JP4846370B2 - COMMUNICATION PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION TERMINAL DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication program, a recording medium, a communication method, and a communication terminal device, and more particularly, to a communication program, a recording medium, a communication method, and a communication terminal device that process data shared among a plurality of terminal devices.

  With the spread of personal computers (PCs) in recent years, there are an increasing number of situations where data is shared and used between a plurality of PCs connected to a network in an office or home.

  If the data to be shared (hereinafter also referred to as shared data) is, for example, large-capacity moving image data, the capacity of the shared data is large, and the time required for transmission / reception of the shared data between a plurality of PCs becomes long. The load applied to the communication path and the communication system connected thereto increases. Here, the shared data is, for example, content data, schedule management data, address book data, document data, spreadsheet data, and the like. The content data is, for example, moving image data, still image data, audio data, and the like.

  Therefore, recently, in order to know the update state of shared data, there is an increasing number of scenes in which metadata that describes information about data and has a small capacity is transmitted and received between a plurality of PCs. In the following, data that is the basis for describing information in metadata is also referred to as original data.

By receiving metadata from another PC and referring to the received metadata, it is possible to immediately grasp what kind of data the corresponding original data is. Further, by referring to the metadata, it is possible to immediately grasp whether or not the original data has been changed. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-092583 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for efficiently managing a large amount of metadata (hereinafter also referred to as Conventional Technology A).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-092583

  However, in the related art A, metadata is received from a device functioning as a server (hereinafter also referred to as a server device). That is, in the prior art A, metadata is transmitted and received in a system including a server device and a client device. Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes time to perform maintenance management of the server device every predetermined period in order to operate the server device stably.

  In addition, if the server apparatus is turned off due to an accident or the like, all metadata managed by the server apparatus may be lost. Further, since the server device is assumed to be always connected, there is a problem that access from the outside cannot be easily performed to protect confidential information.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication program capable of efficiently managing data shared between a plurality of terminal devices.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a communication program capable of efficiently managing data shared between a plurality of terminal devices is recorded.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication method capable of efficiently managing data shared among a plurality of terminal devices.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device that can efficiently manage data shared among a plurality of terminal devices.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication program for causing a terminal device having shared data accessible from a plurality of devices and a computer accessible to the data, The apparatus monitors the update status of the shared data, transmits an update metadata file including the updated shared data metadata, which is updated shared data, to the computer, and receives the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal apparatus. And a step of transmitting the received update metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices when the update metadata file is received.

  Preferably, information indicating the terminal device is described in the update metadata file to be transmitted.

  Preferably, the metadata of the updated shared data includes at least one of an identification name of the updated shared data, information on a storage location of the updated shared data, and information on an update date and time of the updated shared data.

  Preferably, the computer includes a display unit for displaying information, and the step of causing the display unit to display metadata information of the updated shared data included in the received update metadata file in association with information indicating the terminal device. Further prepare.

  Preferably, the computer includes a storage unit for storing information, and the computer cannot access the terminal device when data is requested from at least one of the plurality of devices to the computer. In some cases, the information processing apparatus further includes a step of storing information indicating the shared data acquisition request in the storage unit.

  Preferably, the computer includes a storage unit that stores information, and the communication program has a step of storing the received updated metadata file in the storage unit, and the terminal device has a data access to the terminal device when the computer is in a state where data can be accessed Updating the update metadata file stored in the storage unit based on the latest update metadata file.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication program for causing a computer including a storage unit storing shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices to monitor the update status of the shared data, and updating Generating an updated metadata file including the metadata of the updated shared data that is the shared data, determining the operating states of each of the plurality of devices, and based on the operating states of each of the plurality of devices , Including a step of determining a proxy device for transmitting the update metadata file among the plurality of devices, and a step of transmitting the generated update metadata file to the proxy device.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a step of storing information indicating the proxy device in the storage unit.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is a medium on which a communication program is recorded.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device having shared data accessible from a plurality of devices, and a communication method for causing a communication terminal device capable of data access to execute the shared data Monitoring the update status, transmitting an updated metadata file including updated shared data metadata that is updated shared data to the communication terminal device, and receiving the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal device; Receiving the updated metadata file, transmitting the received updated metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication method for causing a communication terminal device including a storage unit that stores shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices to monitor the update status of the shared data. Generating an updated metadata file that includes updated shared data metadata that is updated shared data, determining each operating state of each of the plurality of devices, and each operating state of the plurality of devices Based on the above, a step of determining a proxy device that transmits the update metadata file among the plurality of devices, and a step of transmitting the generated update metadata file to the proxy device are provided.

  A communication terminal device according to still another aspect of the present invention is a terminal device having shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices, and a communication terminal device that is capable of accessing data, wherein the terminal device indicates an update status of the shared data. Receiving means for monitoring and transmitting an updated metadata file including the metadata of the updated shared data that is updated shared data to the communication terminal device, and receiving the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal device; A transmission unit configured to transmit the received update metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices when the unit receives the update metadata file;

  A communication terminal device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices, a monitoring unit that monitors an update status of the shared data, and an update that is updated shared data. Based on the operating state of each of the plurality of devices, the generating unit that generates the updated metadata file including the metadata of the post-shared data, the determining unit that determines the operating state of each of the plurality of devices, Among these, a determination unit that determines a proxy device that transmits the update metadata file is provided, and a transmission unit that transmits the generated update metadata file to the proxy device determined by the determination unit.

  When a communication program according to the present invention receives an update metadata file including metadata of updated shared data that is shared data updated from a terminal device, the received communication program stores the received update metadata file among a plurality of devices. Transmit to at least one device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  The communication program according to the present invention includes an update including updated shared data metadata in which shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices is updated among a plurality of devices based on the operating states of the plurality of devices. The proxy device that transmits the metadata file is determined, and the generated update metadata file is transmitted to the proxy device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

The recording medium according to the present invention records a communication program. When the communication program receives an update metadata file including metadata of updated shared data that is updated shared data from the terminal device, the communication program uses the received updated metadata file as at least one of the plurality of devices. Send to.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  In addition, the communication program recorded on the recording medium is the updated shared data in which the shared data accessible from the plurality of devices is updated among the plurality of devices based on the operation state of each of the plurality of devices. The proxy device that transmits the update metadata file including the metadata is determined, and the generated update metadata file is transmitted to the proxy device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  When a communication method according to the present invention receives an update metadata file including metadata of updated shared data that is shared data updated from a terminal device, the received update metadata file is received from a plurality of devices. Transmit to at least one device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  The communication method according to the present invention includes an update including updated shared data metadata in which shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices is updated among the plurality of devices based on the operating states of the plurality of devices. The proxy device that transmits the metadata file is determined, and the generated update metadata file is transmitted to the proxy device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  When the communication terminal device according to the present invention receives an update metadata file including metadata of updated shared data that is shared data updated from the terminal device, the received update metadata file is received from among a plurality of devices. To at least one device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  The communication terminal device according to the present invention includes metadata of updated shared data in which shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices is updated among the plurality of devices based on the operation state of each of the plurality of devices. The proxy device that transmits the update metadata file is determined, and the generated update metadata file is transmitted to the proxy device.

  Therefore, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

The communication terminal device according to the present embodiment includes a PC and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance)
Suppose that The communication terminal device is not limited to a PC and PDA, and any device having a communication function may be used.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system 1000 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, network system 1000 includes a communication terminal device 500A, a communication terminal device 500B, a communication terminal device 500C, a communication terminal device 600, and a communication unit 50.

  Communication terminal devices 500A, 500B, and 500C are PCs. The communication terminal devices 500A, 500B, and 500C are not limited to PCs, and may be any devices that have a communication function.

  Communication terminal device 600 is a PDA. Communication terminal device 600 is not limited to a PDA, and may be any device (for example, a PC) as long as it has a communication function. Communication terminal device 600 has a function of performing data communication with communication terminal device 500A wirelessly or by wire. Communication terminal device 600 has a function of performing data communication not only with communication terminal device 500A but also with communication terminal device 500B and communication terminal device 500C by wireless or wired communication.

  The communication unit 50 has a function of performing data communication with the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, the communication terminal device 600, and the network 70. The network 70 is an external network such as the Internet. A mail server is connected to the network 70. The mail server has a function for receiving or transmitting an electronic mail.

  The communication unit 50 has a function of performing data communication using a wireless technology based on any of IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, and IEEE802.11g, which are wireless LAN standards. Note that the radio technology is not limited to a technology based on any of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g, and may be other radio technologies. Therefore, the communication unit 50 can perform data communication wirelessly with the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, the communication terminal device 600, and the network 70.

  The communication unit 50 further has a communication interface function (for example, a router function) using Ethernet (registered trademark). Therefore, the communication unit 50 can perform data communication with the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, the communication terminal device 600, and the network 70, for example, via a LAN cable. That is, the communication unit 50 can perform data communication in a wired manner with the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, the communication terminal device 600, and the network 70.

  Note that the storage units of the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, and the communication terminal device 600 include the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, and the communication terminal device 600, respectively. However, shared data that can be mutually accessed is stored.

Each of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, communication terminal device 500C, and communication terminal device 600 uses a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server connected to network 70. Accordingly, the IP addresses of communication terminal apparatus 500A, communication terminal apparatus 500B, communication terminal apparatus 500C, and communication terminal apparatus 600 are automatically assigned by the DHCP server. That is, the IP addresses of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, communication terminal device 500C, and communication terminal device 600 are dynamic IP addresses. Communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, communication terminal device 500C, and communication terminal device 600 may not use a DHCP server.

  The identification names (terminal names) of the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, the communication terminal device 500C, and the communication terminal device 600 are PC500A, PC500B, PC500C, and PDA600, respectively.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of communication terminal apparatus 500A in the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 2 also shows a recording medium 555 and a communication terminal device 600 for explanation. A recording medium 555 stores a program 180 described later. That is, the program 180 is recorded on a medium or the like and distributed as a program product. The recording medium 555 is also distributed as a program product.

  Referring to FIG. 2, display unit 530, mouse 542, and keyboard 544 are connected to communication terminal device 500A.

  The display unit 530 has a function of displaying characters, images, and the like so that various types of information can be referred to by the user. Display unit 530 displays an image based on the image data output from communication terminal device 500A. The display unit 530 is a liquid crystal display (LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an FED (Field Emission Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display), a dot matrix, or the like. Any other display device of an image display method may be used.

  The mouse 542 is an interface for the user to operate the communication terminal device 500A. The keyboard 544 is an interface for the user to operate the communication terminal device 500A. The display unit 530 and the keyboard 544 may be provided inside the communication terminal device 500A. The mouse 542 may be configured to be provided inside the communication terminal device 500A, for example, as a touch pad. In addition, a pen tablet may be connected as an input device to the communication terminal device 500A. Hereinafter, the operation of the mouse 542 or the keyboard 544 by the user is also referred to as an interface operation P.

  The communication terminal device 500A includes a control unit 510, a temporary storage unit 522, a storage unit 520, a communication unit 560, a communication unit 562, a VDP (Video Display Processor) 532, and a CGROM (Character Graphic Read Only Memory) 534. A VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 536, an input unit 540, and a recording medium access unit 550.

  The CGROM 534 stores image data such as font data and graphic data for the VDP 532 to generate an image displayed on the display unit 530.

The storage unit 520 stores a program 180 for causing the control unit 510 to perform processing to be described later, a metadata file, setting information, original data, other various programs and data, and the like. The original data is shared data that can be accessed by other devices. The original data that is shared data is data stored in the shared drive set in the storage unit 520. Here, the shared drive is a drive that can be accessed by another device. The original data that is the shared data is not limited to the shared drive set in the storage unit 520, but may be data stored in a shared folder in the drive set in the storage unit 520. Here, the shared folder is a shared folder accessible by other devices.

  The metadata file is a file including a plurality of metadata. The metadata file is a data file stored in the storage unit 520 by processing to be described later. That is, the metadata file is not stored in the storage unit 520 in advance. The program 180 includes a metadata file generation setting program, a proxy delegation program, a metadata file generation program, a data acquisition program, a metadata file management program, a proxy processing program, a proxy device determination program, and a data reception processing program, which will be described later. Including.

  The storage unit 520 is accessed by the control unit 510. The storage unit 520 is a hard disk capable of storing a large amount of data. Note that the storage unit 520 is not limited to a hard disk, and may be any medium (for example, a flash memory) that can hold data in a nonvolatile manner even when power is not supplied.

  Control unit 510 has a function of performing various types of processing, arithmetic processing, and the like for each device inside communication terminal device 500A in accordance with program 180 stored in storage unit 520. The controller 510 may be a microprocessor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a circuit having other arithmetic functions.

  Control unit 510 operates as metadata update unit 510A, data editing unit 510B, data conversion unit 510C, and read data expansion unit 510D. The metadata update unit 510A has a function of updating metadata. The data editing unit 510B has a function of editing data. The data conversion unit 510C has a function of converting data into a specified format.

  The read data expansion unit 510D operates based on a plug-in program for increasing data that can be processed. For example, in order for the read data extension unit 510D to read the moving image data A that requires a plug-in program and process the data, the corresponding plug-in program need only be installed in the storage unit 520. Accordingly, the read data extension unit 510D can read the moving image data A and perform data processing (for example, reproduction processing).

  Control unit 510 also instructs VDP 532 to generate an image and display the image on display unit 530 in accordance with program 180 stored in storage unit 520 (hereinafter, also referred to as “rendering instruction”). put out.

  The VDP 532 is connected to the display unit 530. The VDP 532 reads necessary image data from the CGROM 534 in accordance with a drawing instruction from the control unit 510 and generates an image using the VRAM 536. The VDP 532 reads out the image data stored in the VRAM 536 and causes the display unit 530 to display an image based on the image data.

  The VRAM 536 has a function of temporarily storing an image generated by the VDP 532. Temporary storage unit 522 is accessed as data by control unit 510 and used as a work memory for temporarily storing data.

The temporary storage unit 522 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and an SDRAM (Synchronous
DRAM), DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM), RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory), Direct-RDRAM (Direct Rambus Dynamic Random)
Access Memory) or any other circuit having a configuration capable of storing and storing data in a volatile manner.

  A mouse 542 and a keyboard 544 are connected to the input unit 540. The user uses the mouse 542 or the keyboard 544 to give an instruction to the communication terminal device 500A. An input instruction from the mouse 542 or the keyboard 544 is transmitted to the control unit 510 via the input unit 540. Control unit 510 performs predetermined processing based on an input instruction from input unit 540.

  The recording medium access unit 550 has a function of reading the program 180 from the recording medium 555 on which the program 180 is recorded. The program 180 stored in the recording medium 555 is read by the recording medium access unit 550 by the operation (installation process) of the control unit 510, and the control unit 510 stores the program 180 in the storage unit 520.

  The installation processing program is stored in advance in the storage unit 520, and the installation processing is performed by the control unit 510 based on the installation processing program.

  Note that the program 180 may not be installed in the storage unit 520. In this case, control unit 510 reads program 180 stored in recording medium 555 via recording medium access unit 550, and performs predetermined processing based on program 180.

  The recording medium 555 includes a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disk Recordable), a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disk Random Access Memory), a DVD + RW (Digital Versatile Disk Re-Writable), and a DVD. -RW, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), MO (Magneto Optical Disk), floppy (registered trademark) disk, CF (Compact Flash) card, SM (Smart Media (registered trademark)), MMC (Multi Media Card) ), SD (Secure Digital) memory card, Memory Stick (registered trademark), xD picture card and USB memory, magnetic tape, and non-volatile memory other than those described above.

  Communication unit 560 exchanges data with control unit 510. Communication unit 560 transmits / receives data to / from communication terminal device 600 in a wired or wireless manner. This data transmission / reception process is performed when communication terminal apparatus 500A and communication terminal apparatus 600 are close to each other and communication terminal apparatus 500A performs direct data communication with communication terminal apparatus 600. In general, communication terminal device 500A transmits / receives data to / from other communication terminal devices via communication unit 562 and communication unit 50 described later.

  The communication unit 560 has a function of a communication interface that performs serial transfer based on the USB (Universal Serial Bus) 1.1 or USB 2.0 standard. Note that the standard of the communication interface for performing serial transfer is not limited to USB (Universal Serial Bus) 1.1 or USB 2.0, but may be another standard.

  Note that the communication unit 560 may have a function of a communication interface that performs parallel transfer. The communication interface that performs parallel transfer is, for example, an interface that conforms to a Centronics standard or an IEEE 1284 (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1284) standard. Further, the communication unit 560 may have a communication interface function based on the IEEE 1394 or SCSI standard.

  Communication unit 560 further has a wireless data communication function. The wireless data communication function has a function of performing data communication wirelessly using Bluetooth. Note that the wireless data communication is not limited to a method using Bluetooth, and may be another communication method using infrared light, for example. Communication unit 560 performs data communication with other terminals wirelessly in response to a control instruction from control unit 510.

  Communication unit 562 exchanges data with control unit 510. The communication unit 562 has a function of performing data communication using a wireless technology based on any one of IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, and IEEE802.11g, which are wireless LAN standards. Note that the radio technology is not limited to a technology based on any of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g, and may be other radio technologies.

  The communication unit 562 further has a communication interface function using Ethernet (registered trademark). Therefore, the communication unit 562 can perform data communication with the communication unit 50 via, for example, a LAN cable.

  Therefore, communication terminal device 500A in the present embodiment can also download a program from network 70 via communication unit 50 and communication unit 562, and store the program in storage unit 520. In this case, the downloaded program is the program 180.

  Control unit 510 performs predetermined processing in accordance with a program (program 180) downloaded from network 70. The download program is stored in advance in the storage unit 520, and the download process is performed by the control unit 510 based on the download program.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, communication terminal apparatus 500B and communication terminal apparatus 500C also have the same configuration and function as communication terminal apparatus 500A, and thus detailed description will not be repeated.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of communication terminal apparatus 600 according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 3 also shows a recording medium 555 and a communication terminal device 500A for explanation. In the recording medium 555, a program 180A described later is recorded. That is, the program 180A is recorded on a medium or the like and distributed as a program product. The recording medium 555 is also distributed as a program product.

  Referring to FIG. 3, communication terminal apparatus 600 includes a display unit 630 and an input unit 640. The display unit 630 is a display device similar to the display unit 530 described above. Note that the display unit 630 has a touch panel function that allows the user to input information by directly touching the screen. Display unit 630 transmits position information of the user touching the screen to control unit 610. Control unit 610 performs predetermined processing based on the received position information.

  Input unit 640 includes a plurality of buttons (not shown). The plurality of buttons are provided outside communication terminal device 600. When any one of the buttons is pressed by the user, the input unit 640 transmits a button signal corresponding to the pressed button to the control unit 610. Control unit 610 performs predetermined processing based on the received button signal. Hereinafter, the button operation of the input unit 640 or the touch operation on the display unit 630 by the user is also referred to as an interface operation M. Note that the input unit 640 may include another input interface instead of the plurality of buttons.

  The communication terminal device 600 further includes a control unit 610, a temporary storage unit 622, a storage unit 620, a communication unit 660, a communication unit 662, a VDP 632, a CGROM 634, a VRAM 636, and a recording medium access unit 650. Prepare.

  Similar to the CGROM 534, the CGROM 634 stores image data such as font data and graphic data for the VDP 632 to generate an image to be displayed on the display unit 630.

  The storage unit 620 stores a program 180A for causing the control unit 610 to perform processing to be described later, a metadata file, setting information, original data, various other programs and data, and the like. The original data is shared data that can be accessed by other devices. Original data that is shared data is data stored in a shared drive set in the storage unit 620. The original data that is the shared data is not limited to the shared drive set in the storage unit 620, and may be data stored in a shared folder in the drive set in the storage unit 620.

  Note that the metadata file is a data file stored in the storage unit 620 by processing to be described later. That is, the metadata file is not stored in the storage unit 620 in advance. The program 180A includes a later-described metadata file generation setting program, proxy delegation program, metadata file generation program, data acquisition program, metadata file management program, proxy processing program, proxy device determination program, and data reception processing program. Including.

  The storage unit 620 is accessed by the control unit 610. Since storage unit 620 is similar to storage unit 520 described above, detailed description will not be repeated.

  Control unit 610 has a function of performing various types of processing, arithmetic processing, and the like for each device inside communication terminal apparatus 600 in accordance with program 180A stored in storage unit 620. Since control unit 610 is similar to control unit 510 described above, detailed description will not be repeated.

  The control unit 610 operates as a metadata update unit 610A, a data editing unit 610B, a data conversion unit 610C, and a read data expansion unit 610D. The metadata update unit 610A, data editing unit 610B, data conversion unit 610C, and read data expansion unit 610D are the same as the metadata update unit 510A, data editing unit 510B, data conversion unit 510C, and read data expansion unit 510D, respectively. Since it has a function, detailed description will not be repeated.

  Control unit 610 also causes VDP 632 to generate an image and issue a drawing instruction to display the image on display unit 630 in accordance with program 180A stored in storage unit 620.

  The VDP 632 is connected to the display unit 630. The VDP 632 reads necessary image data from the CGROM 634 in accordance with a drawing instruction from the control unit 610 and generates an image using the VRAM 636. The VDP 632 reads out the image data stored in the VRAM 636 and causes the display unit 630 to display an image based on the image data.

The VRAM 636 has a function of temporarily storing an image generated by the VDP 632. The temporary storage unit 622 is used as a work memory that is accessed by the control unit 610 and temporarily stores data. Since temporary storage unit 622 is similar to temporary storage unit 522 described above, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  The recording medium access unit 650 has a function of reading the program 180A from the recording medium 555 on which the program 180A is recorded. The program 180A stored in the recording medium 555 is read out by the recording medium access unit 650 by the operation (installation process) of the control unit 610, and the control unit 610 stores the program in the storage unit 620.

  The installation processing program is stored in advance in the storage unit 620, and the installation processing is performed by the control unit 610 based on the installation processing program.

  Note that the program 180A may not be installed in the storage unit 620. In this case, control unit 610 reads program 180A stored in recording medium 555 via recording medium access unit 650, and performs predetermined processing based on program 180A.

  Since communication unit 660 and communication unit 662 have the same functions as communication unit 560 and communication unit 562, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  Therefore, communication terminal apparatus 600 in the present embodiment can also download a program from network 70 via communication unit 50 and communication unit 662 and store the program in storage unit 620. In this case, the downloaded program is the program 180A.

  Control unit 610 performs predetermined processing according to a program (program 180A) downloaded from network 70. The download program is stored in advance in the storage unit 620, and the download process is performed by the control unit 610 based on the download program.

  Next, a process for generating the metadata file (hereinafter also referred to as a metadata file generation process) will be described. The communication file 600 is generated by the communication terminal device 600 based on the metadata file generation setting information data. The metadata file generation setting information data includes various setting information for generating a metadata file. The metadata file generation setting information data is stored in advance in the storage unit 620 as initial setting information. Note that metadata file generation setting information data is stored in advance as initial setting information in the storage units 520 of the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C. Part of the information indicated in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in each storage unit 520 of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C (for example, the generation interval of the metadata file) May be different.

  First, the metadata file will be described. As described above, the metadata file is a file including a plurality of metadata. The metadata is generated based on a metadata generation item table described below. The data of the metadata generation item table is stored in the storage unit 620 in advance. Note that a metadata generation item table is also stored in advance in each storage unit 520 of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a metadata generation item table T100 as an example. Referring to FIG. 4, document data is data generated by document creation software. Spreadsheet data is data generated by spreadsheet software. The moving image data is, for example, M
This is data compressed by PEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group). The still image data is, for example, image data read by a scanner, image data captured by a digital still camera, image data generated by still image generation software, and the like. The audio data is, for example, WAVE format audio data or audio data compressed by the MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) method.

  When the original data for generating the metadata is different, the information described in the metadata is different. Even if the original data for generating the metadata is different, the file name, path name, file size, and change amount are described in the metadata. The change amount is an absolute value of a difference between the file size of the original data after the change and the file size before the change when the already generated original data is changed. If the corresponding original data is newly generated data (hereinafter also referred to as new generation source data), the amount of change is the file capacity itself of the original data.

  Even if the original data for generating the metadata is different, the creation date or the update date is described in the metadata. The creation date / time is the date / time when the original data was newly generated. The update date and time is the date and time when the generated original data is changed (updated). Hereinafter, the updated original data is also referred to as post-update original data. In the present embodiment, the original data is the shared data described above.

  When the original data is document data or spreadsheet data, the metadata describes the title, creator, and final editor information. The last editor is information on the person who last edited the original data.

  When the original data is moving image data, the metadata describes information on the image size, reproduction time, moving image bit rate, and audio bit rate. The image size is an image size of a moving image (hereinafter also referred to as a reproduced moving image) reproduced based on moving image data. The image size is expressed by, for example, the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the reproduced moving image. The playback time is a time during which a playback moving image can be played back. The moving image bit rate is the bit rate of the reproduced moving image. The audio bit rate is a bit rate of audio reproduced by moving image data. When the original data is moving image data, the metadata may describe information on the codec that generated the moving image data.

  In addition, when the original data is still image data, information on the image size and the number of colors used is described in the metadata. The image size is the size of a still image. The image size is expressed by, for example, the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of a still image based on still image data. The number of colors used is the number of colors used to generate a still image based on still image data. The number of colors used is expressed by, for example, 8 bits (256 colors), 24 bits (16.77 million colors), and the like.

  Further, when the original data is audio data, the metadata describes information on the title, artist, genre, reproduction time, and audio bit rate. When the audio data is song data, the title is the title of the song. When the audio data is song data, the artist is an artist who sings the song. The genre is the genre of the song when the audio data is song data. The genre is a genre such as rock, pop, or classic. When the artist and genre information is empty, or when the audio data is not music data, the artist and genre information may not be described in the metadata.

The reproduction time is a time during which audio reproduced based on audio data (hereinafter also referred to as “reproduced audio”) can be reproduced. The audio bit rate is the bit rate of reproduced audio. When the original data is audio data, the metadata may describe information on the codec that generated the audio data.

  Metadata is generated by describing the above information. The metadata file is a data file in which information of a plurality of generated metadata is described. That is, the metadata file is a file including a plurality of metadata.

  Next, metadata file generation setting information data for generating a metadata file will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating metadata file generation setting information data D100 as an example.

  Next, a process for changing metadata file generation setting information data will be described. When the control unit 610 executes the metadata file generation setting program of the program 180A by the interface operation M, the metadata file generation setting based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 620 is displayed on the display unit 630. An image is displayed. The metadata file generation setting information data is changed when the following operation is performed by the user while the metadata file generation setting image is displayed on the display unit 630. The metadata file generation setting image is an image for changing metadata file generation setting information data preset as initial setting information.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a metadata file generation setting image G100 as an example. Referring to FIG. 6, metadata file generation setting image G100 is an image generated by control unit 610 based on metadata file generation setting information data D100.

  A check box image C110 and generation interval setting images G110 and G112 are arranged in the metadata file generation setting image G100. The check box image C110 is an image for setting whether to periodically generate a metadata file. When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C110, it is permitted to periodically generate a metadata file. If no check mark is displayed in the check box image C110, it is not permitted to generate a metadata file periodically. Display of the check mark in the check box image C110 and cancellation of the display are performed by the interface operation M for the check box image C110. Note that also for the check box image described below, the check mark is displayed and the display is canceled by the above operation on the check box image C110.

  When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C110, the interval at which the metadata file is generated can be set. The generation interval setting images G110 and G112 are images for setting the generation interval of the metadata file. The generation interval setting image G110 is an image for setting a numerical value in the range of “1” to “90” by the interface operation M, for example.

  The generation interval setting image G112 is an image for setting a unit by the interface operation M. Such units include minutes, hours, days, etc. In the metadata file generation setting image G100, as an example, the generation interval of the metadata file is set to one day.

In the metadata file generation setting image G100, a path name display image G120 and a button image G122 are further arranged. The path name display image G120 is an image that displays a folder to which a generated metadata file is output. Specifically, the path name display image G120 is an image that displays a path name in the storage unit 620 in which the generated metadata file is stored.

  The button image G122 is an image for making a folder selectable state by the interface operation M. The folder selectable state is a state in which a window image for selecting a folder for storing a metadata file is displayed on the display unit 630, for example. In the folder selectable state, the user can select a folder for storing the metadata file by the interface operation M. When a folder for storing the metadata file is selected, a path name corresponding to the selected folder is displayed on the path name display image G120.

  In the metadata file generation setting image G100, a check box image C130, a button image G132, and a file size display image G134 are further arranged. The check box image C130 is an image for setting whether or not to permit processing for transmitting and receiving data using e-mail. When the data to be transmitted / received is a metadata file, the metadata file is transmitted / received attached to an e-mail. Note that not only the metadata file but also the original data file itself may be attached to the e-mail.

  When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C130, processing for transmitting and receiving data using e-mail is permitted. For example, the process of sending and receiving the generated metadata file attached to an electronic mail is permitted. In this case, for each time (for example, 10 days, 1 hour, 20 minutes, etc.) displayed by the generation interval setting images G110 and G112, an e-mail attached with the generated metadata file is sent to a destination described later. Send to email address.

  When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C130, the communication terminal device 600 is connected to the network 70 every predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) when the network connection state is described later. If there is an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address of the transmission source described later, the e-mail is received. That is, the communication terminal device 600 accesses the mail server via the communication unit 50 and the network 70.

  When the check mark is not displayed in the check box image C130, the above-described processing performed when the check mark is displayed in the check box image C130 is not performed.

  The mail address described to the right of “transmission destination” displayed on the metadata file generation setting image G100 indicates the mail address of the transmission destination of the electronic mail to which the data (for example, metadata file) is attached. In the following, the mail address described to the right of “transmission destination” is also referred to as a transmission destination mail address.

  The button image G132 is an image for changing the transmission destination mail address by making the transmission destination mail address editable by the interface operation M. When the transmission destination mail address is in an editable state, the user can arbitrarily change the transmission destination mail address by the interface operation M. When changing the destination mail address, the changed destination mail address is input twice by the interface operation M in order to prevent erroneous input.

The mail address described to the right of “transmission source” displayed in the metadata file generation setting image G100 is the mail address set in the communication terminal device 600. In the following, the mail address described to the right of “sender” is also referred to as a sender mail address.

  The file size display image G134 sets the maximum size of e-mail data to which a metadata file is attached, e-mail data to which original data is attached, or the maximum size of data (for example, original data) transmitted / received by the communication terminal device 600. It is an image for. When the size of data to be transmitted / received is larger than the set maximum file size, an error message is displayed on the display unit 630. The error message is, for example, a message “The size of data for data communication exceeds a set size”.

  The file size display image G134 is an image for changing the maximum file size of the data to be transmitted and received by setting the maximum file size of the data to be transmitted and received to the editable state by the interface operation M. When the maximum file size of the data to be transmitted / received is in an editable state, the user can arbitrarily change the maximum file size of the data to be transmitted / received by the interface operation M.

  In the metadata file generation setting image G100, as an example, when the size of the e-mail data attached with the metadata file or the original data file is larger than 3000 kbytes, an error message is displayed on the display unit 630 when the e-mail is transmitted. Is displayed.

  In the metadata file generation setting image G100, a check box image C140 and a button image G140 are further arranged. The check box image C140 is an image for setting whether to permit the process of encrypting the metadata file or the original data file attached to the e-mail. Triple DES (Data Encryption Standard) is used for encryption. Triple DES is an encryption method in which a secret key encryption algorithm is applied in triplicate. The method for encrypting the metadata file or the original data file is not limited to triple DES, and other encryption methods may be used.

  When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C140, the process of encrypting the metadata file or the original data file attached to the e-mail is permitted. If no check mark is displayed in the check box image C140, the encryption process is not performed.

  The button image G140 is an image for enabling a password for use in encryption to be set by the interface operation M. The state in which the password can be set is, for example, a state in which a window image for entering the password is displayed on the display unit 630. In a state where a password can be set, the user can set an arbitrary password to be used for encryption by the interface operation M.

  If a password has already been set and there is an interface operation M for the button image G140, a window image for allowing the user to input the currently set password, new password, and confirmation password is displayed on the display unit 630. Is displayed.

  In the metadata file generation setting image G100, check box images C150 and C160 are further arranged. The check box image C150 is an image for setting whether to permit the description of the dynamic IP address set in the communication terminal apparatus 600 in the metadata file.

When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C150, it is permitted to describe a dynamic IP address in the metadata file. Check box image C15
If no check mark is displayed in 0, no dynamic IP address is described in the metadata file.

  Here, the dynamic IP address is described in the metadata because it is assumed that the communication terminal apparatus 600 is directly connected to another communication terminal apparatus by explicitly informing the IP address of the communication terminal apparatus 600. It is. Of course, depending on the environment of the communication terminal device (for example, when access from the outside through a firewall is prohibited), direct connection may not be possible.

  The check box image C160 is used to set whether or not to allow the metadata file to describe the metadata information of the data that the user has recently used (for example, the period from the present to the past three days). It is an image. When a check mark is displayed in the check box image C160, it is permitted to describe the metadata information of the recently used data file in the metadata file. If no check mark is displayed in the check box image C160, the metadata information of the data file that has been used recently is not described in the metadata file.

  Button images G180 and G182 are further arranged in the metadata file generation setting image G100. The button image G180 is an image for causing the storage unit 620 to store the changed metadata file generation setting information data.

  If there is an interface operation M on the button image G180, the control unit 610, when the metadata file generation setting information data is changed by the above-described user operation, displays the changed metadata file generation setting information data. The metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 620 is overwritten and stored. As a result, the storage unit 620 stores the changed metadata file generation setting information data. When there is no change in the metadata file generation setting information data, the control unit 610 does not perform the above process.

  Then, the control unit 610 deletes the metadata file generation setting image G100 displayed on the display unit 630 from the display unit 630.

  When the interface operation M is performed on the button image G182, the control unit 610 displays the metadata file generation setting image G100 displayed on the display unit 630 regardless of whether the metadata file generation setting information data is changed. And erased from the display unit 630. As a result, even if the metadata file generation setting information data is changed, the changed metadata file generation setting information data is not stored in the storage unit 620.

  The process for changing the metadata file generation setting information data described above may be performed similarly in communication terminal apparatuses 500A, 500B, and 500C. In this case, for example, the process of changing the metadata file generation setting information data performed by the communication terminal device 500A is the following process A. In the process of changing the metadata file generation setting information data described above, the process A includes the communication terminal device 600, the control unit 610, the storage unit 620, the display unit 630, the program 180A, and the interface operation M. , Control unit 510, storage unit 520, display unit 530, program 180, and interface operation P.

  Next, metadata file generation processing will be described. The metadata file generation process is a process performed when the control unit 610 executes the metadata file generation program of the program 180A by the interface operation M.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the metadata file generation process. Referring to FIG. 7, in step S110, a metadata file is generated. First, the control unit 610 generates a plurality of metadata respectively corresponding to all the original data (shared data) in the shared drive set in the storage unit 620 based on the metadata generation item table T100 of FIG. To do.

  In each of the plurality of generated metadata, the file name, path name, file size, and change amount of the corresponding original data are described. When the original data corresponding to the metadata is newly generated original data, the creation date and time is described in the metadata. When the original data corresponding to the metadata is data in which already generated data has been changed, the update date and time is described in the metadata.

  Further, information based on the metadata generation item table T100 is further described in each of the plurality of generated metadata depending on the type of the corresponding original data. Note that when the original data is data that is not in the metadata generation item table T100, information based on the metadata generation item table T100 is not described in the metadata.

  Then, the control unit 610 generates a metadata file describing a plurality of pieces of information included in each of the generated plurality of metadata. Further, the control unit 610 refers to the metadata file generation setting information data D100, and when writing of the IP address is permitted, the control unit 610 converts the IP address currently set in the communication terminal device 600 into the metadata file. Describe. If writing of the IP address is not permitted, the control unit 610 does not describe the IP address currently set in the communication terminal device 600 in the metadata file.

  Furthermore, control unit 610 describes “PDA 600”, which is the identification name of communication terminal apparatus 600, in the metadata file. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the control unit 610 generates the metadata file generated in the metadata file output folder specified by the metadata file generation setting information data D100 and set in the storage unit 620. Remember. This completes the metadata file generation process.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating information described in a metadata file generated by the communication terminal device 600 as an example.

  Note that the metadata file generation process described above is similarly performed in the communication terminal devices 500A, 500B, and 500C. In this case, for example, the metadata file generation process performed by the communication terminal device 500A is the following process B. The process B includes the communication terminal device 600, the control unit 610, the storage unit 620, the display unit 630, the program 180A, the interface operation M, and the PDA 600, the communication terminal device 500A, and the control unit 510, respectively, in the metadata file generation process described above. , Storage unit 520, display unit 530, program 180, interface operation P, and PC 500A.

  Therefore, the metadata file is also stored in each storage unit 520 of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating information described in a metadata file generated by the communication terminal device 500A as an example.

  Here, the communication terminal apparatus 600 will be described. As described above, the communication terminal device 600 is a PDA. Therefore, since the user can easily carry the communication terminal apparatus 600, the communication terminal apparatus 600 is often not in a state where data communication with other communication terminal apparatuses in the network system 1000 is possible.

  For example, when the communication terminal device 600 is in a state where data communication cannot be performed with all the communication terminal devices in the network system 1000, the other communication terminal devices in the network system 1000 are in what state the shared data held by the communication terminal device 600 is. I can't know if it is.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, even if communication terminal apparatus 600 is in a state where data communication cannot be performed with all communication terminal apparatuses in network system 1000, the state of shared data that communication terminal apparatus 600 has is changed to another communication terminal apparatus. Process to refer to. Specifically, when communication terminal apparatus 600 is in a state in which data communication can be performed only with a proxy communication terminal apparatus described later among a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses in network system 1000, communication terminal apparatus 600 is connected to communication terminal apparatus 600. The metadata file is transmitted to the proxy communication terminal device. Here, the proxy communication terminal device is a device that performs processing for transmitting the latest metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 to another communication terminal device instead of the communication terminal device 600. In this case, the communication terminal device 600 is also referred to as a proxy source communication terminal device below. In the following, a communication terminal device that can operate as a proxy communication terminal device is also referred to as a proxy target communication terminal device. In the present embodiment, the proxy target communication terminal device in the network system 1000 operates as a proxy communication terminal device by the processing described later.

  By performing the above processing, the proxy communication terminal apparatus is in a state where the communication terminal apparatus 600 cannot communicate data with a communication terminal apparatus other than the proxy communication terminal apparatus among the plurality of communication terminal apparatuses in the network system 1000. The metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 can be transmitted on behalf of another communication terminal device.

  In the following, communication terminal device 600 can perform data communication with a communication terminal device that operates as an alternate communication terminal device among communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C via communication unit 50. Such a state is called a network connection state. For example, it is assumed that communication terminal apparatus 600 is capable of data communication only with communication terminal apparatus 500B directly by wire. Communication terminal device 500B is capable of data communication with communication unit 50. In this case, communication terminal device 500A that operates as a proxy communication terminal device and can perform data communication with communication unit 50 can perform data communication with communication terminal device 600 via communication unit 50 and communication terminal device 500B. . In this case, communication terminal apparatus 600 is in a network connection state capable of data communication with communication terminal apparatus 500A that operates as a proxy communication terminal apparatus.

  In addition, the communication terminal device 600 operates directly as a proxy communication terminal device among the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C, directly or wirelessly without using the communication unit 50. A state in which data communication is possible is also called a network connection state. For example, it is assumed that communication terminal apparatus 600 is in a network connection state in which data communication can be performed directly with communication terminal apparatus 500A operating as a proxy communication terminal apparatus by wire. Communication terminal device 600 is assumed to be incapable of data communication with communication unit 50. Communication terminal device 500 </ b> A is capable of data communication with communication unit 50. In this case, communication terminal device 500B capable of data communication with communication unit 50 can perform data communication with communication terminal device 600 via communication unit 50 and communication terminal device 500A.

  Next, processing (hereinafter also referred to as proxy delegation processing) for communication terminal device 600 serving as the proxy source communication terminal device to operate the communication terminal device in network system 1000 as the proxy communication terminal device will be described. In the present embodiment, the proxy target communication terminal apparatus is assumed to be communication terminal apparatus 500A as an example. The proxy delegation process is performed by performing data communication between the communication terminal device 600 and the proxy target communication terminal device.

  Note that data communication between the communication terminal device 600 and the proxy target communication terminal device may be performed either wirelessly or by wire. If data communication between the communication terminal device 600 and the proxy target communication terminal device is performed by wire (for example, a USB cable), unauthorized access to the communication terminal device 600 from other communication terminal devices can be prevented. .

  The proxy delegation process is a process performed by the control unit 610 executing the proxy delegation program of the program 180A by the interface operation M.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of proxy entrustment processing. FIG. 10 also shows processing performed in the proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A).

  Referring to FIG. 10, in step S211, control unit 610 transmits a proxy request for operating as a proxy communication terminal device to proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S212.

The proxy target communication terminal apparatus first performs the process of step S251.
In step S251, control unit 510 of proxy target communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A) receives the proxy request. Thereby, the proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A) operates as a proxy communication terminal device. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S252.

  In step S <b> 252, control unit 510 transmits a proxy acceptance notification indicating that the proxy of communication terminal device 600 has been accepted, to communication terminal device 600.

  The proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) performs the process of step S212 after the process of step S211.

  In step S212, control unit 610 receives a proxy acceptance notification. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S213.

  In step S213, control unit 610 transmits the metadata file of communication terminal apparatus 600 to the proxy target communication terminal apparatus. In this case, the transmitted metadata file is, for example, a file in which information shown in FIG. 8 is described. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S215.

  In step S215, control unit 610 causes storage unit 620 to store proxy destination information T210 indicating information of the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing proxy destination information T210 and proxy source information T220. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing proxy destination information T210 as an example. “Delegation destination terminal name” of the substitution destination information T210 indicates the terminal name of the substitution communication terminal device. The “IP address” of the proxy destination information T210 indicates an IP address set in the proxy communication terminal device. The “mail address” of the proxy destination information T210 indicates a mail address set in the proxy communication terminal device.

Referring to FIG. 10 again, when the process of step S215 is completed, this proxy commissioning process is terminated.

  In the proxy target communication terminal apparatus, the process of step S253 is performed after the process of step S252.

  In step S253, control unit 510 receives a metadata file of proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S254.

  In step S254, control unit 510 causes storage unit 520 to store the received metadata file. Therefore, the storage unit 520 of the proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A) stores the metadata file of the proxy target communication terminal device and the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600). Will be. In this case, it is assumed that the metadata file of the proxy target communication terminal device is a file in which information shown in FIG. 9 is described, for example. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S255.

  In step S255, control unit 510 causes storage unit 520 to store proxy source information T220 indicating information of the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600).

  Referring to FIG. 11 again, FIG. 11B is a diagram showing proxy source information T220 as an example. The “proxy source terminal name” of the proxy source information T220 indicates the terminal name of the proxy source communication terminal device. The “IP address” of the proxy source information T220 indicates an IP address set in the proxy source communication terminal device. The “mail address” of the agency source information T220 indicates an email address set in the agency source communication terminal device.

  Referring to FIG. 10 again, when the process of step S255 is completed, the process in this proxy target communication terminal apparatus is terminated. Through the above processing, as described above, the proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A) operates as a proxy communication terminal device.

  Next, a metadata file management process performed by the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) after the proxy delegation process will be described. The metadata file management process is a process performed by the control unit 610 automatically executing the metadata file management program of the program 180A after the agency commissioning process. Note that the metadata file management process is not automatically performed after the agency commissioning process, but may be performed by the control unit 610 executing the metadata file management program of the program 180A by the interface operation M. Good. At the same time as the start of the metadata file management process, the control unit 610 performs an elapsed time measurement process for measuring an elapsed time from the start of the metadata file management process, independently of the metadata file management process. Execute.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the metadata file management process. Referring to FIG. 12, in step S305, control unit 610 determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement process has passed a predetermined period. Here, the predetermined period corresponds to the generation interval (for example, one day) of the metadata file set in the metadata file generation setting information data D100.

If YES in step S305, control unit 610 sets the elapsed time being measured to 0, and proceeds to step S310. Since the elapsed time is measured independently of the metadata file management process, the measured elapsed time continues to change with time even after the elapsed time is set to zero. On the other hand, if NO at step S305, the process at step S305 is repeated again. When the process of step S305 is performed for the first time, the process may proceed to step S310 regardless of the determination result of step S305.

  In step S310, an update status check process is performed. In the update status check process, the control unit 610 checks whether or not the original data has been updated for all the original data in the shared drive set in the storage unit 620. First, the control unit 610 generates a plurality of metadata respectively corresponding to all the original data in the shared drive set in the storage unit 620. Hereinafter, newly generated metadata is also referred to as newly generated metadata. Note that the control unit 610 describes the file name, path name, and file size of the original data in the newly generated metadata. When the corresponding original data is newly generated, the control unit 610 further describes the creation date and time in the newly generated metadata. In addition, when the corresponding original data is updated data, the control unit 610 further describes the update date and time in the newly generated metadata.

  The update check is performed by a comparison process between the plurality of newly generated metadata generated and the plurality of metadata described in the metadata file stored in the storage unit 620.

  The information to be compared is the file name, path name, file size, creation date / time, and update date / time. If one piece of information (for example, a path name) in one piece of metadata is different by the comparison process, the control unit 610 determines that there is an update. In this case, the control unit 610 can identify whether the updated one or more original data corresponds to newly generated original data, updated original data, or deleted original data. In addition, if all the metadata matches in the comparison process, the control unit 610 determines that there is no update.

  The update check target is not limited to the shared drive, and may be a shared folder, for example. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S320.

  In step S320, it is determined whether there is an update. Specifically, control unit 610 determines whether or not there is an update through the update status check process in step S310. If YES in step S320, the process proceeds to step S322. On the other hand, if NO at step S320, the process proceeds to step S330 described later.

  In step S322, a metadata file update process is performed. In the metadata file update process, the control unit 610 generates one or more metadata for each of the updated one or more original data based on the metadata generation item table. Assume that the metadata generation item table is, for example, the metadata generation item table T100 of FIG.

  Each of the generated one or more metadata describes the file name, path name, file size, and change amount of the corresponding original data. As described above, the amount of change is the absolute value of the difference between the file size of the original data after the change and the file size before the change when the already generated original data is changed.

  When the original data corresponding to the metadata is newly generated original data, the creation date and time is described in the metadata. Further, when the original data corresponding to the metadata is the updated original data, the update date and time is described in the metadata. In addition, in each of the generated one or more metadata, information based on a metadata generation item table (for example, the metadata generation item table T100) is described according to the type of the corresponding original data.

Then, the control unit 610 performs a process of updating the metadata file stored in the storage unit 620 (hereinafter also referred to as an update process) based on a plurality of pieces of information included in each of the generated one or more metadata. . In the update process, when the original data corresponding to the generated metadata is newly generated original data, the control unit 610 adds information on the generated metadata to the metadata file.

  Also, in the update process, when the original data corresponding to the generated metadata is post-update original data, the corresponding metadata information in the metadata file is changed to the generated metadata information.

  The metadata file updated by the update process is a data file describing metadata corresponding to each of all the original data in the current shared drive. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S324.

  In step S324, the control unit 610 overwrites and stores the updated metadata file on the metadata file stored in the storage unit 620. As a result, the existing metadata file is not stored in the storage unit 620, and the updated metadata file is stored. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S326.

  In step S326, a metadata file transmission process is performed. In the metadata file transmission process, the control unit 610 transmits the updated metadata file to the proxy communication terminal device based on the metadata file generation setting information data D100 stored in the storage unit 620. Here, it is assumed that the proxy communication terminal device is communication terminal device 500A. The proxy communication terminal device may be communication terminal device 500B or communication terminal device 500C.

  Further, for example, the metadata file may be managed in two types before and after the update, and only the difference before and after the update may be transmitted. In this way, it is not necessary to send unnecessarily the metadata of the original data that is not updated.

  If the encryption is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data D100, the control unit 610 encrypts the metadata file based on the triple DES using the encryption password. The method for encrypting the metadata file is not limited to triple DES, and other encryption methods may be used.

  Further, if transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data D100, the control unit 610 sends an email attached with an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file. Is generated. In the “subject” column of the generated e-mail address, “[META] info” is described.

  Then, control unit 610 transmits the generated electronic mail to a mail address that is a transmission destination set in proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A).

  Note that, in the metadata file generation setting information data D100, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file is directly transmitted via the communication unit 50. , To the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A). Note that the process of transmitting the metadata file is not limited to the above process, and may be performed by, for example, an instant message. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S330.

In step S330, it is determined whether or not there is an end instruction. Specifically, control unit 610 determines whether or not there has been an end operation for ending the metadata file management program. The termination operation is an interface operation M for terminating the metadata file management program. If YES in step S330, the metadata file management process ends. On the other hand, if NO at step S330, the process at step S305 is performed again.

  Through the metadata file management process described above, the metadata file stored in the storage unit 620 is updated every predetermined period.

Next, the metadata file management process A performed by the proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A) after the metadata file generation process will be described. The metadata file management process A is a process performed when the control unit 510 automatically executes the metadata file management program of the program 180 after the metadata file generation process. The metadata file management process A is not automatically performed after the metadata file generation process, but is performed by the control unit 510 executing the metadata file management program of the program 180 by the interface operation P. May be. Incidentally, simultaneously with the start of the metadata file management processing A, control unit 510 independently of the metadata file management processing A, elapsed to measure the elapsed time from the metadata file management processing A is started Execute the time measurement process.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the metadata file management process A. Referring to FIG. 13, in step S405, control unit 510 determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement process has passed a predetermined period. Here, the predetermined period corresponds to the generation interval of the metadata file set in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520.

If YES in step S405, control unit 510 sets the elapsed time being measured to 0, and proceeds to step S410. Since the elapsed time is measured independently of the metadata file management process A , the measured elapsed time continues to change with time even after the elapsed time is set to zero. On the other hand, if NO at step S405, the process at step S405 is repeated again. When the process of step S405 is performed for the first time, the process may proceed to step S410 regardless of the determination result of step S405.

  In step S410, a process is performed in which the control unit 610 and the storage unit 620 are replaced with the control unit 510 and the storage unit 520 in the process of step S310 described above. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S420.

  In step S420, the process which replaced the control part 610 with the control part 510 in the process of above-mentioned step S320 is performed. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. If YES in step S420, the process proceeds to step S422. On the other hand, if NO at step S420, the process proceeds to step S430 described later.

  In step S422, a process is performed in which the control unit 610 and the storage unit 620 are replaced with the control unit 510 and the storage unit 520, respectively, in the process of step S322 described above. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. Note that when the communication terminal device 500A is operating as a proxy communication terminal device by the processing of FIG. 10 described above, the metadata file to be updated stored in the storage unit 520 is stored in the communication terminal device 600. It is not a metadata file but a metadata file of communication terminal device 500A. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S424.

  In step S424, processing in which the control unit 610 and the storage unit 620 are replaced with the control unit 510 and the storage unit 520, respectively, in the processing of step S324 described above is performed. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. Note that when the communication terminal device 500A is operating as a proxy communication terminal device by the above-described processing of FIG. 10, the metadata file to be overwritten and stored in the storage unit 520 is the communication terminal device 600. The metadata file of the communication terminal device 500A is not a metadata file. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S426.

  In step S426, a metadata file transmission process is performed. In the metadata file transmission process, the control unit 510 transmits the updated metadata file to the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520. It transmits to a plurality of devices other than its own device (communication terminal device 500A) among terminal devices 500C.

  When communication terminal device 500A operates as a proxy communication terminal device, control unit 510 also receives the received metadata file of communication terminal device 600 from communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C. Among them, it transmits to a plurality of devices other than its own device (communication terminal device 500A).

  Note that the control unit 510 may manage the metadata file in, for example, two types before and after the update, and transmit only the difference before and after the update. In this way, it is not necessary to send unnecessarily the metadata of the original data that is not updated.

  If encryption is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520, the control unit 510 uses the encryption password to encrypt the metadata file based on the triple DES. Turn into. The method for encrypting the metadata file is not limited to triple DES, and other encryption methods may be used.

  In addition, in the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted, the control unit 510 sends an email attached with an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file. Is generated. In the “subject” column of the generated e-mail address, “[META] info” is described.

  Then, control unit 510 sets the generated e-mail to each of a plurality of devices other than its own device (communication terminal device 500A) among communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C. Send to the destination e-mail address.

  In the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file is directly transmitted via the communication unit 50. The communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C are transmitted to a plurality of devices other than the own device (communication terminal device 500A). Note that the process of transmitting the metadata file is not limited to the above process, and may be performed by, for example, an instant message.

  Note that the communication terminal apparatus that has received the metadata file transmitted in step S426 causes the storage unit 520 to store the received metadata file. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S430.

In step S430, processing in which control unit 610 and interface operation M are replaced with control unit 510 and interface operation P in the processing of step S330 described above is performed. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. If YES in step S430, the metadata file management process A ends. On the other hand, if NO at step S430, the process at step S405 is performed again.

  By the metadata file management process A described above, the metadata file of the own device stored in the storage unit 520 is updated every predetermined period.

  Note that the metadata file management process A described above is similarly performed in the communication terminal devices 500B and 500C. Therefore, the metadata files stored in the storage units 520 of the communication terminal devices 500A, 500B, and 500C are updated every predetermined period.

  Through the above processing, the storage unit 520 of the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C stores the meta data corresponding to each of the communication terminal device 600, the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C. A data file is stored. That is, each of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C shares a plurality of metadata files respectively corresponding to communication terminal device 600, communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C. Will do.

  Next, processing (hereinafter referred to as data reception) performed by a device that does not operate as a proxy communication terminal device (hereinafter also referred to as a non-proxy communication terminal device) among communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C. Will be described. Hereinafter, the non-proxy communication terminal device will be described as an example of the communication terminal device 500B. The data reception process is a process performed when the control unit 510 executes the data reception process program of the program 180 by the interface operation P.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of data reception processing. Referring to FIG. 14, in step S505, control unit 510 stores each metadata file of communication terminal device 600, communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C stored in storage unit 520. Based on the described information, the following data display image G200 is generated.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a data display image G200 as an example. Referring to FIG. 15, button image G210, information display image G220, information display image G240, scroll button images B240, B242, and button image G290 are arranged in data display image G200.

  The button image G210 is an image for receiving a metadata file from another communication terminal device by the interface operation P for the button image G210.

  The information display image G220 is an image for displaying information of each metadata file of the communication terminal device 600, the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C. In the information display image G220, as an example, the terminal name of the communication terminal apparatus that has received the metadata file in the metadata file management process A of FIG. 13 and the latest reception date and time of the metadata file corresponding to the terminal name are displayed. Has been. In the information display image G220, the terminal name on which the underline is displayed is the name of the terminal (name of the communication terminal device) that is performing the data reception process. In the information display image G220, the “metadata file reception date / time” displayed with an underline is the latest reception date / time of the metadata file of the communication terminal device that is performing the data reception processing.

  The information display image G240 is an image for displaying detailed information of the received metadata file. In the information display image G240, information corresponding to the row where “NEW!” Is displayed in the “state” column is information of new metadata. In the information display image G240, the information corresponding to the row where “UPDATE” is displayed in the “state” column is the information of the update metadata. In the information display image G240, a cursor C100 that can be freely moved by the interface operation P is displayed.

  The scroll button image B240 is an image for vertically scrolling and displaying information not displayed in the information display image G240 by the interface operation P for the scroll button image B240. The scroll button image B242 is an image for horizontally scrolling and displaying information not displayed in the information display image G240 by the interface operation P for the scroll button image B242.

  The button image G290 is an image for displaying the display method selection image G292 by the interface operation P for the button image G290.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, when the process of step S505 ends, the process proceeds to step S510.

  In step S510, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display data display image G200 generated in step S505.

  Referring to FIG. 15 again, display method selection image G292 is an image in which a character string of “list” or a character string of “tree” can be selected by interface operation P. When the character string “list” is selected, the information displayed in the information display image G240 is displayed as a list in a list format as displayed in the data display image G200. When the character string “Tree” is selected, the image displayed on the display unit 530 is changed from the data display image G200 to the following data display image G200A.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data display image G200A as an example. Referring to FIG. 16, data display image G200A is different from data display image G200 in FIG. 15 in that information display image G240A is arranged instead of information display image G240. Other than that, since it is the same as the data display image G200, detailed description will not be repeated.

  The information display image G240A is an image in which the information displayed in the list format on the information display image G240 is displayed in a tree format. “C:” displayed in the information display image G240 indicates the name of the shared drive. Further, the name on the right side of the square displayed in the lower hierarchy of the name of the shared drive indicates the name of the shared folder.

  “N” displayed in the information display image G240A corresponds to the character string “NEW!” In the information display image G240. “U” displayed in the information display image G240A corresponds to the character string “UPDATE” in the information display image G240. For example, the file name “ABCC.xl” in which “N” is displayed on the left side is based on information included in the information of the new metadata. For example, the file name “MDDD.mpg” in which “U” is displayed on the left side is based on the information included in the update metadata information. The square, “N”, and “U” displayed on the information display image G240A may be icons, for example.

When “display” is selected by the interface operation P when the display method selection image G292 is displayed on the display unit 530, the above-described data display image G200 is displayed on the display unit 530.

  Note that the data display image generated in step S505 described above may be either the data display image G200 or the data display image G200A. That is, the image displayed on display unit 530 by the process of step S510 may be either data display image G200 or data display image G200A.

  Referring to FIG. 15 again, when data display image G200 is displayed on display unit 530, cursor operation C100 is moved to the character portion in information display image G240 by interface operation P, and interface operation is further performed. When P is present, the following data display image G200B is displayed on the display unit 530.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a data display image G200B as an example. Referring to FIG. 17, data display image G200B is different from data display image G200 in FIG. 15 in that frame G245, process selection image G246, and detailed information display image G246A are displayed. Other than that, since it is the same as the data display image G200, detailed description will not be repeated.

  When the cursor C100 moves to the character portion in the information display image G240, a frame G245 is displayed so as to surround the metadata information displayed at the position indicated by the cursor C100. Here, instead of the frame G245, it may be configured so that the metadata is indicated by changing the character color of the information of the corresponding metadata.

  If there is an interface operation P (for example, a right click operation of the mouse 542) while the frame G245 is displayed, a process selection image G246 is displayed. The processing selection image G246 is an image that can be selected by the interface operation P from any of the character string “detail display”, the character string “substance request”, the character string “edit”, and the character string “delete”. .

  When the character string “detailed display” is selected by the interface operation P, a detailed information display image G246A indicating the detailed information of the metadata surrounded by the frame G245 is displayed. When the character string “substance request” is selected by the interface operation P, processing described later for requesting original data corresponding to the metadata enclosed by the frame G245 is performed.

  When the character string “edit” is selected by the interface operation P, when the metadata information enclosed by the frame G245 is stored in the storage unit 520 of the own device, the corresponding original data is edited. Processing is performed.

  When the character string “delete” is selected by the interface operation P, if the metadata information enclosed by the frame G245 is stored in the storage unit 520 of the own device, the corresponding original data is deleted. Processing is performed. Further, when the character string “delete” is selected by the interface operation P and the metadata information enclosed by the frame G245 is not stored in the storage unit 520 of the own device, the corresponding metadata and the metadata described later A process for deleting the data associated with is performed.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, when the process of step S510 ends, the process proceeds to step S520.

In step S520, control unit 510 determines whether there is a data reception operation. The data reception operation is an interface operation P for the button image G210 of the data display image G200. If YES in step S520, the process proceeds to step S522. On the other hand, if NO at step S520, the process at step S520 is performed again.

  In step S522, data reception processing is performed. In the data reception process, control unit 510 performs a data reception process based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in storage unit 520. If transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data, the control unit 510 accesses the mail server connected to the network 70 and the own device (communication terminal device 500B). If there is an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address set in, the e-mail is received. If the received electronic mail has attached data and the attached data is encrypted, decryption is performed based on the encrypted method.

  If transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data, the device itself (communication terminal device 500B) directly from at least one of step S326 in FIG. 12 and step S426 in FIG. ) Is received. When the received data is encrypted, decryption is performed based on the encrypted method. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S530.

  In this data reception process, steps S505, S510, and S520 described above may not be performed, and the process may be started from step S522. Thereby, even if there is no operation by a user, the electronic mail to which the metadata file was attached can be acquired automatically.

  In step S530, control unit 510 determines whether a metadata file has been received. In step S522, when an electronic mail with data attached is received, control unit 510 determines whether or not “[META] info” is described in the “subject” of the received electronic mail. If YES in step S530, the process proceeds to step S532. On the other hand, if NO at step S530, the process proceeds to step S560 described later.

  Hereinafter, the metadata file received by the process of step S522 is also referred to as a received metadata file. The metadata file already stored in the storage unit 520 is also referred to as an old metadata file. The old metadata file is a metadata file of each of the communication terminal devices 600, 500A, 500B, and 500C stored in the storage unit 520. Here, assuming that a metadata file has been received, the process proceeds to step S532.

  In step S532, a metadata file comparison process is performed. In the metadata file comparison process, the information of the received metadata file is compared with the information of the old metadata file of the communication terminal device corresponding to the received metadata file. For example, if the received metadata file is a file transmitted from communication terminal device 500C, the comparison target is the old metadata file of communication terminal device 500C.

  Specifically, control unit 510 compares a plurality of pieces of metadata information described in the received metadata file with a plurality of pieces of metadata information described in the old metadata file. The control unit 510 determines that metadata described only in the received metadata file but not in the old metadata file is metadata corresponding to the above-described new generation source data (hereinafter also referred to as new metadata). .

Further, it is assumed that there is metadata corresponding to the old metadata file and the received metadata file (hereinafter also referred to as corresponding metadata). In this case, when the update date / time of the corresponding metadata in the received metadata file is newer than the creation date / time / date / time of the corresponding metadata in the old metadata file, the control unit 510 updates the corresponding metadata in the received metadata file. The metadata corresponding to the original data is determined. In the following, the metadata corresponding to the updated original data is also referred to as updated metadata. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S534.

  In step S534, control unit 510 causes the received metadata file to be overwritten and stored on the old metadata file of the corresponding device stored in storage unit 520. As a result, the old metadata file that has already existed is not stored in the storage unit 520, and the received metadata file is stored. For example, if the received metadata file is a metadata file of communication terminal apparatus 600, the received metadata file is overwritten and stored on the old metadata file of communication terminal apparatus 600. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S536.

  In step S536, control unit 510 generates the following update data display image based on the new metadata, the update metadata, and the received metadata file determined in step S532.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an update data display image G300 as an example. 18, update data display image G300 is different from data display image G200 in FIG. 15 in that information display image G320 is arranged instead of information display image G220, and in place of information display image G240. The difference is that the information display image G340 is arranged. Other than that, since it is the same as the data display image G200, detailed description will not be repeated. The update data display image G300 is an image generated based on the metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 as an example of the received metadata file. In the update data display image G300, information not related to the communication terminal device 600 is based on the data used when the data display image G200 is generated.

  In the information display image G320 of the update data display image G300, the date and time when the metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 is received is displayed by the process of step S522.

  As an example, information of new metadata corresponding to the original data with the file name “CCEE.dc” is added to the information display image G340 of the update data display image G300. In addition, in the information display image G340 of the update data display image G300, for example, it is assumed that the metadata information corresponding to the original data whose file name is “ABCC.xl” is changed. The metadata whose information is changed is update metadata. Specifically, when the original data having the file name “ABCC.xl” is updated, the “state” indicated by the corresponding update metadata information is, for example, “UPDATE” instead of “NEW!”. Indicates.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, when the process of step S536 ends, the process proceeds to step S538.

  In step S538, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display update data display image G300 generated in step S536. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S540.

  In step S540, control unit 510 determines whether or not there is an original data acquisition operation. As described with reference to FIG. 17, the original data acquisition operation is performed by displaying the processing selection image G246 by the interface operation P (for example, the right click operation of the mouse 542) in the state where the frame G245 is displayed, and the interface operation. In this operation, the character string “substance request” is selected by P. As an example, it is assumed that the frame G245 is arranged at a position surrounding a line whose file name is “CCEE.dc”.

  That is, the original data acquisition operation is an operation for acquiring new generation source data corresponding to new metadata corresponding to the character string “NEW!”, Or update metadata corresponding to the character string “UPDATE”. This is an operation for acquiring the updated original data corresponding to. In the present embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that the original data to be acquired is newly generated original data whose file name is “CCEE.dc”.

  If YES in step S540, the process proceeds to step S542. On the other hand, if NO at step S540, the process proceeds to step S590 described later.

  In step S542, an original data acquisition request process is performed. In the original data acquisition request process, control unit 510 describes “[META] REQUEST” in the “Subject” field, and attaches metadata (new metadata) corresponding to the original data (new generation source data) to be acquired. Generate email.

  The metadata attached to the e-mail (new metadata) is encrypted by the control unit 510 if the encryption is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520. Used to become data encrypted based on triple DES.

  Then, control unit 510 transmits the generated e-mail to the e-mail address that is the transmission destination set in the communication terminal device (PDA 600 (communication terminal device 600)) that stores the new generation source data.

  In addition, in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520, if data transmission / reception using mail is not permitted, the new generation source data is stored directly via the communication unit 50. A request instruction for acquiring original data (newly generated original data) is transmitted to the communication terminal device (PDA 600 (communication terminal device 600)). The request instruction includes information (for example, a path name) for specifying the original data (new generation source data).

  Next, processing (proxy processing) performed by the above-described proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A) will be described. The proxy process is a process performed independently from other processes after the proxy target communication terminal apparatus operates as the proxy communication terminal apparatus. The proxy process is a process performed when control unit 510 executes the proxy process program of program 180.

  FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of proxy processing. Referring to FIG. 19, in step S605, control unit 510 stores each metadata file of communication terminal device 600, communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C stored in storage unit 520. Based on the described information, the following data display image G400 is generated.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a data display image G400 as an example. Referring to FIG. 20, data display image G400 is different from update data display image G300 in FIG. 18 in that information display image G420 is arranged instead of information display image G320, and instead of information display image G340. The difference is that the information display image G440 is arranged. Other than that, it is the same as the update data display image G300, and the detailed description will not be repeated.

The information display image G420 is an image for displaying information of each metadata file of the communication terminal device 600, the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C. In the information display image G420, as an example, the terminal name of the communication terminal device that has received the metadata file transmitted in the proxy delegation process in FIG. 10 and the metadata file management process A in FIG. The most recent reception date and time of the data file is displayed.

  In the information display image G420, the terminal name displayed with a circle on the left side is the terminal name (name of the communication terminal apparatus) of the proxy source communication terminal apparatus described above. In addition, the mark which shows a proxy former agency communication terminal device is not limited to a circle, For example, an icon may be sufficient. In the information display image G420, the terminal name on which the underline is displayed is the name of the terminal (name of the communication terminal device) that is performing this proxy process.

  Since information display image G420 is similar to information display image G320, detailed description will not be repeated.

  Referring to FIG. 19 again, when the process of step S605 ends, the process proceeds to step S607.

  In step S607, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display data display image G400 generated in step S605.

  When the data display image G400 and the display method selection image G292 in FIG. 15 are displayed on the display unit 530, when the character string “tree” is selected by the interface operation P, the information display image G440 is displayed. The image is changed to the same image as the information display image G240A of FIG.

  When the data display image G400 is displayed on the display unit 530, the cursor C100 is moved to the character portion in the information display image G440 by the interface operation P. In the part 530, a frame G245 and a process selection image G246 are displayed as in the data display image G200B of FIG. When the process of step S607 ends, the process proceeds to step S610.

  In step S610, control unit 510 executes proxy main processing. The proxy main process is performed independently of the proxy process. In the present embodiment, “[META] REQUEST” is entered in the “Subject” column to the mail address set in the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) by the processing in step S542 in FIG. Suppose that the described e-mail is sent.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the proxy main process. Referring to FIG. 21, in step S702, control unit 510 determines whether or not the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is in a network connection state. If YES in step S702, the flow proceeds to step S704. On the other hand, if NO at step S702, the process proceeds to step S710 to be described later.

  In step S704, a metadata file comparison process is performed. In the metadata file comparison process, the control unit 510 sends a request instruction for receiving the latest metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal apparatus from the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) to the proxy source communication terminal apparatus. Send. When the proxy source communication terminal apparatus receives the request instruction, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus transmits the latest metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal apparatus to the proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A).

Control unit 520 performs processing for comparing the received metadata file of the latest proxy source communication terminal device with the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) stored in storage unit 520. . Hereinafter, the received metadata file of the latest proxy source communication terminal apparatus is also referred to as the latest proxy source metadata file. In addition, the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device stored in the storage unit 520 is also referred to as an old proxy source metadata file. Since the comparison process is the same as the process of step S532, detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S706.

  In step S706, control unit 510 overwrites and stores the latest proxy source metadata file over the old proxy source metadata file stored in storage unit 520. As a result, the old proxy source metadata file that has already existed is not stored in the storage unit 520, and the latest proxy source metadata file is stored. Therefore, the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device stored in the storage unit 520 is updated to the latest state every time the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) enters the network connection state. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S710.

  In step S710, data reception processing is performed. In the data reception process, control unit 510 performs a data reception process based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in storage unit 520. If transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data, the control unit 510 accesses the mail server connected to the network 70 and performs the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal). In the case where there is an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address set in the apparatus 600) and an e-mail with “[META] REQUEST” written in the “Subject” column, the e-mail is received.

  Then, control unit 510 reads metadata (new metadata) attached to the e-mail. In addition, when the metadata is encrypted, the control unit 510 decrypts the metadata based on a method in which the metadata is encrypted. Thereby, control unit 510 can specify the original data requested by the non-proxy communication terminal device based on the decrypted metadata.

  In addition, in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, the control unit 510 directly performs non-proxy communication via the communication unit 50. A request instruction for acquiring original data (new generation original data) transmitted from the terminal device is received. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S720.

  In step S720, control unit 510 determines whether or not the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is in a network connection state. If YES at step S720, control proceeds to step S730. On the other hand, if NO at step S720, the process proceeds to step S760 described later.

  In step S730, original data request processing is performed. In the original data request processing, the control unit 510 receives a request instruction for acquiring the original data (new generation source data) requested by the non-proxy communication terminal device from the proxy source communication terminal device. It transmits to the terminal device (communication terminal device 600). The request instruction includes information (for example, a path name) for specifying the original data (new generation source data).

  When the proxy agency communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) is in a network connection state, the proxy agency communication terminal apparatus performs data request handling processing. The data request handling process is performed independently of other processes. The data request handling process ends when the proxy agency communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is not connected to the network.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of the data request handling process. Referring to FIG. 22, in step S810, has control unit 610 received a request instruction for acquiring original data (new generation source data) transmitted from proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A)? It is determined whether or not. If YES at step S810, the process proceeds to step S820. On the other hand, if NO at step S810, the process at step S810 is performed again.

  In step S820, original data transmission processing is performed. In the original data transmission process, the control unit 610 reads the corresponding original data (new generation source data) from the storage unit 620 based on the received request instruction. Then, control unit 610 transmits the requested original data (new generation original data) to proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A). In addition, if encryption is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data D100, the original data to be transmitted (new generation source data) is encrypted. Thereafter, the process of step S810 is performed again.

  Referring to FIG. 21 again, when the process of step S730 ends, the process proceeds to step S732.

  In step S732, it is determined whether control unit 510 has received the requested original data (new generation source data) from the agency source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600). If YES in step S732, the process proceeds to step S740. On the other hand, if NO at step S732, the process at step S732 is performed again.

  In step S740, control unit 510 performs a process of transferring original data (new generation source data) received from proxy agency communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) to non-proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500B). Do. Specifically, control unit 510 describes “[META] DATA” in the “Subject” field, and generates an e-mail attached with the received original data (new generation source data).

  If the original data attached to the e-mail is encrypted in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520, the control unit 510 uses the encryption password, The data is encrypted based on the triple DES.

  Then, control unit 510 transmits the generated electronic mail to the mail address set in the non-proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500B) that requested acquisition of the original data. That is, control unit 510 transfers original data received from the proxy agency communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) to the non-proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500B).

  In addition, in the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, the original data (new generation source data) is directly requested to acquire the original data via the communication unit 50. To the non-proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500B). If encryption is permitted, the original data is encrypted.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, in the non-proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500B), when the process of step S542 described above ends, the process proceeds to step S590.

  In step S590, it is determined whether there is an end instruction. Specifically, control unit 510 determines whether or not there has been an end operation for ending the data reception processing program. The end operation is an interface operation P for ending the data reception processing program. If YES in step S590, the data reception process ends. On the other hand, if NO at step S590, the process at step S522 is performed again.

  In step S522, the data reception process described above is performed. Here, in the data reception process, it is assumed that “[META] DATA” is described in the “Subject” column and an e-mail attached with original data (new generation source data) is received. When the process of step S522 ends, the process proceeds to step S530.

  In step S530, the processing described above is performed. Since the received data is not a metadata file, the process proceeds to step S560.

  In step S560, control unit 510 determines whether or not the original data has been received. Note that when an e-mail attached with data is received in step S522, the control unit 510 determines whether “[META] DATA” is described in the “subject” of the received e-mail. If YES in step S560, the process proceeds to step S564. On the other hand, if NO at step S560, the process proceeds to step S540 described above.

  In step S564, control unit 510 causes storage unit 520 to store original data (new generation source data) attached to the received electronic mail. When the original data attached to the received e-mail is encrypted, the control unit 510 performs decryption based on the encrypted method, and stores the decrypted original data in the storage unit 520. Remember me. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S565.

In step S565, metadata file update processing A is performed. In the metadata file updating process A, the original data received, when a newly generated source data, the information of the new meta data described in the metadata file, the new generation of the original data stored in the storage unit 5 20 Write the path name. Further, when the received original data is the updated original data, the process for the metadata file is not performed. Thereby, the metadata file stored in the storage unit 520 is updated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S566.

  In step S566, control unit 510 generates an updated data display image in which the state of metadata corresponding to the acquired original data is changed to “acquired”. Specifically, when the acquired original data is newly generated source data, an updated data display image in which the state of the new metadata corresponding to the newly generated source data is changed from “NEW!” To “acquired” is generated. To do. Further, when the acquired original data is the updated original data, an updated data display image in which the state of the update metadata corresponding to the updated original data is changed from “UPDATE” to “acquired” is generated.

For example, the information display image G340 of update data display image G300 of Fig. 18, when the acquired new origin data file name is a "CCEE.dc", the control unit 5 10, the file name is "CCEE.dc" An update data display image is generated in which the “state” of the row corresponding to is changed from “NEW!” To “acquired”.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an update data display image G300A as an example. Referring to FIG. 23, update data display image G300A is different from update data display image G300 in FIG. 18 in that information display image G340A is arranged instead of information display image G340. Other than that, it is the same as the update data display image G300, and the detailed description will not be repeated.

  Compared to the information display image G340, the information display image G340A has a “status” in the line corresponding to the file name “CCEE.dc” is “acquired” instead of “NEW!”. Different. Other than that, it is the same as the information display image G340, and the detailed description will not be repeated.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, when the process of step S566 ends, the process proceeds to step S568.

  In step S568, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display the update data display image generated in step S566. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S540 described above.

  In the above process, the process of acquiring new generation source data has been described. Note that the process of acquiring the updated original data is the same as the process of acquiring the new generation source data.

  Referring to FIG. 19 again, when the process of step S610 ends, the process proceeds to step S620.

In step S620, the control unit 5 10 determines whether there is data receive operation. The data receiving operation is an interface operation P for the button image G210 of the data display image G400. If YES at step S620, control proceeds to step S622. On the other hand, if NO at step S620, the process at step S620 is performed again.

  In step S622, the following processing is performed in addition to the processing similar to step S522 of FIG. First, based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in storage unit 520, control unit 510 performs a data reception process addressed to the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600). If transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data, the control unit 510 accesses the mail server connected to the network 70 and performs the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal). If there is an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address set in the apparatus 600), the e-mail is received. If the received electronic mail has attached data and the attached data is encrypted, decryption is performed based on the encrypted method.

  Note that, in the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, at least one of step S326 in FIG. 12 and step S426 in FIG. Data transmitted to device 500B) is received. When the received data is encrypted, decryption is performed based on the encrypted method. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S630.

In step S630, the same processing as in step S530 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. If YES in step S630, the flow proceeds to step S630A. On the other hand, if NO at step S630, the process proceeds to step S660 described later. Here, assuming that a metadata file has been received, the process proceeds to step S630A.

  In step S630A, control unit 510 determines whether or not the received metadata file is a metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device. If YES in step S630A, the process proceeds to step S630B. On the other hand, if NO at step S630A, the process proceeds to step S632.

In step S630B, a metadata file transmission process is performed. In the metadata file transmission process, the control unit 510 converts the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device into the communication terminal device 500A and the communication terminal device based on the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520. Of 500B and communication terminal device 500C, it transmits to a plurality of devices other than its own device (communication terminal device 500B). That is, the proxy communication terminal device transmits the latest metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 to another communication terminal device instead of the communication terminal device 600.

  If encryption is permitted in the metadata file generation setting information data stored in the storage unit 520, the control unit 510 uses the encryption password to convert the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device, Encrypt based on Triple DES. Note that the method for encrypting the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device is not limited to triple DES, and may be another encryption method.

  In addition, in the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is permitted, the control unit 510 sends an email attached with an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file. Is generated. In the “subject” column of the generated e-mail address, “[META] info” is described.

  Then, control unit 510 sets the generated e-mail to each of a plurality of devices other than its own device (communication terminal device 500B) among communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, and communication terminal device 500C. Send to the destination e-mail address.

  In the metadata file generation setting information data, if transmission / reception of data using mail is not permitted, an encrypted metadata file or an unencrypted metadata file is directly transmitted via the communication unit 50. The communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C are transmitted to a plurality of devices other than the own device (communication terminal device 500B). Note that the process of transmitting the metadata file is not limited to the above process, and may be performed by, for example, an instant message. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S632.

  In step S632, the same processing as in step S532 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S634.

  In step S634, the same processing as step S534 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S636.

  In step S636, control unit 510 performs processing for generating an update data display image based on the new metadata, the updated metadata, and the received metadata file determined in step S632, as in step S536 described above. Therefore, detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S638.

  In step S638, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display the update data display image generated in step S636. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S640.

  In step S640, the same processing as in step S540 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. If YES at step S640, control proceeds to step S642. On the other hand, if NO at step S640, the process proceeds to step S690 described later.

  In step S642, the same processing as in step S542 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S690.

In step S690, it is determined whether there is an end instruction. Specifically, control unit 510 determines whether or not there has been an end operation for ending the proxy processing program. The end operation is an interface operation P for ending the data reception processing program. If YES in step S690, this proxy process ends. On the other hand, if NO at step S690, the process at step S622 is performed again.

  In step S622, the data reception process described above is performed. Here, in the data reception process, it is assumed that “[META] DATA” is described in the “Subject” column and an e-mail attached with original data (new generation source data) is received. When the process of step S622 ends, the process proceeds to step S630.

  In step S630, the processing described above is performed. Since the received data is not a metadata file, the process proceeds to step S660.

  In step S660, processing similar to that in step S560 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. If YES in step S660, the process proceeds to step S664. On the other hand, if NO at step S660, the process proceeds to step S640 described above.

  In step S664, the same processing as in step S564 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S665.

  In step S665, a process similar to that of step S565 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S666.

  In step S666, the same processing as in step S566 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S668.

  In step S668, control unit 510 performs processing for causing display unit 530 to display the update data display image generated in step S666. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S640 described above.

  Next, referring again to FIG. 21, the processing when it is determined NO in step S720 will be described. That is, a process when the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is not in a network connection state will be described.

If NO at step S720 described above, the process proceeds to step S760.
In step S760, the request log is stored. Specifically, control unit 510 stores a log (hereinafter also referred to as a request log) in storage unit 520 in association with metadata corresponding to the original data requested by the non-proxy communication terminal device. Although details will be described later, the request log is described in a metadata file stored in the storage unit 520.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a request log associated with metadata. Referring to FIG. 24, “log number” is a number for identifying a plurality of request logs corresponding to each of metadata 1 to metadata N. The request log describes the terminal name, IP address, and mail address of the communication terminal device requesting the original data. The content described in the request log is not limited to the terminal name, IP address, and mail address, but may be other elements.

For example, if the original data requested by the non-representative communication terminal apparatus is data corresponding to the metadata 1, the control unit 510 stores the meta data in the metadata file of the proxy original communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600). A request log with a log number “1” is described in association with data 1. When a request log corresponding to metadata 1 already exists, the control unit 510 sets the log number (for example, 6) next to the log number having the largest numerical value (for example, 5) already described. The request log is stored in the metadata file of the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600).
It is described in association with metadata 1.

  Referring to FIG. 21 again, when the process of step S760 ends, the process of step S702 described above is performed.

  In the present embodiment, once NO is determined in step S720, before the process of step S720 is performed again or before the process of step S720 is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 times), It is assumed that the communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is in a network connection state. In this case, YES is determined in step S720, and the process proceeds to step S730.

Then, the processes of steps S730, S732, and S740 described above are performed.
When the process of step S740 ends, the process proceeds to step S742.

  In step S742, control unit 510 determines whether there is a request log corresponding to the metadata corresponding to the original data transferred in step S740. If YES at step S742, control proceeds to step S744. On the other hand, if NO at step S742, the process at step S702 is performed again.

  In step S744, the request log is deleted. Specifically, control unit 510 deletes the request log corresponding to the metadata corresponding to the original data transferred in step S740 from the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600), and the log number Renumber.

  For example, when the metadata corresponding to the original data transferred in step S740 is metadata 1, and the transfer destination terminal name of the original data transferred in step S740 is PC500C, control unit 510 performs proxy source communication. In the metadata file of the terminal device, the request log with the log number “2” described in association with the metadata 1 is deleted. Then, if there is a request log of log number “3” or more described in association with metadata 1 in the metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal device, control unit 510 sets the number of the corresponding request log. “1” is subtracted.

  In the proxy main process, when the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) is not in a network connection state, the control unit 510 sends an e-mail attached with a request log to a mail address set in the proxy source communication terminal device. May be sent to. Then, when the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) accesses the mail server every predetermined time, confirms that there is a mail addressed to itself, and receives the mail, the original data is requested. I can recognize that. In this case, the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) transmits an e-mail attached with the original data to the mail address of the communication terminal device that requested the original data.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, whether or not the metadata file indicating the state of the plurality of shared data (original data) included in the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) has been updated is determined. The communication terminal apparatus determines automatically every predetermined period. Then, when it is determined that there is an update of the metadata file, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus transmits the updated metadata file to the proxy communication terminal apparatus. The proxy communication terminal apparatus transmits the latest metadata file of the proxy source communication terminal apparatus to a plurality of non-proxy communication terminal apparatuses (other communication terminal apparatuses) instead of the proxy source communication terminal apparatus.

Therefore, it is not necessary for the agency source communication terminal device to purposely transmit the metadata file of the agency source communication terminal device to a plurality of non-agent communication terminal devices. Even if the proxy communication terminal device is in a state in which data communication cannot be performed with a communication terminal device other than the proxy communication terminal device among the plurality of communication terminal devices in the network system 1000, the non-proxy communication terminal device performs the proxy communication. It is possible to recognize that the metadata file of the terminal device has been updated, and it is possible to easily recognize that the original data has been newly generated or that the original data has been updated.

  In addition, since the file size of the metadata file received by the non-proxy communication terminal device is generally smaller than the original data, compared to receiving the original data one by one, the non-proxy communication terminal device The time to receive the metadata file can be very short.

  Therefore, there is an effect that the proxy source communication terminal apparatus can immediately recognize that the original data is newly generated or the original data is updated. Furthermore, even if the data transmission speed of the communication network to be used is low, there is an effect that it is possible to easily recognize that the original data is newly generated or the original data is updated.

  The non-proxy communication terminal device recognizes that the original data has been newly generated or has been updated in the proxy source communication terminal device, and sends an acquisition request for the original data to the proxy communication terminal device. . When the proxy communication terminal apparatus receives the original data acquisition request and the proxy source communication terminal apparatus is not in a network connection state, the proxy communication terminal apparatus stores a request log.

  Then, when the proxy source communication terminal apparatus enters the network connection state, the proxy communication terminal apparatus requests the original data to the proxy source communication terminal apparatus based on the request log, and the proxy source communication terminal apparatus transmits the original data. Receive. Then, the proxy communication terminal apparatus transfers the received original data to the non-proxy communication terminal apparatus that has requested the original data.

  Therefore, even if the proxy source communication terminal apparatus is not connected to the network, the request for the original data of the non-substitute communication terminal apparatus is not ignored. In other words, when the proxy source communication terminal apparatus is in a network connection state, the non-substitute communication terminal apparatus that has requested the original data can obtain the requested original data with certainty.

  Since communication is performed between the communication terminal devices to acquire the original data, an electronic mail is used. Therefore, when the electronic mail is transmitted to the communication terminal device of the communication destination, the communication terminal device of the communication destination is turned off. Even if it is, the e-mail can be received when the power is turned on later.

  Moreover, since the encrypted data is used in the communication process between the communication terminal devices performed to acquire the original data, security can be ensured.

  In the present embodiment, the management of the metadata file is not managed by the server device, but is managed by each communication terminal device. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use the server device, there is no need to perform maintenance and management of the server device every predetermined period.

  In this embodiment, since the server device does not manage the metadata file of each communication terminal device centrally, the server device is turned off due to an accident or the like, and the server device manages it. There is no possibility of losing all the metadata files that are present.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, there is an effect that data shared between a plurality of terminal devices can be efficiently managed.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, as an example, one communication terminal device 500A continuously operates as an alternate communication terminal device. In the present embodiment, the proxy communication terminal apparatus is determined according to the load state of the communication terminal apparatus.

  Since the network system in the present embodiment is network system 1000 of FIG. 1 described above, detailed description will not be repeated. Further, the configurations and functions of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, communication terminal device 500C, and communication terminal device 600 are the same as the configurations and functions described in the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description will not be repeated. .

  Also in the present embodiment, each of communication terminal device 500A, communication terminal device 500B, communication terminal device 500C, and communication terminal device 600 performs the metadata file generation process of FIG. 7 as in the first embodiment. . As a result, each storage unit 520 of the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C stores the metadata file of the corresponding communication terminal device. In addition, the metadata file of the communication terminal device 600 is also stored in the storage unit 620 of the communication terminal device 600.

  First, a proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process for determining a proxy communication terminal apparatus will be described. The proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process is a process performed by the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600). When the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process is performed, it is assumed that the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) is in a state in which data communication is possible with all the communication terminal apparatuses in the network system 1000. When the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process is performed, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus may be in a state in which data communication with two or more communication terminal apparatuses in the network system 1000 is possible.

  The proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process is a process performed when the control unit 610 executes the proxy apparatus determination program of the program 180A by the interface operation M. At the same time as the start of the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process, the control unit 610 determines the elapsed time for measuring the elapsed time from the start of the metadata file management process A independently of the metadata file management process. Execute the measurement process.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart of proxy communication terminal apparatus determination processing. Referring to FIG. 25, in step S905, control unit 610 determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement process has passed a predetermined period (for example, 10 minutes).

  If YES in step S905, control unit 610 sets the elapsed time being measured to 0, and proceeds to step S910. Since the elapsed time is measured independently of the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process, the measured elapsed time continues to change with time even after the elapsed time is set to zero. On the other hand, if NO at step S905, the process at step S905 is repeated again. When the process of step S905 is performed for the first time, the process may proceed to step S910 regardless of the determination result of step S905.

  In step S910, the proxy communication terminal apparatus is determined based on the state check process. First, in the status check process, the control unit 610 sends a status check command for checking the status of each of the plurality of communication terminal devices in the network system 1000 to the communication terminal device 500A, the communication terminal device 500B, and the communication terminal device 500C. The transmission process is performed a plurality of times (for example, 20 times) every predetermined time (for example, 1 second). Here, the state check command is, for example, PING (Packet Internet Groper).

  And control part 610 determines an agency communication terminal unit based on a judgment parameter explained below. The determination parameter is, for example, information indicating how many state check commands among a plurality of state check commands a communication terminal apparatus that has received a plurality of state check commands transmitted continuously responds to in a predetermined time.

  In this case, for example, control unit 610 determines the communication terminal apparatus that has responded to the largest number of state check commands within a predetermined time (for example, 25 seconds) as the proxy communication terminal apparatus. This is because there is a high possibility that the load on the control unit 510 of the proxy communication terminal apparatus determined by the above processing is low.

  Another example of the determination parameter is a response time of the communication terminal apparatus with respect to the state check command. In this case, for example, control unit 610 determines a communication terminal apparatus having the smallest average value of a plurality of response times respectively corresponding to a plurality of state check commands as a proxy communication terminal apparatus.

  Control unit 610 can determine that a communication terminal device that does not respond to a plurality of state check commands transmitted continuously is a power-off device.

  The state check process is not limited to the above process, and the following process may be performed. For example, when communication terminal apparatus 600, communication terminal apparatus 500A, communication terminal apparatus 500B, and communication terminal apparatus 500C are UNIX (registered trademark) terminals, control unit 610 includes communication terminal apparatus 500A, communication terminal apparatus 500B, and communication terminal. Remote login to the device 500C.

  Then, the control unit 610 transmits a vmstat command for checking the load on the control unit 510 of the remotely logged-in communication terminal device to a plurality of remotely logged-in communication terminal devices. In this case, control unit 610 determines the communication terminal device with the lowest load on control unit 510 as the proxy communication terminal device. The communication terminal device determined as the proxy communication terminal device is the proxy target communication terminal device described above. As an example, the communication terminal apparatus determined as the proxy communication terminal apparatus is assumed to be the communication terminal apparatus 500A.

  The determination method of the proxy communication terminal device is not limited to the above method, and may be another method. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S911.

  In step S911, the same processing as step S211 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S912.

  In the proxy target communication terminal device, first, processing similar to the processing in steps S251 and S252 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated.

  The proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) performs the process of step S912 after the process of step S911.

  In steps S912 and S913, processing similar to that in steps S212 and S213 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S915.

  In step S915, control unit 610 causes storage unit 620 to store proxy destination information T210 of FIG. 11A indicating information of the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A). Thereafter, the process of step S905 is performed again.

  In the proxy target communication terminal apparatus, after the process of step S252 described above is performed, the same process as the process of steps S253 and S254 described above is performed, and thus detailed description will not be repeated. Therefore, the storage unit 520 of the proxy target communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A) stores the metadata file of the proxy target communication terminal apparatus and the metadata file of the communication terminal apparatus 600. In this case, it is assumed that the metadata file of the proxy target communication terminal device is a file in which information shown in FIG. 9 is described, for example. Thereafter, the process of step S255 described above is performed. Specifically, control unit 510 causes storage unit 520 to store proxy source information T220 in FIG. 11B indicating information of the proxy source communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600). Through the above processing, the proxy target communication terminal device (communication terminal device 500A) operates as a proxy communication terminal device.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) performs the metadata file management process shown in FIG.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A) performs the metadata file management process A after the metadata file generation process.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the non-proxy communication terminal device performs data reception processing. Similarly to the first embodiment, the proxy communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 500A) performs the proxy process in FIG. 19 and the proxy main process in FIG.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, when the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) is in a network connection state, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus performs data request handling processing.

  If there is a communication terminal device operating as a proxy communication terminal device, the process of step S910 of the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process is performed again, or the process of step S910 is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 When the non-proxy communication terminal device different from the communication terminal device currently operating as the proxy communication terminal device is determined as the proxy communication terminal device, the following processing is performed. In this case, a communication terminal device that is already operating as a proxy communication terminal device is also referred to as an old proxy communication terminal device. Further, another non-proxy communication terminal device newly determined as the proxy communication terminal device is also referred to as a new proxy communication terminal device in the following.

  First, the new proxy communication terminal device includes the metadata file of each of its own device and the proxy source communication terminal device, and one or more non-proxy communication terminal devices from the old proxy communication terminal device. Each metadata file is received. Since the request log is also described in the metadata file as described in the first embodiment, the request log is also received by receiving the metadata file.

  Then, the new proxy communication terminal apparatus performs the metadata file management process A in FIG. 12, the proxy process in FIG. 19, and the proxy main process in FIG. That is, various processes performed by the old proxy communication terminal apparatus are entrusted to the new proxy communication terminal apparatus.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the proxy communication terminal apparatus is determined according to the load state of the communication terminal apparatus, etc., so the determined proxy The communication terminal device can perform various processes stably. As a result, the data communication in the network system 1000 can be stabilized.

In the present embodiment, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus (communication terminal apparatus 600) has determined the proxy communication terminal apparatus by the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process in FIG. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the communication terminal device in which the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) can perform data communication directly or wirelessly (for example, a USB cable). (Hereinafter also referred to as a communicable device) may be determined as the proxy communication terminal device. In this case, the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) performs the above-described steps S911, S912, S913, and S915 on the communicable device, so that the communicable device becomes the proxy communication terminal device. Will work.

  If the proxy source communication terminal apparatus determines that the communicable apparatus is the proxy communication terminal apparatus, there is a communication terminal apparatus already operating as the proxy communication terminal apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as the old proxy communication terminal apparatus). When doing so, the following processing is performed. In this case, the communication terminal device determined as the proxy communication terminal device is also referred to as a new proxy communication terminal device in the following.

  First, the new proxy communication terminal device includes the metadata file of each of its own device and the proxy source communication terminal device, and one or more non-proxy communication terminal devices from the old proxy communication terminal device. Each metadata file is received. Since the request log is also described in the metadata file as described in the first embodiment, the request log is also received by receiving the metadata file.

  Then, the new proxy communication terminal apparatus performs the metadata file management process A in FIG. 12, the proxy process in FIG. 19, and the proxy main process in FIG. That is, various processes performed by the old proxy communication terminal apparatus are entrusted to the new proxy communication terminal apparatus.

  In this embodiment, when a communication terminal device operating as a proxy communication terminal device becomes inoperable due to a shutdown or the like, the proxy communication terminal device becomes a non-proxy communication terminal device before it becomes inoperable. On the other hand, the above-described steps S911, S912, and S913 are performed. Then, the proxy communication terminal device transmits each metadata file of the own device and the proxy source communication terminal device and each metadata file of one or more non-proxy communication terminal devices to the non-proxy communication terminal device. . Thereby, the various processing which the proxy communication terminal device is performing can be entrusted to a non-proxy communication terminal device.

  In the present embodiment, the proxy communication terminal device (communication terminal device 600) performs the proxy communication terminal device determination process of FIG. However, the proxy communication terminal apparatus may perform the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process. In this case, the proxy communication terminal apparatus performs a state check process in step S910 of the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process for the plurality of non-proxy communication terminal apparatuses. And, for example, if there is a non-proxy communication terminal device having a lower load state than the proxy communication terminal device, the proxy communication terminal device uses the non-proxy communication terminal device having a low load state as the proxy communication terminal device. You may perform the process for operating. That is, the proxy communication terminal apparatus performs the above-described processing of steps S911, S912, and S913 on the non-proxy communication terminal apparatus, and the metadata file of each of its own apparatus and the proxy source communication terminal apparatus and one or more non-transmission terminals. Each metadata file of the proxy communication terminal device is transmitted to the non-proxy communication terminal device. Thereby, the non-proxy communication terminal device operates as the proxy communication terminal device.

In the present embodiment, when a communication terminal device operating as a proxy communication terminal device suddenly becomes inoperable due to a power failure or the like, the following processing is performed. In this case, when the proxy source communication terminal apparatus enters the network connection state, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus performs the proxy communication terminal apparatus determination process of FIG. 25 described above again. As a result, the communication terminal apparatus determined as the proxy communication terminal apparatus performs the process to be performed by the proxy communication terminal apparatus (metadata file management process A in FIG. 12, proxy process in FIG. 19 and proxy main process in FIG. 21). . That is, in this case, the communication terminal device that operates as the proxy communication terminal device is a proxy for the proxy source communication terminal device.

  In the present embodiment, when a communication terminal device operating as a proxy communication terminal device suddenly becomes inoperable due to a power failure or the like, the following processing may be performed. A communication terminal device operating as a proxy communication terminal device that suddenly becomes inoperable is also referred to as an old proxy communication terminal device. In this case, for example, among the plurality of non-proxy communication terminal devices that have transmitted the original data acquisition request of the proxy communication terminal device to the proxy communication terminal device, the non-operation state that first recognized the inoperable state of the proxy communication terminal device. The proxy communication terminal device operates as the proxy communication terminal device by performing the above-described processing to be performed by the proxy communication terminal device. That is, in this case, the communication terminal device that operates as the proxy communication terminal device is a proxy for the proxy source communication terminal device. The proxy communication terminal device in this case is also referred to as a new proxy communication terminal device.

  After that, when the old proxy communication terminal device becomes operable, the new proxy communication terminal device includes the metadata file of each of the own device and the proxy source communication terminal device of the old proxy communication terminal device, and one Each metadata file of the above non-proxy communication terminal device is received from the old proxy communication terminal device. As described above, since the request log is also described in the metadata file, the request log is also received by receiving the metadata file. That is, even after the old proxy communication terminal device becomes operable, the new proxy communication terminal device continues to perform the proxy for the proxy source communication terminal device.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, in step S732 of the proxy main process in FIG. 21, the proxy communication terminal apparatus performs a process of waiting until the requested original data is transmitted from the proxy source communication terminal apparatus. ing. However, when a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed since the proxy communication terminal apparatus transmitted the request instruction to the proxy source communication terminal apparatus, the proxy source communication terminal apparatus is regarded as inoperable, and the process of step S740 The process may be shifted to step S742 without performing the above. In this case, if the request log corresponding to the metadata corresponding to the original data requested by the proxy communication terminal device to the proxy source communication terminal device is described in the metadata file, the proxy communication terminal device displays the corresponding request log. It may be deleted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the proxy communication terminal apparatus is one, but it may be two or more. In the first and second embodiments, one proxy source communication terminal apparatus is used, but two or more may be used. For example, the processing described in the first embodiment may be performed with three proxy source communication terminal devices and two proxy communication terminal devices. In this case, one proxy communication terminal apparatus A performs processing for managing the metadata files of the two proxy source communication terminal apparatuses X and Y, and another proxy communication terminal apparatus B A process of managing each metadata file of the proxy terminal communication terminal device Z is performed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the network system in this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication terminal device in this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the communication terminal device in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the metadata production | generation item table as an example. It is a figure which shows the metadata file production | generation setting information data as an example. It is a figure which shows the metadata file production | generation setting image as an example. It is a flowchart of a metadata file generation process. It is a figure which shows the information described in the metadata file produced | generated by the communication terminal device as an example. It is a figure which shows the information described in the metadata file produced | generated by the communication terminal device as an example. It is a flowchart of an agency commission process. It is a figure which shows proxy destination information and proxy origin information. It is a flowchart of a metadata file management process. It is a flowchart of the metadata file management process A. It is a flowchart of the process at the time of data reception. It is a figure which shows the data display image as an example. It is a figure which shows the data display image as an example. It is a figure which shows the data display image as an example. It is a figure which shows the update data display image as an example. The flowchart of an agency process is shown. It is a figure which shows the data display image as an example. It is a flowchart of an agency main process. It is a flowchart of a data request response process. It is a figure which shows the update data display image as an example. It is a figure which shows the request log matched with metadata. It is a flowchart of a proxy communication terminal device determination process.

Explanation of symbols

50 communication unit, 180, 180A program, 500A, 500B, 500C, 600 communication terminal device, 510, 610 control unit, 520, 620 storage unit, 530, 630
Display unit, 555 recording medium, 1000 network system.

Claims (4)

A terminal device having shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices, and a communication program for causing a computer that can access the data to execute the program,
The terminal device monitors an update status of the shared data, and transmits an updated metadata file including updated shared data metadata that is the updated shared data to the computer.
The communication program is
Receiving the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal device;
When receiving the updated metadata file, transmitting the received updated metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices ;
When the computer is inaccessible to the terminal device when there is a request for acquisition of the shared data from at least one of the plurality of devices to the computer, the storage unit of the computer Storing information indicating an acquisition request for the shared data;
When the computer is able to access data with the terminal device, transmitting the acquisition request stored in the storage unit to the terminal device;
A communication program causing the computer to execute the step of transmitting the shared data received from the terminal device in response to the acquisition request to the device that requested the shared data . A recording medium on which the communication program according to claim 1 is recorded. A terminal device having shared data that can be accessed from a plurality of devices, and a communication method for causing a communication terminal device capable of data access to execute the method,
The terminal device monitors the update status of the shared data, and transmits an updated metadata file including updated shared data metadata that is the updated shared data to the communication terminal device,
The communication method is:
The communication terminal device receiving the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal device;
When the communication terminal device receives the updated metadata file, the received communication device transmits the updated metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices ; and
When the communication terminal device is inaccessible to the terminal device when the shared data acquisition request is made from at least one of the plurality of devices to the communication terminal device, the communication is performed. A terminal device storing information indicating an acquisition request for the shared data in a storage unit of the communication terminal device;
When the communication terminal device is able to access data with the terminal device, the communication terminal device transmits the acquisition request stored in the storage unit to the terminal device;
A communication method comprising: the communication terminal device transmitting shared data received from the terminal device in response to the acquisition request to the device that requested the shared data . A terminal device having shared data accessible from a plurality of devices, and a communication terminal device capable of data access,
The terminal device monitors the update status of the shared data, and transmits an updated metadata file including updated shared data metadata that is the updated shared data to the communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device
A storage device for storing information;
Receiving means for receiving the updated metadata file transmitted by the terminal device;
A first transmission unit configured to transmit the received update metadata file to at least one of the plurality of devices when the reception unit receives the update metadata file ;
When the communication terminal device is inaccessible to the terminal device when at least one of the plurality of devices has requested acquisition of the shared data to the communication terminal device, the storage Storage control means for storing information indicating an acquisition request for the shared data in a device ;
A second transmission means for transmitting the acquisition request stored in the storage unit to the terminal device when the communication terminal device is able to access data with the terminal device ;
The first transmission unit is a communication terminal device that transmits shared data received from the terminal device in response to the acquisition request to the device that has requested the shared data .

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