JP2001297005A - Client-server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a client-server system which eliminates the need to update programs for every client computer by updating the programs on the client sides by program updating on the server side. SOLUTION: A server computer 10 is equipped with a database 13 storing a file 12 of the latest version of the same program with a client computer 20A and the update date of the file and each client computer is equipped with a database 22A storing the update date of the program file and a program automatic updating function 23A which compares the update date of a program file of the client computer with the update date of the program file of the server computer and updates the program file of the client computer when the update date of the program file of the server computer is newer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a client-server system, and more particularly to a client-server system in which a client-side program update can be performed by a server-side program update.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a conventional information processing system comprising a host computer and terminals, a system in which a client server system as shown in FIG. Is now available. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 10 denotes a server computer having a server program 11. 20N are a plurality of client computers connected to the server computer 10 via the network 30, respectively. As shown, one client computer 20A has a client program 21A, and the other client computers have the same configuration.

In a large-scale client-server system,
Each of the terminal client computers 20A, 20B,...
20N respectively perform information processing. In practice, each of the client computers 20A, 20B,..., 20N exchanges information with the server computer 10 and other client computers and performs unified information processing as a whole. In such a client-server system, software common to all client computers is provided in each client computer, and data stored in the server computer is adopted for a file system shared by the software of each client computer. I have.

[0004]

Since the conventional client server system is configured as described above, the common software is installed in each client computer, the common software is updated by version upgrade, or the client computer is updated. When the computer program is changed (including addition or deletion), it is necessary to perform installation work, version upgrade work, or program update work for each client computer. In particular, when updating common software by version upgrade, if only specific client computers are updated, problems may occur due to different versions between client computers, so the common software of all client computers will be updated at the same time. There is a need to. Therefore, when the number of common software to be installed or updated is large, or when the number of client computers is large, there has been a problem that a large amount of time and man-hours are required for the installation or update work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The present invention enables a client-side program update to be performed by a server-side program update, and performs a program update operation for each client computer. An object is to provide a client-server system that does not need to be performed.

[0006]

A client-server system according to the present invention is a client-server system in which a server computer and a plurality of client computers are connected via a network. A database that stores the latest version of the file and the date the file was updated,
Each client computer compares the update date of the program file of the server computer with the database storing the update date of the program file and the update date of the program file of the server computer. An automatic program updating function for transferring a program file of a server computer to a client computer and updating the program file of the client computer is provided.

In the client-server system according to the present invention, the automatic program update function is started first when the system of the client computer is started, and the program files in the update date databases of the server computer and the client computer are compared. It was done.

In the client-server system according to the present invention, when the program automatic update function confirms a program file that exists in the update date database of the server computer and does not exist in the update date database of the client computer, the program automatically updates the server computer. The program file and the update date are added to a client computer.

In the client-server system according to the present invention, when the program automatic update function does not exist in the update date database of the server computer but checks a program file present in the update date database of the client computer, The above-mentioned program file and update date are deleted.

In the client-server system according to the present invention, when the automatic program update function confirms that the same program file exists in the update date database of each of the server computer and the client computer, the program is updated for each program. Dates are compared.

[0011] In the client-server system according to the present invention, after the program automatic update function updates the program file of the update date database of the client computer, the update date of the program file is made the same as the update date of the server computer. Things.

[0012] In the client-server system according to the present invention, the program automatic updating function updates the program file after setting the update date of the program file of the client computer to be the same as the update date of the server computer.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program update date database (DB) in a server computer according to the first embodiment. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example before and after an update of a program update date DB in a client computer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a server computer, 11 denotes a server program provided in the server computer, 12 denotes a latest version of a client computer program provided in the server computer, and 13 denotes a client computer program file. A program update date DB 30 for storing the latest update date of the server, a network connecting the server computer 10 and a plurality of client computers described later, 20A, 20B,
.., 20N are a plurality of client computers connected to the server computer via the network 30, and the figure shows main components of one of them 20A. Other client computers have the same components. That is, 21A is a client program that operates on the client computer, 22A is a program update date DB that stores the last update date of each client program, and 23A is a program update date DB that stores the server computer and the client computer. If the server-side program has a newer update date than the client-side program, the automatic program update function copies the latest client program file from the server computer to the client.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
2 and the example of the contents of the program update date DBs of the server computer and the client computer shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG.
This shows an example of the contents of a program update date DB 13 that stores the latest update date of each client program stored in the server computer. Here, the client program is PRG01.
Five programs are registered, including PRG0100, PRG0200, and PRG0500.
On September 15, 1999, and PRG0150, P
RG0300 has been updated on January 15, 2000, respectively. The file of each program corresponding to this update date is the client program 1
2 are stored.

FIG. 3 shows the program update date DB 22 of the client computer 20A among the program update date DBs storing when the client-side program is updated for each client computer.
3 shows an example of the content of A. Here, PRG0100, PRG02 are used as client programs.
00, PRG0300, PRG0400, PRG050
There are five of 0, indicating that they were all updated on September 15, 1999. These programs are stored in the client program 21A.

Next, the operation of the automatic program update function 23A will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic program update function 23A is activated first when the system on the client side is activated. First, at step 40, the program names of the program update date DBs 13 and 22A of the server computer and the client computer are compared. According to the result, the following three patterns of processing are executed.

1. When the same program name exists in both the program update date DBs 13 and 22A of the server computer and the client computer, that is, when both program names match, processing is performed as a program update. In this case, in step 41, PRG0100, PRG0200, PRG03 existing on both sides
The update dates of the programs 00 and PRG0500 are compared. As a result of the comparison, regarding the PRG0300, the update date on the server side is newer than the update date on the client side.
The update date of 2A is changed to January 15, 2000, which is the update date on the server side. Finally, at step 43, the PR of the client program 12 of the server computer is
The file of G0300 is copied to the client program 21A of the client computer, and the program is updated.

2. Server side program update date DB1
In the case where the program name exists in No. 3 but does not exist in the program update date DB 22A on the client side, processing is performed as addition of a program. In this case, PRG0
150 corresponds to it. In step 44, a new row of PRG0150 is added to the update date DB 22A on the client side, and the update date is set to the program update date D on the server side.
The date is changed to January 15, 2000, which is the update date of B13. Finally, in step 43, the PRG0150 file of the client program 12 of the server computer is copied to the client program 21A of the client computer, and the program is updated.

3. If the program name exists in the client-side program update date DB 22A but does not exist in the server-side program update date DB 13, processing is performed as a program deletion. In this case, PRG0
400 corresponds to it. In step 45, the corresponding program in the program update date DB 22A on the client side is deleted. Finally, in step 46, PRG0 of the client program 21A of the client computer is deleted.
Update the program by deleting the 400 files. After performing the above functions, in step 47, a normal client computer program is executed. The contents of the client-side program update date DB 22A after the completion of the program update process are as shown in FIG.

[0020]

The client-server system according to the present invention comprises a server computer provided with a database storing the latest version of the same program as the client computer program and the update date of the file. The database storing the update date of the program file and the update date of the program file of the client computer are compared with the update date of the program file of the server computer. If the update date of the program file of the server computer is newer, the program file of the server computer is updated. With an automatic program update function that transfers program files to the client computer and updates the program files on the client computer. Update work of each door computer is not required.

In the client-server system according to the present invention, the automatic program update function is started first when the system of the client computer is started, and the program files in the update date databases of the server computer and the client computer are compared. This ensures that the client-side program files are always up to date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client server system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program update date DB of a server computer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example before a program update date DB of a client computer is updated according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a program update date DB of a client computer after an update according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional client server system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 server computer, 11 server program, 12, 21A client program, 13, 22A program update date DB, 20A, 20B,... 20N client computer, 23A program automatic update function.

Claims (7)

[Claims] In a client-server system in which a server computer and a plurality of client computers are connected via a network, a file of the latest version of the same program as that of the client computer and an update date of the file are stored in the server computer. Each client computer has a database storing the update date of the program file, compares the update date of the program file of the client computer with the update date of the program file of the server computer, and updates the program file of the server computer. If the date is newer, transfer the server computer program file to the client computer program file. A client-server system having an automatic program update function for updating a file. 2. The program automatic updating function is started first when the system of the client computer is started, and compares the program files of the update date databases of the server computer and the client computer. 2. The client server system according to 1. 3. The automatic program update function, when a program file that exists in the update date database of the server computer but does not exist in the update date database of the client computer is checked, the program file and the update date of the server computer are updated on the client computer. 3. The client server system according to claim 1, wherein the client server system is added to a computer. 4. The program automatic updating function, when a program file existing in the update date database of the client computer but not in the update date database of the server computer is confirmed, the program file and the update date of the client computer are updated. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is deleted.
Client-server system as described. 5. The automatic program update function is configured to compare update dates for each program when it is confirmed that the same program file exists in each update date database of the server computer and the client computer. The client server system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 6. The program automatic updating function, after updating a program file of a client computer,
The update date of the program file is made the same as the update date of the server computer.
The client server system according to claim 4. 7. The automatic program update function according to claim 1, wherein the program file is updated after the update date of the program file of the client computer is made equal to the update date of the server computer. 2. The client server system according to claim 1.