JP2000322393A - Operation management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation management system where unitary management is realized by one operation controlling means even when there is any functional difference due to the difference of the version of a program or the difference of a hardware environment. SOLUTION: In this operation management system, the unitary operation management of plural part 12 with different functions whose operations should be managed is realized by an operation managing part 11. This operation managing part 11 is provided with a suppressing/correcting means 114 which issues an operation instruction to the parts 12 whose operations should be managed after suppressing the operation instruction or correcting the operation instruction according to the functions of the parts 12 whose operations should be managed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system for controlling a program and operating the system in accordance with an instruction from a terminal or the like. Even if there is one, it provides a configuration that can be centrally managed by one operation operation means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of operation management system, in order to eliminate inconsistency in operation, it is necessary to use the same control program version and execution environment for the operation side and the control side.

[0003] This is an environment in which the operating side and the control side are included in a single control program and implemented on one computer, that is, in the case of a so-called stand-alone system, such an environment is inevitably provided. , Because the control program has to make its own judgment and suppress itself.
There was no particular problem.

[0004] However, with the advancement of network technology and a system in which the operating side and the operating side are mounted on different computers, such as a system represented by a C / S (client server) system, have become mainstream. It has become very difficult to unify the execution environment between the operation side and the operation side.

For example, when one client is to be added to a C / S system that has already been constructed, considering the life cycle of computer products in recent years, the computer (hardware ) Or the same type / version as the OS or application software running on it, but it is often impossible to obtain it.

One system for solving this problem is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-190341 entitled "Client Program Management Method in CSS Configuration". The method described in this publication is to automatically transfer the latest version of programs and data to a client so that the programs and data on the operating side are made the same.

[0007]

However, this method has the following problems.

[0008] The first problem is that it is impossible to cope with functional differences due to differences in hardware and OS. The reason is that the hardware and the OS do not have such a property that they can be transferred like application programs and data.

A second problem is that the load on the entire system increases. The reason is to transfer programs and data to the client. In general, programs and data of this type have a relatively large size, so if this method is adopted in a system that manages and manages hundreds of clients, such as a bank's online system, it will be critical to the network. Load may be applied.

A third problem is that the computer is easily infected by a so-called computer virus. The reason is to transfer programs and data to the client. If the transmitting master program or data is infected with a computer virus, all clients that have transmitted it will also be infected.

The present invention solves the above problems, and provides an operation management system that can be centrally managed by a single operation operation means even if there is a difference in function due to a difference in program version or a difference in hardware environment. The purpose is to provide.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a system for centrally managing a plurality of operation-managed units, each having a different function, by an operation management unit. In accordance with the function of the operation-managed unit as the target, a suppression / correction unit that operates to suppress the operation command or correct the operation command and then issue the operation command to the operation-managed unit is provided in the operation management unit. It is characterized by being provided in.

With this configuration, the operation management unit is provided with environment information management means that operates to collect a function range usable in the operation management unit, and the operation management unit includes the environment information management means. And a determination means for recognizing the received function range and determining whether the function range is appropriate for a desired operation command. It is preferable that the suppression or correction is performed based on the result of the determination by the determination unit.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, environment information management means 122 collects version information and operation environment information of operation operation execution means 121, and provides this environment information and operation operation means 111. The determination unit 112 compares the function ranges to determine a function range that can be actually operated.

For example, the version of the printer operation management program installed in the operation management unit 12 is compared with the version of the printer operation management program installed in the operation management unit 11, and one of the functions is a printer. Determine whether the switching function is available.

On the basis of the determination result, the operation operation means 11
1 is suppressed or corrected by the suppression / correction unit 114, and the operation operation execution unit 12
Ask 1

For example, if it is determined that a specific option needs to be added to a command for requesting printer switching due to a difference in the version of the printer operation management program, the suppression / correction unit 114
This option is added, and the printer operation management program of the operation management unit 12 is requested to switch the printer.

As described above, even if there is a functional difference between the operation management unit 11 and the operated management unit 12 due to a difference in program version or a difference in hardware environment,
By recognizing the difference, it becomes possible to centrally manage with one operation / operation means.

Further, it is preferable that the operation management unit is provided with a judgment result storage means for storing the judgment result by the judgment means. In this case, it is not necessary to perform the determination one by one, and the processing efficiency can be improved.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the operation management system according to the present invention includes an operation management unit 11 that performs an operation management operation, and a managed operation unit 12 that is operated and operated.

The operation management unit 11 and the operated management unit 12 may be implemented in one computer, or may be implemented on another computer via a network such as the Internet.

Although FIG. 1 shows only one of the operation management unit 11 and the operated management unit 12, there are generally a plurality of operation management units 11 and operation managed units 12. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming a system in which one operation management unit 11 performs operation management of a plurality of operated management units 12.

The operation management unit 11 includes an operation operation unit 111
, Determination means 112, determination result storage means 113, and suppression / correction means 114.

The operation management section 12 includes an operation operation executing section 121, an environment information management section 122, an environment information storage section 123, and an operation management object 124.

These components generally operate as follows.

The operation operation means 111 is a so-called man-machine interface represented by a GUI (graphical user interface) or a CUI (character user interface).

The judging means 112 judges the operable function range of the operated management unit 12.

The judgment result storage means 113 stores the judgment means 11
2 is stored.

The suppression / correction means 114 includes a judgment means 112
Based on the judgment result, the operation management request from the operation operation unit 111 is suppressed or corrected and requested to the operation operation execution unit 121 to perform the operation management of the operation management object 124.

Here, in FIG. 1, the suppression / correction means 114 is configured to obtain the determination result via the determination means 112, but the determination / result storage means 113 is directly stored without the determination means 112. It can also be configured to obtain by reference.

The environment information management means 122 collects version information and operation environment information of the operation / operation execution means 121 and, when requested by the judgment means 112, notifies the judgment means 112 of the information.

The environment information storage means 123 stores version information and the like collected by the environment information management means 122.

The operation management object 124 is an entity that is to be actually operated and managed, and corresponds to, for example, hardware such as a printer or software such as a database management program.

[Explanation of Operation of Embodiment] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. FIG.

First, the environment information management means 122 previously stores version information and operation environment information of the operation / operation execution means 121 in the environment information storage means 123 (FIG. 2).
Step A1).

Here, the operating environment information is, for example, the type of hardware of the computer on which the operated management unit 12 is mounted, the type and version of an OS (operating system), and the like.

Next, the environmental information is sent to the judgment means 11.
2 by inquiring the environmental information management means 122,
The function range provided by the operation unit 11 is compared with the version information and the like obtained from the environment information management unit 122 to determine the function range that can be actually operated, and the result is stored in the determination result storage unit 113 ( Step A2 in FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 illustrates this procedure in more detail.

The judging means 112 first inquires of the environmental information managing means 122 about environmental information and stores the obtained information (step B1 in FIG. 3).

This environment information is temporary information that becomes unnecessary after the determination is completed, and may be stored in a storage unit different from the determination result storage unit 113.

The environment information management means 122 includes the judgment means 11
When an inquiry about the environment information is received from 2, the environment information stored in the environment information storage unit 123 is notified to the determination unit 112 as an answer as described above. At this time, the communication method and data format between the determination unit 112 and the environment information management unit 122 are defined in advance,
Follow it.

Next, the judging means 112 makes the operation management unit 11
Is compared with the environment information obtained from the environment information management unit 122, and it is determined whether or not the operated management unit 12 has a function that cannot be used (step B2 in FIG. 3).

If there is a corresponding function, a list of the functions is created and stored in the determination result storage means 113 (step B3 in FIG. 3).

If there is no corresponding function, the process proceeds to the next step without doing anything.

Next, the judging means 112 makes the operation management unit 11
Is compared with the environment information obtained from the environment information management means 122, and it cannot be used in the operation-managed unit 12 with a normal interface, but can be used by correcting a part of the interface. (Step B4 in FIG. 3).

If there is a corresponding function, a list of the corresponding functions including the correction contents is created, and the judgment result storage means 1 is prepared.
13 (step B5 in FIG. 3).

In this embodiment, the judgment result storage means 113
A method of extracting and storing only a list of functions that cannot be used and a list of functions that can be used if corrected is adopted. As another example, all functions are stored in the determination result storage unit 113 in advance. Is stored including a flag indicating the availability and an area for storing the correction contents. In steps B3 and B5 in FIG. 3, the flag indicating the availability and the correction corresponding to the corresponding function in the list are stored. A method of storing the determination result by setting the content is also conceivable.

When there is an operation operation request from the operation operation unit 111, the suppression / correction unit 114 refers to the judgment result storage unit 113 via the judgment unit 112 (or directly without passing through the judgment unit 112), and The availability of the request is checked, and as a result, the operation request is suppressed for the function determined to be unavailable, and if the function is corrected, the available function is corrected according to the correction content stored in the determination result storage unit 113. Request an operation management operation request to the operation operation executing means 121.

The operation operation executing means 121 receiving this request
Performs an operation management operation on the operation management object 124 according to the request (A3 in FIG. 2).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described using a specific example.

As shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment corresponds to one computer system (referred to as a manager for convenience) corresponding to the operation management unit 11 and the operation management unit 12 connected via a network. Consisting of two computer systems (called agents for convenience)
A specific description will be given of an example in which the printer management system is used.

In this printer management system, the printer operation management programs 412, 421, 431, and 4
41 manages the operation of the printer device and print data.

The printer operation management programs include a manager operation management program 412 and agent operation management programs 421, 431 and 4.
There are 41.

The manager printer operation management program mainly receives an operation request from the operation terminal 411 and requests the agent printer operation management program for actual control. The determination means 112 shown in FIG. It corresponds to the correction means 114.

The agent printer operation management program mainly performs the actual operation management operation in response to the request from the manager printer operation management program. It corresponds to the means 122.

In this printer management system, an example will be described in which a printer switching function, which is one function provided by a printer operation management program, is implemented.

Here, the printer switching function is a function of, for example, switching data output from the printer 423 to the printer 424 in accordance with an operator's instruction and performing continuous printing, and specifying the data to the agent printer operation management program. Issue this command to realize this function.

However, the agent printer operation management program 421, 431, and 441 can perform this function only by executing in the standard command format (that is, without correction) in the agent printer operation management program 421 due to the difference in the program version. In the agent printer operation management program 431,
It is assumed that this function is not implemented, and the agent printer operation management program 441 cannot execute this function (that is, requires correction) unless it is executed in a format in which options are added to the standard command.

First, when the agent printer operation management programs 421, 431, and 441 are started, the agent printer operation management programs 421, 431, and 441 store their own version, environment information such as the type and version of the started OS, and the like in the main storages 422, 432, and 442 (step A in FIG. 2).
1).

On the other hand, when the operator makes an initial request for the agent printer operation management program 421 from the operation terminal 411, the manager printer operation management program 412 is triggered by the request.
An inquiry is made to the agent printer operation management program 421 for environmental information, the availability of each function is determined, and the result is stored in the main memory 413 (step A2 in FIG. 2).

In the present embodiment, when a print request is issued to the agent printer operation management program 441, correction is required. Therefore, it is necessary to add correction contents, that is, to add a specific option. It is stored in the storage 413 (step A2 in FIG. 2).

At this time, if the agent printer operation management program 421 does not respond to the inquiry about the environment information because it has not been started, the manager printer operation management program 412 suspends this determination, and Agent printer operation management program 4
When any request is made to the server 21, an inquiry for environmental information is tried again.

The manager printer operation management program 412 inquires of the agent printer operation management programs 431 and 441 about environment information in the same procedure as in the case of the agent printer operation management program 421, and stores the result in the main memory 413. To memorize.

An operator operates the printer 4 from the operation terminal 411.
23, the printer operation management program 4 for the manager
12 refers to the main memory 413 and checks whether the printer switching function can be used by the agent printer operation management program 421 or not.

In the present embodiment, the printer operation management program 41 for the manager can be used without correction.
2 is an agent printer operation management program 42
1 is requested to switch printers in a standard command format (step A3 in FIG. 2).

An operator operates the printer 4 from the operation terminal 411.
When an attempt is made to request a printer switch from the printer 33 to the printer 434, the manager printer operation management program 412 refers to the main memory 413, and the printer switch function is executed by the agent printer operation management program 43.
Investigate whether it can be used in 1.

In this example, since it is not available, the agent printer operation management program 431
(Step A3 in FIG. 2).

In this embodiment, this suppression is realized by rejecting the once accepted operation request after displaying an error message. As an example of a method of displaying an error message, when a GUI is adopted, a GUI
In the case of I, a method of displaying a message indicating that "function cannot be performed because there is no function" in a small window generally called a "dialog", or a form in which a request is made by an operator inputting a command without employing a GUI There is a method of displaying a message indicating that the function cannot be performed due to lack of function as an error end message of the request command.

The operator operates the printer 4 from the operation terminal 411.
When an attempt is made to request a printer switch from the printer 43 to the printer 444, the manager printer operation management program 412 refers to the main memory 413, and the printer switching function is executed by the agent printer operation management program 43.
Investigate whether it can be used in 1.

In this example, the printer operation management program 412 for the manager can be used if corrected.
Refers to the main memory 413, obtains the correction content, corrects the correction according to the correction content, and requests the agent printer operation management program 421 to switch the printer in the corrected command format (step A3 in FIG. 2).

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows a printer management system similar to the printer management system shown in FIG. However, the operation of the printer operation management program for realizing the present invention employs another method as described later.

In the printer management system shown in FIG. 5, a case where a synchronous mode setting function, which is one of the functions provided by the printer operation management program, is performed will be described as an example.

Here, the synchronous mode setting function means that the output data is output to the printer in a synchronous mode (a mode in which the completion of printing is regarded as the completion of printing when the printed material is discharged) or in an asynchronous mode (when the data is sent to the printer, This is a function for setting whether to output in a mode in which printing is considered to be completed even if the printed matter has not been discharged yet.

It is assumed that the function of the synchronous mode itself is implemented by a printer driver included in the OS.

Generally, the interface between the printer driver and the host program differs depending on the type of the OS and the driver. In this printer management system, the difference is absorbed by the agent printer operation management program. It is assumed that there is no need to be aware of the types of the OS and the driver on the interface of the operation request to the agent printer operation management program.

However, in FIG. 5, since the types of OSs operated by the agents are different from each other, only the agent 52 has a driver having a synchronous mode setting function, and this function cannot be used by the agent 53. Suppose

First, when the agent printer operation management programs 521 and 531 are started, they store environment information such as their version and the type and version of the started OS in the main memories 522 and 532, respectively. (Step A1 in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, when the manager printer operation management program 512 itself is started, the manager printer operation management program 512 makes an inquiry about environmental information to the agent printer operation management programs 521 and 531 to determine whether or not each function can be used. Is stored in the main memory 513 (step A2 in FIG. 2). At this time, if the agent printer operation management program 521 or 531 does not respond to the inquiry about the environment information because it has not been activated, the manager printer operation management program 512 suspends this determination, When any request to the printer operation management program 521 or 531 is made, the inquiry about the environment information is tried again.

As another example, the trigger of this determination processing is that the operator performs “determination execution” from the operation terminal 511.
For example, it is conceivable that the determination is made when the instruction is explicitly given.

In the present embodiment, it is determined at this point that it is not possible to request the printer operation management program for agent 531 to set the synchronous mode.
Is controlled in advance so that an operation request from the operator cannot be made.

For this suppression, a GUI function is used.
Normally, in this type of GUI execution environment, execution of a specific function is suppressed by hiding a part of a button arranged in a menu or the like, or displaying a faint character string and making it impossible to press it. Features are provided.

In the case of the present embodiment, this suppression can be realized by making it impossible to previously press the button for executing the synchronous mode setting function in the operation menu for the agent printer operation management program 531.

The operator operates the operation terminal 511 to operate the printer 5
When the setting of the synchronous mode is requested for 23, the manager printer operation management program 512 refers to the main memory 513 and checks whether the synchronous mode setting function is available in the agent printer operation management program 521.

In this embodiment, since the printer can be used without correction, the manager printer operation management program 51
2 is an agent printer operation management program 52
1 is requested to set a synchronous mode in a standard command format (step A3 in FIG. 2).

An operator operates the printer 5 from the operation terminal 511.
Even if an attempt is made to request the setting of the synchronous mode for the device 33, the request is not accepted because it is suppressed using the GUI function as described above.

[0088]

According to the operation management system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

The first effect is that even if there is a difference in function between the side that is to be operated and managed and a difference in program version or a difference in hardware environment, etc., a single operation and operation means can be used for centralized management. What you can do. The reason is,
This is because the operation side performs suppression and correction of functions according to the operation side.

The second effect is that the side to be operated and managed need not exist on one computer, and is therefore suitable for management in a network environment. The reason for this is that the means for collecting environmental information and the means for referring to it to determine the range of available functions are configured independently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an operation procedure in the operation management system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing in detail an operation procedure in the operation management system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of an operation management system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another specific configuration example of the operation management system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Operation management part 12 Operated management part 111 Operation operation means 112 Judgment means 113 Judgment result storage means 114 Suppression / correction means 121 Operation operation execution means 122 Environment information management means 123 Environment information storage means 124 Operation management object

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system for centrally operating and managing a plurality of operation-managed units each having a different function by an operation-management unit, wherein the system comprises an operation-management unit. Depending on the function,
An operation, wherein the operation management unit is provided with a suppression / correction unit that operates to issue an operation instruction to the operated management unit after suppressing the operation instruction or correcting the operation instruction. Management system. 2. The environment management unit, wherein the operation management unit includes environment information management means that operates to collect a function range usable in the operation management unit. Determining means for receiving the function range information from the CPU and recognizing the received function range, and determining whether the function range is appropriate for a desired operation command. 2. The operation management system according to claim 1, wherein the suppression or correction by the control unit is performed based on a result of the determination by the determination unit. 3. The operation management system according to claim 2, wherein the operation management unit is provided with a judgment result storage unit for storing a judgment result by the judgment unit.