JP2000082051A - Program distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program distribution system which facilitates distributing operation and distribution management and prevents errors by making it possible to schedule the distribution of programs and files in computer systems connected in multiple layers and enabling divisional distribution with a single indication. SOLUTION: According to distribution schedule information schedule files 21 and 22) on programs distributed previously to computers (host computer 11 and decentralized computer 21), a program is divided and distributed plural times. The distribution schedule information includes pieces of date and time data on the distribution of the program and program distribution procedures corresponding to the date and time data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program distribution system, and more particularly to a computer system in which a host computer and a distributed computer are connected via a network, or a terminal and the like in the distributed computer in a multi-layer hierarchy. And a method for distributing programs and files from a host computer in a computer system connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional method of distributing a program or a file from a host computer to a distributed computer connected to a host computer or a terminal connected to the distributed computer for updating the system, a distribution method is used. From the start to the completion of distribution of all programs and files, etc.
In this regard, for example, the description in JP-A-63-282867 can be referred to.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, it is necessary to stop the work while distributing programs, files, and the like. This method is based on the number of distributed computers and terminals and the amount of data to be updated. Increases, the distribution time increases due to an increase in data transfer time, an increase in the use rate of the line, and the like, and there is a problem in that when the business cannot be stopped for a long time, it cannot be used.

[0004] In addition, in order to shorten the time of one distribution,
When the program distribution is performed several times (several days), the program distribution work must be performed many times, which is troublesome, and has a problem that errors are easily generated. Further, in the above-described conventional technology, the distribution source and the distribution destination of the programs and files are managed on a one-to-one basis.
There is also a problem that distribution management of a lower layer cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and particularly to a program and a file in a computer system connected in a plurality of tiers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program distribution method which enables the distribution of a program to be scheduled, enables divided distribution with a single instruction, and simplifies distribution work and distribution management and prevents errors.

[0006]

An object of the present invention is to provide a computer system comprising a host computer and one or more distributed computers connected to the host computer via a network. A schedule file storing a distribution schedule of a program or the like is allocated to each of the computers, and the distribution of the program or the like from the host computer to the distributed computer is performed synchronously using the schedule file. This is achieved by a program distribution method.

[0007] Alternatively, a multi-layer comprising a host computer, one or more distributed computers connected to the host computer via a network, and one or more terminals connected to each of the distributed computers via a network In a computer system, a schedule file storing a distribution schedule of a program or the like is allocated to each of the computers and terminals constituting the computer system, and distribution of the program and the like from the host computer to the distributed computer and the terminal is performed. This is achieved by a program distribution method characterized in that synchronization is performed using the schedule file.

In a program distribution system according to the present invention, in a computer system including a host computer, a plurality of distributed computers, and, in some cases, a plurality of terminals connected to the distributed computer, the host computer executes the program Create a schedule file for distribution. The schedule file stores the date and time when distribution starts, the order in which programs and files are distributed, the creation and deletion of work files, and the execution of necessary programs.
This schedule file is distributed to each distributed computer or terminal at any time.

Each distribution management program of the host computer, the plurality of distributed computers and the terminal inputs a schedule file, activates a file transfer program and a file update program according to the contents of the schedule file, and executes distribution. If necessary, the management information is sent to the host computer, and the host computer performs collective distribution management. With the above processing, distribution of programs and files collectively from the host computer becomes unnecessary, and updating and operation of the system are facilitated.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a computer system including a host computer and a plurality of distributed computers for executing a program distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a host computer 11 and a plurality of distributed computers 21 are connected by a line 1. The host computer 11 has a schedule file 12 storing distribution schedules of programs and files,
The host computer 11 has a distribution program file 13 storing a program to be distributed to the distributed computer 21 and a distribution file 14 storing a file to be distributed to the distributed computer 21.
(Host) 15 is executed.

On the other hand, each of the distributed computers 21 in the system has a schedule file 22, an updated program file 23, and an updated file 24 that are the same as the schedule file 12 on the host computer 11 side. The distributed computer 21 executes a distribution management program (distributed) 25. Further, in the distributed computer 21, a work file 26 required for program distribution is allocated as needed.

The above-mentioned distribution management program (host) 15 and distribution management program (distribution) 25 refer to the respective schedule files 12 and 22, and distribute distribution program files 13 and distribution files 14 according to the schedule files 12 and 22.
Transfer the update file 23 and update file 24
Is to be updated.

FIG. 3 illustrates a part of the contents of the schedule file 12 when the program and the file are distributed over two days in the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the ACTION control statement 30 corresponds to
Specify that the program be distributed at 0:00. The procedure required for program distribution is described in the following OPERATION
Specified by N control statement. OPERATION control statement group 31
Creates the work file 26, transfers the distribution program file 13 to the work file 26, merges the received program in the work file 26 with the update program file 23, and finally deletes the work file 26. Is specified.

Also, the ACTION control statement 32 is a
It is specified to distribute files at 17:00 on the 7th. The OPERATION control statement group 33 is a work file
26, the distribution file 14 is transferred to the work file 26, the program in the received work file 26 is copied to the update file 24, and finally, the work file 26 is deleted.

FIG. 1 shows a distribution management program for distributing a program by referring to the schedule file shown in FIG.
3 shows the flow of processing of a (host) 15 and a distribution management program (distribution) 25. Distribution management program (distributed) 25
When activated, the schedule file 22 is referenced, and the next distribution date and time is set from the current time (step 40). When the distribution time has been reached (step 41), control statements are sequentially input from the schedule file 22 (step 42). Then, the work file 26 is created according to the control statement (step 44), and the file is transferred in synchronization with the host (step 45).
The received data is merged or copied (step 46 or 47). Finally, in step 48, the work file 26 is deleted.

Similarly, the distribution management program (host) 15 sets the next distribution date and time at the time of startup by referring to the schedule file 12 (step 50). When the distribution time is reached
(Step 51), control statements are sequentially input from the schedule file 12 (Step 52). Thereafter, only the file transfer is performed on the host side, and nothing else is performed.

At the time of inputting the ACTION control statement, both the distribution management program (distribution) 25 and the distribution management program (host) 15 take out the next distribution execution date and wait for the distribution time (steps 43 and 53). By repeating the above processing, distribution of the program and the file is performed in two days.

In the above-described embodiment, the host computer 11 executes the same schedule file storing instructions such as the date and time to start distribution, the order of distribution of programs and files, creation and deletion of work files, and execution of necessary programs. Since it is possible to distribute programs and files to each distributed computer 21 at any time and refer to this schedule file and synchronize the host computer 11 and each distributed computer 21 with each other, This has the effect that instructions and management become easy and errors can be prevented.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, distribution of files from the host computer to the distributed computers is performed in two days due to line performance.
The distribution of the file to the terminal indicates that the file is to be distributed on the same day.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a computer system including a host computer, a plurality of distributed computers, and a plurality of terminals for executing a program distribution method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 3 illustrates a part of the contents of the schedule file in the present embodiment. The internal configurations of the host computer 60 and the distributed computers (A) 61 and (B) 62 shown in FIG. 4 are the same as those of the host computer 11 and the distributed computer 21 shown in FIG. The internal configuration is similar to this.

In this embodiment, the host computer 60 and the distributed computer (A) 61,
(B) 62, the same schedule file is distributed at any time, and by using this schedule file, the program is synchronized between the host computer 60 and the distributed computers 61, 62. Or file transfer,
This is performed as follows.

That is, the ACTION control statement 7 in FIG.
0, the OPERATION control statement 71 transfers the file 65 of the host computer 60 to the file 66 of the distributed computer (A) 61 on February 1, 1990, as in the above-described embodiment. However, since the ACTION control statement 70 is intended only for the distributed computer (A) 61, it is not transferred to the distributed computer (B) 62. The file transfer of the distributed computer (B) 62 to the file 67 is performed by the ACTION control statement 7
2. Performed on February 2, 1990 according to the OPERATION control statement 73. At this time, the distributed computer (A) 61
F is not transferred. By performing the above processing, the file transfer to the distributed computers (A) 61 and (B) 62 can be divided into two days.

On February 3, 1990, an ACTION control statement 74,
According to the OPERATION control statement 75, the file transfer from the file 66 of the distributed computer (A) 61 to the file 68 of the terminal 63 and the file transfer from the file 67 of the distributed computer (B) 62 to the file 69 of the terminal 64 are performed. It is performed all at once, and the files are distributed to the terminals at the same time.

According to the above embodiment, the host computer 60 distributes the same schedule file to each distributed computer and terminal at any time, and refers to this schedule file to make the host computer 60 and each distributed computer, The distribution of programs and files can be performed while the distributed computer and the terminal synchronize with each other, so that instructions and management are facilitated and errors are prevented. Each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a schedule file storing a distribution schedule of a program or the like is allocated to each computer or terminal constituting a computer system, and Since the distribution of the program and the like from the computer to the distributed computer is performed in synchronization with the use of the schedule file, split distribution can be performed with a single instruction, thereby simplifying distribution work and distribution management. This has a remarkable effect that a program distribution method for preventing errors can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart of a program distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a computer system for executing a program distribution method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a schedule file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a computer system for executing a program distribution method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a schedule file according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11,60: Host computer 21,61,62: Distributed computer 12,22: Schedule file 13: Distribution program file 23: Update program file 14: Distribution file 24: Update file 15: Distribution management program (host) 25: Distribution management Program (distributed) 63,64: Terminal 65-69: File

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasunobu Goto 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Software Factory (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakamura 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi, Ltd. software factory

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a hierarchical distribution method of a program in a system including a plurality of computers, schedule information defining distribution timing of a distribution program of a distribution unit constituting a distribution program file to a first computer and a second computer. Based on the schedule information, a timing at which the first computer distributes the distribution program to the second computer, and a timing at which the second computer distributes the distribution program to the third computer And a program distribution method. 2. The hierarchical distribution method of a program according to claim 1, wherein said first computer and said second computer are:
A program for distributing a distribution program file to a plurality of computers included in a system including the plurality of computers in a plurality of times based on a distribution timing of a distribution program included in the schedule information. Distribution method. 3. The program distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the schedule information indicates at least one of a scheduled time at which the distribution program is transmitted and an order in which the distribution program is transmitted. A program distribution method comprising: 4. The program distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the distribution program file is composed of a program divided in advance.