JP2002055825A - Automatic access system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic access system capable of turning on a computer and installing or updating a program by acquiring an access request from a host device through a network even when a user of the computer turns off a power source. SOLUTION: A host device accesses a terminal computer 1 to update a program installed in the computer 1. A network connection means has a computer power supply ON/OFF circuit 4, and if the power supply of the computer 1 is OFF when the host device 2 outputs an access request to the computer 1, the circuit 4 turns on the power source of the computer 1. When the computer 1 is turned to an accessible state, the most device 2 updates the program in accordance with a prescribed sequence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer program which, even when a user of a computer is turned off, obtains an access request from a host device via a network, turns on the computer, and executes the program. An automatic access system that can be installed or updated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Driver software attached to printers and scanners is sometimes updated in order to cope with speeding up of devices, application to new operation systems, and the like.

[0003] Most of application software sold in stores and the like, for example, typical software such as word processors, paint-based or draw-based graphic software, and spreadsheets, are suspended from the time of release (release of next-generation products). Up to several times).

[0004] In software (vaccine program) for checking computer viruses to prevent computer virus infection, program modules corresponding to new viruses are frequently updated.

Further, for example, in WWW browsers such as Explorer of Microsoft in the United States, updates are frequently performed to enhance functions and resolve bugs, and are completely changed to next-generation products (version upgrade). May be performed.

Conventionally, the above-described version upgrade or update is performed by a user browsing the homepage of a software sales company on the Internet as appropriate, and performing version upgrade or update according to the user's intention. In the case of (1), the timer program attached to the vaccine program prompts the user of the computer to access the server for updating at regular intervals, and the user performs version upgrade or update in response to the request.

[0007]

However, in the above case, the user often fails to browse the home page of the software sales company, and in the above case, the user accesses the server for updating. However, the performance of the computer is degraded, so that the user often gives up updating.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. When installing or updating an application program or the like online, the power supply is automatically turned off when the computer is turned off. An automatic access system that can be launched to perform the installation or update.

[0009]

As described above, on-line software installation and update performed via the conventional Internet or the like is premised on the basis of interactive exchange between a host device and a user. Based on the fact that the installation and update cannot be performed when the power of the computer is turned off, the present inventor performs various studies, and when the host device performs the installation or update, the power of the computer is turned off by some means. If you install or update the above by turning on,
The knowledge that the computer can be kept in a healthy state without any trouble for the user has led to the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to an automatic access system of a network access type, and includes a plurality of computers and the plurality of computers (hereinafter, referred to as “computers”).
At least one host device connected via a network to a "terminal computer").
The host device accesses the terminal computer and installs a program on the computer or updates a program installed on the terminal computer, regardless of whether the terminal computer is on or off. .

The terminal computer is provided with a network connection means, and the network connection means is provided with a terminal computer power on / off circuit (hereinafter simply referred to as “power on / off circuit”).
Off circuit). When the power of the terminal computer is turned on by the user when the host device requests access to the terminal computer, the host device waits for permission from the user interface to install or update the program. Also,
When the host device makes an access request to the terminal computer and the power of the terminal computer is off, the power on / off circuit turns on the power of the terminal computer and the terminal computer becomes accessible. Then, the host device installs or updates the program according to a predetermined sequence. The file describing this sequence may be created, for example, prior to the installation or update of the program, or may be created in advance and placed in a predetermined folder (or directory) of the host device or the terminal device.

When the power supply of the terminal computer is off, the power on / off circuit keeps the active state, or changes from the inactive state to the active state by receiving a specific signal from the host device. When the terminal computer is powered off, the power on / off circuit determines whether the key included in the access request information transmitted by the host device matches the key registered in its own register, and performs access. When the key included in the request information matches the key registered in the register, the terminal computer can be turned on. The determination of a key match is a primary barrier to illegal access from the outside.
Preferably, the key is given to the host device in advance by the terminal computer.

When the computer is turned off,
When the host device accesses the computer to perform the installation or the update, an installation / preparation prepared in advance in the terminal computer is performed.
Refer to the update permission file and refer to the installation / update information (type of installation program or update program, installation rank or update rank, overwrite permission / non-permission information of existing module, etc.) described in the install / update permission file. Thus, the sequence can be executed.

In the install / update information, immediate install / update execution information or non-immediate install / update execution information can be described.

When the terminal computer is turned off,
When the host device accesses or installs or updates the terminal computer, the host device can perform the immediate installation / update by referring to the immediate installation / update execution information. In these cases, it is possible to store a history file of the installation or update and to incorporate a return program for immediately returning the terminal computer to the state before the installation or update.

When the power of the terminal computer that has made the access request is initially off and the power on / off circuit of the computer turns on the power, the host device refers to the non-immediate installation / update execution information, An installation / update program group can be stored in a predetermined area of the terminal computer, and an installation / update menu can be displayed on a startup screen of the terminal computer. This allows the user to install
Update programs can be downloaded during periods when the computer should not be used.

When the host computer accesses the terminal computer and performs the installation or update while the terminal computer is turned off, the power on / off circuit operates when the installation or update is completed. The operation system of the terminal computer can be terminated and the power can be turned off.

Further, when the host device accesses and installs or updates the terminal computer when the terminal computer is turned off,
When the user operates the computer after the host device accesses the computer and the power is turned on, the power on / off circuit turns off the power without terminating the operation system of the terminal computer. Can not be.

The host device has an access management file in which an access time zone for each terminal computer is described, and the host device can access each terminal computer in a time zone described in the access management file. In this case, the terminal computer has a schedule table, and can instruct each host device when to access its own terminal computer so that installation or update times of a plurality of programs do not overlap in each program.

According to the present invention, the communication program can be started when the host device accesses the computer, or the communication program can be resident in the computer.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an automatic access system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a terminal computer 1 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) is connected to a host device 2 via a network 100.

In this embodiment, the communication program is resident when the terminal computer 1 is running. Also,
A general-purpose terminal adapter 3 is built in the terminal computer 1 (the motherboard is denoted by reference numeral 11 and the display is denoted by reference numeral 12). A power on / off circuit 4 is connected to the terminal adapter 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power on / off circuit 4
Is connected to a power-on jumper pin 111 on the motherboard 11 of the terminal computer 1, and a signal input terminal 42 of the power on / off circuit 4 is connected to an indicator jumper pin on the motherboard 11 of the terminal computer 1. 112. In FIG. 2, the signal output terminal 41 is connected to the power switch 1 of the terminal computer 1.
2 is connected in parallel with the signal terminal 121, and the signal input terminal 4
2 is connected in parallel with the signal terminal 131 of the power indicator 13 of the terminal computer 1. The power supply terminal 43 of the power supply on / off circuit 4 is connected to the main power supply 14 of the terminal computer 1. FIG. 1 shows only components necessary for understanding the embodiment of the present invention, and does not show components such as a CPU.

In FIG. 1, the power supply on / off circuit 4 includes a transmitting / receiving circuit 44 and a key matching circuit 45. The key set by the user is written in the non-volatile memory (register in the present invention) built in the key matching circuit 44, and a connection request (access request in the present invention) CNNCT_REQ from the host device 2 is written.
Can be collated with the key contained in.

The storage device 15 of the terminal computer 1 has
An installation / update permission file 51, an access management file 52, and a sequence file (including a network connection sequence CNNCT_SEQ_1 and an update start sequence UP_START_SEQ_1) 53 are stored.

The storage device 21 of the host device 2 has a built-in access scheduler 61 in which the time of access to the terminal computer 1 is described. This access time is specified by the user of the terminal computer 1. Also, in the storage device 21 of the host device 2, similarly to the storage device 15 of the terminal computer 1, the access management file 62 and the sequence file 63 (including the network connection sequence CNNCT_SEQ_2).
Is prepared.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the processing of the automatic access system shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the process up to the start of the update. The host device 2 monitors the time to access the terminal computer 1 by the access scheduler 61, and when the time to access is reached, the host device 2 sends a connection request CNNCT_ to the power on / off circuit 4 of the terminal computer 1.
REQ is issued (S110). This access time is
Each user is described in a schedule table (not shown) so as not to overlap a plurality of host devices.

The power on / off circuit 4 is CNNCT_RE
When Q is received, the key matching circuit 45 outputs CNNCT_
The key included in the REQ is compared with the key in the nonvolatile memory of the key matching circuit 45 (S120). If the two keys do not match, the key matching circuit 45
Is a connection request rejection CNNCT_UNACK to the host device 2.
Is output (S130), and the process returns to S110. 2 above
If the two keys match, the terminal computer 1
Outputs connection request acknowledgment CNNCT_ACK. This CN
NCT_ACK includes power ON / OFF information ON_OFF
_INF is attached. The host device 2 refers to the connection request acknowledgment CNNCT_ACK and refers to the terminal computer 1
It is determined whether or not is off (S140). The power on / off information ON_OFF_INF includes information as to whether the key matching circuit 45 has transmitted a power on signal to the power on jumper pin 111 on the motherboard 11,
The host device 2 sends a connection request CNN to the terminal computer 1.
At the time of transmitting CT_REQ, it is possible to know whether the terminal computer 1 is on or off.

When the terminal computer 1 is off, the key matching circuit 45 sends a power-on signal to the power-on jumper pin 111 on the motherboard 11 (S150).
The transmission / reception circuit 44 includes power on / off information ON_OFF_
INF is returned to the host device 2.

The host device 2 has power on / off information ON
If _OFF_INF includes information indicating that the power supply was turned off at the time of the connection request (information indicating that the terminal computer 1 was turned off when CNNCT_REQ was sent to the on / off power supply circuit 4), the predetermined time Standby (In the present embodiment, the start of standby is power on / off information ON_OF
F_INF is received), that is, after a lapse of time when it is expected that the activation of the terminal computer 1 by the power on / off circuit 4 has ended, the network connection sequence CNNCT_SE written in the sequence file 63.
The execution of Q_2 is started (S160). In the access management file 52, a history indicating that the terminal computer 1 has been started up by the power on / off circuit 4 when the terminal computer 1 is turned off is left (S170). The host device 2 determines whether or not a network connection has been established with the terminal computer 1 (S180). When not connected to the network (for example, when the key is different,
If the power of the OFF circuit 4 itself is off), the process returns to S110.

When the host device 2 is connected to the terminal computer 1 via a network, the process proceeds to an update start sequence UP_START_SEQ_1 (S19).
0). When the power of the terminal computer 1 is turned on in S140, the host device 2 executes the network connection sequence CNNCT_SEQ_1 to connect to the network (S200).

The host device 2 refers to the writing in the access management file 52 as to whether the power of the terminal computer 1 has been turned on by the user or by access from another host device. (S210).

When the power of the terminal computer 1 is turned on by the user, the host device 2 displays an update start permission message on the display 12 of the terminal computer 1 and requests the user permission (S22).
0). The host device 2 causes the terminal computer 1 to determine whether or not the user has been authorized (S230). If there is user permission, the terminal computer 1 issues user permission to the host device 2 (S240). When there is no user permission, the host device 2 disconnects the network connection (stops the access). The process returns to S110 (S2
50).

In S155, when the power of the computer is not turned on by the user, it is determined whether or not the power of the terminal computer 1 is turned on because another host device has already accessed the terminal computer 1. Is determined (S260). If the power of the terminal computer 1 is on because another host device has already accessed the terminal computer 1, the process is passed to S280.

When no other host device is accessing the terminal computer 2, the process proceeds to the update start sequence UP_START_SEQ_1 (S27).
0).

If the power of the computer is turned on because another host device has already accessed the terminal computer 1, after waiting for a predetermined time,
Update start sequence UP_START_SEQ
_1 (S280).

FIG. 5 shows an update start sequence UP
It is a flowchart which shows _START_SEQ_1. The processing here is performed by the terminal computer 1.

If the user permits the update, the installation / update permission file 51 is written to that effect. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the permission has been written.

The terminal computer 1 checks whether the update version UP_VER is newer than the version of the program to be updated, and determines whether the update version UP_VER is newer than the program version (S310). When the version UP_VER of the update is the same as or older than the version of the program to be updated, the terminal computer 1 executes a network disconnection sequence LINE_OFF_SEQ (included in the communication program, not shown) (S320). The process returns to S110. Also, update version U
If P_VER is newer than the version of the program to be updated, an update sequence UP_START_SEQ_1 is executed (S33).
0).

The terminal computer 1 determines whether the power is turned on by a user or by access from another host device.
The determination is made by referring to the writing to S2 (S340),
When the power of the terminal computer 1 is turned on by the user, the terminal computer 1 disconnects the network with the host device 2 and returns the processing to S110 (S350).

It is determined whether or not there has been access from another host device by referring to writing in the access management file 52.
The terminal computer 1 disconnects the network with the host device 2 (S360), and returns the processing to S110. When the power of the terminal computer 1 is turned on by access from another host device, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the terminal computer 1 with reference to the access management file 52 (S370). ). If the user is operating the terminal computer 1, S3
The process is passed to 50. That is, the terminal computer 1
The network with the host device 2 is disconnected, and S110
Return to processing. If the user does not operate the terminal computer 1, the operation system (OS)
And turn off the terminal computer 1 (S
380).

In the above embodiment, the case where the program is updated immediately will be described as an example. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can easily understand that the present invention can be applied to the case where the program is installed immediately. is there. In the case of a non-genuine update, the update execution program is transmitted from the host device 2 to the terminal computer 1.
To the terminal computer 1
Is activated, the download list is displayed on the display to prompt the user to update. In the case of the non-immediate update, the download can be performed when the user is not using the terminal device, so that the user is free from the trouble of downloading.

[0044]

According to the present invention, when installing or updating an application program or the like online, even if the power of the computer is off, the power can be automatically turned on to perform the installation or update. Further, there is no inconvenience that the performance of the computer is reduced by accessing the update server.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of connection between a power on / off circuit and a terminal computer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of updating the operation of FIG. 1 and showing steps up to the start of update;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of updating the operation of FIG. 1 and showing steps up to the start of update;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of updating the operation of FIG. 1 and showing steps after the update is started;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal computer 2 Host device 3 Terminal adapter 4 Power on / off circuit 11 Motherboard 12 Power switch 13 Power indicator 14 Main power supply 15, 21 Storage device 41 Signal output terminal 42 Signal input terminal 43 Power terminal 44 Transmission / reception circuit 45 Key matching circuit Reference Signs List 51 installation / update permission file 52, 62 access management file 53, 63 sequence file 61 access scheduler 100 network 111 power-on jumper pin 112 indication jumper pin 121 signal terminal 131 signal terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/00 310 G06F 9/06 630B F-term (Reference) 5B011 EA02 EB03 FF04 KK12 KK13 MA13 5B076 BB06 BB14 FB06 5B085 BC00 BE01

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A computer comprising: a plurality of computers; and at least one host device connected to the plurality of computers via a network, wherein the host device accesses the computer and installs a program on the computer. Or a network access type automatic access system for updating a program installed in the computer, wherein the network connection means provided in the plurality of computers has a computer power on / off circuit, and the host When the device makes an access request to the computer and the power of the computer is turned on by the user, the host device performs the user installation of the installation or the update of the program. Interface, and when the computer is off, the computer power on / off circuit turns on the computer and, when the computer is accessible, An automatic access system, wherein a host device performs the installation or the update of the program according to a predetermined sequence. 2. When the power of the computer is off, the computer power on / off circuit keeps an active state or changes from an inactive state to an active state by receiving a specific signal from the host device. 2. The automatic access system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. When the power of the computer is off, the computer power on / off circuit determines whether a key included in access request information transmitted by the host device matches a key registered in its own register. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the computer is turned on when a key included in the access request information matches a key registered in the register. Access system. 4. The automatic access system according to claim 3, wherein the computer gives the key to the host device in advance. 5. When the host device accesses the computer, and the power of the computer is turned on because another host device has already accessed the computer, the host device: The automatic access system according to claim 1, wherein the installation or update is stopped until the other host device finishes the installation or update. 6. The installation / update permission file prepared in advance in the computer when the host device accesses the computer and performs the installation or the update when the computer is turned off. The automatic access system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sequence is executed with reference to installation / update information described in (1). 7. The immediate install / update information is described in the install / update information,
7. The automatic access system according to claim 6, wherein the host device performs an immediate installation / update when accessing the computer. 8. When the host device accesses the computer and performs the installation or the update when the power of the computer is turned off, the computer stores a history file of the installation or the update. The automatic access system according to claim 7, wherein the computer is returned to a state before the immediate installation or update. 9. The non-immediate install / update information is described in the install / update information, and the host device stores an install / update program group in a predetermined area of the computer when accessing the computer. 7. The automatic access system according to claim 5, wherein a menu for performing installation / update is displayed on a screen when the computer is started. 10. When the host device accesses the computer and performs the installation or the update when the power of the computer is off, the computer power on / off circuit may perform the installation or the 10. The automatic access system according to claim 1, wherein when the update is completed, the operation system of the computer is terminated and the power of the computer is turned off. 11. When the host device accesses the computer and performs the installation or the update when the power of the computer is off, when a user operates the computer, the host device turns on the computer. The automatic access system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the off circuit does not end the operation system of the computer and does not turn off the power. 12. The host device has an access management file in which an access time zone for each computer is described, and the host device accesses each computer in a time zone described in the access management file. The automatic access system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: 13. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the computer has a schedule table, and instructs each host device when to access itself so that installation or update times of a plurality of programs do not overlap in each program. An automatic access system according to claim 12. 14. The automatic access system according to claim 1, wherein a communication program is started when said host device accesses said computer. 15. The automatic access system according to claim 1, wherein a communication program is resident.