JP2001067214A - Computer system and program file updating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make effectively evadible a state wherein services are stopped by deleting a program file corresponding to a previous application means and making a program file corresponding to a new application means replace it after normal operation is confirmed. SOLUTION: When an application function B of providing a service which is being started on a computer system α is updated, the program file of an application function B' to be update is loaded to a storage device. A file update managing function D1 of a system managing function D once confirming that the application function B' as a new function is providing the service without any problem replaces the program file of the application function B as an old function with the application function B'. After the replacement, the application function B' is started even when the computer system α is initialized to provide the service with the contents after the update.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer system and a program file updating method. For example, the present invention is suitably applied to a computer system in a communication network system, a computer system in a transportation / transport system, a computer system in a financial institution, and other computer systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today's communication network systems are realized by providing switching services by computer systems. In such a computer system, at the time of its initial startup (system reboot), the operating system reads out and executes a program file necessary for providing the exchange service from a storage device such as a hard disk, thereby realizing the provision of the required exchange service. I do.

[0003]

By the way, in such a computer system, when it is necessary to provide a new service or to partially modify or update an existing service,
Not only the program files corresponding to the newly introduced or updated service, but also the program files corresponding to other services unrelated to the service are transferred to a storage device such as a hard disk. Had to be restarted.

However, the current method of temporarily suspending the provision of the service of the entire computer system and updating the entire program file only for the purpose of adding a new service or partially updating the existing service is as follows. Significant impact on users receiving services. For this reason, there is a demand for minimizing the range of services stopped in connection with the addition or updating of the program file and reducing the time required for restarting the services.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and enables a program file to be added or updated without stopping the provision of services unrelated to the addition or update of a program file. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system and a program file updating method that requires a very short service stop time.

[0006]

(A) In order to solve this problem, in the invention according to claim 1, one or a plurality of application means for providing a unique service according to a computer program, and the application means are provided. A computer system including a system management unit for managing the computer system includes the following functional units. That is, (a)
A function of starting or stopping the provision of a service in response to an instruction from the system management means, and (b) a function of executing information transfer between the current application means and the new application means while both are activated in parallel. When,
(C) A file update function unit having a service start preparation completion notifying function for notifying the system management unit of completion of service start preparation due to completion of the transfer of the information is provided. The system management function means includes (d)
A function for individually starting or terminating the application means, (e) a function for concurrently starting a new application means corresponding to the update program file while the service of the current application means is being provided, and (f) a function for starting. A function for instructing the application means to start or stop providing a service; and (g) after confirming the normal operation of the new application means, deleting a program file corresponding to the previous application means from the storage medium and executing a program corresponding to the new application means. A file update management function unit having a function of replacing a file is provided. As described above, in the present invention, since the program file can be replaced for each application, when updating from the current application unit to the new application unit, the application unit other than the application unit to be updated is different from the conventional system. Can be effectively avoided, and the service suspension time required for switching from the old function to the new function can be minimized.

(B) In the invention according to claim 2, the following functions are further provided in the file update management function unit in the computer system according to claim 1. That is, even after the provision of the service by the new application means has been started, the previous application means, which had been providing the service until then, is kept stopped for a certain period of time, and the normal operation of the new application means is confirmed within the certain time period If the normal application of the new application means is not confirmed within the predetermined time while the program of the previous application means is terminated, the provision of the service by the previous application means in the stopped state is resumed, and the service of the new application means is terminated. To stop offering. As described above, in the present invention, the activation state of the old application means is maintained for a certain period of time even after the provision of the service by the new application means (that is, even after the provision of the service of the current application means is stopped). By doing
The service stoppage time required when returning from the new function to the old function can be minimized.

(C) Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the computer system according to claim 1 or 2
The following means are further provided. That is, the application means further includes (h) a system data update function unit having a function of reading designated system data at the time of start-up and operating in accordance with the system data. A system data update management function unit having a function of designating and starting system data to be operated and a function of (j) replacing new system data and old system data on a storage medium are further provided. As described above, according to the present invention, even while a service is being provided by the current application unit, the same application unit that differs only in system data can be activated in parallel with the current application unit to replace the application unit. Therefore, when updating the system data, it is possible to effectively avoid a situation in which the service is stopped even for application means other than the application means to be updated, and the service stop time required for switching from the old function to the new function is minimized. Can be suppressed.

(D) Further, in the invention according to claim 4, one or more application means for providing a unique service and a system management means for managing the application means are activated. In the file updating method, the following processing steps are executed. That is, (1) when an update of a program file corresponding to the current application unit is instructed, a process of starting a new application unit corresponding to the updated program file while continuing to provide the service by the current application unit; (2) Before the started new application means starts providing the service, the process of taking over the necessary information with the current application means, and (3) The provision of the service is completed by the completion of the information takeover. The process in which the new application means that has become possible notifies the system management means of the completion of the service start preparation, and (4) after receiving the notification of the completion of the service start preparation, the system management means executes the service Service provision, and at the same time, start providing services through new application means. (5) After confirming the normal operation of the new application means that has started providing the service, delete the program file corresponding to the previous application means from the storage medium and replace it with the program file corresponding to the new application means And so on. As mentioned above,
In the present invention, since the program file can be replaced for each application, when updating from the current application unit to the new application unit, the service is stopped even for application units other than the application unit to be updated, as in the conventional system. Can be effectively avoided, and the service suspension time required for switching from the old function to the new function can be minimized.

(E) In the invention according to claim 5, the program file updating method according to claim 4 includes:
The following processing steps are further executed. That is,
(6) After the service is started to be provided by the new application means, the previous application means that has been providing the service is kept stopped for a certain period of time, and (7) The new application means If the normal operation is confirmed, the program of the previous application is terminated. If the normal operation of the new application is not confirmed within a predetermined time, the provision of the service by the suspended previous application is resumed, and the new application is resumed. And processing for stopping provision of the service by the means. As mentioned above,
In the present invention, the new function is maintained by maintaining the activation state of the old application means for a certain period of time even after the service provision by the new application means is started (that is, even after the service provision of the current application means is stopped). Service downtime required when returning to the old function from the server can be minimized.

(F) In the invention according to claim 6, in the program file updating method according to claim 4 or 5, the following processing steps are further executed. (8) When an update of system data that determines the operating conditions of the current application means is instructed, a new application consisting of the same program by specifying new system data while continuing to provide the service by the current application means Activating the means and (9)
Before the new application means starts providing the service, processing to transfer necessary information with the current application means, and (10) New application that can provide services by completing the transfer of information Means for notifying the system management means of service start preparation completion, and (11) after receiving the service start preparation notification, the system management means stops the provision of the service by the current application means, and , The process of starting the provision of services by the new application means,
(12) After confirming the normal operation of the new application unit that has started providing the service, the system is provided with a process of replacing the system data associated with the previous application unit with new system data. As described above, according to the present invention, even while a service is being provided by the current application unit, the same application unit that differs only in system data can be activated in parallel with the current application unit to replace the application unit. Therefore, when updating the system data, it is possible to effectively prevent the suspension of the service to application means other than the application means to be updated, and to minimize the service suspension time required for switching from the old function to the new function. Can be suppressed.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (A) First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a computer system that updates an application program by a program file updating method according to the present invention will be described.

(A-1) System Configuration FIG. 1 shows a computer system α according to the first embodiment.
The conceptual configuration of is shown. The computer system α according to the present embodiment is actually software executed on a computer (CPU, memory, input device, output device, peripheral device (including an external storage device and a communication device)) as hardware resources. FIG. 1
Represents the functional configuration.

As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system α according to the present embodiment includes application functions A to C corresponding to various services and a system management function D for managing the computer system α.

Here, application functions A, B, and C corresponding to various services to be provided are functions that the system management function D reads out from a storage device such as a hard disk connected to the computer system α and starts up. Yes, the following functions (a) to (c) are provided as functions necessary for updating the application function (hereinafter, referred to as “file update function”). (A) A function for starting or stopping service provision in accordance with an instruction from the system management function D (b) A function for transferring information between an old function (before update) and a new function (after update) (c) System management Function to notify function D that service preparation is complete

On the other hand, the system management function D is a function that the operating system of the computer system α reads out from the hard disk connected to the computer system α and starts up. The function manages the application functions A, B, and C, and The following functions (a) to (d) are provided as functions necessary for updating these (hereinafter, referred to as “file update management functions”). (A) A function for individually starting or terminating application functions (b) A function for starting new application functions in parallel while a service is provided by a current application function (c) A current application function and a new application function Function to instruct the start or stop of service provision by each (d) Function to replace old function (pre-update function) and new function (post-update function) on the hard disk

(A-2) Program File Update Operation A series of update operations for updating the application function B for providing a service while the computer system α shown in FIG. 1 is running will be described below.

(1) First, as shown in FIG. 2, the program file of the application function B ′ to be updated is loaded into a storage device such as a hard disk. In addition,
The loading of the program file into the storage device connected to the computer system α is performed not only by a portable medium such as a disk-shaped storage medium (optical disk, magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) or a card-shaped storage medium, but also by a communication network. This is performed in a form such as data transmission via a line.

(2) When the loading of the program file is completed, an update instruction of the application function B is given to the system management function D from outside. This update instruction is given to the file update management function D1.

(3) Upon receiving the update instruction, the system management function D uses the file update management function D1 to update only the program file of the application function B 'that has updated the application function B, such as a hard disk connected to the computer system α. The information is read out from the storage device and activated as information that the activation is accompanied by a function update.
At this time, the existing application functions A, B, and C remain activated.

(4) As shown in FIG. 3, the newly activated application function B 'uses its file update function B1' to provide a service with the file update function B1 of the application function B. Take over necessary information. Then, the application function B ′ notifies the file management function D1 ′ of the completion of the preparation from the file update function B1 ′ to the system management function D when the service can be provided in place of the application function B.

(5) Upon receiving the service start preparation completion notification from the application function B ', the system management function D instructs the file update function B1 of the application function B to stop the service, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the file update function B of the application function B '
Instruct 1 'to start the service. Thereafter, the application function B 'having the updated function of the application function B provides the service.

Until the file update management function D1 confirms whether the new application function B 'can provide a service without any problem,
The application function B, which is an old function, continues to exist on the computer system α even after the provision of the service is stopped. This time period that continues to exist is called monitoring time.

(6) Eventually, when the file update management function D1 of the system management function D confirms that the new application function B 'provides a service without any problem, as shown in FIG. The application function B which is an old function is terminated, and a function of replacing the program file of the application function B on the hard disk with the application function B 'is executed. After the replacement here, even if the computer system α is initially operated (rebooted), the application function B ′, which is a new function, is activated and the service is provided with the updated contents.

(7) If an abnormality is found in the application function B 'which is a new function during the monitoring time of the above (5), as shown in FIG. 6, a new function is executed by the file update management function D1. The instruction to stop providing the service by the application function B ′ as the function is instructed, and the instruction to start providing the service based on the application function B as the old function is instructed. Thereafter, the provision of the service based on the application function B, which is the old function, is started again.

(A-3) Effects of the First Embodiment As described above, the various functions constituting the computer system α include the file update functions A1, B1, B1 ', and C described above.
1 and the file update management function D1, and the required program file is updated using the function, the following effects can be realized.

First, the update of the program file can be limited to the minimum necessary program file instead of the entire program file including the relevant function, and functions that do not require updating are completely affected. Partial function update can be realized without interruption, that is, without interrupting provision of a service of a function that does not require update. Thus, when updating the old function to the new function, the time during which the provision of the service of the function is interrupted can be minimized.

Second, at the time of updating the application function, both the previous function and the function after the switching are made to coexist on the computer system α until it is confirmed that the function after the switching normally operates. By doing so, when returning from the new function to the old function, the time during which the provision of the service of the corresponding function is interrupted can be minimized.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of a computer system that updates system data of an application program by the program file updating method according to the present invention.

(B-1) System Configuration FIG. 7 shows a computer system α according to the second embodiment.
The conceptual configuration of is shown. The configuration of the computer system α according to the present embodiment is also basically the same as that of the first embodiment. That is, the computer system α is realized as a function of software executed on a computer as a hardware resource, and includes application functions A to C corresponding to various services and a system management function for managing the computer system α. D. The application functions A to C include the same file update functions A1 to C1 as in the first embodiment.
The system management function D includes a file update management function D1.

The difference from the first embodiment is that data (system data) defining the operating conditions of each of the various functions A to D executed on the computer system α is recorded in a storage device such as a hard disk. Is a point. The hard disk shown in FIG. 7 includes system data O that defines the operating conditions of the functions A to D, and the system data O
And the system data N in which the operating condition of the function B is changed.

The application functions A, B, and C according to the present embodiment read system data O from a storage device such as a hard disk at the time of activation, and operate according to operating conditions defined in the system data O after activation. The application functions A, B, and C have the following function (a) as functions necessary for updating system data (hereinafter, referred to as “system data update function”). (A) Read specified system data at startup,
Functions that act accordingly

On the other hand, the system management function D is a function necessary for updating the system data (hereinafter referred to as “system data update management function”).
It has the function of (b). (A) A function to specify system data to be read (by giving information) and to activate each function. (B) A function to replace new / old system data on the hard disk.

(B-2) Program File Updating Operation A method of updating system data defining operating conditions of the application function B while maintaining the service provided by the application function B (without interruption) will be described below. .

(1) This operation is started by an instruction of the system data update management function D2 constituting the system management function D. That is, the current application function B
Data update management function D2
However, it instructs the reading of the system data N different from the current system data and activates the application function B in parallel. Newly activated application function B
Reads the specified system data N by the system data update function B2 at the time of activation, and operates according to the operation conditions.

(2) A newly activated application function B that operates according to the operating conditions of the system data N
Uses the file update function B1 to transfer information necessary for providing a service with the file update function of the existing application function B operating according to the operation condition of the system data O after the activation. Do. Then, a new application function B started later
Is the file update function B when the service can be provided in place of the existing application function B.
1 notifies the system management function D, which is the activation source, of the completion of service start preparation.

(3) When the system management function D receives a service start preparation completion notification from the application function B according to the operating condition of the newly activated system data N,
While instructing the application function B to stop the service through the file update management function D1, it instructs the newly started application function B to start providing the service. Thereafter, a new application function B having a function obtained by updating the existing application function B provides a service.

Until the file update management function D1 checks whether the new application function B can provide the service without any problem (during the monitoring time), the old application function B is checked. B continues to exist on the computer system α even after the service provision is stopped.

(4) Eventually, when the file update management function D1 of the system management function D confirms that the new application function B operating according to the operating conditions of the system data N provides a service without any problem, The operating application function B is terminated according to the system data O which is the function. Thereafter, the system data O stored in a storage device such as a hard disk is replaced with new system data N by the system data update management function D2.

(5) If an abnormality is found in the newly activated application function B during the monitoring time of (3), the provision of the service by the application function B operating according to the system data N is stopped. Is instructed by the file update management function D1, and an instruction to start providing a service based on the application function B operating according to the system data O before switching is issued.
Thereafter, the provision of the service based on the application function B, which is the old function, is continued again.

(B-3) Effects of the Second Embodiment As described above, the application function constituting the computer system α is provided with the file update function and the system data update function, and the system management function is described above. The following effects can be realized by mounting the file update management function and the system data update management function.

First, system data can be updated without interrupting service provision by all application functions that use the system data.

Second, after the application function B operating under the operating condition of the old system data O and the application function B operating under the operating condition of the new system data N are started in parallel, the first embodiment is executed. Since the system data can be updated in the same manner as the application function update described in the embodiment, the service interruption time that may occur when transferring from the old system data to the new system data and when returning from the new system data to the old system data. Can be minimized.

(C) Other Embodiments In the above-described first embodiment, the case where one application function B is updated (changed) to B ′ has been described. The present invention can be applied to the case where the update operation is performed.

In the second embodiment, the case where the system data O for one application function B is updated (changed) to another new system data N has been described. The present invention can be applied to a case where system data of a function is simultaneously updated (changed).

In the first and second embodiments, the case of a general computer system has been described as an example. Private switching equipment, packet switching equipment, frame switching equipment, interconnecting equipment, etc.), traffic and transportation system operation equipment, and financial institution system operation equipment.

[0047]

(A) As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) provision of a service to an application means for providing a service as a part of a computer system in accordance with an instruction from a system management means. (B) a function for executing information transfer between both the current application means and the new application means while both are running, and (c) a service start preparation upon completion of the information transfer. A file update function unit having a service start preparation completion notification function for notifying the system management means of completion; and (d) a function of individually starting or ending the application means; e) While the service of the current application means is being provided, a new application corresponding to the update program file is provided. (F) a function for instructing the activated application means to start or stop providing a service, and (g) a function for confirming the normal operation of the new application means, and for confirming the normal operation of the new application means. By providing a file update management function unit having a function of deleting a program file corresponding to the application means and replacing it with a program file corresponding to the new application means, it is possible to replace the program file for each application, and It is possible to prevent the service from stopping even for application means other than the application means to be performed, and to minimize the service stop time required for switching from the old function to the new function.

(B) As described above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the file update management function unit in the computer system according to the first aspect further includes a service that is provided by the new application means even after the service is started to be provided. The previous application means, which had been providing the service until this time, is kept in a stopped state for a certain period of time, and when the normal operation of the new application means is confirmed within the certain time, the program of the previous application means is terminated. If the normal operation of the new application means is not confirmed within a certain period of time, the provision of the function of restarting the provision of the service by the previous application means in the suspended state and stopping the provision of the service by the new application means will provide a new function. Minimize service downtime required when returning to the old function It can be suppressed to the limit.

(C) According to the third aspect of the invention, as described above, in the computer system according to the first or second aspect, the application means further includes:
(H) Read specified system data at startup,
A system data updating function unit having a function of operating in accordance therewith is further provided.
The system data update management function unit having (i) a function of designating and starting system data to be read by each application means and (j) a function of replacing new system data and old system data on a storage medium. Thereby, when updating the system data, it is possible to effectively prevent the suspension of the service to the application means other than the application means to be updated,
In addition, the service stop time required for switching from the old function to the new function can be minimized.

(D) According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of application means for providing unique services and a system management means for managing the application means are activated. (1) When the update of the program file corresponding to the current application means is instructed, the update program file is supported while the service provision by the current application means is continued. (2) a process of taking over necessary information with the current application unit before the activated new application unit starts providing the service, and (3) A new application means that service can be provided by completion of information transfer A process of notifying the start preparation completion of the service to the system administration unit, (4) after receiving the service start preparation completion notification, the system management unit, to stop providing services due to current application means,
At the same time, after the process of starting the provision of the service by the new application means and (5) after confirming the normal operation of the new application means that has started providing the service, the program file corresponding to the previous application means is deleted from the storage medium and the new application means is deleted. By replacing the program file with a program file corresponding to the application means,
Replacement of program files for each application is enabled, and when updating from the current application to a new application as in the conventional system, it is possible to effectively suspend the service to application means other than the application to be updated It is possible to minimize the service stop time required for switching from the old function to the new function while avoiding the problem.

(E) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as described above, the program file updating method according to the fourth aspect further includes (6) even after the service provision by the new application means is started. (7) If the normal operation of the new application means is confirmed within a certain time period, the program of the previous application means is changed to On the other hand, if the normal operation of the new application means is not confirmed within a certain period of time, the service provided by the previous application means in the stopped state is restarted to stop providing the service by the new application means. , Minimizes service downtime when returning from new features to old features Door can be.

(F) According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the program file updating method according to the fourth or fifth aspect further includes (8) a system for determining operating conditions of the current application means. When the data update is instructed, a process of designating new system data and starting a new application means of the same program while continuing to provide the service by the current application means, and (9) the new application means Before starting the provision of the service, a process to transfer necessary information to and from the current application means, and (10) a new application means that can provide the service by completing the information transfer is system management Processing for notifying the means of completion of preparation for starting the service, and (11) receiving the notification of completion of preparation for starting the service, The management means stops the provision of the service by the current application means, and at the same time, starts the provision of the service by the new application means. (12) After confirming the normal operation of the new application means which has provided the service, the previous application By replacing the system data associated with the means with new system data, while effectively avoiding the suspension of services for application means other than the application means to be updated when updating the system data, The service stop time required for switching from the old function to the new function can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a first example of a computer system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a function update instruction operation by a file update management function.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an information takeover operation by a file update function.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of switching to a new application function by a file update management function.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state after switching to a new application function by the file update management function is completed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of restoring to the old application function by the file update management function.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a computer system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of updating system data by a system data update management function.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B, B ', C: Application function, A1, B
1, B1 ', C1 ... file update function, A2, B2, B
2 ', C2: System data update function, D: System management function, D1: File update management function, D2: System data update management function.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A computer system comprising: one or a plurality of application means for providing a unique service according to a computer program; and a system management means for managing the application means, wherein the application means comprises: A function for starting or stopping the provision of a service in accordance with an instruction from the management means, and (b) a function for executing information transfer between the current application means and the new application means while both are activated in parallel. (C) a file update function unit having a service start preparation completion notifying function of notifying the system management means of completion of service start preparation due to completion of the information transfer, wherein the system management function means comprises: Starting or ending application means individually (E) a function of simultaneously starting a new application means corresponding to the update program file while the service of the current application means is being provided; and (f) starting or stopping the provision of a service to the started application means. And (g) after confirming the normal operation of the new application means, deleting the program file corresponding to the previous application means from the storage medium and replacing it with a program file corresponding to the new application means. A computer system comprising a management function unit. 2. The file update management function unit in the computer system according to claim 1, wherein after the provision of the service by the new application unit is started, the previous application unit that has been providing the service remains stopped. While holding for a certain period of time and terminating the program of the previous application unit when the normal operation of the new application unit is confirmed within the certain period of time,
If the normal operation of the new application means is not confirmed within the predetermined time, the provision of the service by the previous application means in the stopped state is restarted, and the provision of the service by the new application means is stopped. 3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said application means further comprises: (h) a system data update function unit having a function of reading specified system data at startup and operating according to the read. The system management function means includes (i) a function of designating and starting system data to be read by each application means, and (j) a function of replacing old system data with new system data on a storage medium. A computer system further comprising an update management function unit. 4. A method for updating a program file in a state in which one or a plurality of application means each providing a unique service and a system management means for managing the application means are activated. When the update of the program file to be updated is instructed, the process of activating the new application module corresponding to the update program file while maintaining the provision of the service by the current application module; and Before starting the provision, the necessary information is transferred between the current application means and the new application means that the service can be provided by the completion of the above information transfer to the system management means. Ready to start After receiving the notification of the completion of preparation for starting the service, the system management means stops the provision of the service by the current application means, and at the same time, starts the provision of the service by the new application means; After confirming the normal operation of the new application unit that has been provided, deleting the program file corresponding to the previous application unit from the storage medium and replacing the program file with the program file corresponding to the new application unit. File update method. 5. The program file updating method according to claim 4, wherein, even after the provision of the service by the new application means has been started, the previous application means which has been providing the service is kept in a stopped state for a certain period of time. When the normal operation of the new application means is confirmed within the above-mentioned fixed time, the program of the previous application means is terminated, and when the normal operation of the new application means is not confirmed within the above-mentioned fixed time, it is in a stopped state. A program file updating method further comprising a process of restarting service provision by a previous application means and stopping service provision by a new application means. 6. The program file updating method according to claim 4, wherein when an update of the system data that defines the operating conditions of the current application is instructed, the service provision by the current application is continued. A process for specifying a new system data and activating a new application unit composed of the same program, and a process for transferring necessary information with the current application unit before the new application unit starts providing the service. A process in which the new application unit, which has become able to provide the service due to the completion of the transfer of the information, notifies the system management unit of the completion of the preparation for starting the service, and after receiving the notification of the completion of the preparation for starting the service, The system management means is a service provided by the current application means. To stop providing the service and, at the same time, start providing the service by the new application means. After confirming the normal operation of the new application means that has started providing the service, the system data associated with the previous application means is converted to new system data. A program file updating method, further comprising a replacement process.