JP2001312487A - Monitoring method for application program and method for providing application service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring method for an application program which can accurately decentralize the load on the application program and perform switching to a standby application program and a method and a system for providing application service. SOLUTION: This method includes a step where response time data are generated by the application program (310) according to process start time and process end time, a step where the response time data are inputted from the application program (310) to a monitor API (305), a step where monitor request data are inputted from a monitor system (agent) (306) to the monitor API (305), and a step where the response time data are outputted from the monitor API (305) to the monitor system (agent) (306).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring an application program and a method and system for providing an application service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet, the number of opportunities for users to use application programs via the Internet for a fee is increasing.

[0003] Therefore, for example, a plurality of users may naturally use the same application program at the same time. In this case, since the application program needs to transmit data such as an HTML document to each of the plurality of users, the processing speed of the application program decreases. Here, if the user feels dissatisfied with this reduction in processing speed, some users may terminate the application program being used. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute the load of the application program so that the user can easily use the application program via the Internet for a fee.

[0004] For example, some trouble may occur in an application program. In this case, the user cannot use the failed application program. Therefore, it is necessary to switch to a standby application program so that the user can continue to use the application program via the Internet for a fee. The failed application program and the standby application program are:
The exact same application program.

[Application program load balancing]
The load balancer (600) shown in FIG.
By redirecting the connection request from the server A (701) to any one of the server A (701), the server A mirror 1 (702), and the server A mirror 2 (703), the load of the application program can be distributed. it can. Specifically, first,
The user terminal (100) requests connection of the application program to the load balancer (600). In contrast,
The load balancer (600) measures the amount of network traffic of each of the server A (701), the server A mirror 1 (702), and the server A mirror 2 (703). Next, the load balancer (600) redirects the connection from the user terminal (100) to the server having the smallest network traffic amount among the measured network traffic amounts. That is, the load of the application program is distributed by the load balancer (600). Server A mirror 1 (70
2) and the server A mirror 2 (703) are servers storing the same application program as the original server A (701), and are mirror servers of the original server A (701).

[Switching to Standby Application Program] The load balancer (600) communicates with the server A (70) at regular intervals to confirm normal operation.
1), Server A mirror 1 (702) and Server A mirror 2 (703)
Running to each of In contrast, server A (70
1), Server A mirror 1 (702) and Server A mirror 2 (703)
Each respond to the communication. Here, for example, the server A (7
If any failure occurs in 01), the failed server A (701) cannot respond to communication from the load balancer (600). Therefore, the load balancer (60
0) excludes the server A (701) that does not respond to the communication for confirming the normal operation, and the remaining server A mirror 1
(702) or server A mirror 2 (703) to user terminal (100)
Redirect connections from. That is, the failure is server A (701)
Occurs, the load balancer (600) switches to an application program that is on standby in the server A mirror 1 (702) or the server A mirror 2 (703).

[0007] By the way, referring to FIG. 7, not only by the load balancer (600) but also by the clustering, the server B storing the application program is used.
When any trouble occurs in the production system (801), the connection from the user terminal (100) can be redirected to the server B standby system (802). Specifically, the server B production system (801) and the server B standby system (802) communicate with each other at a predetermined interval to confirm the normal operation of each other via an OS (Operating System).
tem) level running. Here, for example, if any failure occurs in the server B production system (801) storing the application program, the failed server B production system (801) receives communication from the server B standby system (802). Can't respond. On the other hand, the server B standby system (80
In 2), the connection from the user terminal (100) can be redirected to the server B standby system (802) by taking over the network settings of the server B production system (801). The server B standby system (802) is a server that stores the same application program as the server B production system (801).

[0008]

The system for monitoring the operation of a server storing an application program by the above load balancer or clustering has the following problems.

[Load distribution of application program]
When connection requests from a plurality of users concentrate on a certain application program A at the same time, the load on the server A storing the application program A increases. In this case, the application program A
, The response time of the application program A to a plurality of users becomes slow, and the amount of network traffic of the server A decreases. At this time, if the load balancer measures the amount of network traffic of a plurality of servers, and the least amount of network traffic is server A,
The load balancer diverts the connection of a certain user to the application program A of the server A. That is, even if the load of the application program is high, the user may connect to the application program, so that the load of the application program cannot always be accurately distributed.

[Switching to a Standby Application Program] Also, communication for confirming normal operation is performed in units of servers even by a load balancer and clustering, so switching to a standby system in the event of a failure is performed in units of servers. You are doing it. Therefore, for example, if a failure occurs in the application program A of a certain server A and the application program B of the server A is operating normally, it means that the failure has occurred in the server A, and the server is switched to the standby server B. Will be.
At this time, the user using the application program B operating normally on the server A can forcibly terminate the application program B on the server A, or switch the application program B while switching from the server A to the standby server B. Not available. In other words, even if the application program of the server to be connected is operating normally, the application program may be switched to the application program of the standby server.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and has a method of distributing a load of an application program and a method of monitoring an application program capable of accurately switching to a standby application program. It is an object to provide a method and a system for providing an application service.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first step in which conversation request data for an application program is input to an application program, and a processing start time after the first step, A second step created by the application program, a third step in which conversation response data to the conversation request data is output from the application program, and a processing end time after the third step, A fourth step, wherein the response time data of the application program is created by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time; and the response time data, Previous The sixth step is input from the application program to the monitoring API (Application Program Interface), the monitoring request data is input from the monitoring system (agent) to the monitoring API 7
And the response time data is the monitoring API
And an eighth step of outputting from the monitoring function program to the monitoring system (agent).

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the response time of the application program can be monitored. Therefore, when the load such as a request for connection to the application program is concentrated on one application program, a plurality of application programs can be monitored. The load can be processed by another application program having a short response time. That is, a reduction in the processing speed of one application program can be prevented. In other words, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed.

[0014] Preferably, the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, and the fifth step are performed before the eighth step.
And a ninth step in which a series of steps of the sixth step and the seventh step is repeatedly performed N times (N is 1 or more) times or more, and the eighth step includes the ninth step As a result of executing the step, average response time data based on the N response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. A monitoring method of an application program by the monitoring function program according to item 1.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accurately monitor the response time of the application program while having the advantages of the first aspect of the present invention. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be performed more accurately.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a monitoring function program for executing all the steps described in the first or second aspect.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the invention, the response time of the application program can be monitored only by incorporating the monitoring API into the application program. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be performed more accurately.

A first step is that the conversation request data for the application program is received from the user terminal to the application program,
A second step in which the processing start time is created by the application program after the first step, and a third step in which conversation response data to the conversation request data is transmitted from the application program to the user terminal. A fourth step in which the processing end time is created by the application program after the third step; and a response time data of the application program, wherein the response time data of the application program is determined by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time. A fifth step in which the response time data is created, a sixth step in which the response time data is input to the monitoring API from the application program, and a monitoring request data in which the monitoring request data is transmitted from the monitoring system (agent) to the monitoring AP.
I, and an eighth step in which the response time data is output from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent). It is a monitoring method.

[0019] Further, it is preferable that, before the eighth step, the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step,
And a ninth step in which a series of steps of the sixth step and the seventh step is repeatedly performed N times (N is 1 or more) times or more, and the eighth step includes the ninth step As a result of executing the step, average response time data based on the N response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. A method for monitoring an application program by the application program according to item 4.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which an application program for executing all the steps of the fourth or fifth aspect is recorded.

Therefore, according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, the response time of the application program can be monitored, so that the load such as a connection request for the application program is concentrated on one application program. In this case, the load can be processed by another application program having a short response time among the plurality of application programs. That is, a reduction in the processing speed of one application program can be prevented. In other words, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the first step in which the conversation request data for the application program stored in the application server is received from the user terminal to the application program, and the processing start time after the first step, A second step created by an application program, a third step in which conversation response data to the conversation request data is transmitted from the application program to the user terminal, and a processing end time after the third step, A fourth created by the application program
And the fifth step in which the response time data of the application program is created by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time. A sixth step input to a monitoring API incorporated in a program, and a monitoring system (agent) in which monitoring request data is stored in the application server
A seventh step of inputting the response time data from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent), and an eighth step of outputting the response time data from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent).
A method of monitoring an application program by an application server.

[0023] In addition, the eighth step may be arranged such that the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, and the fifth step are performed before the eighth step.
And a ninth step in which a series of steps of the sixth step and the seventh step are repeatedly executed N times (N is 1 or more) times or more, and the eighth step is the ninth step. As a result of executing the step, average response time data based on the N response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. Item 7 is a method for monitoring an application program by the application server according to Item 7.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the response time of the application program can be monitored. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed.

In the ninth aspect, the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, the sixth step, and the seventh step A tenth step in which a series of steps of the step, the ninth step, and the eighth step is repeatedly performed M times (M is 1 or more) times or more;
As a result of performing the ninth step, the eighth step
If the average response time data according to the step (b) is not output to the monitoring system (agent) M times, failure occurrence data indicating that a failure has occurred in the application program is created by the monitoring system (agent). 11. The method of monitoring an application program by an application server according to claim 8, comprising:

Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the advantages of the seventh or eighth aspect can be obtained, and the occurrence of a failure can be monitored for each application program. As a result, when the failed application program and other normally operating applications are stored in the application server, it is possible to switch to the application program that only waits for the user who uses the failed application program. it can. On the other hand, a user who uses another normally operating application can continue to use the other application. This allows
There is an advantage that the switching to the standby application program can be accurately performed.

According to a tenth aspect, an application program and a monitoring system (agent) program stored in an application server for executing all the steps according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects are recorded. It is a computer-readable recording medium.

Therefore, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the response time of the application program can be monitored by storing the application program and the monitoring system (agent) in the application server. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed. Further, the occurrence of a failure can be monitored for each application program. Thus, there is an advantage that the switching to the standby application program can be accurately performed.

[0029] In the first aspect, conversation request data for each of the application programs stored in the plurality of application servers is transmitted and received from the user terminal to each of the application programs.
And the processing start time after the first step,
After the second step created by each of the application programs and the conversation response data for each of the conversation request data are transmitted and received from each of the application programs to the user terminal, after the third step and the third step A fourth step in which a processing end time is created by each of the application programs and a response time data of each of the application programs are created by each of the application programs based on the processing start time and the processing end time. A fifth step in which the response time data is input from the application program to each of the monitoring APIs incorporated in the application program; A seventh step in which data is input to the monitoring API from each of the monitoring systems (agents) stored in the application server; and the response time data is input from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent) in each of the monitoring APIs. A monitoring step comprising: an eighth step respectively output; and a ninth step in which the response time data is stored in a server list stored in a data server from each of the monitoring systems (agents). In a dynamic menu generation system in which connection request data for any one of the application programs is stored from a certain user terminal to any one of the application servers where the one of the application programs is stored. Receiving, response time data stored in each of the server lists is input from the data server to the dynamic menu generation system, and the application program having the shortest response time among the response time data is A dynamic menu step in which menu data capable of specifying the fastest application server to be stored is created by the dynamic menu generation system, and the menu data is transmitted and received from the dynamic menu generation system to the certain user terminal; And a method for providing an application service.

Therefore, according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the response time data of the application program is monitored, a certain user can be directed to the fastest application server. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the monitoring step comprises:
Before the eighth step, the first step, the second step
, The third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, the sixth step, and the seventh step are N (where N is 1).
The tenth step is executed repeatedly at least) times, and the eighth step is the N response times inputted to each of the monitoring APIs as a result of the execution of the tenth step. Average response time data based on the data is output as each of the response time data according to the eighth step, and the server list according to the ninth step is such that each of the average response time data is set as each of the response time data. The dynamic menu step, wherein each of the average response time data is output from the data server as each of the response time data relating to the dynamic menu step, and wherein the menu data is the average response time data Each as the response time data relating to the dynamic menu step Claim 1, characterized in that it is made
A method for providing the application service described in 1.

Therefore, according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the advantages of the eleventh aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and the response time data of the application program can be accurately monitored. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be performed more accurately.

Further, the monitoring step may be such that the monitoring step includes the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, and the sixth step. An eleventh step in which a series of steps of the step, the seventh step, the tenth step, and the eighth step is repeatedly performed M (M is 1 or more) times or more, and the tenth step Is executed, when the average response time data according to the eighth step is not output from the monitoring API among the monitoring APIs to the monitoring system (agent) M times, the certain monitoring API is incorporated. An application in which failure data indicating that a failure has occurred in an application program is stored in the application program in which the application program is stored. There monitoring system stored in Activation server first created by the (agent)
And a thirteenth step in which the fault occurrence data is stored in a certain server list in the server list from the certain monitoring system (agent). When the fault occurrence data stored in the list is input from the data server to the dynamic menu generation system, the menu data specifies the fastest application server excluding an application server that created the fault occurrence data. 13. A method for providing an application service according to claim 12, wherein the application service is obtained.

Therefore, according to the thirteenth aspect, the advantages of the eleventh or twelfth aspect are obtained,
The occurrence of a failure can be monitored for each application program. As a result, when the failed application program and other normally operating applications are stored in the application server, it is possible to switch to the application program that only waits for the user who uses the failed application program. it can. On the other hand, a user who uses another normally operating application can continue to use the other application. Thus, there is an advantage that the switching to the standby application program can be accurately performed.

In another preferred construction, the response time data of the application program is periodically transmitted and received from each of the plurality of application servers to the data server, and one of the application programs is provided. A step of transmitting and receiving connection request data for an application program from a certain user terminal to any one of the application servers storing the one of the application programs; and The menu data transmitted / received to / from the one application server and capable of specifying the fastest application server in which the application program having the shortest response time among the response time data is stored, A step that is transmitted and received to the user terminal with the one from a application server, a monitoring method of an application program including a.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, since the response time data of the application program is monitored, a certain user can be directed to the fastest application server. Thereby, there is an advantage that the load distribution of the application program can be accurately performed.

The current method and system for providing application services have the following problems.

For example, a plurality of users may use the same application program at the same time. In this case, since the application program needs to generate data such as an HTML document for each of a plurality of users, the processing speed of the application program decreases.

Here, in order to prevent the processing speed of the application program from decreasing, the problem can be solved by increasing the processing capability of a server (hereinafter, also referred to as "application server") in which the application program is stored.
However, at present, the cost of the application server dramatically increases as the processing capacity increases.
Specifically, the cost of the application server is
CPU (Central Processing Unit) depending on calculation speed
Needless to say, if the communication speed of the router, which depends on the clock frequency and the data transmission speed of the router, doubles, the communication speed doubles. Further, at present, there is an upper limit in the clock frequency and the like of the CPU in the current technology. Therefore, there is a limit to increasing the processing capacity of the application server. Therefore, when a certain number of users use the same application program at the same time, it is possible to prevent the processing speed of the application program from decreasing. If a very large number of users simultaneously use the same application program, the processing speed of the application program will be reduced.

In order to prevent the processing speed of the application program from decreasing, the problem can be solved by installing a plurality of application servers. That is, the application programs are distributed to a plurality of application servers, and the number of users who use the application programs stored in one application server is distributed. As a result, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the processing speed of the application program. As a result, for example, the same user may naturally use the same application program on a plurality of application servers. That is, the same user starts using the same application program on a certain application server, and temporarily stops using (temporary evacuation). Thereafter, the same user may resume using the same application program on another application server. In this case, since each of the business process programs is incorporated in an application program (user authentication program, billing processing program, etc.), the same user is authenticated for each application server and the same user is billed. Will be.

Therefore, when the application service provider (ASP) requests the same user to pay the usage fee, the business operator of the application service provider sends the result of the charging process for the same user to the application server. Each of them is collected and the amount of the usage fee is calculated. The amount of the usage fee as a result of the billing process is calculated based on the actual data (the usage time, the number of times of use, etc.) of the application programs used by the user in the contract between the user and the provider of the application service provider. Have been.

Here, in the contract between the application service provider (ASP) and the user, when the amount of the usage fee is linear to the usage time (actual data) of the user, the result of the charging process in units of application servers It is sufficient to simply add the amount of the use price that is. As an example, it is assumed that the amount of the usage fee in the contract is 1000 yen / per hour (user's usage time). Suppose that A (user) uses A (application program) for 1 hour on the A server (application server), and then A uses the A for 2 hours on the B server. The server A calculates that the amount of the usage fee is 1000 yen as a result of the charging process, and the B server calculates that the amount of the usage fee is 2000 yen as a result of the charging process. On the other hand, it is only necessary to simply add each of the amounts of the usage fee as a result of the charging process (1000 yen + 2000 yen).

However, if the amount of the usage fee in the contract between the application service provider (ASP) and the user is not linear with respect to the usage time (actual data) of the user, this is the result of the charging process for each application server. It is not possible to simply add the amount of the usage fee. As an example, the amount of the usage fee in the contract, the total usage time is 1
It is assumed that the time is up to 1000 yen / hour until the time, and the total usage time is 2,000 yen / hour until 1 hour to 2 hours. As before, A uses A for 1 hour on A server, and then A uses A for 2 hours on B server.
Suppose you use the time. The server A calculates that the usage fee is 1000 yen as a result of the charging process, and the server B calculates the usage fee amount to 3000 yen (10
00 yen + 2000 yen). In contrast,
Simply adding each of the usage fee amounts resulting from the charging process results in 4000 yen (1000 yen + 3000 yen). On the other hand, if Mr. A uses A for three hours in the contract, the amount of the contract usage fee is 5,000 yen (1000 × 1 + 2000 × 2).

That is, when the amount of the usage fee of the contract is not linear with the usage time (actual data) of the user, the amount of the usage fee, which is the result of the billing process for each application server, cannot be simply added. Therefore, Mr. A must use A on the A server for 1 hour, and then Mr. A must use A again on the A server for 2 hours. That is, the same user must use the same application program on the same application server. As a result, even if the application programs are distributed to a plurality of application servers, the number of users who use the application programs stored in one application server may not be distributed. This allows
The processing speed of the application program will be reduced.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the conversation request data for one application program among the application programs stored in the plurality of application servers and the authentication certificate data previously authenticated are transmitted from the user terminal to the one terminal. The first step of transmitting and receiving to and from the one application server storing the application program of the above, and the authentication certificate data pre-authenticated and the authentication certificate data previously stored in the data server are transmitted by the one application server. If the two match, the conversation reply data and the usage result data for the conversation request data are created by the one application server, and the conversation reply data and the authentication certificate re-authenticated by the one application server are re-authenticated. A second step in which the certificate data is transmitted and received from the one application server to the user terminal; and a third step in which the usage record data is transmitted and received from the one application server to the data server. A method for providing an application service characterized by including:

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 15, each of the plurality of application servers compares the received authentication certificate data with the authentication certificate data stored in advance in the data server, and The validity of the data can be confirmed. That is, each of the plurality of application servers can identify the same user. In other words, uniformity of user management can be realized among a plurality of application servers. As a result, there is an advantage that the application program can be distributed to a plurality of application servers and a reduction in the processing speed of the application program can be prevented.

Further, in the invention according to claim 16, conversation request data for another application program among the application programs stored in the plurality of application servers after the third step and the authentication certificate re-authenticated. A fourth step in which data is transmitted and received from the user terminal to another application server in which the other application program is stored; the re-authenticated authentication certificate data and the pre-stored authentication certificate data Are compared and matched by the other application server,
Conversation reply data and usage result data for the conversation request data are created by the other application server, and the conversation reply data and the authentication certificate data re-authenticated by the other application server are the other A fifth step, comprising: a fifth step of transmitting and receiving from the application server to the user terminal; and a sixth step of transmitting and receiving the usage record data from the another application server to the data server. A method for providing the application service according to item 1.

Therefore, according to the sixteenth aspect, there is the advantage of the first aspect, and the user transmits the authentication certificate data again authenticated by one application program to another application program. Other application programs can be used. As a result, the user can use the same application program on another application server, and can freely use different application programs within the contract.
As described above, since the users are not limited to only the same application server, the users are distributed to a plurality of application servers. This allows
There is an advantage that a reduction in the processing speed of the application program can be prevented.

Further, in the invention according to claim 17, the conversation request data for the one application program and the re-authenticated authentication certificate data are transmitted from the user terminal after the third step or the sixth step. A seventh step transmitted and received by one application server; and an eighth step in which the second step and the third step are repeatedly performed one or more times after the seventh step. A method for providing an application service according to claim 1 or claim 16.

Therefore, according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the advantages of the first aspect or the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the user connects to another application server after connecting from one application server to another application server. The same application program stored can be used. For example, even if the user switches the connection to another application server, the processing speed of another application program stored in another application server is not always fast. Therefore, when the processing speed of another application program is slow, the user resumes use of one application program, thereby preventing a further reduction in the processing speed of another application program.

Further, the invention according to claim 18 includes a step in which amount data of a usage fee based on usage history data received from the one application server and / or the other application server is created by the data server. A method for providing an application service according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that:

Therefore, according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is the advantage of any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, and since the use result data is transmitted from each of the application servers to the data server, the contract Even if the amount of the usage fee is not linear with the usage time (result data) of the user, the usage result data can be collected by the data server, and the amount of the usage fee can be calculated by performing the charging process. That is, there is an advantage that uniformity of accounting management can be realized among a plurality of application servers.

Further, the invention according to claim 19 is a monitoring step in which the response time data of the application program is periodically transmitted and received from each of the plurality of application servers to the data server, and the application step is executed before the first step. A login step in which connection request data and user identification data for a program are transmitted and received from the user terminal to any one of the plurality of application servers,
When the user identification data and the user identification data stored in advance in the data server are compared and matched by any one of the application servers, the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data according to the first step is , Stored in the data server, each of the response time data is transmitted and received from the data server to any one of the application servers, the fastest storing the application program with the shortest response time among the response time data An authentication step in which menu data capable of specifying an application server is created, and the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data and the menu data are transmitted and received from the one of the application servers to the user terminal; And based on the menu data Wherein the fastest application server is connected from the user terminal and the first step is executed as one of the application servers according to the first step as the fastest application server. A method for providing an application service according to claim 18.

Therefore, according to the nineteenth aspect, the advantage of any one of the first to eighteenth aspects is obtained, and the processing speed of the application program is monitored because the response time data of the application program is monitored. There is an advantage that the decrease in the temperature can be reliably prevented.

In the twentieth aspect, the second step and / or the fifth step may include the step of comparing the authentication certificate data with the pre-stored authentication certificate data to find a match. The authentication certificate data stored in advance is changed to new authentication certificate data by the one application server and / or the other application server, and the new authentication certificate data is changed to the data server. The application according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the authentication certificate data re-authenticated is transmitted and received as the new authentication certificate data.・ It is a method of providing services.

Further, in the invention according to claim 21, the authentication certificate data according to the first step is encrypted authentication certificate data encrypted in advance, and the second step and / or the The step of 5 is that if the authentication certificate data and the pre-stored authentication certificate data match and match, the pre-stored authentication certificate data is replaced with new encrypted authentication certificate data. Storing said new encrypted authentication certificate data in said data server encrypted by said one application server and / or said another application server, wherein said re-authenticated authentication certificate The document data is
The method for providing an application service according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the application service is transmitted and received as the new encrypted authentication certificate data.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 19 or claim 20, there is an advantage that forgery of the authentication certificate data can be prevented.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, one of the application programs stored in the plurality of application servers is selected from one of the application programs storing the one application program, and a conversation request to the one application program is selected. Data and authentication certificate data that has been previously authenticated are transmitted to the one application server, and conversation response data for the conversation request data and authentication certificate data re-authenticated by the one application server are transmitted to the one application server. A user terminal comprising means for receiving from the application server, receiving the conversation request data and the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data from the user terminal,
If the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data and the authentication certificate data stored in advance in the data server match and match, create the conversation reply data and the usage result data for the conversation request data, A plurality of application servers each including means for transmitting conversation response data and re-authenticated authentication certificate data to the user terminal, and transmitting usage data to the data server; and the authenticated authentication certificate data. Is stored in advance,
And a data server including means for receiving the usage record data from the one application server.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 22, each of the plurality of application servers compares the received authentication certificate data with the authentication certificate data stored in the data server in advance, and receives the received authentication certificate data. The validity of the data can be confirmed. That is, each of the plurality of application servers can identify the same user. In other words, uniformity of user management can be realized among a plurality of application servers. As a result, there is an advantage that the application program can be distributed to a plurality of application servers and a reduction in the processing speed of the application program can be prevented.

Further, the invention of claim 23 is characterized in that the data server is provided with means for creating amount data of a usage fee based on the usage result data.
Is a system that provides the application service described in (1).

Therefore, according to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is the advantage of the twenty-second aspect, and since the use result data is transmitted from each of the application servers to the data server, the amount of the contract usage fee is reduced by the user. Even if the usage time (actual data) is not linear, the data server can collect the usage data and perform a charging process to calculate the amount of the usage fee. That is, there is an advantage that uniformity of accounting management can be realized among a plurality of application servers.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the user terminal transmits the connection request data for the application program and the user identification data to any one of the plurality of application servers, and the pre-authentication is performed. Receiving the authentication certificate data and the menu data that can specify the fastest application server in which the application program with the shortest response time among the response time data is stored from any one of the application servers; Means for selecting one of the application servers as the fastest application server, each of the plurality of application servers periodically transmitting response time data of an application program to the data server, and And the user identification data are received from the user terminal, and the user identification data is compared with the user identification data stored in the data server in advance, and if they match, the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data is Storing in the data server, receiving each of the response time data from the data server, creating the menu data, and transmitting the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data and the menu data to the user terminal The data server periodically receives the response time data from each of the plurality of application servers, stores the user identification data in advance, and stores each of the response time data in the application server. 24. The communication device according to claim 22, further comprising a transmission unit. A system for providing application services as claimed.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 24, the advantages of the invention of claim 22 or claim 23 are obtained,
Since the response time data of the application program is monitored, there is an advantage that a reduction in the processing speed of the application program can be reliably prevented.

Further, the invention of claim 25 is characterized in that, when each of the plurality of application servers compares and matches the authentication certificate data with the pre-stored authentication certificate data, Means for changing the authentication certificate data to new authentication certificate data and storing the new authentication certificate data, and transmitting the re-authenticated authentication certificate data as the new authentication certificate data. 22. The method according to claim 22, wherein
4. A system for providing the application service according to any one of 4.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the pre-authenticated authentication certificate data transmitted by the user terminal is:
The encrypted authentication certificate data is encrypted in advance, and when each of the plurality of application servers compares and matches the authentication certificate data with the previously stored authentication certificate data, Means for encrypting the stored authentication certificate data into new encrypted authentication certificate data and storing the new encrypted authentication certificate data, wherein the re-authenticated authentication certificate data is A system for providing an application service according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein the application service is transmitted as new encrypted authentication certificate data.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 25 or claim 26, there is an advantage that forgery of the authentication certificate data can be prevented.

[0067]

(Embodiment 1) Next, a method and system for providing an application service according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system for providing an application service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment
The system that provides the application services of
User terminals that use application programs (10
0), a plurality of application servers (300, 400,...) On which application programs operate, and a data server (500) for storing various data. Here, the user terminal (100) and each of the plurality of application servers (300, 400,...) Are configured to be mutually connectable via the computer network (200). The data server (500) and the one or more application servers (300, 400,...) Are integrated information communication networks (L) mainly used within the same organization.
They are configured to be mutually connectable via an AN (Local Area Network), a public line, or a dedicated line. The user terminal (100) and a plurality of application servers (300, 40
0,...) And the data server (500) may be configured to be mutually connectable via a computer network (200). In addition, the computer network (200) is, for example, the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or the like. Further, the computer network (200), the LAN, etc. are connected to the user terminal (100) and the application server (30
0,400, ...) between the user terminal (100) and the data server (50
0), between the application server (300,400, ...) and the data server (500), and between the user terminal (100) and the application server (300,400, ...) and the data server (500). What is necessary is just to transmit and receive data individually.

The user terminal (100) includes a Web browser (101) for accessing a home page via a computer network (200), a display means (not shown) for displaying a home page, A keyboard (button) for inputting symbols and the like, and input means (not shown) such as a mouse. Here, the user terminal (100)
For example, personal computers (desktop personal computers, notebook personal computers), mobile phones, and the like.

A plurality of application servers (300, 40
0,...) Are storage means for storing resource data (not shown) such as HTML document data, and a dynamic menu generation system for dynamically generating user-specific menus.
(302) and application programs (310, 320 ...) provided for a fee through the computer network (200).
And a monitoring system (agent) (303) that periodically inquires the monitoring API (305) incorporated in each of the application programs (310, 410,...) About the operation status.
And a Web server (390). Also, the Web server (390) is a Web browser (101) of the user terminal (100).
And HTTP communication. That is, the Web server (390)
Each of a dynamic menu generation system (302) and application programs (310, 320,...), A monitoring system (agent) (303), and a Web browser (101);
Relay the communication. Here, the application server (3
..) Are, for example, so-called servers (off-computers with large storage means such as hard disks), personal computers, and the like.

The data server (500) is a menu data holding system (502) for storing a list of available application programs agreed in advance for each user.
And a monitoring system (server) (704) for accumulating operation status data of application programs collected by the monitoring system (agent) (303). here,
The data server (500) is, for example, a so-called server, personal computer, or the like.

First, a method of incorporating the monitoring API (305) into an application program will be described with reference to FIG.
explain. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of incorporating the monitoring API (305) into the application program. A method of incorporating the monitoring API (305) into the application program will be described with reference to this flowchart.

First, a processing flow of a general application program before being incorporated will be described. [Step J1] The application program inputs an event such as data reception from a terminal. [Step J2] The application program goes to Step J4 if the input event is an end event of the application program. [Step J3] The application program executes a business process corresponding to the input event. When finished, wait for the next event input. [Step J4] The application program performs end processing upon input of the end event.

Next, a method of incorporating the monitoring API (305) into an application program will be described. [Step K1] Before step J1, the application program generates an instance of the monitoring API (305) as initial processing. [Step K2] The application program acquires the machine time immediately before step J3 and temporarily saves it as the processing start time. [Step K3] The application program obtains the machine time immediately after step J3, calculates the processing time by subtracting the processing start time in step K2, and passes the processing time to the monitoring API (305) as the response time. If an error has occurred in the business process (step J3), the error code and the error message are passed to the monitoring API (305).

First, the monitoring API (305) holds the passed response time for the specified n times (for example, n = 10: n is a natural number of 1 or more) in the response time data (305-1). That is, the monitoring API (305) stores the last ten response times (see response time data (305-1) in FIG. 5). Monitoring API (305)
Stores the passed response time as the latest response time 1 in the response time data (305-1) every time the response time is passed.
At the same time, the monitoring API (305) sets the response time, which was the response time 1 as the response time 2, to the response time data (305-1).
And the response time of response time 2 was stored as response time 3 in response time data (305-1), and the response time of response time 9 was response time as response time 10 (n). The response time stored in the time data (305-1) and the response time of 10 was discarded from the response time data (305-1). Further, the monitoring API (305) receives the response time 1 and the response time 2 stored in the response time data (305-1) every time the response time is passed.
The average response time of the response time 10 (n) is calculated, and the average response time (current) is stored in the response time data (305-1). Further, each time the monitoring API (305) receives the error code and the error message, the monitoring API (305) displays the response time data (3).
05-1). The monitoring API (305) is the monitoring API
The name of the application program incorporating (305) is stored in the response time data (305-1). In addition, the monitoring API (30
5) The monitoring request data monitoring system (agent)
When input from (305), the average response time (current), error code, and error message stored in the response time data (305-1) are output to the monitoring system (agent) (305).

[Step K4] After the step J4, the application program executes monitoring AP as an end process.
Delete the instance of I (305). Step K1
A program for executing Step K4 is referred to as a monitoring function program.

Next, a method for providing an application service according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

[Step M1] Application Server 1
The monitoring system (agent) (305) of (300) is activated and the application server 1 (30) is transmitted from the menu data holding system (502) of the database server (500).
Read the server list (502-2) (see FIG. 4) for the application performance list (306-1)
(See FIG. 5) as an internal table. That is, the monitoring system (agent) (305) extracts the server list (502-2) using the server terminal identifier of the application server 1 (300) as a key, and extracts the extracted server list (502-).
The average response time of 2) is stored in the average response time (current) of the application performance list (306-1). still,
As shown in FIG. 4, the server list (502-2) includes, for example,
It consists of an application program name, a server terminal identification name, a program name, an error status, and an average response time. As shown in FIG. 5, the application performance list (306-1) includes, for example, an application program name, an error code, an error message, an average response time (current), an average response time (previous), Response time 1 and... Response time n.

Next, the monitoring system (agent) (30)
Step 5) periodically (eg, every 10 seconds) makes an inquiry about the monitoring status to the monitoring API (305) incorporated in each of the application programs stored in the application server 1 (300). That is, the monitoring system (agent) (305) periodically inputs monitoring request data to the monitoring API (305). On the other hand, the monitoring API (305) outputs the average response time (current) of the application program stored in the response time data (305-1) to the monitoring system (agent) (305). On the other hand, the monitoring system (agent) (305) stores the average response time (current) of the application program in the application performance list (306-1). At the same time, the monitoring system (agent) (305) stores the average response time (current) as the average response time (previous), and stores the average response time (previous) as the average response time. Discard.

[Step M2] If an error occurs in the application program, the monitoring API (30
In 5), an error code and an error message are passed from the application program. In this case, the monitoring API
(305) outputs the average response time (current), the error code and the error message to the monitoring system (agent) (305), so that the monitoring system (agent) (305) creates the application performance data (504-1). And stores it in the data server (500) (see FIG. 6). When a serious error occurs in the application program, the application does not operate.
The PI (305) also stops working. Therefore, the monitoring system (agent) (305) monitors the monitoring request data by the monitoring API.
Even if input to (305), the monitoring API (305) cannot output anything. Therefore, the monitoring system (agent)
If the monitoring API does not respond to the monitoring API (305) continuously for a predetermined number of times (for example, four times), the monitoring system (agent) (305) provides a service to the application program of the monitoring API (305) that does not respond. It is determined that a possible failure has occurred. In this case, the monitoring system (agent)
Step (305) updates the time, the error code, and the error message of the application performance data (504-1) stored in the data server. At the same time, the monitoring system (agent) (305) stores the error status of the server list (502-2) of the menu data holding system (502) as service suspension.

[Step M3] When the processing capacity of the application program is reduced or when the processing capacity of the application program is improved, the monitoring API
In (305), a long average response time (current) or a short average response time (current) is passed from the application program. Therefore, in order to reflect the status of the processing capability of the application program, the monitoring system (agent) (305)
When the average response time (current) and the average response time (previous time) of (306-1) are compared each time, and the average response time (current) fluctuates by a predetermined value or more than the average response time (previous time). The monitoring system (agent) (305) stores the average response time of the server list (502-2) of the menu data holding system (502) as the average response time (current).

[Step M4] On the other hand, the connection request data for the application program is stored in the user terminal (100).
Are transmitted to and received from one of the plurality of application servers (300, 400,...) By the user terminal (100).
0) Connect to the Web server (390).

[Step M5] On the other hand, the dynamic menu generation system (302) sets the application server 1 (300).
From the Web server (390). Here, the dynamic menu generation system (302) acquires the server list (502-2) from the menu data holding system (702). next,
The dynamic menu generation system (302) acquires an error status and an average response time from a plurality of server lists.
Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) selects a server list in which the extracted error status is in service and the extracted average response time is the shortest. next,
The dynamic menu generation system (302) acquires a program file name and a server terminal identification name related to the selected server list. Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302)
Is a URI (Universal Resource Identifire) based on the acquired program file name and server terminal identifier.
Dynamically create menu data containing information. here,
An example is menu data as shown in FIG. URI (http: // application server 2 / application A.asp)
Is created based on the program file name (application A.asp) and the server terminal identification name (application server 2).

[Step M6] Dynamic menu generation system
In step (301), a menu screen HTML document file as shown in FIG. 2 is transmitted from the URI list created in step M5 to the user terminal.

[Step M7] The user enters the user terminal (100)
When the user selects the application program A from the menu screen using the Web browser (101), the Web server (390) of the application server 2 (400) indicated by the selected URI
Connect to

[Step M8] On the other hand, the application program A (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) is started from the Web server (390) of the application server 2 (400) according to the URI connected by the user. You. Thereafter, the user terminal (100) talks with the application program A (310) of the application server 2 (400).

[Step M9] If the user selects the application program B from the menu screen in step M7, the user connects to the Web server (390) of the application server 1 (300) indicated by the selected URL.

[Step M10] Instead of step M7,
When step M9 is executed, the application program B (320) on the application server 1 (300)
Is started from the Web server (390) of the application server 1 (300) according to the URI connected by the user. Thereafter, the user terminal (100) will be the application server 1 (300)
With application program B (320).

(Embodiment 2) First, a system for providing an application service according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system for providing an application service according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The system according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 12 includes an authentication system (301) for authenticating a user and an authentication data holding system (50
1) and a billing system (503) are added, and an authentication API is added to each of the application programs (310, ...).
(303) and the charging API (304). The monitoring system (agent (306), server (704)) monitoring AP
Illustration of I (305) is omitted.

A plurality of application servers (300,...)
Each further comprises an authentication system (301) for authenticating the user. Each of the application programs (310,...) Includes an authentication API (303) and a billing API (304). The data server (500) includes an authentication data holding system (501) for storing data (including a user ID, a password, a terminal identifier, and the like) necessary for user authentication, and a usage data for accumulating usage result data for each user and each application program. A billing system (503) for creating a bill.

The application of the second embodiment
Among the components of the system for providing services, an authentication system (301), a dynamic menu generation system (302), an authentication API (303), a billing API (304), and an authentication data holding system (501) , Menu data retention system (502)
And the billing system (503) are called an ASP base system.

Next, a system and a method for preparing for providing an application service which is a premise of the method and a system for providing an application service according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. I will explain. The system method for preparing for providing an application service is a method for preparing an application program (steps A1 to A5).
And a method of registering a user who uses the application program (steps B1 to B5). FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system for preparing for providing an application service. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a method of preparing an application program.

The authentication system (301), the dynamic menu generation system (302), the authentication API (303), and the billing API (304) of the ASP base system are stored in advance in the application server 1 (300). Have been. Also, the remaining authentication data holding system (501) of the ASP base system, the menu data holding system (502), and the billing system (503)
Are stored in the application server 1 (300). The server on which the ASP base system is stored is not limited to the application server 1 (300), but may be any server that can store the ASP base system. In addition, the developed application program is
00).

[Step A1] (Method for Preparing Application Program) The ASP base system (authentication system (301), dynamic menu generation system (30)
2), the authentication API (303) and the billing API (304)) are public lines or leased lines (220) or magneto-optical disks (MO: Magn
eto Opticaldisk), optical disc (CD: Compact Disk, D
Auxiliary storage media such as VD: Digital Versatile Disk) and Floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD: Floppy Disk)
It is provided from the application server 1 (300) to the vendor terminal (700) via (230) and stored.

[Step A2] Since the developed application program is adapted to the ASP base system,
The provided authentication API (303) and charging API (304) are incorporated in an application program developed by the vendor terminal (700).

[Step A3] Application server 2
In (400), the provided authentication system (301) and dynamic menu generation system (302) are provided from the vendor terminal (700) to the application server 2 (400) via the LAN (210) in order to provide the service of the application program. Installed and stored. Here, the authentication system (301) of the ASP base system and the dynamic menu generation system
Needless to say, (302) may be installed in the application server 2 (400) via a public line or the like (220, 230).

[Step A4] Authentication API (303) and billing A
Application program incorporating PI (304)
(310) sends a LAN from the vendor terminal (700) to the application server 1 (300) and the application server 2 (400).
(210, 220, 230) and stored.

[Step A5] Application server 1
(300) and the application information (310) of the application program (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) are stored in the data server (50).
0) is registered and stored.

Note that a plurality of application servers (300, 4
When multiple application programs (310, 320, ...) are stored in each of the application programs (310, 320, ...), the application information for each of the application programs (310, 320, ...) is registered in the data server (500). Is stored.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a method of registering a user who uses an application program.

[Step B1] (Registration Method of User Using Application Program) First, the user terminal (100) connects to the data server (500).

[Step B2] On the other hand, the data server
(500) transmits the application information to the user terminal (100). Note that the data server (500) searches for application information in which the search condition input from the user terminal (100) matches a part of the function outline included in the application information, and outputs the application information that matches the search condition to the user. There is provided means for transmitting to the terminal (100).

[Step B3] The user terminal (100) inputs search conditions, receives application information, and displays it on the display means (not shown) of the user terminal (100). here,
For example, an application information display screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal (100). FIG.
, The displayed application information display screen is a list of application names (for example, Japanese-English translation, encyclopedia) and a functional overview. Here, the user can click each of the “detailed display button”, “demo display button”, and “charge display button” displayed on the display means with a mouse. "Detailed display button"
When is clicked, a detailed function explanation screen (not shown) of the application program is displayed on the display means.
When the “demo display button” is clicked, a demonstration program of the application program of the application program is executed, and an application demonstration screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit. In addition, when the "detailed display button" is clicked, a contract condition screen (not shown) showing contract conditions such as a charge table is displayed on the display means.

[Step B4] After deciding the application program (encyclopedia) to be used, the user selects the “radio button (selection)” of the application program.
Is checked (● in FIG. 11), and the “contract application button” is clicked. Thereafter, a user registration screen (not shown) is displayed on the display means of the user terminal (100), and the user can enter the user information (company name, responsible person name, address,
Enter the telephone number, payment method, terminal identifier, etc.) and send it to the data server (500). Here, the terminal identifier is an IP address (IP address) of the user terminal (100) or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN: Full).
Qualified Domain Name). For example, the IP address is 192.168.01.001, and the FQDN is www.xxx.co.jp.

[Step B5] On the other hand, the data server
(500) receives necessary user information from the user terminal (100) and issues user information (user ID (user identification data), password) necessary for use. Data server (50
0) is user information (user ID, password,
Company name, person in charge, address, telephone number, settlement method, terminal identifier, etc.) are registered and stored.

[Step B6] The data server (500) transmits information (user ID and password) necessary for use to the user terminal (100) to notify it.

Next, a method for providing an application service according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[Step C1: Login Step] The connection request data for the application program is transmitted from the user terminal (100) to the plurality of application servers (300, 40).
0, ...), one of the application servers 1 (30
0). Here, the application server 1
(300) receives the connection request data at the authentication system (301) via the Web server (390). On the other hand, the application server 1 (300) transmits the login screen data from the authentication system (301) to the user terminal (100) via the Web server (390). On the other hand, the user terminal (100)
When the login screen data is received via the web browser (101), the login screen is displayed on the display means of the user terminal (100). Next, the user inputs a login ID (user identification data) and a password and transmits them to the application server 1 (300). On the other hand, the application server 1 (300) inputs the login ID (user identification data) and the password to the authentication system (301) via the Web server (390).

Since packet data of a login ID (user identification data) and a password are transmitted and received from the user terminal (100) to the application server 1 (300) by the IP protocol, the packet data is always transmitted from the source (user). The IP address of the terminal (100)) and the destination (IP protocol of the application server 1 (300)) are stored. Therefore, application server 1 (300)
Receives the login ID (user identification data) and the password, extracts the IP address (terminal identifier) of the user terminal (100) from the packet data, and inputs the extracted IP address to the authentication system (301).

[Step C2: Authentication Step] Next, the approval system (301) sets the input login ID (user identification data) and password, and the authentication data holding system.
The user ID (user identification data) and the password stored in advance in (501) are compared. As a result of this comparison, when the input login ID and password match the previously stored user ID and password, the authentication system (301) authenticates the user of the user terminal (100). At this time, the authentication system (301)
Authentication certificate data including D and the time of authentication is created and stored in the authentication data holding system (501). Here, by including the time at which the authentication certificate data was authenticated, the authentication certificate data can have an expiration date. In addition, since the authentication certificate data includes the time of authentication together with the user ID, unique authentication certificate data that is different every time of approval can be created. Since the authentication certificate data is managed by the expiration date and time or the authentication certificate data is different each time at the time of approval, there is an advantage that forgery of the authentication certificate data can be prevented. in addition,
By creating the encrypted authentication certificate data by the authentication system (301), it is possible to enhance prevention of forgery of the authentication certificate data.

Note that when the IP address (terminal identifier) is input, the authentication system (301)
The address (terminal identifier) can be further compared with a terminal identifier stored in advance. As a result of this comparison, if the entered login ID, password, and terminal identifier completely match the previously stored user ID, password, and terminal identifier, the authentication system
(301) can also authenticate the user of the user terminal (100). Accordingly, the authentication system (301) can correctly authenticate only a legitimate user even if the input login ID and password are forged.

[Step C3] Next, the authentication system (301)
Starts the dynamic menu generation system (302) and inputs the authentication certificate data to the dynamic menu generation system (302).

[Step C4] On the other hand, the dynamic menu generation system (302) uses the user ID of the input authentication certificate data as a key to store the application program list that the user has contracted to use in advance in the menu data holding system. Obtained from (702). Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) uses the application program name of the obtained application program list as a key to store the server list in the menu data holding system (702).
To get from. Here, when there are a plurality of acquired server lists, the dynamic menu generation system (302) acquires the error status and the average response time from the plurality of server lists. Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) selects a server list in which the extracted error status is in service and the extracted average response time is the shortest. Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) acquires the program file name and the server terminal identification name related to the selected server list. Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) uses a URI (Universal Resource Iden) based on the acquired program file name and server terminal identification name.
tifire) Dynamically create menu data including information.
The URI is defined in the technical document rfc2396 published by the IETF (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2396.tx
t). The URI is a URL (Universal ResourceLocato).
Synonymous with r).

[Step C5] Next, the dynamic menu generation system (302) transmits the menu data and the authentication certificate data to the user terminal (100) via the Web server (390). When the authentication certificate data is encrypted, only the encrypted authentication certificate data is stored in the user terminal (1).
00). On the other hand, the user terminal (100) transmits the menu data and the authentication certificate data to the Web browser.
It is received from the Web server (390) via (101). Here, the Web browser (101) temporarily holds the authentication certificate data as a cookie.

[Step C6] The user enters the user terminal (10
When the application program A (310) is selected in (0), the user terminal (10) is selected according to the URI of the menu data.
0) transmits conversation request data (message) for the application program A (310) stored in the application server 1 (300) to the application program A (310) via the Web browser (101). At this time, the user terminal (100) stores the authentication certificate data in a cookie.
(Cookie). On the other hand, the application program A (310) transmits the conversation request data (message).
And the authentication certificate data are received by the application program A (310) via the Web server (390).

[Step C7] The application program A (310) sets the authentication certificate data in the authentication API (303) incorporated in the application program A (310). Here, API (Application Program Interface
ce) means authentication system (301), billing system program
This is a mechanism for using an external program such as (503) from inside the application program A (310). still,
Specifically, an API is defined by a sequence of class names, method names, and arguments. That is, the application program A (310) transmits the authentication certificate data to the authentication API (303).
Is input to the authentication system (301) via the. Here, the authentication API (303) transmits the authentication certificate data to the authentication system (30
Sent to 1) to confirm the validity of the authentication certificate data.

[Step C8: Re-authentication Step] On the other hand, the authentication system (301) compares the authentication certificate data input via the authentication API (303) with the authentication certificate data authenticated in advance. I do. As a result of this comparison, when the input authentication certificate data matches the previously stored authentication certificate data, the authentication system (301) authenticates the user of the user terminal (100) again. At this time, the authentication system (301) creates authentication certificate data including the user ID and the time of re-authentication, and creates an authentication data holding system.
(501). That is, the authentication system (301) updates the authentication time of the authentication certificate and updates the authentication data holding system (5
01). Next, the authentication system (301) outputs the authenticated authentication certificate data to the application program A (310) via the authentication API (303).

[Step C9] Next, the application program A (310) creates conversation reply data (message) for the conversation request data (message). Next, the application program A (310) transmits the created conversation response data (message) and the re-authenticated authentication certificate to the user terminal (100) via the Web server (390). On the other hand, the user terminal (100) receives the created conversation response data (message) and the re-authenticated authentication certificate from the Web server (390) via the Web browser (101). Here, the authentication certificate re-authenticated is W
Cookie from web server (390) to web browser (101)
(Cookie). After this, the user terminal
Each time a message is transmitted / received between (100) and the application A (310), the authentication certificate data is authenticated and updated. Thus, the prevention of forgery of the authentication certificate data can be further enhanced.

[Step C10] When the user ends the use of the application program A (310), the user data is output to the charging system (503) via the charging API (304).

[Step C11] The URI included in the menu data in step C6 is the application program A stored in the application server 1 (300).
(310) could be identified. That is, step C4
Since the average response time of the application program A (310) stored in the application server 1 (300) was the shortest, the URI
(310) could be identified. However, when the average response time of the application program A (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) is the minimum,
The URI related to the menu data created by the dynamic menu generation system (302) is the application server 2 (400).
Can be specified. In this case, the user
When the application program A (310) is selected in (100), the user terminal (10) is selected according to the URI of the menu data.
0) transmits conversation request data (message) for the application program A (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) to the application program A (310) via the web browser (101). At this time, the user terminal (100) stores the authentication certificate data in a cookie.
(Cookie). On the other hand, the application program A (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) transmits the conversation request data (message) and the authentication certificate data to the application program A (310) via the Web server (390). Receive.

[Step C12] The application program A (310) inputs the authentication certificate data to the authentication system (301) via the authentication API (303).

[Step C13] In response, the authentication system (301) compares the authentication certificate data input via the authentication API (303) with the authentication certificate data that has been authenticated in advance. As a result of this comparison, when the input authentication certificate data matches the previously stored authentication certificate data, the authentication system (301) authenticates the user of the user terminal (100) again. At this time, the authentication system (301)
Authentication certificate data including the user ID and the time of re-authentication is created and stored in the authentication data holding system (501). Next, the authentication system (301) outputs the authenticated authentication certificate data to the application program A (310) via the authentication API (303).

As described above, the application server 1 (3
00) and the application server 2 (400) receive the authentication certificate data by a cookie mechanism, and
The validity of the received authentication certificate data can be confirmed by comparing with the authentication certificate data stored in the authentication data holding system (501) via 1). That is, in addition to the application program A (310) stored in the application server 1 (300) to which the user first logs in,
The application program A (310) stored in the application server 2 (400) different from the application server 1 (300) that has logged in first can also identify the same user. In other words, uniformity of user management can be realized among a plurality of application servers.

[Step C14] When the user finishes using the application program A (310), the user's usage data is output to the charging system (503) via the charging API (304). If the application program has its own usage data output function, it is converted into a uniform usage data format and converted to a billing system.
(503) has a function of transmitting by file transfer.

Next, a method for providing an application service according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart when the user uses an application program stored in the application server 1 (300). [Step D1] The user terminal (100) connects to the application server 1 (300). [Step D2] The application server 1 (300) transmits a login screen to the user terminal (100). [Step D3] The user terminal (100) transmits the user ID and the password to the application server 1 (300). [Step D4] The application server 1 (300) transmits the user ID and password and, if necessary, the user terminal (100).
If the terminal identifier is determined to be valid, a list of application programs that the user has subscribed to is transmitted as a menu. [Step D5] Upon selecting an application program, the user terminal (100) connects to the application server 1 (300) according to the URI. [Step D6] The application server 1 (300)
Activate the application program selected according to the RI. [Step D7] The user uses the application program on the user terminal (100) and ends. [Step D8] The user sets up the application server 1 (3
When the application program ends in (00), the usage result data is accumulated.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart when the user uses an application program stored in the application server 2 (400). [Steps E1 to E4] Same as steps D1 to D4. [Step E5] Upon selecting an application program, the user terminal (100) connects to the application server 2 (400) according to the URI. [Step E6] The application server 2 (400)
Activate the application program selected according to the RI. [Step E7] The user uses the application program on the user terminal (100) and ends. [Step E8] The user sets up the application server 2 (4
When the application program ends in (00), the usage result data is accumulated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of charging. [Step F1] The data server (500) totalizes the usage data accumulated periodically for each user application. [Step F2] The data server (500) executes a billing process, issues a bill, and sends the bill to the user by e-mail, mail, or the like. [Step F3] The user sets the usage fee to the data server (50
Pay at 0) by electronic money, credit card, account transfer, etc. [Step F4] The data server (500) totals the application usage fee for each vendor. [Step F5] The data server (500) communicates with the vendor terminal (70
At 0), the application usage fee is paid by electronic money, account transfer, or the like.

[0128]

According to the method and system for providing an application service of the present invention, each of the plurality of application servers compares the received authentication certificate data with the authentication certificate data stored in the data server in advance. Then, the validity of the received authentication certificate data can be confirmed. That is, each of the plurality of application servers can identify the same user. In other words, uniformity of user management can be realized among a plurality of application servers. This has the effect of distributing the application programs to a plurality of application servers and preventing a reduction in the processing speed of the application programs.

[0129] Also, since the usage record data is transmitted from each of the application servers to the data server,
The amount of the contract usage fee is the user's usage time (actual data)
Even if the data is not linear, the data server can collect the usage result data, perform the charging process, and calculate the amount of the usage fee. That is, there is an effect that uniformity of accounting management can be realized among a plurality of application servers. Further, since the response time data of the application program is monitored, there is an effect that the processing speed of the application program can be reliably prevented from lowering.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system that provides an application service according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a source example of a menu screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of incorporating the monitoring API according to the first embodiment into an application program.

FIG. 4 is a data example 2 held by the menu data holding system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an example of data managed by a monitoring API and a monitoring system (agent) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of data managed by the monitoring system (server) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional load distribution and clustering embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system that prepares for providing an application service according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a method of preparing an application program according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for registering a user who uses an application program according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an application information display screen according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system that provides an application service according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an application server 1 according to the second embodiment.
9 is a flowchart when the application program of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an application server 2 according to the second embodiment.
9 is a flowchart when the application program of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of charging according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 User terminal 101 Web browser 200 Computer network 210 LAN 220 Public line or dedicated line 230 Auxiliary storage medium 300, 400 Application server 301 Authentication system 302 Dynamic menu generation system 303 Authentication API 304 Accounting API 305 Monitoring API 305-1 Response time data 306 Monitoring system (agent) 310, 320 Application program 390 Web server 500 Data server 501 Authentication data holding system 501-1 Authentication data 501-2 Authentication certificate data 502 Menu data holding system 503 Billing system 504 Monitoring system (server) 504 1 application performance data 600 load balancer 700 vendor terminal 701 , 702,703,801,802 server

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 15/16 620 G06F 15/16 620W F term (reference) 5B034 BB01 BB17 5B042 GA12 HH20 JJ23 JJ31 KK04 KK09 LA14 5B045 BB11 BB28 BB47 GG02 JJ02 JJ22 JJ26 JJ44 JJ46 5B098 AA09 GA01 GC10 JJ08

Claims (14)

[Claims] A first step in which conversation request data for the application program is input to the application program; a second step in which a processing start time is created by the application program after the first step; A third step in which conversation response data for conversation request data is output from the application program; a fourth step in which a processing end time is created by the application program after the third step; A fifth step in which response time data is created by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time; and wherein the response time data is sent from the application program to a monitoring API (Appli). a sixth step in which monitoring request data is input from the monitoring system (agent) to the monitoring API, and a sixth step in which the response time data is input from the monitoring API to the monitoring API. An eighth step of outputting to the system (agent), the method of monitoring an application program by a monitoring function program. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, and the sixth step are performed before the eighth step. The ninth step in which the series of steps in the seventh step is repeatedly performed N times (N is 1 or more) times includes the ninth step, and the eighth step includes a step in which the ninth step is performed. The monitoring function program according to claim 1, wherein average response time data based on the N pieces of response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. How to monitor application programs. 3. A computer-readable recording medium on which a monitoring function program for executing all the steps according to claim 1 or 2 is recorded. 4. A first step in which conversation request data for the application program is received from the user terminal to the application program, and a second step in which a processing start time is created by the application program after the first step. A third step in which conversation response data to the conversation request data is transmitted from the application program to the user terminal; and a processing end time after the third step,
A fourth step created by the application program, a fifth step created by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time, and a response time of the application program; The data is,
A sixth step of inputting a monitoring API from the application program; a seventh step of inputting monitoring request data from the monitoring system (agent) to the monitoring API;
An eighth step of outputting from the PI to the monitoring system (agent), the method for monitoring an application program by the application program. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, and the sixth step are performed before the eighth step. The ninth step in which the series of steps in the seventh step is repeatedly performed N times (N is 1 or more) times includes the ninth step, and the eighth step includes a step in which the ninth step is performed. The application program according to claim 4, wherein average response time data based on the N pieces of response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. How to monitor application programs. 6. A computer-readable recording medium on which an application program for executing all steps according to claim 4 or 5 is recorded. 7. The conversation request data for an application program stored in an application server,
A first step received by the application program from the user terminal, a processing start time after the first step, a second step created by the application program, and a conversation response data to the conversation request data, A third step transmitted from the application program to the user terminal, and a fourth step in which the processing end time is created by the application program after the third step;
Response time data of the application program,
A fifth step created by the application program based on the processing start time and the processing end time, and a sixth step in which the response time data is input from the application program to a monitoring API incorporated in the application program. And a seventh step in which monitoring request data is input to the monitoring API from a monitoring system (agent) stored in the application server, and the response time data is input from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent). A) monitoring the application program by the application server. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, and the sixth step are performed before the eighth step. The ninth step in which the series of steps in the seventh step is repeatedly performed N times (N is 1 or more) times includes the ninth step, and the eighth step includes a step in which the ninth step is performed. The application server according to claim 7, wherein average response time data based on the N pieces of response time data input to the monitoring API is output as response time data according to the eighth step. How to monitor application programs. 9. The first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, the sixth step, the seventh step, and the second step. A tenth step in which a series of steps of the ninth step and the eighth step are repeatedly executed M times or more (M is 1 or more) times, and as a result of the execution of the ninth step, the eighth step If the average response time data according to the step (a) is not output to the monitoring system (agent) M times, fault occurrence data indicating that a fault has occurred in the application program,
9. An eleventh step created by the monitoring system (agent).
2. A method for monitoring an application program by the application server described in 1. 10. A computer readable recording recording an application program and a monitoring system (agent) program stored in an application server for executing all the steps according to claim 7. Medium. 11. A first step in which conversation request data for each of application programs stored in a plurality of application servers is transmitted and received from a user terminal to each of the application programs, and a processing start time after the first step is: After the second step created by each of the application programs and the conversation response data for each of the conversation request data, the third step and the third step are transmitted and received from each of the application programs to the user terminal. The processing end time is determined based on the fourth step created by each of the application programs and the response time data of each of the application programs based on the processing start time and the processing end time. The response time data created by each of the application programs and the response time data generated by the
The sixth step and the monitoring request data input to each of the PIs are transmitted from each of the monitoring systems (agents) stored in the application server to the monitoring A
An eighth step in which the response time data is output to each of the monitoring systems (agents) from each of the monitoring APIs and the response time data are output to the monitoring system ( And a ninth step stored in each of the server lists stored in the data server from each of the agents, and connection request data for any one of the application programs. The step of transmitting and receiving from the user terminal to the dynamic menu generation system stored in any one application server in which any one of the application programs is stored, and the response time data stored in each of the server lists, Is the data server The dynamic menu is inputted to the generating system, menu data that can specify the fastest application server, respectively the most response time is shorter application program of the response time data is stored, it is created by the dynamic menu generation system,
And a dynamic menu step in which the menu data is transmitted and received from the dynamic menu generation system to the certain user terminal. 12. The monitoring step according to claim 1, wherein the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, and the fifth step are performed before the eighth step. A sixth step and a tenth step in which a series of steps of the seventh step are repeatedly executed N times (N is 1 or more) times, and
Is performed as a result of the execution of the tenth step.
The average response time data based on the response time data is output as each of the response time data according to the eighth step, and the server list according to the ninth step is such that each of the average response time data is the response time. Stored as each of the data, the dynamic menu step, each of the average response time data is output from the data server as each of the response time data relating to the dynamic menu step, and the menu data, The method according to claim 11, wherein each of the average response time data is created as each of the response time data relating to the dynamic menu step. 13. The monitoring step includes the first step, the second step, the third step, the fourth step, the fifth step, the sixth step, and the seventh step. , The tenth step, and the eighth step are a series of steps M
As a result of executing the eleventh step (M is 1 or more) times or more and the tenth step, the average response time data according to the eighth step is expressed as:
When the monitoring API is not output from the monitoring API to the monitoring system (agent) M times, the failure generation data indicating that a failure has occurred in an application program in which the monitoring API is incorporated is stored in the application program. A twelfth step which is created by a certain monitoring system (agent) stored in an application server in which the error occurrence data is stored in a certain server list of the server list from the certain monitoring system (agent) The dynamic menu step comprises: when the fault occurrence data stored in the certain server list is input from the data server to the dynamic menu generation system, The data is Claim, characterized in that it is capable of identifying the fastest application server excluding an application server that created the generation data 12
How to provide application services as described in. 14. A monitoring step in which response time data of an application program is periodically transmitted and received from each of the plurality of application servers to the data server, and a connection to one of the application programs. A step in which request data is transmitted and received from a certain user terminal to any one application server storing the one application program, and each of the response time data is transmitted from the data server to the one application server. Sent and received by the server,
And menu data capable of specifying the fastest application server in which the application program having the shortest response time among the response time data is stored,
Transmitting / receiving from the one of the application servers to the certain user terminal.