Backup system, backup method, backup processing program, and measurement system

Abstract

This backup system is provided with a measurement information database and a management information database. The measurement information database stores measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to a host computer. The management information database stores management information including an operation log in the host computer. The backup system is provided with a backup database that stores, as a backup file, the management information and the measurement information which are integrated outside the management information database.

Description

BACKUP SYSTEM, BACKUP METHOD, BACKUP PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

[0001] The present invention relates to a backup system, a backup method, a backup processing program, and a measurement system.

[0002] Patent Document 1 proposes an analysis system that integrates and manages measurement results and analysis results from multiple measurement devices in a data processing device, while Patent Document 2 proposes a setting information management system that backs up setting information for multiple analysis devices.

[0003] JP 2006-275707 A JP 2008-249590 A

[0004] Recently, systems have been considered in which multiple measuring devices are connected to a single host computer, and the host computer manages the authority defined for each measuring device and the operation logs (audit trails) of users to whom the authority has been assigned. The management of the authority and operation logs can be performed, for example, using a management program called DI (Data Integrity) software. In particular, in the pharmaceutical field, stricter data management is required, and data management based on a management program has become extremely important.

[0005] Incidentally, it is also very important to back up data in case of a host computer failure. When backing up data, it is desirable from the standpoint of convenience to link the operation log and the measurement data acquired by the measurement device and store them in a database. One possible backup method is to register the measurement data in a management information database that stores the operation log in the host computer, integrate the operation log (management information) and the measurement data (measurement information) in the management information database to create a backup file, and then register the created backup file in the backup database. However, with this method, if the volume (amount) of measurement data increases, the volume of the backup file in the management information database increases, increasing the load on the management information database.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a backup system, backup method, backup processing program, and measurement system that can back up measurement information and management information together without registering the measurement information in a management information database.

[0007] A backup system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a measurement information database that stores measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to a host computer, and a management information database that stores management information including an operation log in the host computer, and is a backup system that backs up the management information and the measurement information, and comprises a backup database that stores the management information and the measurement information that are integrated outside the management information database as backup files.

[0008] A measurement system according to another aspect of the present invention is a system including the backup system described above, in which a plurality of the measurement devices are connected to the host computer.

[0009] A backup method according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a backup method for backing up management information managed by a host computer and measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to the host computer, and includes a measurement information acquisition step for acquiring the measurement information from a measurement information database, a management information acquisition step for acquiring the management information including an operation log in the host computer from the management information database, and a backup file output step for outputting the management information and the measurement information integrated outside the management information database as a backup file to a backup file database.

[0010] A backup processing program relating to yet another aspect of the present invention is a backup processing program that causes a computer to execute a process of backing up management information managed by a host computer and measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to the host computer, and causes the host computer to execute a measurement information acquisition step of acquiring the measurement information from a measurement information database, a management information acquisition step of acquiring the management information including an operation log in the host computer from a management information database, and a backup file output step of outputting the management information and the measurement information integrated outside the management information database as a backup file to a backup file database.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to back up the measurement information and management information together without registering the measurement information in the management information database.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a backup system provided in the measurement system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a backup method of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of backup progress information displayed on a display unit of a host computer. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the progress information. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of backup completion information displayed on the display unit. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of another backup system. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a path along which each piece of information is guided during restoration. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic variation of the configuration of the backup system.

[0013] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "management" means controlling the whole so that it does not deviate from a certain standard.

[0014] 1. Measurement System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a measurement system 100 according to this embodiment. The measurement system 100 is configured by connecting a plurality of measurement devices 80 to a host computer 1 via a communication line so that the devices can communicate with each other. The communication line may be wired or wireless. For convenience, FIG. 1 shows a first measurement device 80a, a second measurement device 80b, and a third measurement device 80c as the plurality of measurement devices 80. The number of the plurality of measurement devices 80 is not particularly limited and may be two, four, or more. Various measurement (analysis) devices, such as an X-ray analyzer, a Raman spectrometer, or a water quality analyzer, can be used as the measurement devices 80.

[0015] The host computer 1 includes a database 2 , an input unit 3 , a display unit 4 , a communication unit 5 , and a control unit 6 .

[0016] The database 2 is a memory that stores various types of information, and is configured to include a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a non-volatile memory.

[0017] The database 2 includes a host information database 21, a measurement information database 22, and a management information database 23. The host information database 21 stores the operating program of the host computer 1 as well as setting information for the host computer 1 (for example, setting information for the display on the display unit 4).

[0018] The measurement information database 22 stores control programs and measurement information for each of the multiple measurement devices 80. The measurement information includes measurement data (including spectra and mapping) acquired by each measurement device 80 and setting information managed by each measurement device 80. The setting information also includes information regarding option settings and calibration for each measurement device 80. The measurement information is transmitted from each measurement device 80 to the host computer 1 via a communication line and stored in the measurement information database 22. The control programs are transmitted, for example, from each measurement device 80 via a communication line and stored in the measurement information database 22. The control programs may be downloaded from a specific server and stored in the measurement information database 22. Alternatively, a reading unit (not shown) of the host computer 1 may read the control programs from a recording medium storing the control programs and store them in the measurement information database 22.

[0019] The management information database 23 is a memory that stores information necessary for DI (Data Integrity) control, and includes a management program storage unit 23a, an authority information storage unit 23b, and an operation log storage unit 23c.

[0020] The management program storage unit 23a stores a management program called DI software. The management program includes a program for managing authority information and an operation log, which will be described later, and a backup processing program for implementing a backup method, which will be described later.

[0021] The authority information storage unit 23b stores authority information indicating the authority defined for each of the multiple measurement devices 80 for each measurement device 80. Examples of the authority include access authority that permits access to a specific measurement device 80, operator authority that permits operation as an operator for a specific measurement device 80, administrator authority that permits operation as an administrator, authority that permits various settings, etc. When the measurement device 80 is connected to the host computer 1, the authority information is transmitted from the measurement device 80 to the host computer 1 and stored in the authority information storage unit 23b.

[0022] The operation log storage unit 23c stores the operation log of the user to whom the authority is assigned (i.e., the operation log of the input unit 3) on the host computer 1. Therefore, for example, information on when, who, and what was done (what kind of operation was performed) is stored in the operation log storage unit 23c as an operation log.

[0023] The input unit 3 is an operation unit that accepts user operations. The input unit 3 is configured to include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a mouse pad. A user who has been assigned a predetermined authority can operate the input unit 3 to issue instructions (e.g., an instruction to start measurement) to the measurement device 80. The measurement device 80 performs an operation (e.g., a measurement operation) based on the instruction.

[0024] The display unit 4 is configured, for example, as a liquid crystal display device, and displays various types of information. The display unit 4 may also be configured as a display device with a touch panel. In this case, the touch panel can constitute the input unit 3. The communication unit 5 is a module (communication module) that serves as a communication interface for the host computer 1 to communicate with multiple measuring devices 80.

[0025] The control unit 6 is composed of a central processing unit called a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 6 includes an overall control unit 61 and a management control unit 62. The overall control unit 61 executes an operating program stored in the host information database 21 to control the operation of each unit of the host computer 1. The management control unit 62 executes a management program stored in the management program storage unit 23a of the management information database 23. This allows management of authorities and operation logs. In other words, authority information is registered in the authority information storage unit 23b, and operation logs are registered in the operation log storage unit 23c.

[0026] 2. Backup System FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a backup system BS. The measurement system 100 described above includes the backup system BS. The backup system BS has a host computer 1 and a backup database 90. The backup database 90 is connected to the host computer 1 via a communication line. The backup system BS is a system that automatically or manually backs up management information managed by the host computer 1 and the measurement information acquired or managed by (multiple) measuring devices 80 connected to the host computer 1. The management information includes information stored in the management information database 23 (e.g., operation logs and various settings of the DI software).

[0027] The backup database 90 is a memory that stores backup files, which will be described later. The backup database 90 is provided outside the host computer 1. As a result, even if the host computer 1 should fail and malfunction, the backup files remain safely outside the host computer 1, making it possible to recover data from the backup files. Such a backup database 90 is configured, for example, by a HDD, and is externally attached to the host computer 1. The backup database 90 refers to a server, drive, or storage.

[0028] 1, the host computer 1 further includes a host-side access processor 71 and a backup file processor 72. The host-side access processor 71 and the backup file processor 72 are configured, for example, by a CPU separate from the control unit 6, and access the measurement information database 22 and the management information database 23, respectively, to perform predetermined processing under the control of the control unit 6 (particularly the management control unit 62). It goes without saying that the CPU constituting the control unit 6 may be configured to function as the host-side access processor 71 and the backup file processor 72.

[0029] The host-side access processor 71 accesses the measurement information database 22 and reads out the measurement information from the measurement information database 22 .

[0030] The backup file processing unit 72 is provided outside the management information database 23 and reads out management information from the management information database 23. The backup file processing unit 72 then integrates the read out management information with the measurement information read out from the measurement information database 22 by the host-side access processing unit 71 outside the management information database 23 to create a backup file. The backup file is configured as a compressed file in, for example, zip format, but is not particularly limited to zip format.

[0031] 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the backup method realized by the backup system BS. For example, if an automatic backup that starts at a predetermined date and time (e.g., 10:00 p.m. every day) is set by the input unit 3, when the predetermined date and time arrives, the host-side access processing unit 71 accesses the measurement information database 22 under the control of the management control unit 62 that executes the management program, and acquires measurement information from the measurement information database 22 (S1; measurement information acquisition step). The measurement information includes, for example, the measurement data (raw data files) of each measuring device 80 and various setting information stored at the time of backup execution.

[0032] Next, the backup file processing unit 72 accesses the management information database 23 (particularly the operation log storage unit 23c) and acquires management information from the management information database 23 (S2; management information acquisition step). The management information includes, for example, the user's operation log from the day before the backup was performed and various setting information for DI control stored at the time the backup was performed. The backup file processing unit 72 then integrates the management information and measurement information outside the management information database 23 to create a backup file (S3; backup file creation step).

[0033] Thereafter, the backup file processing unit 72 outputs the created backup file to the backup database 90 (S4; backup file output step). The backup database 90 stores the backup file (S5; backup file storage step).

[0034] While the backup is being performed, progress information P1 indicating the progress of the backup is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 4 under the control of the control unit 6 (e.g., the overall control unit 61), as shown in Fig. 4. In the example of Fig. 4, when the time from the start to the completion of the backup is set to 100%, the current progress of the backup is shown as a percentage of this 100%. Note that the progress information P1 may also be displayed as the time remaining until the backup is completed, as shown in Fig. 5. When the backup is completed, backup completion information P2 indicating that the backup has been completed is displayed on the display unit 4, as shown in Fig. 6. When the backup is completed, the series of backup processes ends.

[0035] When starting a backup manually, the user operates the input unit 3 to instruct the start of backup on a predetermined display screen of the display unit 4. The backup method itself is the same as when performing an automatic backup.

[0036] As described above, the backup system BS of this embodiment includes the measurement information database 22, the management information database 23, and the backup database 90. The backup method of this embodiment also includes a measurement information acquisition step (S1), a management information acquisition step (S2), and a backup file output step (S4).

[0037] The measurement information acquired in the measurement information acquisition step and the management information acquired in the management information acquisition step are integrated outside the management information database 23 and stored as a backup file in the backup database 90. In this configuration, even if the amount of measurement data included in the measurement information increases, the measurement information is backed up without being registered in the management information database 23, so the load on the management information database 23 does not increase. Therefore, the measurement information and the management information can be linked and managed while avoiding an increase in the load on the management information database 23. In other words, the measurement information and the management information can be backed up together without registering the measurement information in the management information database 23. Furthermore, because it is not necessary to register the measurement information in the management information database 23, there is no need to double-register the measurement information in both the management information database 23 and the backup database 90.

[0038] In particular, the backup system BS includes a backup file processing unit 72. The backup file processing unit 72 can integrate the measurement information and management information outside the management information database 23 to obtain the backup file.

[0039] The host computer 1 further includes a host-side access processor 71. This allows the backup file processor 72 to create a backup file by integrating the measurement information read from the measurement information database 22 by the host-side access processor 71 with management information.

[0040] 4 and 5, the display unit 4 displays the backup progress information P1, thereby making it possible for a user looking at the display unit 4 to recognize that a backup is being executed. This is particularly effective when the user manually instructs a backup, as the user can immediately confirm by looking at the progress information P1 that the backup is being executed based on that instruction.

[0041] 6, when the backup is completed, the display unit 4 displays backup completion information P2, which allows the user to recognize the completion of the backup by looking at the backup completion information P2.

[0042] 1 and 2, the measurement information database 22 is provided inside the host computer 1. In this case, the effects of the present embodiment described above can be obtained in a configuration in which the measurement information of the measuring device 80 is managed inside the host computer 1.

[0043] The measurement system 100 of this embodiment includes the backup system BS described above. In the measurement system 100 in which multiple measurement devices 80 are connected to the host computer 1, the measurement information of each measurement device 80 is stored in the measurement information database 22. In this embodiment, the measurement information and management information are integrated outside the management information database 23 to create a backup file. Therefore, even if the volume of measurement data from each measurement device 80 increases, the measurement information is not registered in the management information database 23, and the load on the management information database 23 does not increase. Therefore, the backup system BS of this embodiment is extremely effective in a measurement system 100 in which multiple measurement devices 80 are connected to the host computer 1, that is, in a system in which the measurement data from each measurement device 80 tends to accumulate and become enormous.

[0044] 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the backup system BS. As shown in the figure, the backup system BS may further include an external computer 10 in addition to the host computer 1. The external computer 10 is communicatively connected to the host computer 1 via a network NW. The network NW is configured with a wired or wireless communication line. At least one measuring device (not shown) is communicatively connected to the external computer 10.

[0045] The external computer 10 has a configuration similar to that of the host computer 1. For convenience, Fig. 7 illustrates only the characteristic configuration of the external computer 10. For example, the external computer 10 has a measurement information database 22. In other words, the measurement information database 22 is provided inside the external computer 10.

[0046] The external computer 10 further includes an external access processing unit 11. The external access processing unit 11 has the same functions as the host-side access processing unit 71 of the host computer 1. Specifically, the external access processing unit 11 is configured by, for example, a CPU, and reads out measurement information from the measurement information database 22 of the external computer 10.

[0047] In such a backup system BS, backup can be performed as follows: That is, the control unit 6 (particularly the management control unit 62) of the host computer 1 transmits a control signal to the external computer 10 via the network NW, instructing it to read measurement information from the measurement information database 22. The external access processing unit 11 reads the measurement information from the measurement information database 22 based on the control signal.

[0048] The measurement information read from the measurement information database 22 by the external access processor 11 is sent to the host-side access processor 71 via the network NW. The backup file processor 72 of the host computer 1 creates a backup file by integrating the measurement information of the external computer 10 acquired by the host-side access processor 71 with the management information acquired from the management information database 23 of the host computer 1. The created backup file is output to and stored in the backup database 90.

[0049] In this way, the external computer 10 is provided with the measurement information database 22 and the external access processing unit 11. This makes it possible to create a backup file even in a system in which the host computer 1 and the external computer 10 are connected over a network. In other words, the measurement information stored in the measurement information database 22 of the external computer 10 can be integrated with the management information stored in the management information database 23 of the host computer 1 to create a backup file.

[0050] 4. Restoration of Measurement Information and Management Information The backup file processing unit 72 of the host computer 1 may be configured to access the backup database 90 and restore the measurement information and management information from the backup file. For example, the backup file processing unit 72 can restore the measurement information and management information by obtaining the backup file from the backup database 90 and decompressing the compressed backup file.

[0051] When the measurement information and management information are restored from the backup file, the backup file processing unit 72 stores the restored measurement information in the measurement information database 22 via the host-side access processing unit 71, as shown by the arrow path in Fig. 8. The backup file processing unit 72 also stores the restored management information in the management information database 23. In the configuration of the backup system BS shown in Fig. 7, the backup file processing unit 72 stores the restored measurement information in the measurement information database 22 of the external computer 10 via the host-side access processing unit 71, the network NW, and the external access processing unit 11.

[0052] In this way, the measurement information and management information can be restored from the backup file at any time by the backup file processing unit 72. This allows the system administrator to safely manage the measurement information and management information collectively by backing them up.

[0053] 5. Variations in the Configuration of the Backup System In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the measurement information database 22, the management information database 23, and the backup file processing unit 72 are configured inside the host computer 1, but the backup system BS is not limited to this configuration.

[0054] 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic diagram of a variation of the configuration of the backup system BS. In the figure, the arrangement of each component is indicated by a dashed line. That is, as shown in the figure, the measurement information database 22 may be provided inside the measurement device 80. Alternatively, the measurement information database 22 may be provided outside the measurement device 80 and connected to the measurement device 80 via wired or wireless communication. In this case, the measurement information database 22 refers to a server, a drive, or a storage.

[0055] The management information database 23 may be configured to be provided outside the host computer 1 and to be communicably connected to the host computer 1 via wired or wireless communication. In this case, the management information database 23 refers to a server, a drive, or a storage.

[0056] The backup file processing unit 72 may be provided inside the backup database 90. Alternatively, the backup file processing unit 72 may be provided outside the host computer 1 and the backup database 90. The backup file processing unit 72 may be configured to be communicably connected to both the host computer 1 and the backup database 90 via wired or wireless communication.

[0057] Whether the measurement information database 22, management information database 23, and backup file processing unit 72 are placed at the location indicated by the solid lines in Figure 9 (corresponding to the configuration in Figure 2) or the location indicated by the dashed lines to configure the backup system BS, the effect of this embodiment can be obtained, in that the measurement information and management information can be backed up together without registering the measurement information in the management information database 23.

[0058] [6. Program] The host computer 1 included in the backup system BS of this embodiment can be configured as a computer on which an operating program (application software) is installed. The host computer 1 (particularly the control unit 6) reads and executes the program, thereby operating each unit of the host computer 1 and executing each of the processes (steps) described above. Such a program is acquired, for example, by downloading it from an external source via a network and stored in the database 2. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), and the program may be read from the recording medium by a reading unit (not shown) and stored in the database 2. In other words, the backup processing program (management program) of this embodiment is a program for causing a computer to execute each of the steps described above. Furthermore, the recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium on which the backup processing program is recorded.

[0059] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these, and the invention can be expanded or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0060] The present invention can be used to back up various types of information in a measurement system in which a measurement device is connected to a host computer, for example.

[0061] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 host computer 4 display unit 10 external computer 11 external access processing unit 22 measurement information database 23 management information database 71 host side access processing unit 72 backup file processing unit 80 measurement device 90 backup database 100 measurement system BS backup system NW network P1 progress information P2 backup completion information

Claims

1. A backup system comprising: a measurement information database that stores measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to a host computer; and a management information database that stores management information including operation logs in the host computer, and that backs up the management information and the measurement information, the backup system comprising a backup database that stores the management information and the measurement information that are integrated outside the management information database as backup files.

2. The backup system according to claim 1, further comprising a backup file processing unit that creates the backup file by integrating the management information and the measurement information outside the management information database.

3. The backup system of claim 2, wherein the host computer further comprises a host-side access processing unit that reads the measurement information from the measurement information database, and the backup file processing unit creates the backup file by integrating the measurement information read from the measurement information database by the host-side access processing unit with the management information.

4. The backup system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising an external computer connected to said host computer via a network, said measurement information database being provided inside said external computer.

5. The backup system of claim 4, wherein the external computer further comprises an external access processing unit that reads the measurement information from the measurement information database, and the backup file processing unit creates the backup file by integrating the measurement information read from the measurement information database by the external access processing unit and acquired by the host-side access processing unit via the network with the management information.

6. A backup system as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the backup file processing unit accesses the backup database to restore the measurement information and the management information from the backup file, stores the restored management information in the management information database, and stores the restored measurement information in the measurement information database via the host-side access processing unit.

7. A backup system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the host computer further comprises a display unit, the display unit displaying progress information of the output of the backup file to the backup database.

8. The backup system according to claim 7, wherein said display unit displays backup completion information when output of said backup file to said backup database is completed.

9. A measurement system comprising the backup system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of the measurement devices are connected to the host computer.

10. A backup method for backing up management information managed by a host computer and measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to the host computer, the backup method comprising: a measurement information acquisition step for acquiring the measurement information from a measurement information database; a management information acquisition step for acquiring the management information including an operation log in the host computer from the management information database; and a backup file output step for outputting the management information and the measurement information integrated outside the management information database as a backup file to a backup database.

11. A backup processing program that causes a computer to execute a process for backing up management information managed by a host computer and measurement information acquired or managed by a measurement device connected to the host computer, the backup processing program causing the host computer to execute the following steps: a measurement information acquisition step for acquiring the measurement information from a measurement information database; a management information acquisition step for acquiring the management information including an operation log in the host computer from the management information database; and a backup file output step for outputting the management information and the measurement information integrated outside the management information database as a backup file to a backup database.

Images