 to the cache management unit 33, A retrieval unit 36 for retrieving whether or not the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the hard disk 302, and request information according to a protocol corresponding to the format of the information data is acquired from the terminal 10, and the acquired request Emotion Based on the server program 31a to 31c that outputs an acquisition request to acquire the required information data and the acquisition request converted to a single protocol, And an information acquisition unit 34 for acquiring information data. The CPU 306 causes the above-described units to function.

In the present embodiment, the information providing program installed in the general-purpose computer 300 having the above configuration can be executed according to the following procedure. First, the terminal 10 performs a step of transmitting request information to the communication I / F 38.

Specifically, the terminal 10 generates request information for requesting information data based on a predetermined protocol by causing a user to operate an operation unit (not shown). The terminal 10 transmits the generated request information to the communication network 50 The data is transmitted to any of the server programs 31a to 31c corresponding to each protocol via the I / F 38 and the communication unit 301.

Then, the server programs 31a to 31c that have acquired the request information from the terminal 10 interpret the protocol that constitutes the request information based on the acquired request information. The server program 31 a to server program 31 c interpreting the protocol that constitutes the request information sends the acquisition request for acquiring the required information data for each interpreted protocol to the virtual file part 3 2 (virtual file System).

Thereafter, the virtual file unit 32 to which the acquisition request has been input from the server programs 31a to 31c outputs the input acquisition request to the cache management unit 33. The virtual file section 32 stores the input acquisition request in the memory 304.

Further, the cache management unit 33 to which the acquisition request is input from the virtual file unit 32 causes the cache storage unit 37 to search for information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the input acquisition request. The search command signal is output to the search unit 36.

Next, the retrieval unit 36 performs a step of acquiring information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the cache storage unit 37. More specifically, the search unit 36 to which the search command signal is input from the cache management unit 33 is based on the input search command signal. The information data corresponding to the acquisition request included in the search command signal is stored in the cache. Department

3 Search from 7

If the search unit 36 cannot search the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the search unit 36 indicates that it cannot search the information data corresponding to the acquisition request. A search disable signal is output to the cache management unit 33. 02 10432

24 The cache management unit 33 to which the search disable signal is input from the search unit 36 obtains the acquisition request stored in the memory 304 based on the input search disable signal. Then, the acquired acquisition request is output to the information acquisition unit 34. The information acquisition unit 34 to which the acquisition request has been input from the cache management unit 33 outputs the input acquisition request to the protocol conversion unit 35.

On the other hand, when the search unit 36 searches the cache storage unit 37 for information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the search unit 36 outputs the searched information data to the cache management unit 33. Then, the information data searched by the search unit 36 is transmitted to the terminal 10 via each unit.

Next, if the information data corresponding to the acquisition request cannot be retrieved from the cache storage unit 37, the protocol conversion unit 35 converts the acquisition request composed of the protocol into a single protocol. Perform the steps to convert to the configured acquisition request. Specifically, first, when the retrieval unit 36 cannot retrieve the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the cache storage unit 37, the retrieval unit 36 outputs the acquisition request to the protocol conversion unit 35.

Thereafter, the protocol conversion unit 35 to which the acquisition request has been input from the information acquisition unit 34 converts the protocol constituting the acquisition request into a single protocol based on the input acquisition request. The protocol conversion unit 35 outputs the converted acquisition request to the communication unit 301.

Then, the communication unit 301 performs a step of acquiring information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information server 20. Specifically, the communication unit 301 to which the acquisition request has been input from the protocol conversion unit 35 transmits the input acquisition request to the communication IZF via the communication IZF 39.

Thereafter, based on the acquisition request received by the communication I / F 26, the file management unit 23 acquires information data corresponding to the acquisition request. The information 02 10432

It is output to the information acquisition unit 34 through the 25-port protocol conversion unit 25, communication I / F 26, communication IZF 39, and protocol conversion unit 35. Further, the information acquisition unit 34 to which the information data is input from the protocol conversion unit 35 outputs the input information data to the communication unit 301.

Next, the communication unit 301, which has obtained the information data from the information obtaining unit 34, stores the obtained information data in the memory 304. Then, the cache management unit 33 acquires the information data stored in the memory 304. The cache management unit 33 stores the acquired information data in the hard disk 302 (or the cache storage unit 37).

Further, the cache management unit 33 that has obtained the information data stored in the memory 304 outputs the obtained information data to the virtual file unit 32. The virtual file section 32 to which the information data is input from the cache management section 33 outputs the input information data to the communication section 301 via the server programs 31a to 31c. I do. The communication unit 310 to which the information data has been input from the virtual file unit 32 transmits the input information data to the corresponding terminal 10 via the communication I / F 38 and the communication network 50.

According to the present invention, since the general-purpose computer 300 can use the acquisition request converted into a single protocol to acquire the information data corresponding to the acquisition request, the general-purpose computer 300 A value of 0 has the effect that information data corresponding to the acquisition request can be acquired in a short time.

In addition, the information providing program can provide the same functions and effects as described above even when a general-purpose computer is connected to a communication network. Furthermore, the above-mentioned information providing program can provide the same operational effects as described above even when a general-purpose computer and a plurality of server computers are connected. ' The information providing program can be recorded on a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 8, the recording medium includes, for example, a flexible disk 400, a compact disk 500, an IC chip 600, a cassette tape 700, and the like. According to the recording medium on which such an information providing program is recorded, the information providing program can be easily stored, transported, and sold.

Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, an acquisition request can be transmitted to an information server that stores information data without the protocol analysis institution analyzing the acquisition request requested from each terminal. Furthermore, the load on the lines connected to the information server from a plurality of terminals and the processing capacity of the information server can be reduced, and the processing load on each information server can be distributed.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. An information providing system that provides information through a network constructed by connecting terminals to each other through communication lines.

An information storage unit for storing information data such as character data and image data; andrequest information from the terminal according to a protocol corresponding to the format of the information data, and necessary information based on the received request information. An information data processing unit for outputting an acquisition request for acquiring data,

A protocol conversion unit that converts the acquisition request into a single protocol,

An information acquisition unit that acquires the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit based on the acquisition request converted to the single protocol.

An information providing system comprising:

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein

A cache storage unit that temporarily stores the information data corresponding to the acquisition request obtained by the information acquisition unit from the information storage unit;

A search unit for searching whether or not the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage unit;

When the search unit searches for the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the cache storage unit, the search unit transmits the searched information data to the terminal, and the search unit responds to the acquisition request. A cache management unit that acquires the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit when the corresponding information data cannot be retrieved from the cache storage unit;

An information providing system comprising:

3. An information providing method for providing information through a network constructed by connecting terminals to each other via a communication line,

Use a protocol that supports the format of information data such as character data and image data. Receiving request information from the terminal, and outputting an acquisition request for acquiring required information data based on the received request information;

Converting the acquisition request into a single protocol;

Acquiring the information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the acquisition request converted into the single protocol;

An information providing method, comprising:

4. The information providing method according to claim 3, wherein

A step of temporarily storing the information data corresponding to the obtained acquisition request in a cache storage unit;

A step of searching whether or not the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage unit;

When the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is retrieved from the cache storage unit, the retrieved information data is transmitted to the terminal, and the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage. Acquiring the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from the information storage unit storing the information data,

An information providing method, comprising:

5. An information providing program that provides information through a network constructed by connecting terminals to each other through communication lines.

Request information is received from the terminal according to a protocol corresponding to the format of information data such as character data and image data, and an acquisition request for acquiring required information data is received based on the received request information. Outputting,

Converting the acquisition request into a single protocol;

Acquiring the information data corresponding to the acquisition request based on the acquisition request converted into the single protocol; Information providing program for executing a process having

6. The information providing program according to claim 5, wherein

Retrieving whether or not the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is stored in the cache storage unit;

When the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is retrieved from the cache storage unit, the retrieved information data is transmitted to the terminal, and the information data corresponding to the acquisition request is transmitted to the cache storage unit. Acquiring the information data corresponding to the acquisition request from an information storage unit that stores the information data, if the information cannot be retrieved from the unit.

Information providing program for executing a process having