JPH11143884A - Data retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable a search request program of a host terminal to automatically select a host computer to execute a search according to search conditions, thereby distributing the load on the host computer and shortening the search time. SOLUTION: A main host computer 1, a sub host computer 2 and a host terminal 3 are mutually connected by a network 4, and main data 5 and sub data 6 composed of the same static data are respectively used as main data. It is managed by the host computer 1 and the secondary host computer 2. Search request and data display program 1 with host automatic selection function of host terminal 3
1 determines which of the primary host computer 1 and the secondary host computer 2 is preferentially distributed and given the search request based on the host selection condition 13. The host selection condition is based on a search time zone, a required time, and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for retrieving data managed by each of a plurality of host computers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional data search system. The main host computer 1, the sub host computer 2, and the host terminal 3 are connected to a network 4
Are interconnected by The main data 5 and the sub data 6 are both stored in a storage device such as a disk in the main host computer 1 and the sub host computer 2 respectively.
Is managed by

The main data 5 and the sub data 6 are statically constituted by the same data. Here, “statically the same” means that the timing at which the main data 5 and the sub-data 6 are updated at the time of updating the data is shifted, and during the shifted timing, the main data 5 and the sub-data 6 are not updated. It may be transiently different, but it means that it has the same data except at the time of updating.
The main data 5 held in the disk by the main host computer 1 is updated in synchronization with the sub data 6 held in the disk by the sub host computer 2 via the network 4 so that the main data 5 is updated. And sub data 6
Can be kept statically the same.

[0006] Search conditions and search results are displayed on the host terminal 3 by executing the search request and the data display program 7 of the host terminal 3, and a search request is generated.

[0005] The search request is transmitted to the main host computer 1, and a search is performed by executing a data search program 8 of the main host computer 1. The main host computer 1 is a commonly used host computer,
Since the secondary host computer 2 is a backup host computer for the primary host computer 1, it is not used for data retrieval in normal operation. When the main host computer 1 stops abnormally, the sub host computer 2 operates.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of data retrieval in the system shown in FIG. In the data search, first, the search request of the host terminal 3 and the data display program 7 are executed to display the content to be searched, and one search is selected (step ST50).
1).

[0007] For example, when the search content of search A is selected, a screen for inputting search conditions of search A is displayed, and the search conditions are input (step ST502).

The input search condition is transmitted to the main host computer 1 as a search request via the network 4 together with a command (search command) for instructing a search (step S).
T503), the data is passed to the data search program 8 of the main host computer 1. The data search program 8 receives the search request and performs data search for the main data 5 based on the search condition (step ST504).

When the data search is completed, host terminal 3 receives the search result data from main host computer 1 via network 4 (step ST505), and the received search result data is displayed on the screen of host terminal 3. (Step ST506).

[0010] Search conditions and search result data pass through a search A request response path 9 of the network 4. On the other hand, for example, search B
Is selected, the search condition and the search result data use the search B request response path 10 of the network 4. In any case, the search request from the host terminal 3 is always received by the main host computer 1 and the data search program 8 searches for the main data 5.

[0011]

Since the conventional data search system apparatus is configured as described above, the search processing is concentrated on only one main host computer 1, so that the load is large and the search time is long. There was a problem.
Another problem is that the investment effect is reduced because two or more host computers cannot be used effectively. In other words, it is not easy to take the time required for the maintenance of the main host computer 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. A search request program of a host terminal can automatically select a host computer to execute a search based on search conditions. The purpose is to balance the load on the computer (load distribution) and reduce the search time.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems Claim 1 of the present invention
The first is that the same data is kept statically the first
And a second storage device, first and second host computers respectively managing the first and second storage devices, and an instruction to execute a search for the data according to a time zone in which the search is performed. And a terminal that preferentially distributes and supplies the first and second host computers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention,
First and second storage devices that statically hold the same data, first and second host computers that respectively manage the first and second storage devices, and search for the data A terminal for giving instructions to the first and second host computers preferentially according to the time required for the search.

According to a third aspect of the present invention,
First and second storage devices that statically hold the same data, first and second host computers that respectively manage the first and second storage devices, and search for the data A data search system comprising: a terminal that preferentially distributes instructions to a non-stop one of the first and second host computers.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Basic Concept. FIG. 1 shows the following:
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration adopted for any of the data search systems according to the reference example of the present invention and the first to third embodiments. The main host computer 1, the sub host computer 2, and the host terminal 3 are interconnected by a network 4, and the main data 5 and the sub data 6, which are composed of the same static data, are all discs or the like. The storage device is common to the conventional technology in that the storage device is managed by the main host computer 1 and the sub host computer 2, respectively.

However, the same program as the data search program 8 of the main host computer 1 operates on the sub host computer 2. In FIG. 1, the data search programs 8 stored in the main host computer 1 and the sub host computer 2 are denoted by 8a and 8b, respectively.

The host terminal 3 has a search request and data display program 11 with a host automatic selection function instead of the search request and data display program 7. The search request with host automatic selection function and data display program 11 determines, based on the host selection condition 13, to which of the main host computer 1 and the sub host computer 2 is preferentially distributed and given.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of data retrieval in the system shown in FIG. In the data search, the content to be searched is selected by the search request and display program 11 with the host automatic selection function of the host terminal 3 (step ST201). For example, when the search content of search A is selected, a screen for inputting search conditions of search A is displayed, and the search conditions are input (step ST202).

As described in each embodiment described later, it is determined that the selected search A is transmitted to the main host computer 1 preferentially by the search request and display program 11 with the automatic host selection function (FIG. 1). Step ST
203). The input search request (input search condition and search command) is transmitted to the main host computer 1 via the network 4 (step ST204), and passed to the data search program 8a of the main host computer 1. The data search program 8a searches the main data 5 based on the received search conditions (step ST20).
5).

When the data search is completed, the host terminal 3 receives the search result data from the main host computer 1 via the network 4 (step ST206), and the search request with the host automatic selection function and the search received by the display program 11 The result data is displayed on the screen of the host terminal 3 (step ST207).

When the above-described transmission / reception of search requests and transmission / reception of search result data are performed, search conditions and search result data use the search A request response path 9 of the network 4.

On the other hand, in step ST201, search B
Is selected, the search request and display program 11 with the host automatic selection function determines that this is preferentially transmitted to the secondary host computer 2 as shown in each embodiment described later. (Step ST2
03). The input search request (input search condition and search command) is transmitted to the secondary host computer 2 via the network 4 (step ST204), and passed to the data search program 8b of the secondary host computer 2. The data search program 8b searches the sub-data 6 based on the received search condition (step ST20).
5).

When the data search is completed, the host terminal 3 receives the search result data from the secondary host computer 2 via the network 4 (step ST206), and the search request with the host automatic selection function and the search received by the display program 11 The result data is displayed on the screen of the host terminal 3 (step ST207).

When the above-described transmission / reception of search requests and transmission / reception of search result data are performed, search conditions and search result data use the search B request response path 12 of the network 4.

That is, the search request from the host terminal 3 is:
Search request and display program 1 with automatic host selection function
The host computer, which is determined under the predetermined condition, receives the data preferentially, and one of the data retrieval programs 8a and 8b retrieves either the main data 5 or the sub data 6, respectively. In the following embodiments, how to preferentially distribute a search request to one host computer in step ST203 will be described.

Reference example. Table 1 shows host selection conditions 13 according to the reference example of the present invention.

[0028]

[Table 1]

Searches A to F are listed as search function names, and at least a part or all of these search function names are displayed on the host terminal 3 in step ST201.

For example, when the search A is selected, the search execution host is assigned to the main host computer 1 from Table 1, and the search request for the search A is preferentially distributed to the main host computer 1. When the search B is selected, the search execution host is assigned to the secondary host computer 2 from Table 1, and the search request for the search B is distributed to the secondary host computer 2 with priority.

Here, "preferentially" does not necessarily mean that the assigned host computer responds to the search request. For example, when the searches A and E are successively selected in this order, the main host computer 1 is preferentially allocated to any of the search requests based on Table 1.
However, if the search E is performed after the completion of the search A, the processing cannot be speeded up. Therefore, since the search E is performed before the search A is completed, the secondary host computer 2 responds to the search E search request. Of course, if the search for the search A has already been completed when the search request for the search E is generated, the main host computer 1 will respond to the search request for the search E.

[0032] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 8-110881 discloses a technique in which a plurality of workstations on a network provide a client with pre-defined information defining the relationship of a server to which the client intends to receive data transfer. It has been disclosed. In addition, for example,
FIG. 4 of -70367 discloses a technique in which an application program name and a host computer number correspond to each entry. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-266643 discloses a host management table 3 in which information on performance, load, and priority for each of a plurality of hosts is registered. However, none of the host selection conditions 13 described in the following embodiments is disclosed.

Embodiment 1 Table 2 shows the host selection condition 13 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034]

[Table 2]

In the present embodiment, the search execution hosts are classified by time zone, for example, the first time zone (8: 0)
At 07:00 to 17:00), the secondary host computer 2 preferentially processes the search request, and the second time slot (17:00)
At 00:00), the main host computer 1 processes the search request with priority.

The searches in the first and second time zones correspond to the searches B and A in the above "basic idea", respectively. Therefore, any one of the host computers is unlikely to be given a search command, and can perform maintenance during the time period. In addition, in a time zone where search is concentrated (for example, the first time zone), a quick search can be performed using a host computer having a higher processing capacity (for example, the main host computer 1) for search. In a non-concentrated time zone (for example, the second time zone), a quick search can be performed by using a host computer having a lower processing capacity (for example, the secondary host computer 2) for the search. On the other hand, the host computer with the higher capability can be used for other jobs requiring high processing capability other than the search.

Embodiment 2 Table 3 shows the host selection condition 13 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0038]

[Table 3]

In the present embodiment, the search execution hosts are classified according to the time required to execute the search. For example, for a search request that requires the first search time (the search time is 10 minutes or more), the search request is sent to the secondary host computer 2.
Is processed preferentially, and for a search request requiring the second search time (the search time is less than 10 minutes), the main host computer 1 preferentially processes the search request. Therefore, a search with a short required time is preferentially executed in the main host computer separately from a search with a long required time, and a data search is performed while avoiding a situation where a search with a short required time waits for completion of a search with a long required time. Can be performed in a shorter time.

Embodiment 3 The search request can be preferentially distributed to the non-stopped one of the primary host computer 1 and the secondary host computer 2 and given.
By performing such control in step ST203, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the search command waits for the stopped host computer to execute, thereby reducing the time for performing data search.

Modification Example Note that, in the above reference example and each embodiment, two host computers have been described.
It is possible to select a host computer that performs the same search even for three or more computers.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first
In addition, since the load on the second host computer is distributed, there is an effect that the time for performing data search is reduced.

In particular, according to the data search system according to the first aspect of the present invention, a search command is given to the first and second host computers preferentially according to the time zone in which the search is performed. Therefore, any one of the host computers is unlikely to be given a search command, and can perform maintenance during the time period. In addition, when the search is concentrated, a quick search can be performed using the host computer with the higher processing capacity for the search, and when the search is not concentrated, the host computer with the lower processing capacity is searched. While a quick search can be performed even when the host computer is used, a host computer having a higher capability can be used for other jobs requiring a higher processing capability other than the search.

In particular, according to the data search system according to the second aspect of the present invention, a search command is preferentially distributed to the first and second host computers according to the time required for the search. Therefore, a search with a short time required
A search that is executed separately from a search that requires a long time can be shortened, and a search that requires a short time can be prevented from waiting for the end of a search that requires a long time to complete, thereby shortening the time for searching data.

In particular, according to the data search system of the third aspect of the present invention, the search command is preferentially distributed to the non-stopped one of the first and second host computers. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the search command waits for the stopped host computer to be executed, thereby shortening the time for performing the data search.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration employed for any of the data search systems according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a data search in the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conventional data search system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a conventional data search operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 primary host computer, 2 secondary host computers, 3 host terminals, 4 networks, 5 main data,
6 Sub-data, 8a, 8b Data search program, 1
1 Search request and data display program with host automatic selection function, 13 Host selection conditions.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first and a second storage device that statically hold the same data; a first and a second host computer that respectively manage the first and the second storage device; And a terminal for giving instructions to execute the search to the first and second host computers preferentially according to the time zone in which the search is performed. 2. A first and a second storage device that statically store the same data, a first and a second host computer respectively managing the first and the second storage device, and the data And a terminal for giving instructions for executing the search to the first and second host computers preferentially according to the time required for the search. 3. A first and a second storage device that statically retain the same data, a first and a second host computer that respectively manage the first and the second storage device, and the data The first and second instructions for executing the search
A data search system, which preferentially distributes and gives to a non-stop host computer.