JP2005189960A - Information processing method, information processing apparatus, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED To display configuration information and distance information on a network of a search server so that a user can easily specify the search range when specifying a search range of a server that performs distributed search.
An information processing apparatus in which a search service is operating is detected, configuration information on the network of the detected information processing apparatus is acquired, and distance information on the network with the information processing apparatus is acquired and acquired. The configuration information and the distance information are output in association with each other.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a distributed search for searching from a search service distributed on a network.

  In the digital information society in recent years, computerized text has been flooded, and people are in daily contact with information that far exceeds the personal information processing ability. For this reason, attention is paid to an automatic distributed search function that searches for and presents desired information by accessing information distributed on the network.

  In order to efficiently obtain necessary information for the user, it is preferable not only to search a predetermined range for a search server distributed on the network but also for the user to specify the required search range. . For this purpose, it is necessary to always obtain the latest state of the search service operating on the network, present the searchable service to the user, and select the service according to the user's purpose.

For example, the technique disclosed in Patent Publication 1 acquires the latest information on services distributed on a network, presents the obtained service information, and the user selects an appropriate service from a list of services. Provides functionality. Here, information such as a summary of the processing contents of the service, the number of processing cases, elapsed time, availability, and server load status are presented in association with the items represented by the service, and the contents are always updated to the latest state. The The user can selectively use the presented service.
JP 2001-075921 A

  Patent Document 1 provides a method for presenting and selecting service information for a service that does not target a specific field. However, in order for the user to specify the use of the service more efficiently, a mechanism is required that allows the user to intuitively understand and specify the acquired service information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a plurality of servers for managing multimedia information such as documents and images are distributed on a network, and a user inputs a search condition to each server. In an information processing environment that performs a search using a search service that is running on the Internet, it is possible to provide a means for a user to easily grasp the information processing environment by outputting configuration information and distance information on the network of the search server. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information processing method implemented by one information processing apparatus among a plurality of information processing apparatuses distributed and arranged on a network, and information on which a search service is operating. A detection step of detecting a processing device; an information acquisition step of acquiring configuration information on the network of the information processing device detected by the detection step; an acquisition step of acquiring a distance on the network with the information processing device; And an output step for outputting the configuration information acquired in the information acquisition step in association with the distance information acquired by the acquisition means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus that is one of a plurality of information processing apparatuses distributed and arranged on a network, and that detects an information processing apparatus on which a search service is operating, and the detection means An information acquisition unit that acquires configuration information on the network of the detected information processing apparatus, an acquisition unit that acquires a distance on the network from the information processing apparatus, a configuration information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and the acquisition unit An output means for associating and outputting the acquired information is provided.

  According to the present invention, the configuration information on the network of the server on which the search service that can be searched is operated and the network distance between the search servers are output in association with each other, thereby enabling intuitive understanding by the user. Thus, it becomes possible to perform a search easily.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a microprocessor (CPU), which performs operations and logical judgments for the present invention, and is connected to these buses via an address bus AB, a control bus CB, and a data bus DB. Control each component.

  The address bus AB transfers an address signal for designating a component to be controlled by the CPU 11. The control bus CB transfers a control signal applied from the CPU 11 to each component controlled by the CPU 11. The data bus DB performs data transfer between the components.

  A read-only fixed memory (ROM) 12 stores control program codes such as processing programs executed in this embodiment. Reference numeral 13 denotes a writable random access memory (RAM), which is used for temporary storage of various data sent from each component. Reference numeral 14 denotes an external memory (DISK), which stores program code for executing the document summary processing unit. A keyboard (KB) 15 has various function keys such as alphabet keys, hiragana keys, katakana keys, character symbol input keys such as punctuation marks, and cursor movement keys that support cursor movement. Reference numeral 16 denotes a display video memory (VRAM), which stores a display pattern of data to be displayed. Reference numeral 17 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), which plays a role of displaying contents stored in a display video memory (VRAM) 16 on a display device (CRT) 18 described later. Reference numeral 18 denotes a display device (CRT) such as a cathode ray tube or a liquid crystal panel, on which a dot configuration display pattern and a cursor are displayed under the control of a CRT controller (CRTC) 17. Reference numeral 19 denotes a network controller (NIC), which plays a role of connecting the information processing apparatus to a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The information processing apparatus including such components operates in response to various inputs from the keyboard (KB) 15 and various inputs via the network supplied from the network controller (NIC) 19. When an input from the (KB) 15 or an input from the network controller (NIC) 19 is supplied, an interrupt signal is first sent to the microprocessor (CPU) 11, and the microprocessor (CPU) 11 is sent to the external memory (DISK). ) Various control signals stored in 14 are read out, and various controls are performed according to the control signals.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 200 denotes a client machine that performs a search. Here, the user receives network information, specifies a search range, and executes a search command.

  The search server acquisition unit 201 acquires a server on which a search service is operating on the network. The network hierarchy information acquisition unit 202 acquires information on the physical or logical positional relationship and topology of the server acquired by the search server acquisition unit 201 on the network. The network distance information acquisition unit 203 acquires a physical or logical distance between servers acquired by the search server acquisition unit 201. The server hierarchy information presentation unit 204 presents the search server information obtained by the network hierarchy information acquisition unit 202 and the network distance information acquisition unit 203 to the user. The search range specifying unit 205 provides a function of selecting a search range from the search server displayed by the server hierarchy information presenting unit 204. The search command input unit 206 inputs a search command by the user and causes the search server in the range specified by the search range specifying unit 205 to execute the search command. Reference numerals 210, 220, and 230 are search servers that are distributed on the network and in which a search service is operating. Reference numerals 211, 221, and 231 denote search units that perform a search using a search service in the server. 212, 222, and 232 are databases that can be used by the search units 211, 221, and 231. Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that each search server searches a database existing in each local storage device. Reference numeral 240 denotes a network, to which a client that processes a search command and a search server that operates a search service are connected.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of one embodiment of the present invention. Step S301 is a step in which a client makes an inquiry to the network to acquire a server on which a search service is operating. Step S302 is a step of acquiring the physical or logical distance and network configuration from the client to the search server obtained in step S301. Step S303 is a step of presenting the network configuration and distance obtained in step S302 to the user. Step S304 is a step of selecting a search server range in which the user searches from the information displayed in step S303. Step S305 is a step in which the user inputs search conditions. Step S306 is a step of sending the search condition input in step S305 to the server in the search range selected in step S304. Step S307 is a step in which each search server receives the search conditions sent in step S306 and performs a search. Step S308 is a step of collecting and integrating the search results searched in the respective servers into the client. Step S309 is a step of presenting the search results collected in step S308 to the user.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart detailing the step of acquiring the search server in S301 of FIG. S401 is a step of obtaining the address of a server existing on the network by accessing a network management server or the like. In step S402, it is determined whether the search service exists in the server acquired in step S401 and can be used. If the search service is available, the process proceeds to step S403. If not available, the process proceeds to step S404. Step S403 is a step of storing information on available search servers. Step S404 is a step for determining whether or not the operations in steps S401 to S403 have been performed for all the servers to be processed. If there is a server that has not been investigated yet, the process returns to S401. If all the surveys have been completed, the flow of FIG. 4 is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart detailing the step of acquiring the network configuration and distance in step S302 of FIG. The following processing is performed for all the search servers acquired in step S301 in FIG. Here, the number of router hops is used to determine the distance on the network. Step S501 is a step of initializing a buffer for storing distance information. Step S502 is a step of acquiring the address of a node adjacent to the currently viewed node. Step S503 is a step in which it is determined whether or not the node acquired in step S502 is a node connecting different networks such as routers. If the node is a router, the distance is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step S502 to investigate the lower layer network. If the node is not a router, the process proceeds to step S505. In step S505, it is determined whether the node is a search server. If the node is not a search server, the process returns to S502. If the node is a search server, the process proceeds to S506. In step S506, the obtained hop count is stored as the network distance between the search server and the client. In step S507, it is determined whether all target search servers have been investigated. If all the objects have been investigated, the process proceeds to step S508. If not completed, the process returns to step S501 to investigate the next node. Step S508 is a step of storing information such as the positional relationship of the investigated server on the network.

  FIG. 6 is an example of the server hierarchy information presentation unit in step 204 in FIG. Reference numeral 600 denotes a display unit that graphically displays a logical or physical topology on the network of the search server. Here, it is assumed that a physical topology is displayed. Reference numeral 601 denotes a node, which is a node object representing a network or a server via a router or a bridge. Reference numeral 602 denotes that each node object on the network is connected by physical wiring. Reference numeral 603 displays the distance on the network from the client obtained in step S302 of FIG. Here, it is based on how many node objects pass through the shortest path from the client. Other information that takes into consideration the network load and machine specifications may be added. Further, the distance may be expressed by the length of the branch of the geometric graph to be displayed. Reference numeral 604 denotes a pop-up menu. When the “open” menu is selected when the node object is a bridge or the like, a lower-layer network topology is displayed. When the “select” menu is selected, all search servers belonging to the network below this node object are selected as servers for executing the search.

  As described above, the relationship between searchable search servers existing on the network is graphically displayed, which helps the user understand intuitively when selecting the search server.

  FIG. 7 is an example of the server hierarchy information presentation unit in step 204 in FIG. Reference numeral 700 denotes an application for designating a search range of the information device of the present invention. Reference numeral 701 denotes a window that displays network information of the network displayed in 703. Reference numeral 702 denotes a window that displays information on the node selected in 703. A window 703 displays the network topology based on the network configuration information obtained in step S302 of FIG. Here, four nodes are connected to a bus-type network. Reference numeral 704 denotes a network node such as a router connected to the network in the display area, and is selected by a mouse click or the like. Information on the selected node is displayed at 702.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a user interface in which a lower layer network is displayed by double-clicking node 1 in FIG. 800 is the same application as 700 in FIG. 801 displays network information in the same manner as 701 in FIG. A window 802 displays information on the selected node. A window 803 displays the topology of the selected network. It can be easily understood that the network below node 1 is a ring network, and there are six search servers Svr1 to Svr6.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface of the 204 server hierarchy information presentation unit, the 205 search range specification unit, and the 206 search command input unit in FIG. 900 represents an embodiment of the user interface of the search device of the present invention. Reference numeral 901 denotes a main menu of the application, which can perform search settings, display settings, search server selection settings, and the like. Reference numeral 902 denotes a search keyword input unit. Reference numeral 903 denotes a search execution button. By pressing this button, the search keyword input in 902 is sent to the search server existing in the selected search range. Here, a simple keyword search is taken into consideration, but if a more complicated search is performed, a search setting dialog may be called from the menu and a search command may be issued.

  Reference numeral 904 denotes a search range list display unit. A list of node objects or search servers selected by the user at 905 is displayed. When a search command is issued, the search command is sent to all search servers displayed on this list. A means for easily adding or deleting a search range on the list is also provided. When a network exists below the displayed node object, it may be displayed in a tree-like hierarchical representation. Further, it may be specified by an IP address, a domain, a MAC address, or the like. Reference numeral 906 denotes an example of means for selecting a search server used by the user for the search. Here, the network topology of the search server is displayed graphically. Here, it is assumed that an elliptical range as shown in the figure is selected by operating the mouse. When the selection is confirmed from the menu or the like, a selection range is added to 904. In this case, search servers Svr0 and Svr1 are selected.

  In this way, by providing means for expressing the configuration of the node object to be selected by a geometric graph and selecting a search server to be used only by operating the mouse on the graph, the user can be distributed to the search servers distributed on the network. Can perform a more efficient search.

  In the above description, the database storing the documents to be searched is stored in the storage device of the search server on which the search service is operating, but these may be distributed on the network.

  In addition, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the above embodiment, the number of hops of the router is used to determine the distance on the network, but the present invention is not limited to this. Network congestion may be a distance or a physical distance. The acquisition of the distance from the congestion situation can be realized by using a conventional method such as using Ping that skips the IP packet.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and store the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD-RW. DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code Includes a case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the information processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram showing the basic composition of the device concerning one example of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of one Example of this invention. It is an example of the user interface in one Example of this invention. It is an example of the user interface in one Example of this invention. It is an example of the user interface in one Example of this invention. It is an example of the user interface in one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Microprocessor (CPU, summary means, collection means, distribution means)
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 External memory (DISK, user information storage means, user database)
15 Keyboard (KB)
16 Video memory for display (VRAM)
17 CRT controller (CRTC)
18 Display (CRT)
19 Network controller (NIC)

Claims (10)

An information processing method implemented by one information processing apparatus among a plurality of information processing apparatuses distributed and arranged on a network,
A detection process for detecting an information processing apparatus in which a search service is operating;
An information acquisition step of acquiring configuration information on the network of the information processing device detected by the detection step;
An acquisition step of acquiring distance information on a network with the information processing device;
An information processing method comprising: an output step of associating and outputting the configuration information acquired in the information acquisition step and the distance information acquired by the acquisition means. A range specifying step for specifying a search target range from the configuration information output in the output step;
The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a search step of searching for an information processing device in a range specified in the range specifying step.   The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining step calculates at least one of a physical distance and a logical distance from the information processing apparatus. The information acquisition step acquires a network topology,
The acquisition step calculates a logical distance between information processing devices,
2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the output step displays a geometric graph reflecting a network topology obtained by the information obtaining step and a logical distance relationship between servers obtained by the obtaining step. Method. One information processing device among a plurality of information processing devices distributed on the network,
Detecting means for detecting an information processing apparatus in which a search service is operating;
Information acquisition means for acquiring configuration information on the network of the information processing apparatus detected by the detection means;
Obtaining means for obtaining distance information on a network with the information processing apparatus;
An information processing apparatus comprising: output means for associating and outputting configuration information acquired by the information acquisition means and distance information acquired by the acquisition means. Range specifying means for specifying a search target range from the configuration information output by the output means;
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising search means for searching for an information processing apparatus in a range specified by the range specifying means.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the acquisition unit calculates at least one of a physical distance and a logical distance from the information processing apparatus. The information acquisition means acquires a network topology;
The acquisition means calculates a logical distance between information processing devices,
6. The information processing according to claim 5, wherein the output means displays a geometric graph reflecting a network topology obtained by the information obtaining means and a logical distance relationship between servers obtained by the obtaining means. apparatus.   A control program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to claim 9.

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