File Management Apparatus Using Item Information for Search Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Systems using flat files face inefficiencies in data search and management, particularly when item names serving as keys are not included in search conditions, leading to increased open costs and lowered search response due to the inability to effectively narrow down files and update meta-information upon primary information deletion.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that manages flat files by using a processor to associate items with the number of files containing them, updating item information upon file deletion, and deleting items with zero file count, thereby optimizing file search and management through item name dictionaries and bit management tables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If item information is not updated upon file deletion, then file search can proceed with all stored files, but search efficiency decreases and open costs increase due to inability to narrow down search targets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing item information (which items are contained in which files) in advance. When a file is deleted, the system immediately updates the item information to reflect this change, so that subsequent searches can efficiently narrow down targets using the current accurate item information, avoiding the need to scan all files.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously updating item information whenever files are added or deleted. This feedback mechanism ensures that the meta-information about item distribution across files remains synchronized with the actual file contents, enabling efficient search operations that accurately reflect the current state of the file system.
2Reliability
If all files are searched regardless of item presence, then no file information is lost, but search response time lowers due to increased open costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes item information (metadata indicating which items are contained in which files) to separate relevant files from irrelevant ones before searching. By taking out the file narrowing-down process based on item presence, the system searches only the subset of files that actually contain the requested items, maintaining search completeness while dramatically reducing search response time.
3Productivity
If item information is maintained accurately with file deletions, then search target narrowing is effective, but meta-information management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing and maintaining item information structures that map items to files in advance. This pre-organized metadata structure enables efficient updates when files are deleted, as the system only needs to modify the relevant item information entries rather than performing complex reorganization, thus maintaining search efficiency without excessive management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus which manages a file which holds information including a plurality of items, includes a processor, the processor configured to: search for a file satisfying a requested search condition based on item information obtained by associating the items and the number of files including the items, and file information indicating whether or not each of the files includes each item, and upon receipt of a deletion request of a file, update the number of files of items included in the file of a deletion target in the item information, and, when the number of files becomes 0, deletes an item whose number of files becomes 0 and the number of files including the item from the item information.