JPH07319792A - Gateway system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an automatic log-in among plural host computers on LAN while continuing an application without paying attention to the host computer of the gateway destination. CONSTITUTION:Each of host computers consists of an application processing means 11, a menu generating means 14, a parameter file 15, a gateway means 12, a communication management file 16, and a communication control means 13 which is started by the gateway means 12 to automatically connect the host computer itself to the host computer of the gateway destination based on contents of a set communication management file 16, and a user terminal has the same communication management file 16 as host computers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gateway system, and more particularly to a local area network (hereinafter, LA).
(Referred to as N) and a gateway system capable of automatic login between a plurality of host computers connected above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional gateway systems of this type are
It is used as a means for accessing a plurality of servers in a client / server system. However, since there are few large-scale systems that require multiple servers, when using other host computers, the user should be able to use the automatic connection function (remote login) from the user terminal to other host computers each time. It was necessary to input login information such as a user ID after making a connection with the user.

The following two are known as specific processing procedures.

One is shown in the flow chart of FIG. First, the user once terminates the work of the host computer that is currently performing processing, and then calls another gateway-target host computer with a remote login command. Then, the login information such as the user ID at the gateway destination is input to log in to the gateway destination host computer, and the business process is executed at the gateway destination host computer.

The second example is shown in the flow chart of FIG. In this processing procedure, the work of the host computer which is currently performing the processing is once terminated, and then the connection with the host computer is cut off to bring the user into the logout state. Then, the login information is input again by connecting to another host computer which is the gateway destination, and after inputting the login information such as the user ID at the gateway destination, the host host computer at the gateway destination executes the business process.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned gateway system, when a plurality of business processes are performed across host computers which are a plurality of servers, the user has to log in to another host computer. Since the login information must be entered every time, the operation of the system becomes complicated and the burden on the user is heavy.

The present invention is a gateway that enables automatic login between a plurality of host computers so that a user does not need to be aware of the host computer at the gateway destination even when performing cooperative work between a plurality of host computers. (EN) A system is provided to prevent an erroneous operation at the time of gateway processing to another host computer and to reduce the load on the user.

[0008]

A plurality of host computers and a plurality of user terminals are connected on a LAN, and the host computer itself is a host computer according to an instruction from the user terminals via the LAN. Business processing means for carrying out business processing, menu creation means for creating business tasks that can be processed by a plurality of host computers on the LAN as business menus and displaying them on the user terminal, and host computer of gateway destination A parameter file storing information for automatically connecting to the gateway and gateway means for setting the parameter file, obtaining information on the host computer of the gateway destination based on the contents of the set parameter file, and activating the communication management means And to connect to the host computer of the gateway destination A communication management file that stores information and this communication management file are set, and the address information of the host computer of the gateway destination is obtained based on the contents of the communication management file that has been set upon activation from the gateway means. The user terminal has a communication management file similar to that of the host computer.

[0009]

[Operation] First, create a business menu as an environment setting in advance,
It is necessary to set the parameter file and communication management file beforehand. This environment setting will be described later.

[0012] When the user connects from the user terminal to the host computer which is in charge of his or her main job with the environment setting completed, the communication management means of this host computer is activated and the user ID is sent from the user terminal. And the password is entered.

It is checked whether the user ID and password have been entered correctly. If they are not correct, the process is terminated, and if they are correct, a task menu as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the user terminal, and the user wants to perform the task. To select.

When the selected job is a job to be processed by the current host computer (for example, when the e-mail shown in FIG. 4 is selected), the job processing means of the host computer immediately executes the job, and the next operation is performed. If there is no work, the process ends, and if there is more, return to the work menu,
Execute the newly selected business process.

On the other hand, when the selected work is not processed by the current host computer (for example, when the database shown in FIG. 4 is selected), the gateway means is activated. The gateway unit 12 refers to the contents of the parameter file and obtains information on the host computer of the gateway destination that executes the relevant task. Communication management means 13
Acquires connection destination address information from the communication management file and connects to the gateway destination host computer.
After connection, the user ID and password are automatically issued from the contents of the parameter file, and the corresponding business (database business in this case) is processed by the business processing means of the gateway computer of the gateway via the communication management means of the host computer of the gateway. To be done.

When this business processing is completed, control is returned from the host computer at the gateway destination to the original host computer, and if there is no next business, the processing is completed,
If there is still one, return to the job menu and execute the newly selected job process.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, in which a plurality of host computers and a plurality of user terminals are connected on a local area network (LAN) 3.

Each of the plurality of host computers is
Business processing means 11 for performing business processing of its own host computer according to an instruction from a user terminal via LAN3;
A menu creating unit 14 that creates a business process that can be processed by a plurality of host computers on the LAN 3 as a business menu and incorporates it into all the host computers, and a parameter file 15 that stores parameters for connecting to the host computer at the gateway destination. This parameter file 15 is set, and the set parameter file 15
Gateway means 1 for deciding a host computer as a gateway destination based on the contents of
2, a communication management file 16 storing information necessary for connection with the host computer at the gateway destination, and the communication management file 16 that is set by receiving the activation from the gateway means 12 and setting the communication management file 16. And a communication management means 13 for automatically connecting to the host computer at the gateway destination based on the contents of the above.
Have six.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the business processing menu of each host computer. In the following, a specific example will be described in which the work shown in FIG. 4 is taken as an example and work tasks are distributed to a plurality of hosts on a LAN to switch the host computers while executing a work menu for load distribution.

FIG. 4 shows a concrete example of a business menu which is an information utilization system by integrating an in-house OA system such as an electronic mail and an electronic bulletin board using the in-house LAN and a database search system. Generally, users use O-mail or electronic bulletin boards to exchange information with other users and obtain information.
It is assumed that the system A is used and these jobs are processed by the host computer 1. However, it is assumed that the operation of searching an external database such as document information or newspaper information is performed by another host computer 2.

In such a case, it is necessary to move from the currently used host computer to another host computer for business processing, and a gateway for automating the gateway processing between the host computers in the business menu of the OA system. Means 12 and parameter file 15
By incorporating the above, the user (operator) can use the host computer that is actually connected to the host computer and does the actual business processing without disconnecting the host computer that the user is using. It is possible to continuously operate a system that spans multiple host computers without being aware of it.

When items 1 to 4 are selected in the work menu of FIG. 4, the work processing is executed by the host computer 1, but when item 10 is selected, the host computer 2 is automatically switched to. Host computer 2
The business process is executed by.

In order to implement such an automatic gateway between a plurality of host computers, it is necessary to set the system environment in advance as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing contents for environment setting of the present invention.

The environment setting of the present invention performed in advance will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the menu creating means 14 is activated from the user terminal 4 to set the parameters of the work to be incorporated in the menu. The method of setting this parameter differs depending on the system, but in the present embodiment, a menu management file as shown in FIG. 6 is created, and the display position (left and right, the number of lines) on the screen, the menu number that is the item of the menu, the task The startup program name of and the parameters required when starting the program are set. Here, when the database with the menu number 10 is selected in the job menu, the program "GATEWAY" is started as the start program and the parameter file name "FIL" is set as the parameter.
It indicates that "E1" is designated.

When the setting of the menu management file is completed, the incorporation into the business menu is completed.

Next, the gateway means 12 is activated to create the parameter file 14 for the gateway between the host computers.

As the parameter file 14, FIL
A specific example of E1 is shown in FIG. 7 and will be described below.

(A) The host computer name of the gateway destination to be connected is specified. This host computer name must be set in the communication management file 16 described later. The host computer at the gateway destination can be changed for each user, and a user individual file (FILE2) of (i) described later is provided.
Follow the settings in.

(B) The following lines indicate the command description for automatic login.

(C) Indicates that the processing is stopped for 3 seconds.

(D) Indicates the timeout time of the CASE statement. (The CASE sentence is described in (f)) (e) END: Indicates that the process up to is repeated 7 times.

(F) Character string ENTER enclosed by ""
When the USER ID appears, it indicates that the process of the next line is performed.

(G) Indicates that the FOR statement is forcibly removed.

(H) Indicates the end of the FOR statement.

(I) Indicates that the user individual file name in which the description for automatically passing the user ID, password and activation system is FILE2. This FIL
E2 will be described later with reference to FIG.

(J) Indicates that the character string \ n enclosed by "" is transmitted.

FIG. 8 shows a user individual file (FILE).
This is a specific example of 2), which is composed of a destination host name, a user ID, a password, a starting program name, and parameters, and a description thereof will be given below.

Destination host name: Specify the gateway host name. If omitted, the parameter file (FILE)
It becomes the host computer name specified in 1).

User ID: Describe a user ID for automatically issuing a password or a startup program. If a user ID not described here is input, the password and the startup program are not automatically issued, so that the user must manually input the password.

Password: Describe the password corresponding to the user ID. If you enter &, you must enter the password manually. However, in order to improve the security of the system, it is preferable to re-enter only the password.

Start program name: Describe the name of the program to be started first after connecting to the gateway destination host computer. If parameters are required, describe them in the parameter column.

Finally, the communication management means 13 is activated to start the process shown in FIG.
The communication management file 16 shown in is set.

As shown in FIG. 9, the communication management file 16
Is composed of its own / others, host name / terminal name and address. Each of them will be described below.

Own / other: Own host computer (or terminal) or other host computer (or terminal)
Or describe.

Host name / terminal name: The host computer name (or terminal name) is uniquely described.

Address: Describe the address of each host computer (or terminal). Addresses are usually required for communication programs and have international standards.

This communication management file 16 is necessary for all host computers and utilization terminals connected to the LAN.

This is the end of the description of the processing required for environment setting.

Next, the processing operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 by taking the business of FIG. 4 as an example.

First, the user connects from the user terminal 4 to the host computer 1 which is in charge of its own main work (step 10-1).

At this time, the communication management means 13 of the host computer 1 is activated and the user ID and password are input from the user terminal 4 (step 10-2).

It is checked whether the user ID and password have been entered correctly (step 10-3). If they are not correct, the process is terminated as they are, and if they are correct, a work menu as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the user terminal for use. Let the person select the task to be executed (step 10-4).

When the selected job is a job to be processed by the host computer 1 (for example, when the electronic mail shown in FIG. 4 is selected), it is immediately executed by the job processing means 11 of the host computer 1 (step 10). -5,10
-6) If there is no next job to be performed, the process is terminated, and if there is more, the process returns to the job menu to execute the newly selected job process (step 10-9).

On the other hand, when the selected job is not processed by the host computer 1 (for example, when the database shown in FIG. 4 is selected), the gateway means 12 of the host computer 1 is activated and the parameter file 15 is activated.
Information of the gateway destination host computer that executes the relevant job is obtained, the connection destination address information is obtained from the communication management file 16, and the gateway destination host computer 2 is acquired through the communication management means 13. (Steps 10-5, 10-7).

After the connection, the user ID and password are automatically issued from the contents of the parameter file 15, and the corresponding work (database work in this case) is performed by the work processing means 11 of the host computer 2 via the communication management means 13 of the host computer 2. Are processed (step 10-8). When this business process is completed, control is returned from the gateway-destination host computer 2 to the original host computer 1. If there is no next business, the process is terminated, and if there is still another business, the business menu is returned to and a new selection is made. The executed business process is executed (step 10-9).

The embodiment described above is for the case where different jobs are carried out by a plurality of host computers, but it goes without saying that it can be applied to a case where the same job is distributed to a plurality of host computers. In this case, the gateway program is not incorporated into the business menu, but is directly incorporated into the business program.

[0058]

As described above, the present invention does not require the user to be aware of the host computer of the gateway destination even when performing the cooperative work between a plurality of host computers, and the automatic operation between a plurality of host computers is possible. Login becomes possible and the load on the user can be reduced. Further, there is an effect of preventing an erroneous operation during gateway processing to another host computer. Even if the host computer that processes the work is changed, it is not necessary to disconnect and reconnect to the LAN, so the operability of the system is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of a gateway system when a plurality of servers are accessed by a conventional client / server system.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of a gateway system when a plurality of servers are accessed by a conventional client / server system.

FIG. 4 is an example of a business processing menu.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart for environment setting of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a specific example of a menu management file.

FIG. 7 is a specific example of a parameter file (FILE1).

FIG. 8 is a specific example of a parameter file (FILE2).

FIG. 9 is a specific example of a communication management file.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of operation processing of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Host Computer 3 Local Area Network 4 User Terminal 11 Business Processing Means 12 Gateway Means 13 Communication Management Means 14 Menu Creating Means 15 Parameter Files 16 Communication Management Files

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A local area network (LAN)
In a gateway system between a plurality of host computers connected above, a plurality of host computers and a plurality of user terminals are connected on a LAN, and this host computer is connected to the user terminals via the LAN. Business processing means for performing business processing of its own host computer in accordance with instructions; menu creating means for creating business processing that can be processed by a plurality of host computers on the LAN as a business menu and displaying it on the user terminal; A parameter file storing information for automatically connecting to the gateway destination host computer, and setting this parameter file to obtain information of the gateway destination host computer based on the contents of the parameter file that has been set. A gateway means for activating A communication management file that stores information necessary for connecting to the host computer of the destination, and a gateway based on the contents of the communication management file that is set by setting the communication management file and starting from the gateway means. A gateway system characterized by comprising communication management means for obtaining address information of the host computer and automatically connecting to the host computer, wherein the user terminal has a communication management file similar to that of the host computer. 2. The environment setting performed in advance by the gateway system according to claim 1, wherein the environment setting includes a task menu creation performed by activating the menu creation means from the user terminal and an activation of the gateway means. It consists of a parameter file creation to be performed and a communication management file creation performed by activating the communication management means. The menu management file of the business to be incorporated into the menu in the business menu creation is the display position (left and right, the number of lines) on the screen, The parameter file that consists of the menu items that are menu items, the business startup program name, and the parameters required when starting the program, and the parameter file created by creating the parameter file is at least the host computer name of the gateway destination to connect to and the gateway destination host. First name and user I
D, a password, a startup program name, and a user individual file of the gateway destination host computer including parameter information, and the communication management file set by the communication management file creation is the host computer or the user terminal itself / others. A gateway system characterized by being configured from information indicating the other of the above, information of a host name / terminal name uniquely describing a host computer name or a terminal name, and this address information. 3. A gateway system, wherein the gateway system according to claim 1 is applied when the same work is distributed to a plurality of host computers.