JP4724364B2 - Management server, module distribution system, module installation method, storage medium storing program readable by computer, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a management server, a terminal device, a module distribution system, a module installation method, and a computer that manage application installation processing for each base block provided with an arbitrary number of terminal devices capable of communicating via a predetermined communication line The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a readable program and a program.

  Conventionally, the following Patent Document 1 has already been published as a system for performing software distribution processing.

And in this patent document 1, when transmitting the upgraded program with respect to each terminal connected via the transmission line from one server WS, the burden of server WS and a transmission line is reduced as much as possible. Therefore, one server terminal is set for each base block, and the server WS distributes the program only to this server terminal, and each terminal copies the program from the server terminal. Further, it is described that when an abnormality occurs, the operating program is automatically replaced with the old generation program, and all the operating programs of all terminals are changed to the old generation program at the same time.
JP-A-5-241848

  Since the conventional program distribution system is configured as described above, it is necessary to allocate one server terminal for each base, and there is a problem that the cost of the system change is high when changing the base .

  In addition, since the management of the program for the base is centralized, when the base unit in the base is down, installation to the slave units in the hierarchical system cannot be performed, and all terminal devices in the base cannot be installed. There was also a problem that a new program could not be installed or updated all at once.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, purpose of the present invention, other in each location a predetermined application module of interest to any one of the terminal devices in the management bases The distribution processing module to be distributed to the terminal device is transferred once, and each predetermined application module is distributed from the identified terminal device to the other terminal devices in each base by itself in the base. Since the distribution processing module to be transferred can be transferred within the base, the installation processing of the program modules of all the terminal devices can be transferred once to the specified terminal device within each base, and the application module installation processing of all the terminal devices can be transferred. Can be completed, the traffic associated with the transfer process of the program group accompanying the installation process is reduced, and the target is surely targeted It is possible to install the application modules.

  In addition, since the installation status is reliably notified, it is possible to centrally manage the update status of the application modules in the terminal devices in each base. A management server and module distribution system that can be constructed, a module installation method, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program and a program are provided.

This onset Ming, a management server for managing the installation process of the application for each base block terminal device can communicate arbitrary number is provided via a predetermined communication line, installed in the storage device of the terminal devices A database (for example, AP module DB 111 shown in FIG. 1) for managing a predetermined application module to be installed, a version management database for managing version information and installation completion date of the predetermined application module , Identifying means (for example, the operation confirmation processing module S001 in the server 100 shown in FIG. 3) for confirming the communication state with each terminal device and identifying the terminal device as the parent terminal, and the terminal device identified by the identifying means A predetermined application module managed in the database Transfer means (for example, a parent target selection processing module S003 in the server 100 shown in FIG. 3). The target distribution processing module S004)) and the distribution processing module transferred by the transfer means are executed by each terminal device, and the distribution processing module and the predetermined application module are transferred to other terminal devices in the same base. the predetermined application module installation completion notification of the set up ready for operation the predetermined application modules to be transmitted from each terminal apparatus, each end terminal device or order from the next acquisition to acquisition means (e.g., Fig. 3 The completion notification reception module in the server 100 shown in FIG. And Le S005), and having an updating means for updating the versioning database based on the installation completion notice acquired by the acquisition unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to transfer a predetermined processing module to be distributed to any one terminal device in the management site to the other terminal device in each site only once. Within the site, distribution processing modules to be distributed to other terminal devices within each site can be transferred within the site, so that each predetermined application module can be autonomously run from the identified terminal device. The installation process of the application modules of all the terminal devices can be completed by transferring the installation process once to the specified terminal device in each base, and the traffic accompanying the transfer process of the program group accompanying the installation process Can be installed and the target application module can be installed reliably. That.

  Therefore, automatic distribution of application modules can be performed, version upgrade, setup and file download are facilitated, operation management is smooth, user burden is reduced, and network load can be greatly reduced. Play.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a module distribution system including a server device and a base block composed of a plurality of terminals according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an automatic distribution server, which includes a version management database 110, an AP module database 111, a controller database / parent / child related database 112, and a business client PC at each of the bases 150 and 151 via the network 300. It is configured to be able to communicate with the protocol.

  In the first base 150, reference numeral 200 denotes a parent target terminal (parent terminal), and child target terminals (child terminals) 201 to 205 branch to be communicable with the parent target terminal 200 via the base network 301, respectively. ing.

  Reference numerals 250 to 255 denote application module automatic control programs (APM automatic control PRG), which control the installation of program modules in conjunction with each other.

  In the second site 151, 206 is a parent target terminal, and child target terminals 207 to 211 are respectively configured to be able to communicate with the parent target terminal 206 via the site network 302.

  Reference numerals 256 to 261 denote application module automatic control programs (APM automatic control PRG or the like), which control the installation of program modules in conjunction with each other. It is assumed that the application module automatic control program is stored in the terminal hard disk or other memory.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the automatic distribution server 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. It is assumed that the parent terminal and the child terminal in each base shown in FIG. 1 have substantially the same configuration.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU 501 loads an operating system (OS) installed in the hard disk 505 onto the RAM 503 and controls overall execution of various applications stored in the hard disk 505.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes a ROM that stores a BIOS, a system font, and the like that control input / output of devices connected to the system bus 509. A media drive 504 reads data files and program modules stored in various media such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk, and MO and installs them in the hard disk 505. Reference numeral 506 denotes a keyboard / mouse for inputting instructions to the screen displayed on the display 507. Reference numeral 508 denotes a network controller (NIC) that is communicably connected to each parent terminal and child terminal of each of the bases 150 and 151 connected via the network 300 using a predetermined program.

  The hard disk 505 is secured with the version management server 110, the AP module database 111, and the controller database / parent-child relation database 112 shown in FIG.

  Further, the APM automatic control PRG distributed from the automatic distribution server 100 is stored in the hard disk of the child terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the distribution processing module of the APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG.

  S001 to S006 correspond to the modules of the automatic distribution server (server) 100, S010 to S014 correspond to the modules of the parent terminal 200, S015 to S019 correspond to the steps of the child terminal 201, and S020 to S025 correspond to the children. Corresponding to the module of the terminal 202, S030 to S034 correspond to the module of the child terminal 203.

  The server 100 includes an operation confirmation processing module S001, a setup AP compression module S002, a parent target selection processing module S003, a parent target distribution processing module S004, a completion notification receiving module S005, and an automatic distribution control PRG activation processing module S006, and In the hard disk 505, a management table for managing IP addresses, a version management table, a parent-child relation table, and an environment information table are secured.

  On the other hand, the parent terminal 200 includes a parent target distribution reception module S010, an automatic update AP module decompression module S011, a setup processing module S012, a completion notification processing module S013, and an automatic distribution control PRG distribution module S014.

  The child terminal 202 includes a timer-activated automatic AP module distribution module S020, an automatic update AP module decompression module S021, a setup processing module S022, a completion notification processing module S023, and an automatic distribution control PRG distribution module S024.

  Further, the child terminal 203 includes an automatic AP module distribution module S030 activated by a timer, an automatic update AP module decompression module S031, a setup processing module S032, a completion notification processing module S033, and an automatic distribution control PRG distribution module S034.

  Furthermore, the child terminal 201 includes an automatic AP module distribution processing module S015 that is started by a timer, an automatic update AP module decompression module S016, a setup processing module S017, a completion notification processing module S018, and an automatic distribution control PRG distribution module S019. .

  In the module distribution system configured as described above, the operation status of the client PC currently operating is confirmed by the operation confirmation application from the automatic distribution server 100 by the PING command or the like, and the status is displayed on the display 507 shown in FIG. indicate.

  In module S002, the application to be set up is compressed in a predetermined compression format and stored on the RAM 503.

  Then, in module S003, the base and parent target of this distribution target are determined, and management information associated with the IP address is set. For example, the parent target 200 is set for the base 150 and the parent target 206 is set for the base 151.

  Next, the assignment target of the current AP module is determined. Then, the corresponding AP module group to be set up is compressed, and control is passed to the setup AP module application.

  Then, control information of the automatic distribution application is set, and the automatic distribution application is activated and executed.

  Then, the automatic distribution application transfers the AP module compressed data and the automatic distribution control PRG to the parent target 200 of the site 150 from the automatic distribution server 100 via the 300 network 300. Then, automatic decompression is performed on the parent target 200 and setup is executed.

  Then, the automatic distribution application transfers the AP module compressed data and the automatic distribution control PRG to the parent target 206 at the base 151 from the automatic distribution server 100 via the network 300 to the parent target 206 during transfer.

  At this time, if the parent target 206 is not up, after notifying the server 100 of non-transmission, the AP module compressed data and the automatic distribution control PRG are automatically distributed to the proxy parent target 209 of the base 151 to the proxy parent target 209. When transferring from the server 100 via the network 300, transfer to the proxy parent target 209. Then, automatic decompression is performed on the parent target 200 and setup is executed.

  The automatic distribution control PRG includes a timer activation, and the AP module 250 is connected to the child terminals 251 and 252 by the automatic distribution control PRG from the parent target 200 of the base 150 to the child target according to the conditions set by the automatic distribution server 100. 253, 254, 255.

  Similarly, in the base 152, the automatic distribution control PRG with timer activation is transferred from the proxy parent target 209 of the base 152 to the child target by the automatic distribution control PRG according to the conditions set by the automatic distribution server 100. 258, 259, 260, 261. After each process is completed, the management information is updated by the completion notification application.

  In this embodiment, there are a distributed type and a sequential type distributed as automatic distribution control PRG patterns. At this time, the latter can be distributed through a route registered in the management information. Details of the distribution processing for each type will be described below.

[First distribution process]
Hereinafter, a process of distributing in a distributed manner as an automatic distribution control PRG pattern will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution processing procedure of the first APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system according to the present invention. C1 to C12 indicate steps in the server 100, D1 to D15 indicate steps of the parent terminal, and each CPU is executed by a control program loaded into the RAM or the like.

  First, a sequence between the server 100 and the parent terminal (client) 200 will be described.

  The child target distributed automatic distribution control program instruction process is started. First, in step C1, an operation confirmation process for confirming the operation of the client (parent terminal 200) from the server 100 is performed.

  Next, in step D1, the communication status of the client from the server 100 is confirmed by a PING command or the like. In response to this, the parent terminal 200 transmits the result of the communication state of the client to the server 100 side in step D2.

  In step C2, the server 100 receives the result of the communication state from the client 200 and sets it in the management table DB 110 shown in FIG. In step C3, an application to be distributed (with VERSION) is selected from the AP module DB 111. At this time, the fact and the state are registered in the version management table DB 110 and the contents of the table are updated.

  In step C4, the selected AP module data is compressed in a predetermined compression format for distribution. Next, in step C5, a parent target selection process for confirming a parent target selection condition by the controller DB 112 is performed on the client to be distributed this time. In the present embodiment, the selection condition is that the client with the longest connection time is selected as the parent target for confirming the event log of the corresponding client.

  At this time, if the parent target is in a power-off state and a network connection disabled state, another parent target is selected as the proxy parent.

  Next, in step D3, a parent target information collection process for collecting information for selecting a parent target is performed. In step D4, the parent target information collection result is transmitted to the server 100 side.

  Then, in step C6, a parent target selection result is determined by selecting a parent target based on the information collection result and setting each information in the parent-child related DB. It should be noted that setting is not required when the confirmed FLAG is on in the control DB 112.

  Next, in step C7, AP automatic distribution transmission processing for distributing AP module data to the corresponding parent target (specified IP address) is performed. Then, in step D5, a parent target AP automatic distribution reception process for receiving data transmitted from the server 100 and setting up an AP module in the parent target is performed.

  In step D6, a parent target AP decompression process, which is a decompression operation of AP module compressed data from the received data, is performed. Next, in step D7, a parent target AP setup process for setting up the decompressed AP module in a predetermined folder is performed. Next, when the setup is completed in step D8, a parent target AP setup completion notification process for transmitting completion data to update the status to the virgin management DB 110 and the controller DB 111 is performed.

  Next, in step C8, if the distribution process of the parent target is completed, an AP automatic distribution completion notification reception process is performed to receive the status and update the version information to the server with the data received from the client.

  In step C9, the server 100 performs control PRG automatic distribution processing for distributing automatic distribution control PRG to the parent terminal 200 with the parent as a target. In step D9, a parent target control PRG automatic distribution reception process for receiving the automatic distribution control PRG transmitted from the server 100 is performed.

  Next, in step D10, a parent target control PRG automatic distribution process for distributing the AP automatic distribution control PRG to the parent target is started.

  Then, in step D11, a parent target control AP distribution completion notification process for transmitting a completion status as a result of completion of distribution to the parent target to the server 100 side is performed.

  In step C10, the server 100 side performs control PRG automatic distribution completion notification reception processing for receiving a completion notification from the parent target (client 200) and updating each status.

  In step D12, a child target automatic distribution control PRG distribution process for distributing the AP automatic distribution control PRG from the parent target to the child target is performed. In step D13, a child target automatic distribution control PRG completion notification process for transmitting an AP automatic distribution PRG completion status or the like from the child target to the server 100 is performed.

  In step C11, the server 100 performs child target automatic distribution control PRG completion notification reception processing for receiving a completion notification transmitted from the child target.

  In step C12, it is determined whether the distributed AP module is distributed. If it is determined that the distributed AP module is distributed, in step C13, it is registered in advance on the server 100 side to determine the target. Then, a child target distributed automatic distribution control PRG instruction process for performing distributed processing by starting the timer is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step C12 that it is not a distributed type, the process ends.

  When the completion notification process is completed in step D13, the parent terminal 200 determines in step D14 whether or not the AP module has been distributed sequentially, and if it is determined that the AP module is not sequential, the process proceeds to step C11. If it is determined that it is a sequential type, a child target sequential automatic distribution control PRG instruction process for sequentially distributing AP modules to child targets is performed in step D15.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution processing sequence of the first APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system according to the present invention. C111 to C118 indicate steps in the server 100, D111 to D117 indicate steps of the parent terminal 200, E111 to E120 indicate steps of the child terminals 201 to 205, and control programs loaded by the respective CPUs into the RAM or the like It is executed by.

  First, an example in which the AP module is distributed to the client process (parent target 1) and the client process (child target N (child terminals 201 to 205)) by the server 100 will be described.

  First, in step C111, child target distributed automatic distribution control PRG instruction processing, which is an execution instruction from the server 100 to the child target, is performed. In step C112, the operation of the client is confirmed from the server 100. In step D111, the communication status of the client from the server 100 is confirmed by a PING command or the like.

  In step D112, operation result transmission for transmitting the communication state result of the client (base 150) to the server side is performed. Next, in step C113, the server 100 performs an operation result reception process for receiving a communication state result from the client. In step C114, a child target distributed automatic distribution AP transmission process is performed in which the server 100 transmits child target distribution instruction information to the parent target (parent terminal 200).

  In step D113, the instruction information is received from the server 100, and the distribution date and time, the timer activation time, the child target destination are set, and the child target distributed automatic distribution AP reception process is performed to prepare for the distribution process. In step D114, a child target distributed automatic distribution AP distribution process for distributing from the parent target to the corresponding (IP address) client (child target) is performed.

  Next, in step E111, the communication status of the child client is confirmed from the parent target 200 by a PING command or the like. In step E112, the result of the communication state of the client (child targets 201 to 205) is transmitted to the parent target 200 side.

  On the other hand, in the child targets 201 to 205, the child targets 201 to 205 receive AP automatic distribution control instruction information from the parent target 200 in step E <b> 113. In step E114, based on the received AP automatic distribution control instruction information, a child target automatic distribution control PRG time starting process for setting the timer to the standby mode is performed.

  Next, in step E115, the operation of the parent target client is confirmed from the child targets 201-205. Next, in step D115, the communication state of the client is confirmed from any of the child terminals 201 to 205 to the parent terminal 201 by a PING command or the like.

  Then, the parent target 200 receives the communication state result from any of the clients of the child targets 201 to 205 and sets it in the management table information.

  In step D116, the communication state result of the parent target 200 is transmitted to the child target (any one of the child terminals 201 to 205).

  In step E116, when the communication status result of the parent target 200 is received on the child target side, in step E117, it is determined whether or not the parent target 200 is in operation. If this is the case, in step E118, AP data transmitted from the parent target 200 in step D117 is acquired.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step E117 that the parent target is not in operation, the process proceeds to parent target selection processing in step C115.

  When the AP data transmission is received from the parent target 200 at step E118, the AP data received at the child target is decompressed at step E119 to create notification information to the server 100.

  In step E120, notification information indicating completion of distribution of the created parent target AP is transmitted to the server 100 side.

  In step C116, the server 100 receives an AP distribution completion notification from the parent target (in this case, any of the child terminals that are proxy parents). In step C117, an AP distribution completion notification is received from each target. In step C118, the status information on the version management DB 110 and the like is updated based on the AP distribution completion notification information received from the parent target, and the process ends.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the distributed AP module automatic distribution processing has been described. However, the AP module automatic distribution processing may be performed in a sequential manner. The embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution processing sequence of the second APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system according to the present invention. D 211 to D 228 indicate steps of the parent terminal 200, E 221 to E 235 indicate steps of the child terminal 201, E 311 to E 317 indicate any step of the child terminals 202 to 205, and each CPU is stored in the RAM or the like. It is executed by the loaded control program.

  First, an example in which an AP module is distributed to a client (parent target 200) and client processing (child target N (child terminals 201 and 202 to 205)) will be described. Hereinafter, a sequence example in which AP module automatic distribution is sequentially distributed from the client (parent target) to the client 1 (child target 1) to the client N (child target N) will be described.

  First, in step D211, a child target sequential automatic distribution control PRG instruction process for starting an AP module that sequentially distributes data from the parent target to the child target is performed. Then, when processing for confirming the operation of the client from the parent target is performed in step D212, the communication status of the child client is confirmed from the parent target 200 by a PING command or the like in step E221. In step E222, the operation result is transmitted to the parent target 200.

  In step D222, the parent target 200 receives the result of the communication state of the client and sets it in the management table. Next, in step D223, a distribution target application (with VERSION) is selected from the parent target AP module DB information. At this time, version management table information is also set.

  In step D224, the selected AP module data is compressed for distribution. Next, in step D225, distribution processing is performed for the child target 201 that transmits the AP module data to the child target in a predetermined folder.

  When the child target 201 receives the AP module data distribution file in step E223, the AP module data distribution result is transmitted to the parent target 201 to the child target in step E224. In step D226, the parent target 200 receives the distribution data reception information from the child target 201.

  On the other hand, in the child target 201, in step E225, the received data from the parent target is decompressed, and AP decompression processing for setting a standard folder is performed. In step E226, an AP setup process for installing AP module data using the decompressed file is performed. Next, in step E227, the child target 201 transmits an AP module setup completion notification to the parent target 200.

  In step D227, the parent target 200 receives an automatic distribution AP completion notification from the child target 201.

  On the other hand, when the setup of the child target 201 is completed in step E227, in order to sequentially set up the next child target, in step E228, the child target that starts the AP module automatic distribution process for the client of the next subordinate child target. Sequential automatic distribution control PRG instruction processing is performed.

  In step E229, the client operation of any of the child targets 202 to 205 subordinate to the child target 201 is confirmed. In step E311, the communication state of the child target client subordinate to the child target 201 is confirmed by a PING command or the like.

  Next, in step E312, the operation result transmission transmits the result of the communication state of the client from any of the subordinate child targets 202 to 205 to the child target 201 side. In step E230, when the result of the communication state of the client is received from any of the child targets 202 to 205 to which the child target 201 is subordinate, in step E231, the distribution target application (from the AP module DB information of the subordinate child target is ( Select VERSION). At that time, version management table information is also set.

  In step E232, an AP compressed data SET process for compressing the selected AP module data for distribution is performed.

  Next, in step E233, the child target 201 performs child target distribution processing in which the AP module data is transmitted to the child target in a predetermined folder. In step E313, when any of the subordinate child targets 202 to 205 receives the AP module data distribution file from the child target 201, the AP module data distribution result of the child target client subordinate to the parent target 200 in step E314. Send. Next, in step E315, a child target AP decompression process for decompressing data received from the parent target and setting a standard folder is performed. In step E316, an AP setup process for installing AP module data using the decompressed file is performed.

  In step E317, a parent target AP distribution completion notification process for transmitting distribution data completion notification information from any of the child targets 202 to 205 to the child target 201 is performed.

  In step E234, the child target 201 receives the distribution data completion notification information from any of the child targets 202 to 205. In step E235, the child target 201 sets the AP module data automatic distribution completion information of the subordinate child target client as parent data. Send to target 200.

  In step D228, when the parent target 200 receives the child target AP automatic distribution completion notification via the child target 201, the created parent target AP distribution completion notification information is transmitted to the server 100 side in step D229.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step C117 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, the related processing has been described in detail with respect to an example of the relative data processing procedure at the module level, but individual processing on the server side or the child target side will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the module distribution system according to the present invention. This corresponds to the data processing procedure on the automatic distribution server 100 side, and is stored in the RAM 503 from the hard disk 505 or the like shown in FIG. This is realized by the CPU 501 executing the APM automatic distribution processing program loaded on the CPU. Reference numerals SV1 to SV17 denote the respective steps, and the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, in step SV1, the operating status of each site at the time of start-up is confirmed by a PING command or the like, and in step SV15, the CPU 501 determines whether or not each site is operating from the response result from each site. If it is determined in steps SV2 and SV3 that the system is operating, the status is set in the corresponding item of the data format management tables TAB1 and TAB2 shown in FIG. In step SV2, the operating status is set, and in step SV3, the IP management table status is set.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a management table managed on the hard disk 505 shown in FIG. 2, wherein (a) shows an example of a parent / child target management table, and (b) shows an example of a parent-child related table. .

  Next, in step SV4, based on the acquired response result, the operating status of each base is displayed on the display 507 via a user interface (not shown). Then, in step SV5, a screen for confirming execution of automatic distribution is displayed. In step SV16, it is determined whether a button for selecting automatic distribution is instructed. Proceed to SV7, and this process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step SV16 that automatic distribution is instructed, the version management table managed in the hard disk 505 is acquired in step SV6 and distributed from the AP module database 111 in step SV8. Download the AP module from the hard disk 505. In addition, when the function of the hard disk 505 is realized by another server device, and the hard disk 505 includes itself, it is an agreement that the AP module is simply loaded.

  Next, in step SV9, the acquired application module is compressed in a predetermined format. In step SV10, after confirming the communication status of each terminal in the site, the parent client is determined.

  Then, in step SV11, the operation status of the parent client is confirmed from the response from the parent target. In step SV17, it is determined whether the parent client is operating. In order to determine a proxy parent, the process returns to step SV10.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step SV17 that it is operating, AP module automatic distribution processing is performed on the parent target in step SV12. In step SV13, the automatic distribution control program is distributed to the parent target. Then, in step SV14, it waits for a completion notification indicating the completion of setup from each parent and child target. When it is confirmed that the completion notification has been received, the content of the management table for managing the content is updated, and this processing is terminated. To do.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a fourth data processing procedure in the module distribution system according to the present invention, which corresponds to the data processing procedure on the child target or parent target side of the bases 150 and 151, and is shown in FIG. This is realized by the CPU 501 executing an APM automatic distribution processing program loaded on the RAM 503 from the hard disk 505 or the like. Note that CA111 to CA119 indicate each step, and the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, in step CA111, for example, when the child target 201 receives an automatic distribution control application from the parent target, it is determined in step CA112 whether the application is an automatic distribution control application. The automatic distribution control application received from the target is distributed to any of the child targets 202 to 205 via the intra-site network 301, and the process proceeds to step CA114.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step CA112 that the application is not an automatic distribution control application, data is received from the parent target in step CA113. Next, in step CA114, the setup application is activated by timer activation. In step CA115, the application module is subjected to processing such as decompression, and then installed in a predetermined area on the hard disk 505 to be set up in a startable state.

  Next, in step CA116, completion notification information indicating completion of setup is created. In step CA117, the created completion notification information is notified to the server 100. In step CA118, the automatic distribution control program is started. In step CA119, another child target is instructed to start the automatic distribution control program, and the process ends.

  As a result, the automatic distribution control program distributed to the child target in the base is sequentially activated, the application setup process is automatically completed, the completion state is notified to the server 100, and the server 100 intends. The predetermined program can be surely installed on all the child targets that branch to the parent target in each of the bases 150 and 151.

  In this embodiment, the activation state of the parent target in the base set in advance is confirmed in advance, and even if the parent target is not activated, other child targets are activated as the parent target. It is possible to install all the predetermined programs all at the same time as 100 is intended, and it is possible to eliminate a conventional operation failure such as installation failure and re-installation.

  According to each of the above-described embodiments, the AP module automatic distribution / management function of the present invention can be centrally managed by the server, and the status of the target to be distributed can be grasped from the viewpoint of the operation manager, and the version of the application Management and management with IP addresses are also possible.

  In addition, by assuming a logical hierarchical structure for each client and distributing it from the parent target to the child target, the effect of reducing the network load can be obtained.

  Furthermore, for the end user, there is an effect that the setup can be completed unconsciously and extra work can be reduced.

  In addition, even when the client's parent target is inactive, such as when the power is turned off, there is an advantage that the AP module can be automatically distributed without setting up a proxy parent target and reducing the work efficiency.

  Further, the AP module automatic distribution / management function allows the server to grasp the status of the client and to see the progress of the AP module automatic distribution.

  In addition, in the AP module automatic distribution / management function completion notification process, the version information of the AP module can of course be managed in units of clients (IP addresses).

  Furthermore, since the automatic distribution process is started in parallel by the function of the automatic distribution control PRG, the distribution time can be greatly shortened. In addition, the burden on the server can be greatly reduced.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the module distribution system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the module distribution system according to the present invention.

  Although not specifically shown, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the recording medium in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or 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) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the 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.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. It becomes.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention to the specific description in the present specification.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram explaining the structure of the module distribution system containing the server apparatus which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the base block which consists of a some terminal device. It is a block diagram explaining the hardware constitutions of the automatic distribution server shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the distribution process of APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the distribution process procedure of 1st APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the distribution process sequence of 1st APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the distribution process sequence of 2nd APM automatic control PRG in the module distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 1st data processing procedure in the module distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the management table managed on the hard disk shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the module distribution system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the storage medium which stores the various data processing program which can be read by the module distribution system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Automatic distribution server 110 Version management database 111 AP module database 112 Controller / parent-child related database 150, 151 Base 201, 206 Parent terminal (parent target)
201-205 Child terminal (child target)
250-261 APM automatic control program

Claims (22)

A management server that manages an application installation process for each base block provided with an arbitrary number of terminal devices capable of communicating via a predetermined communication line,
A database for managing predetermined application modules to be installed in the storage device of each terminal device;
A version management database for managing version information and installation completion date of the predetermined application module;
Identifying means for confirming a communication state with each terminal device in each base block and identifying a terminal device as a parent terminal;
Transfer means for transferring a predetermined application module managed by the database to a terminal device specified by the specifying means and a distribution processing module to be distributed to other terminal devices in each site and a predetermined application module to be selected When,
The distribution processing module transferred by the transfer means is executed by each terminal device, and the distribution processing module and the predetermined application module are transferred to another terminal device in the same base, so that the predetermined application module can operate. an acquisition unit for the installation completion notice of the predetermined application module transmitted from each terminal apparatus, or order from which the next acquires each end terminal device is set up in such a state,
And updating means for updating the versioning database based on the installation completion notice acquired by the acquisition unit,
A management server characterized by comprising:   2. The management server according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit compresses and transfers a distribution processing module to be distributed and a predetermined application module to be distributed.   The management server according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit determines a terminal device serving as a parent terminal by determining a length of a connection time with each terminal device in each base block.   2. The identifying unit confirms a communication state with a terminal device serving as a parent terminal, and identifies any other terminal device in each base block as a proxy parent terminal device. The management server described. A module distribution system including a management server that manages application installation processing for each base block provided with an arbitrary number of terminal devices capable of communicating via a predetermined communication line,
The management server
A database for managing predetermined application modules to be installed in the storage device of each terminal device;
Identifying means for confirming a communication state with each terminal device in each base block and identifying a terminal device as a parent terminal;
Transfer means for transferring a predetermined application module managed by the database to a terminal device specified by the specifying means and a distribution processing module to be distributed to other terminal devices in each site and a predetermined application module to be selected When,
An acquisition means for sequentially acquiring installation completion notifications of the predetermined application modules transferred by the transfer means from terminal devices in each base ;
The terminal device in the base
Storage means for acquiring and storing a distribution processing module and a predetermined application module to be selected from the management server;
A distribution processing unit that executes the distribution processing module stored in the storage unit and transfers the distribution processing module stored in the storage unit and the selected predetermined application module to another terminal device in the same base; ,
Setup means for setting up the predetermined application module in an operable state;
A module distribution system comprising: a management notification unit that notifies the management server of an installation completion notification of the predetermined application module after the setup notification by the setup unit. 6. The module distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein the transfer unit compresses and transfers a distribution processing module to be distributed and a predetermined application module to be distributed. 6. The module distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein the specifying unit determines a terminal device to be a parent terminal by determining the length of connection time with each terminal device in each base block. The specifying unit is to check the state of communication with the terminal device as a parent terminal according to claim 5, wherein the identifying the other terminal of the surrogate parent one of the terminal devices in each location block The module distribution system described. 6. The module distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein each time the management notification unit acquires each installation completion notification from another terminal device, the management notification unit performs an installation completion notification from the other terminal device to the management server. . 6. The module distribution system according to claim 5 , further comprising request means for confirming a communication state of a terminal device functioning as a parent in each base and making a proxy parent selection request to the management server. A database for managing a predetermined application module to be installed in the storage device of each terminal device , and a version management database for managing version information and installation completion date of the predetermined application module, and communicating via a predetermined communication line A module installation method in a management server that manages application installation processing for each base block provided with an arbitrary number of possible terminal devices,
A specific step of confirming the communication state with each terminal device in each base block and identifying the terminal device to be a parent terminal;
A transfer step of transferring a predetermined application module managed in the database to a terminal device specified by the specifying step and a distribution processing module to be distributed to other terminal devices in each site and a predetermined application module to be selected. When,
The distribution processing module transferred in the transfer step is executed by each terminal device, and the distribution processing module and the predetermined application module are transferred to another terminal device in the same base, so that the predetermined application module can operate. an acquisition step of the installation completion notice of the predetermined application module transmitted from each terminal apparatus, or order from which the next acquires each end terminal device is set up in such a state,
And updating step of updating the versioning database based on the installation completion notice acquired by the acquisition step,
A module installation method characterized by comprising: 12. The module installation method according to claim 11 , wherein the transfer step compresses and transfers a distribution processing module to be distributed and a predetermined application module to be distributed. 12. The module installation method according to claim 11 , wherein the identifying step identifies a terminal device that is a parent terminal by determining the length of connection time with each terminal device in each base block. The identification step is to check the state of communication with the terminal device as a parent terminal according to claim 11, wherein the identifying the other terminal of the surrogate parent one of the terminal devices in each location block The module installation method described. A database for managing a predetermined application module to be installed in the storage device of each terminal device is provided, and an application installation process is performed for each base block provided with an arbitrary number of terminal devices capable of communicating via a predetermined communication line. A module installation method in a module distribution system including a management server to be managed,
The management server confirms the communication state with each terminal device in each base block, and specifies a terminal device that becomes a parent terminal;
A predetermined application module selected by the management server as a distribution processing module to be distributed to the other terminal devices in each base by the predetermined application module managed by the database to the terminal device specified by the specifying step; A transfer step to transfer
The management server sequentially obtains the installation completion notification of the predetermined application module transferred in the transfer step from the terminal device in each site ;
A storage step in which the terminal device in the base acquires the distribution processing module and the predetermined application module to be selected from the management server and stores the acquired application module in a storage unit;
The terminal device in the base executes the distribution processing module stored in the storage means, and the distribution processing module stored in the storage means and the selected predetermined application module are other terminals in the same base. A distribution processing step to transfer to the device;
A setup step in which the terminal device in the base sets up the predetermined application module in an operable state;
A management notification step of notifying the management server of an installation completion notification of the predetermined application module after the terminal device in the base is notified of the setup by the setup step;
A module installation method comprising: 16. The module installation method according to claim 15 , wherein the transfer step compresses and transfers a distribution processing module to be distributed and a predetermined application module to be distributed. 16. The module installation method according to claim 15 , wherein the specifying step determines a terminal device to be a parent terminal by determining the length of connection time with each terminal device in each base block. The identification step is to check the state of communication with the terminal device as a parent terminal according to claim 15, wherein the identifying the other terminal of the surrogate parent one of the terminal devices in each location block The module installation method described. 16. The module installation method according to claim 15 , wherein the management notification step substitutes an installation completion notification from another terminal device to the management server every time each installation completion notification from another terminal device is acquired. . 16. The module installation method according to claim 15 , further comprising a requesting step of confirming a communication state of a terminal device functioning as a parent in each base and making a proxy parent selection request to the management server. A computer- readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the module installation method according to any one of claims 11 to 20 . The computer program characterized by executing the module installation method according to any one of claims 11-20.

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