JPH05191452A - Store and forward exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process much more communication and to build up a comparatively large scale store and forward exchange system. CONSTITUTION:The exchange is provided with a bulk section 5 managing the storage of original data to a disk device 51 and with a main section 6 managing the distribution of the original data stored in the disk device 51. CPUs 52, 61 are provided with a procedure for gabbage collection processing catalog information in which the catalog information provided in the bulk section 5 and the catalog information provided in the main section 6 are compared and they are matched when they are dissident.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage / exchange device for temporarily storing, for example, facsimile data and the like and then appropriately transmitting the data to a designated delivery destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a storage and exchange system to which a conventional storage and exchange device is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a storage and exchange device, which has a CPU 11 for executing various processes for realizing storage and exchange, and a memory 12 for storing data such as management information necessary for the CPU 11 to perform various processes. is doing. An external storage device 2 for storing original data, which is data to be exchanged, is connected to the storage exchange device 1. A plurality of facsimile terminals 4-1, 4-2, ..., 4-n are connected to the storage / exchange apparatus 1 via the exchange 3.

In this way, in the storage / exchange device 1, the document data transmitted from any of the facsimile terminals 4-1 to 4-n and coming through the exchange 3 is stored in the external storage device 2 under the control of the CPU 11. To do. At this time, the CPU 11
Creates management information indicating a delivery destination of the received document data, and stores the management information in the memory 12. And the CPU 11
Reads out the manuscript data stored in the external storage device 2 as appropriate and sends it to the destination specified for the manuscript data.

As described above, in the conventional store-and-forward device 1,
One CPU 11 performs all processing. Therefore, the amount of data that can be processed is small, and it is difficult to process many communications.

[0005]

As described above, since the conventional storage and exchange device performs all the processing by one processing unit, the amount of communication that can be processed is small and the storage and exchange is relatively small. Only the system could be constructed.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to be able to process a larger number of communications and to construct a relatively large-scale storage and exchange system. It is to provide a storage exchange device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Storage management means for storing data in a storage means and management of a storage status of the data in the storage means, for example, a bulk management section, and a storage status of the data in the storage means While managing the storage management means for transmitting the data stored in the storage means to the designated delivery destination, for example, with storage and exchange control means such as a main unit,
Comparing and monitoring the management information of the storage status of the data in the storage means by the storage management means and the management information of the storage status of the data in the storage means by the storage exchange control means,
Both management information are processed so as to match both management information.

[0008]

By taking such means, the storage management means controls the storage of the data in the storage means, and the storage exchange control means transmits the data stored in the storage means to the designated delivery destination. It is distributed. The storage status of the data in the storage means is monitored by both the storage management means and the storage exchange control means, and the storage status management information by the storage management means and the storage status are stored. The exchange control means compares and monitors the management information of the storage status of the data in the storage means, and both management information are processed so as to match the management information. Therefore, the processing is efficiently performed by the storage management means and the storage exchange control means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile storage and exchange system configured by applying the storage and exchange apparatus according to this embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 5 is a bulk section, which stores original data that has arrived via the exchange 3. This bulk part 5
Has a disk device 51, a CPU 52, and a memory 53. The disk device 51 is for accumulating document data, and is a large-capacity disk device capable of writing and reading, such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device. The CPU 53 controls the storage of original data in the disk device 51, and
Document data in the disk device 51 is managed. The memory 53 stores management information such as catalog information indicating the storage status of data in the disk device 51.

A main portion 6 is connected to the bulk portion 5. The main unit 6 includes a CPU 61 and a memory 62.
And have. The CPU 61 performs main processing in the storage exchange apparatus, such as distribution processing of original data stored in the disk device 51 of the bulk unit 5. The memory 62 is C
It is for storing data such as management information necessary for the PU 61 to perform various processes. An external storage device 7 is connected to the main unit 6. The external storage device 7 is for auxiliary storage of management information and the like in the main unit 6.

Next, the operation of the storage / exchange apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, the facsimile terminals 4-1 to 4-
When the manuscript data transmitted from any of the n reaches the bulk unit 5 via the exchange 3, the bulk unit 5 executes the CPU 5
2 stores the received original data in the empty area of the disk device 51. An area for storing catalog information is set in the memory 53 of the bulk unit 5, and C
The PU 52 updates this catalog information based on the area where the document data is stored. The catalog information is a map corresponding to the data storage area of the disk device 51, and indicates whether or not the document data is stored in each area, as data of "1" or "0" for each area.

The CPU 52 of the bulk unit 5 transfers the catalog information in the memory 53 to the main unit 6 when the storage of the original data in the disk device 51 is completed. An area for storing catalog information is set in the memory 62 of the main unit 6 similarly to the memory 53 of the bulk unit 5, and the CPU 61 of the main unit 6 stores the catalog information transferred as described above. It stores in the applicable area of 62.

Further, information such as a delivery destination designated from the facsimile terminal which has transmitted the manuscript data, the connection of each manuscript data in page units, the storage place of the manuscript data, etc. are transmitted via the bulk section 5. It is given to the main part 6. Upon receiving such information, the CPU 61 of the main unit 6 creates management information in a predetermined form, and stores it in the memory 6
It is stored in a predetermined area of No. 2.

On the other hand, when distributing the original data stored in the disk device 51, the CPU 61 of the main unit 6
By referring to the management information stored in the memory 62, the disk device 51 is sent to the facsimile terminal designated as the delivery destination.
The corresponding manuscript data among the manuscript data stored in is transmitted. After the transmission is completed, the CP of the main section 6
U61 displays the management information (including the catalog information) in the memory 62 corresponding to the transmitted original data, and the CPU 52 of the bulk unit 5 displays the catalog information in the memory 53 corresponding to the transmitted original data. Delete each.

As described above, the processing relating to the storage of the original data in the disk device 51 is performed in the bulk section 5 which is different from the main section 6 which performs other processing such as distribution of the original data. The processing load on the CPU 53 of the bulk unit 5 and the CPU 61 of the main unit 6 is reduced, and more original data can be received, stored, and distributed.

By the way, when the distributed processing is performed as described above, the original data stored in the disk device 51 is managed by both the bulk section 5 and the main section 6. In normal operation, the management information in the bulk unit 5 and the management information in the main unit 6 are updated in the same manner, so that the management information does not become inconsistent. However, the original data that arrives in the bulk unit 5 is not stored in the disk device 5
If the power of the main unit 6 is turned off while the data is being stored in 1, the management information of the bulk unit 5 is updated, but the management information of the main unit 6 is not updated.
That is, when the bulk section 5 finishes storing the document data, the updated catalog information is transferred to the main section 6, but if the main section 6 is not operating normally at this time, the catalog information of the main section 6 is transferred. Is not updated. Therefore, when the operation of the main unit 6 is restored thereafter, the catalog information of the bulk unit 5 and the catalog information of the main unit 6 become different. In this storage and exchange device, in order to prevent the above problems from occurring, CP
U52 and 61 are provided with the following garbage collection processing procedure.

That is, first, when a request for garbage collection occurs in the CPU 61 of the main unit 6, the CPU
61 determines whether the system is closed as shown in FIG. 2 (step 2a). The request for garbage collection is generated, for example, when an instruction is input from a keyboard (not shown) or when the power is turned on.

Here, if the system is not closed, C
PU61 ignores the garbage collection request,
The process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if the system is closed, the CPU 61 uses the catalog information stored in the memory 62 as a request for garbage collection to the bulk unit 5.
To (step 2b).

When the CPU 52 of the bulk unit 5 receives the catalog information from the main unit 6, the CPU 52 buffers the received catalog information in the memory 53 (step 3a). After that, the CPU 52 stores the catalog information of the bulk unit 5 and the buffer information. A comparison process with the ringed catalog information is performed (step 3b).

The comparison process will be described in detail below. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 52 takes out one (1 bit) buffered catalog information and compares it with the catalog information (stored in the memory 53) of the opposing bulk part 5 (step 4a). And CPU
52 checks whether or not the catalog information matches each other (step 4b), and if they match, deletes the buffered catalog information (1 bit for comparison) (step 4c), and then executes the process. Move to 4d.

On the other hand, if they do not match in step 4b, the CPU 52 checks whether or not the catalog information exists only in the main part 6 (step 4e), and if so, the buffered catalog information (compare Went 1
Bit) is left as it is (step 4f), and the process proceeds to step 4d. Here, the reason why the buffered catalog information is left as it is is to notify the main unit 6 that the catalog information is inconsistent information.

Furthermore, if the catalog information exists only in the main section 6 in step 4e, the CPU 52 checks whether the catalog information exists only in the bulk section 5 (step 4g), and if so, the bulk information. The document data corresponding to the catalog information of the section 5 (1 bit compared) is deleted from the disk device 51 (step 4h), and the catalog information is also deleted (step 4i).
After this, the CPU 52 shifts the processing to step 4d.

If the catalog information does not exist in either the bulk section 5 or the main section 6, it is the unused information area that is being compared. Therefore, the processing is performed without any processing at step 4d. Move to.

In step 4d, the CPU 52 searches the next comparison target catalog information. Then CPU5
2 determines whether or not the comparison of all catalog data is completed by determining whether or not the searched data is catalog information (step 4j), and the above-described processing is performed until the comparison of all catalog data is completed. repeat. Then, when the comparison of all the catalog data is completed, the comparison process is ended.

When the above comparison processing is completed, the CPU 52
Returns the buffered catalog information to the main unit 6 as response data (step 3c in FIG. 2), and ends the process.

The CPU 61 of the main unit 6 receives the response data returned from the bulk unit 5 as described above (step 2c), and checks whether there is mismatched catalog information (step 2d). Here, if there is unmatched catalog information, the CPU 61 deletes all unmatched catalog information from the catalog information stored in the memory 62 (step 2e), and then ends the process.
If there is no mismatched catalog information, the process is terminated.

Thus, the catalog information contained in the bulk part 5 and the catalog information contained in the main part 6 are matched with each other. As a result, decentralized processing by the bulk unit 5 and the main unit 6 can be performed without any trouble.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the catalog information is matched in the garbage collection,
If there is other information that the bulk portion 5 and the main portion 6 have in common, this information may be matched. In the above embodiment, the facsimile terminals 4-1 to 4-n are connected to store and exchange the original data of the facsimile, but the present invention is also applicable to the one to store and exchange the data other than the original data of the facsimile. Is possible. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030]

According to the present invention, storage management means, such as a bulk section, for storing data in the storage means and managing the storage status of the data in the storage means, and storing the data in the storage means. A storage exchange control unit, such as a main unit, which transmits the data stored in the storage unit to a designated distribution destination while managing the storage state is provided, and the data stored in the storage unit by the storage management unit is provided. The storage state management information and the storage exchange control means management information on the storage state of the data in the storage means are compared and monitored, and both management information are processed so that the two management information match. The distributed data and management information do not become inconsistent, and the processing can be performed efficiently in a distributed manner, more communication can be processed, and relatively large-scale storage is possible. The switching system a construct depot changer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile storage / exchange system configured by applying a storage / exchange apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for garbage collection of CPUs 52 and 61 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of comparison processing at the time of garbage collection by the CPU 52 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Exchanger, 4-1 to 4-n ... Facsimile terminal, 5 ... Bulk part, 51 ... Disk device, 52 ... CPU, 53 ... Memory, 6 ... Main part, 61 ... CPU, 62 ... Memory, 7 ...
External storage device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When data arrives from any one of a plurality of communication terminals connected via an exchange, the data is stored in a storage means, and then the data is read out from the storage means and transmitted to a designated destination. In the exchange device, a storage management unit that stores data in the storage unit and manages a data storage state in the storage unit; and a storage management unit that stores the data in the storage unit while managing the data storage state in the storage unit. Storage and exchange control means for transmitting the stored data to a designated distribution destination, management information on the storage state of data in the storage means by the storage management means, and storage of data in the storage means by the storage and exchange control means Compare and monitor the management information of the situation,
A storage and exchange apparatus comprising: a garbage collection unit that processes both management information so that the two management information match.