JPH10198590A - Contents management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize access without permitting a user to be conscious of a server position stored in the contents by constituting physical information from stored position information on a physical file storing multi-media data and setting the physical file and logic information to correspond to specified ratios. SOLUTION: Attribute information is arranged on a database server 3 and it is divided into logic information and physical information so as to be managed. Logic information is composed of ID 21 which uniquely identifies logic information, retrieval attribute information 12 used when multi-media data which the user requires is retrieved and a pointer 22 for plural pieces of physical information. On the other hand, physical information is composed of stored position information 14 of the physical file 15 storing multi-media data. The physical file 15 storing multi-media data and physical information is made to correspond by one to one or physical information and logic information by (n) to one ((n) is not less than one).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a content management method in a multimedia server system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 15 is a system configuration diagram showing a general operation environment of a multimedia server system. In the figure, 1 is a group of file servers for storing physical files including multimedia data, 2 is a control server for managing the entire system, and 3 is various attribute information necessary for managing the multimedia data. The database server to store. Reference numeral 4 denotes a client group used by a user who accesses multimedia data and has a connection configuration via the network 5.

[0003] Generally, multimedia data has a large physical size and a large network bandwidth required for its distribution. Therefore, there are cases where the physical storage capacity of one machine is exceeded and the network capacity which can be distributed from one machine is exceeded. As a general solution in that case, for example, to secure the storage location of multiple physical files,
As shown in the figure, a method is used in which a plurality of file servers 1 are prepared in a cluster configuration, and the same physical file exists in each file server (mirroring).

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information for managing multimedia data. In the figure,
Reference numeral 11 denotes attribute information stored on the database server 3 and includes various search attributes 12 used for searching for multimedia data required by the user, an index 13 indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file, And storage location information 14 of a physical file including multimedia data. A physical file 15 including multimedia data is stored on the file server group 1 shown in FIG.
5 are associated one-to-one.

[0005] To the user, the entire attribute information is provided as one content. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the portion indicated by the index 13 in one physical file 15 is provided as one content 11.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a method of accessing contents by a user in the multimedia server system configured as described above. The user accesses the content in the following procedure. (Procedure 1) First, the client 4 specifies necessary contents by using means such as a list and a search for the search attribute 12 in the attribute information 11. (Procedure 2) The storage position information 14 of the physical file of the specified content and the index 13 are obtained. (Procedure 3) The physical file 15 is accessed using the storage location information of the physical file obtained in the procedure 2 and the index.

[0007] As described above, access to the contents is performed by managing the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data and the attribute information 11 necessary for managing the physical file 15 in combination.

For example, when it is desired to provide a user with only a part of a physical file (highlight scene or the like) as one content, an index is added as described above, so that only a part of the physical file is provided as a content. As offered.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-342388, there is a method of dividing a physical file into a plurality of allocation blocks to refer to one physical file as a plurality of contents.

[0010]

The conventional content management system is configured as described above, and it is necessary for the user to perform everything from the attribute search to the acquisition of the storage location information. It was necessary to be aware of the configuration of the entire system. Also, when there are multiple physical files that store the same information (when mirrored)
However, since different attribute information is associated with each physical file, there is a problem that the user has to judge which physical file to refer to.

In the case of data having a time axis such as moving image data and audio data, it is required to guarantee isochronism. Therefore, a dedicated server having a different configuration from data having no time axis such as a still image. A system configuration such as storage in a storage device is required. Even in such a system, there is a problem that the user must access the content while being conscious of the server on which the content is stored.

Further, in the content management system adopting an access mode that makes the user aware of the system configuration, it is impossible to perform data distribution processing in consideration of the access right of the content and the load of the entire system.

Further, when a storage location of a physical file is changed when a plurality of contents are stored in one physical file, attribute information of all contents using the physical file must be rewritten. There was a problem.

Further, in order to solve the above problem,
Although a method as disclosed in JP-A-6-342388 is also conceivable,
With the MPEG method, which is currently the mainstream video compression method, physical files cannot be divided,
It was not possible to use this method.

In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to cope with a case where one piece of content information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and enables a user to access a server without knowing the location of a server in which contents are stored. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content management method that enables data distribution in consideration of the overall load.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content management system comprising: a file server storing multimedia data; a client; a database server;
And a network system including a control server for controlling each of the above-described servers, wherein the database server includes attribute information including logical information and physical information, and the logical information searches for an ID that uniquely determines the logical information and multimedia data. And a pointer to a plurality of pieces of physical information. The physical information is composed of storage location information of a physical file in which multimedia data is stored. The information has a structure corresponding to n to 1 (n is 1 or more).

According to a second aspect, in the content management system according to the first aspect, the control server includes server selection means for selecting an optimal file server for distribution based on load information of the file server. is there.

According to a third aspect, in the content management system according to the first aspect, the access right information is added to the logical information, and the control server is provided with an authentication means for controlling the access right based on the access right information. Things.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content management system in a network system including a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server for controlling each of the servers. The content information includes attribute information composed of information and file information, and the content information includes an ID for uniquely determining the content information,
It is composed of a search attribute for searching for multimedia data, an index indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file, and a pointer to one piece of file information. The file information is the physical file in which the multimedia data is stored. It consists of storage location information, one-to-one with the physical file, and one-to-m with the content information.
(M is 1 or more).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in a network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server for controlling each of the above-mentioned servers, the database server comprises: The content set information includes attribute information including set information and file information, and the content set information includes an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of file information, The file information is composed of storage location information of a physical file in which multimedia data is stored. The file information is associated with the physical file on a one-to-one basis and with the content set information on a one-to-one basis (p is one or more). It has a structure .

A content management system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server controlling each of the above-mentioned servers. The content set information includes attribute information including set information, content information, and file information. The content set information includes an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of pieces of content information. The content information is composed of an index indicating the storage location of the multimedia data in the physical file and a pointer to the file information, and the file information is the storage location of the physical file in which the multimedia data is stored. Consists, in one-to-one physical file, also a pair m (m is the aforementioned content information 1
In this case, the content information and the content set information have a structure in which the content information and the content set information are associated in a p-to-1 (p is 1 or more).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content management system in a network system including a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server controlling each of the above-mentioned servers. The content set information includes attribute information including content set information, content information, logical file information, and physical file information. The content set information includes an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching multimedia data, and a plurality of attributes. The content information is composed of an index indicating the storage position of the multimedia data in the physical file and the pointer to the file information. The logical file information is composed of a plurality of physical file information. The physical file information is composed of storage location information of a physical file in which multimedia data is stored. The physical file information is one-to-one with the physical file, the physical file information and the logical file information are n-to-one, the logical file is Information and content information in one to m,
The content information and the content set information have a structure in which p-to-1 correspondence is established.

[0024] In a content management system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the control server includes server selection means for selecting an optimal file server for distribution based on load information of the file server.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation environment configuration diagram of the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG. In the present embodiment, the file server 1 stores a physical file including multimedia data such as moving image information, still image information, and character information. 2 is a control server for managing the entire system, 3 is a database server for storing various attribute information necessary for managing multimedia data, and 4 is a group of clients used by users accessing the multimedia data. It is connected to the network 5.

In general, multimedia data has a large physical size and a large network bandwidth required for its distribution. Therefore, there are cases where the physical storage capacity of one machine is exceeded and the network capacity which can be distributed from one machine is exceeded. For this reason, a plurality of file servers 1 are prepared (cluster configuration), and the same physical file exists in each file server, and a mirroring configuration is adopted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 26 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3 and is managed by being divided into logical information and physical information. Here, the logical information is ID 21 for uniquely identifying the logical information, and search attribute information 1 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user.
2 and pointers 22 to a plurality of pieces of physical information. On the other hand, the physical information is composed of storage location information 14 of a physical file 15 storing multimedia data. Information is associated with n to 1 (n is 1 or more). Where n
Is 2 or more, the physical file is mirrored. One logical information is provided to the user as one content, and the same information is stored in multiple mirrored physical files. Become.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. In the figure, the control server 2 is provided with a selecting means 16 for selecting one from mirrored physical files. Hereinafter, a procedure when a user accesses content will be described. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client 4 sends a distribution request to the control server 2 using the ID 21 obtained in (Procedure 2). (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
An inquiry is made to the database server 3 using the logical identification ID. (Procedure 5) The database server 3 receiving the inquiry specifies the content from the logical identification ID 21 and obtains the storage position information 14 of the physical file by following the pointer 22 to the physical information of the logical information. When the physical file 15 is mirrored, it has a plurality of pointers to the physical information, so that a plurality of storage location information 14 can be obtained. (Procedure 6) The database server 3 stores the storage location information 14 of the physical file obtained here to the control server 2.
Return to (Procedure 7) Upon receiving the storage location information 14 of the plurality of physical files, the control server 2 selects one storage location information from the plurality by using the selection means 16 by using a method such as random extraction, and transmits the information to the client. Return to 4. (Procedure 8) The client 4 having received the physical file storage location information 14 accesses the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data using this information.

According to the above method, even when the physical file storing the multimedia data is mirrored, one information from a plurality of physical files can be provided as contents. As a result, the user can access the content without being aware that the multimedia data is mirrored.

Embodiment 2 FIG. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the selecting unit 16 in the control server 2 in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment determines a distribution server based on the load information of the file server 1. The operating environment and the structure of the attribute information in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Next, the operation will be described. In the processing flow shown in FIG. 2, (procedure 1) to (procedure 6) are the same as in the first embodiment. In (procedure 7), in order to select one physical file from the storage location information 14 of a plurality of physical files, the selecting means 16 of the control server 2
Asks each file server 1 about the load status. Then, of the file servers 1 in which the target physical file is stored, the file server 1 with the lowest load and most suitable for distribution is determined, and the storage position information 14 of the physical file in the file server is returned to the client 4. The processing of (procedure 8) is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

According to the above method, the user can access the content stored in the file server most suitable for distribution in consideration of the load condition of the server without being conscious of the user.

Embodiment 3 Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The operating environment is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 27 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3 and is managed by being divided into logical information and physical information. Here, the logical information includes an ID 21 for uniquely determining the logical information, various search attribute information 12 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user, and access right information 23 on the multimedia data. And a plurality of pointers 2 to physical information
2 is comprised. On the other hand, the physical information is the storage location information 14 of the physical file in which the multimedia data is stored.
, And the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data and the physical information are associated one-to-one, and the physical information and the logical information are associated one-to-one (n is 1 or more). Here, when n is 2 or more, the physical file is mirrored. As described above, one logical information is provided as one content to the user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. In the figure, the control server 2 is provided with an authentication unit 17 for checking an access right to multimedia data based on the access right information 23. Hereinafter, a procedure for a user to access content will be described with reference to the drawings. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client 4 obtains the I obtained in (Procedure 2).
A distribution request is issued to the control server 2 using D21. (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
An inquiry is made to the database server 3 using the logical identification ID. (Procedure 5) The database server 3 which received the inquiry specifies the content from the logical identification ID 21 and returns the access right information 23 of the logical information to the control server 2. (Procedure 6) The control server authenticates the access right by the authentication means 17 based on the user's access right information acquired in advance. If there is no access right, information indicating that distribution is not possible is returned to the client 4.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the user has the access right, the same procedure (not shown in FIG. 4) as the (procedure 4) to (procedure 8) of the processing flow in the first embodiment is performed thereafter.
Then, the content is accessed.

Since the access right management of the content is performed by the above-described method, the third access control without the access permission is performed.
Data protection for the user.

Embodiment 4 FIG. Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The operating environment is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 28 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3 and is divided into content information and file information and managed. Here, the content information includes an ID 21 for uniquely determining the content information, various search attribute information 12 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user, and an index indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file. 13 and a pointer 22 to file information. On the other hand, the file information includes storage location information 14 of a physical file 15 storing multimedia data. The physical file 15 storing multimedia data and the file information are in one-to-one correspondence. The content information is provided to the user as a single content by associating the content information with one to m (m is 1 or more).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between content information and a physical file according to the present embodiment. When a plurality of pieces of information (contents # 1 to # 3) are included in the physical file 15, each piece of information is represented as one piece of content information, so that one piece of information is provided to the user as one piece of content. It becomes possible.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in this embodiment. Hereinafter, a procedure when a user accesses content will be described. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client 4 obtains the I obtained in (Procedure 2).
A delivery request is sent to the control server 2 using D21. (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
An inquiry is made to the database server 3 using the logical identification ID. (Procedure 5) In the database server 3 which received the inquiry, the content is specified from the logical identification ID, and the information of the index 13 of the content is obtained. Also,
By following the pointer 22 to the file information of the content, the storage position information 14 of the physical file is obtained. (Procedure 6) The database server 3 obtains the index 13 obtained here and the storage location information 1 of the physical file.
4 is returned to the control server 2. (Step 7) Upon receiving the index 13 and the storage location information 14 of the physical file, the control server 2
The information is returned to the client 4. (Procedure 8) The client 4 having received the index 13 and the storage location information 14 of the physical file accesses the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data using the information.

According to the above method, even when a plurality of pieces of information are stored in one physical file, one piece of information can be provided as one piece of content. Further, the user can access the content without being aware of the position of the content in the physical file.

Embodiment 5 FIG. Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. still,
The operating environment is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 29 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3, and is managed by being divided into content set information and file information. Here, the content set information includes an ID 21 for uniquely determining the content set information, various search attributes 12 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user, and pointers 22 to a plurality of file information. It is composed of On the other hand, the file information is composed of storage position information 14 of a physical file in which multimedia data is stored. Then, by associating the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data with the file information on a one-to-one basis and the file information and the content set information on a one-to-one basis (p is 1 or more), the user is provided with one The content set information is provided as one content.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the content set information and the physical file 15 in the present embodiment. One content is composed of multiple physical files 15
(The physical files # 1 to # 3), the storage location information 1 for these physical files is stored.
By assigning a pointer to No. 4 to one piece of content set information, information divided into a plurality of physical files can be provided to the user as one piece of content.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. Hereinafter, a procedure when a user accesses content will be described. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client 4 sends a distribution request to the control server 2 using the ID 21 obtained in (Procedure 2). (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
The logical identification ID 21 for the database server 3
Make an inquiry using. (Procedure 5) In the database server 3 receiving the inquiry, the content is specified from the logical identification ID 21 and the pointer 2 to the file information of the content set information is specified.
By following 2, the storage position 14 of the physical file is obtained. When one content is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, it has a plurality of pointers to file information, and thus a plurality of storage location information 14 is obtained. (Procedure 6) The database server 3 stores the storage location information 14 of the physical file obtained here to the control server 2.
Return to (Procedure 7) The control server 2 that has received the physical file storage location information 14 sends the information to the client 4
Return to (Procedure 8) The client 4 having received the physical file storage location information 14 accesses the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data using this information. When a plurality of storage location information is received, access is performed sequentially.

According to the above method, even when one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files,
Information can be provided as one content. As a result, the user can access the content without being aware of the position of the content in the physical file.

Embodiment 6 FIG. Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, and 15. FIG. The system configuration of the operating environment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 30 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3, and is divided into and managed by content set information, content information, and file information. The content set information includes a logical identification ID 21 for uniquely determining the content set information, various search attributes 12 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user, and pointers 22 to a plurality of pieces of content information. It is composed of The content information includes an index 13 indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file 15 and a pointer to the file information. Further, the file information includes storage location information 14 of a physical file 15 in which multimedia data is stored. Then, the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data and the file information are in a one-to-one correspondence, and the file information and the content information are in a one-to-m correspondence.
, The content information and the content set information are p to 1
(Here, m and p are 1 or more) to provide the user with one content.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. Hereinafter, a procedure when a user accesses content will be described. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client sends a distribution request to the control server 2 using the logical identification ID 21 obtained in (Procedure 2). (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
An inquiry is made to the database server 3 using the logical identification ID. (Step 5) In response to the inquiry, the database server 3 specifies the content from the logical identification ID 21, follows the pointer 22 to the content information included in the content set information, and acquires the information of the index 13 included in the content information. By following the pointer 22 to the file information of the content information,
The storage position 14 of the physical file is obtained. When one piece of content information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, it has a plurality of pointers to the physical files, so that a plurality of indexes 13 and storage position information 14 can be obtained. (Procedure 6) The database server 3 obtains the index 13 obtained here and the storage location information 1 of the physical file.
4 is returned to the control server. (Step 7) Upon receiving the index 13 and the storage location information 14 of the physical file, the control server 2
The information is returned to the client 4. (Procedure 8) The client 4 that has received the index and the storage location information of the physical file uses this information to use the physical file 15 in which the multimedia data is stored.
Access to When a plurality of storage location information is received, access is performed sequentially.

According to the above-described method, even when a plurality of pieces of information are stored in one physical file, and one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, one piece of information is stored in one physical file. It can be provided as one content. As a result, the user can access without being aware of the position of the content in the physical file.

Embodiment 7 FIG. Hereinafter, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operating environment is the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of attribute information in this embodiment. Reference numeral 31 denotes attribute information, which is arranged on the database server 3 and is managed by being divided into content set information, content information, logical file information, and physical file information. The content set information is a logical identification I that uniquely determines the content set information.
D21, search attribute information 12 used when searching for multimedia data required by the user, and pointers 22 to a plurality of pieces of content information. The content information includes an index 13 indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file, and a pointer to the logical file information. Further, the logical file information is composed of pointers to a plurality of pieces of physical file information, and the physical file information is composed of storage position information 14 for a physical file 15 in which multimedia data is stored. Then, the physical file storing the multimedia data and the physical file information are in one-to-one correspondence, and the physical file information and the logical file information are represented by n.
Logical file information and content information are in one-to-one correspondence.
, The content information and the content set information are p to 1
(P, m, and n are 1 or more). here,
If n is 2 or more, the physical file 15 is mirrored. As described above, one content set information is provided to the user as one content.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. Hereinafter, a procedure when a user accesses content will be described. (Procedure 1) The user makes an inquiry from the client 4 to the database server 3 using various search attributes 12 in order to search for contents. (Procedure 2) As a result of the search in the database server 3,
The client 4 obtains the logical identification ID 21 that uniquely specifies the selected content. (Procedure 3) Next, the client obtains the ID obtained in (Procedure 2).
21 to send a distribution request to the control server 2. (Procedure 4) Upon receiving the distribution request, the control server 2
An inquiry is made to the database server 3 using the logical identification ID 21. (Step 5) In response to the inquiry, the database server 3 specifies the content from the logical identification ID 21, follows the pointer 22 to the content information included in the content set information, and acquires the information of the index 13 included in the content information. Further, by following the pointer 22 to the logical file information included in the content information and further following the pointer 22 to the physical file information included in the logical file information, the storage position 14 of the physical file is acquired. When one content is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, it has a plurality of pointers to the physical files, so that a plurality of indexes 13 and storage position information 14 can be obtained. When the physical file 15 is mirrored, a plurality of pointers to the physical file are provided, so that a plurality of pieces of storage position information can be obtained. (Procedure 6) The database server 3 obtains the index 13 obtained here and the storage location information 1 of the physical file.
4 is returned to the control server 2. (Procedure 7) After receiving the storage location information of a plurality of physical files accompanying the mirroring, the control server 2 selects one storage location by using a method such as random extraction by the selection unit 16, and then stores the index and the physical file. The storage location information is returned to the client 4. (Procedure 8) The client, which has received the information on the index and the storage location of the physical file, uses this information to make the physical file 15 storing the multimedia data.
Access to When a plurality of storage location information is received, access is performed sequentially.

According to the above method, a part of a plurality of pieces of information constituting a content is stored in one physical file, and one piece of information is divided into a plurality of physical files and stored. Even if the physical file is mirrored, it can be provided as one content. As a result, the user can access without being aware of the position of the content in the physical file.

Embodiment 8 FIG. Hereinafter, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. still,
The operating environment is the same as in the first embodiment, and the structure of the attribute information is the same as in the seventh embodiment.

Next, a procedure when a user accesses contents will be described. The procedure from (procedure 1) to (procedure 6) in the processing flow of FIG.
Is the same as In (procedure 7), the selection means 16 of the control server 2 inquires of each file server 1 about the load status in order to select one from the information on the storage positions of a plurality of physical files by mirroring. Among the stored file servers 1, the file server 1 with the lowest load and most suitable for distribution is determined. Finally, the storage location of the physical file indicating the file server and the index information are returned to the client. (Procedure 8) is the same as in the first embodiment.

According to the above method, a part of a plurality of pieces of information constituting a content is stored in one physical file, and one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files. Even if the physical file is mirrored, access to the content stored on the file server that is determined to be most suitable for distribution in consideration of the load on the server without regard to its location It becomes possible.

[0059]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the first aspect, when the physical file storing the multimedia data is mirrored, one piece of information from a plurality of physical files is provided as the content. Can access the content without being aware that the multimedia data is mirrored.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when accessing a mirrored physical file, the most appropriate file server for distribution is selected in consideration of the load on the server. Without being aware
The content can be accessed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the access right management for the content is performed, data protection from a third party who does not have access permission is possible.

According to the fourth aspect, even when a plurality of pieces of information are stored in one physical file, one piece of information can be provided as one piece of content. It is possible to access without being aware of the position of the content.

According to the fifth aspect, even when one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, one piece of information can be provided as one piece of content. It is possible to access the content without being aware of the location of the physical file inside.

According to the sixth aspect, even when a plurality of pieces of information are stored in one physical file and one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, Since two pieces of information can be provided as one content, the user can access the content without being aware of the location of the physical file.

According to the seventh aspect, a part of a plurality of pieces of information is stored in one physical file, and one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files. Even in the case of mirroring, since one piece of information can be provided as one piece of content, the user can access the content without being aware of the position of the physical file.

According to the eighth aspect, part of the information is stored in one physical file, one piece of information is divided and stored in a plurality of physical files, and these physical files are mirrored. In this case, the most suitable file server for distribution is selected in consideration of the load on the server, so that the user can access the contents without being aware of the system configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a method of accessing content according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of attribute information according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a method of accessing content according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view for explaining a relationship between a physical file and contents according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a method of accessing content according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view for explaining a relationship between a physical file and contents according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a method of accessing content according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a method of accessing content according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a method of accessing content according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a system configuration diagram showing an operation environment of the multimedia server system.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of attribute information in conventional multimedia data management.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between a physical file and content in a conventional example.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a method for accessing content in a conventional multimedia system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 file server group, 2 control servers, 3
Database server, 4 clients, 5 network, 16 selecting means, 17 authentication means, 26, 2
7, 28, 29, 30, 31 Attribute information, 12 Search attribute, 13 Index, 14 Storage location information, 15
Physical file, 21 ID, 22 pointer, 23 access right information.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A network system comprising a file server in which multimedia data is stored, a client, a database server, and a control server for controlling each of the servers, wherein the database server has attribute information comprising logical information and physical information. The logical information includes an ID for uniquely determining the logical information, a search attribute for searching for multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of physical information, wherein the physical information stores the multimedia data. It is configured from storage location information of a physical file, and has a structure associated with the physical file on a one-to-one basis and with the logical information on an n-to-one basis (n is 1 or more). Content management method. 2. The content management system according to claim 1, wherein said control server comprises server selection means for selecting an optimal file server for distribution based on load information of the file server. 3. The contents according to claim 1, wherein access right information is added to said logical information, and said control server is provided with an authentication means for performing access right control based on said access right information. Management method. 4. A network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server controlling each of the servers, wherein the database server has attribute information comprising content information and file information. And the content information is an ID for uniquely determining the content information.
, A search attribute for searching for multimedia data, an index indicating the position of the multimedia data in the physical file, and a pointer to one piece of file information. The file information contains the multimedia data. It consists of physical file storage location information, one-to-one with the physical file, and one-to-m with the content information.
(M is 1 or more). A content management system characterized by having a structure corresponding to (m is 1 or more). 5. A network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server controlling each of the servers, wherein the database server has an attribute comprising content set information and file information. The content set information includes an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of pieces of file information. It is composed of the storage location information of the stored physical file, and is one-to-one with the physical file, and the content set information is p
A content management system having a structure associated with one pair (p is 1 or more). 6. A network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server controlling each of the servers, wherein the database server comprises: content set information, content information, and file information. The content set information is composed of an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching for multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of pieces of content information. It consists of an index indicating the storage location of the multimedia data in the file and a pointer to the file information. The file information consists of the storage location of the physical file storing the multimedia data.
The content information is associated with the content information in a one-to-one correspondence (m is 1 or more).
The content management system has a structure corresponding to one or more. 7. A network system comprising a file server storing multimedia data, a client, a database server, and a control server for controlling each of the servers, wherein the database server comprises content set information, content information, and a logical file. The content set information is composed of an ID for uniquely determining the content set information, a search attribute for searching multimedia data, and pointers to a plurality of pieces of content information, The content information includes an index indicating a storage position of the multimedia data in the physical file and a pointer to the file information. The logical file information includes pointers to a plurality of pieces of physical file information. The file information is composed of storage location information of a physical file in which multimedia data is stored. The physical file has a one-to-one correspondence, the physical file information and the logical file information have a one-to-one correspondence, and the logical file information and the content information have one. A content management system characterized by having a structure in which content information and content set information are associated with a pair m in a p-to-1 manner. 8. The content management system according to claim 7, wherein said control server comprises server selection means for selecting an optimal file server for distribution based on load information of said file server.