JP2003036244A - Server computers providing service in cooperation and its cooperative management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server computer which constraints complication of operation management due to enlargement of a system by distributing the operation management through making a plurality of different kind of servers on a network work together seamlessly, and the cooperative management method. SOLUTION: A plurality of servers exist on a network and provide services to client terminals in cooperation with other server computers (referred to as server hereinafter). When a user who has logged in to one of the servers using the client terminal, tries to use the service provided by another server, the other server provides the requested service without re-authentication of the user, if the user is a registered user of the other server computer, or even if the user is not a registered user but the server computer is registered by the user has logged in as an object accepting the cooperation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server computer that provides a membership service using WWW via a network and a link management method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The provision of a membership service by a conventional technique using a conventional server application is performed by a centrally managed system. In this case, when adding a new service providing function to the existing system or changing the user management method, it is necessary to modify not only the added function but also the existing system itself.

[0003]

Therefore, when a membership service is provided, the more the function is expanded, the larger the system becomes, and the operation management of the system becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. By seamlessly linking a plurality of different servers on the network and distributing the operation management, the operation management becomes complicated due to the enlargement of the system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a server computer that can be suppressed and a method for managing its cooperation.

[0005]

A plurality of server computers according to the present invention are present on a network and provide a client terminal with a service in cooperation with another server computer. The server computer utilizes the client terminal. When a user who has logged in to one of the server computers uses a service provided by another server computer, the other server computer is a registered user of the other server computer. If there is, it is characterized in that the requested service is provided to the user without re-authentication.

Further, in the server computer of the present invention, when the user is not a registered user of the other server computer, the other server computer logs in the user as a target for accepting cooperation in the other server computer. If the registered server computer is registered, the requested service is provided to the user without re-authentication.

Further, in the server computer of the present invention, the other server computer sets a range of registered users of the server computer registered as a subject to accept cooperation for each service provided,
It is characterized by limiting the range of services available to the user.

[0008] A server computer cooperation management method of the present invention is a cooperation management method for providing a service to a client terminal in cooperation with a plurality of server computers existing on the network. In the computer, a procedure for performing user authentication of the client terminal that has accessed the first server computer, and in the first server computer, after the authentication processing in the first server computer, according to the designation by the user. A procedure for transmitting a cooperation service request to a second server computer registered as a cooperation destination, and a cooperation service request received from the first server computer in the second server computer as a target for accepting cooperation. From a server computer that has become A step of confirming whether a-bis request, in the second server computer, said first
In response to the cooperation service request transmitted from the server computer, the procedure of determining whether the service provided by the second server computer can be provided, and the procedure of determining whether the service can be provided by the second server computer. , If it is determined that the service can be provided,
Providing a service that can be provided in response to the cooperation service request received from the first server computer.

Further, according to the present invention, in the cooperation management method according to claim 4, the range of registered users of the server computer registered as the object of accepting cooperation is set for each service provided by the second server computer. Based on the range of the registered users, which is set in advance, the first
In response to the cooperation service request sent from the server computer, it is determined whether the service provided by the second server computer can be provided.

The server computer cooperation management method of the present invention is a cooperation management method executed by each server computer so that a plurality of server computers existing on the network cooperate with each other to provide services to client terminals. There is a procedure for performing user authentication of the client terminal that has accessed, a procedure for transmitting a cooperation service request to a server computer registered as a cooperation destination after the processing of the authentication, according to the designation by the user, The service is provided in response to the procedure for checking whether the cooperation service request received from another server computer is the cooperation service request from the server computer that is the target of the cooperation, and the cooperation service request received from another server computer. Procedures and services to determine if possible When it is determined that the service can be provided in the above procedure of determining whether the service can be provided, a procedure of providing the service that can be provided in response to the cooperative service request received from another server computer is included. To do.

Further, according to the present invention, in the cooperation management method according to claim 6, the range of registered users of the server computer registered as the object of accepting cooperation is set in advance for each service to be provided, and the registered user is registered. Based on the range, it is determined whether or not a service can be provided in response to the cooperation service request received from the other server computer.

The present invention also provides a server computer,
It is a program for performing the method according to claim 6 or 7.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a cooperation server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cooperation server 1 of the present embodiment is realized by using a so-called Web server. This cooperation server 1
Includes a processing unit 2 that executes cooperative management and other processing.
And a storage device 3 for storing each setting information described later. In the cooperation server 1, a plurality of cooperation servers 1 cooperate with a user who has accessed a service request from a client terminal used by a user under a predetermined condition. Providing the requested service.

In FIG. 2, two linked servers 1 (server X
And the server Y) cooperate with each other. In the example shown in this figure, server X and server Y are on the same network.
Exists. Each stores the member information (user information) of the member registered in each cooperation server 1 in the storage device 3. The server X and the server Y authenticate the user who uses the client terminal based on this user information (this authentication can be performed using a well-known authentication technique).
And then provide the service. A detailed description will be given below of the cooperative management method of the server X and the server Y for allowing the user x registered in the server X to use the service provided by the server Y under such a situation. .

First, each setting information used for cooperation between a plurality of cooperation servers 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, between the server X and the server Y existing on the network, in order to cooperate with each other, two settings, that is, the cooperation setting of the server itself and the service cooperation setting are performed.
In addition, the information including the user information of the members registered in each cooperation server 1 is stored in the storage device 3. In the following description, the server X is the cooperation source and the server Y is the cooperation destination.

In the cooperation setting of the server itself, the cooperation server 1 of the cooperation source server X side (cooperation destination)
(Here, the server Y) is set. As the setting item, the server name or IP address of the server Y is set. This allows the server Y itself to be uniquely specified. After performing this setting, the information of the cooperation server 1 (here, the server Y) that is the object of accepting the cooperation from the partner server is set. The setting items include a system ID of the server Y (an identifier uniquely assigned to each cooperation server 1), a member organization section for identifying a group to which a member registered in the server Y belongs, and a period during which the cooperation is permitted or prohibited. Set the link availability period when is specified.

Similarly, on the server Y side of the cooperation destination, the information of the cooperation server 1 (here, the server X) of the cooperation source is set. As the setting item, the server name or IP address of the server X is set. After performing this setting, the information of the cooperation server 1 (here, the server X) that is a target for accepting cooperation from the partner server is set. As the setting items, the system ID of the server X, the member organization classification of the group to which the member registered in the server X belongs, and the cooperation availability period are set.

It should be noted that, here, two of the server X and the server Y are used.
The above-mentioned various settings are made so that the one cooperation server 1 executes the cooperation. Of course, when a larger number of cooperation servers 1 cooperate with each other, the information is set in each cooperation server 1 with all or a part of the other cooperation servers 1 as a cooperation target (cooperation destination) or a target for accepting cooperation.

Next, the service cooperation setting permits the use of each service category of the service provided by the server Y, which is the acceptance destination of the cooperation, in the server X under the environment in which the cooperation setting of the server itself is made. Set the range of user layer (service providing user layer) to be used. The setting items here are the system ID of the cooperation server 1 (here, server Y) that permits service provision and the member organization category to which the member who permits service provision belongs. Similarly, in the server Y as well, service cooperation settings are made.

As shown in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned setting information is managed as system cooperation management information and service management information, and user management information including user information is added to the setting information 3
Manage by category. In the example shown in FIG. 3, as the system cooperation management information, cooperation destination specifying information (server name or IP address) for specifying the cooperation server (cooperation destination) cooperation server 1 that is the cooperation destination system, and the cooperation acceptance system The system ID of each cooperation server 1 that is a target for accepting the cooperation, and for each cooperation acceptance system (here,
The system corresponding to the system ID) is associated with the member organization category that permits the acceptance and managed.

Further, as the service management information, for each service (service A, service B, ...) Provided by the cooperation server 1, if the contents of this service are further classified in detail, for each service category, Information on the user layer that provides the service is managed. The information of the service providing user layer includes the system ID of the cooperation receiving system or the cooperation server 1 and the member organization classification of the user who is the service providing target.

Further, as the user management information, if the member organization category to which the member (user) registered in the cooperation server 1 belongs is further classified in more detail, the subdivision thereof. The user information (personal information of the member) is managed for each member organization category. In the present embodiment, using the above management information, in an environment in which there are a large number of cooperation servers 1, a plurality of cooperation destination systems (cooperation servers 1 that are cooperation targets) and cooperation acceptance systems (cooperation servers 1 that accept cooperation) are registered. By doing so, it becomes possible to perform the cooperation setting between a plurality of servers.

In the cooperation server 1 of the present embodiment, the storage device 3 is composed of a non-volatile recording device such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk. The processing unit 2 is configured by a memory, a CPU (central processing unit), and the like, and the function is realized by loading a program (not shown) for realizing each function of the processing unit 2 into the memory and executing the program. Shall be done. It also has an interface for connecting to a network. In addition, an input device, a display device, etc. (none of which are shown) are connected to the cooperation server 1 as peripheral devices. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. What is a display device?
(Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device, or the like.

Next, the operation between the cooperation servers 1 based on the cooperation management method of the present invention will be described. In the following, it is assumed that the server X and the server Y operate in cooperation.

First, the user x who has logged in (t1) to the server X tries to use the service provided by the server Y registered in the server X in advance as a cooperation destination system. In this case, the server X transmits to the server Y a cooperation service request including the system ID of the server X, the information of the service category requested by the user x, the member organization division of the user x, and the user information (t2). ).

The server Y, which has received the cooperation service request from the server X, refers to the user management information as to whether or not the user x is a registered member of the server Y from the user information included in the cooperation service request. The judgment is made (t3). Here, when the user x who is the requester is not a member of the server Y, the server Y is from the cooperation server 1 registered in the system cooperation management information as a cooperation acceptance system in advance in the server Y. It is determined (t4).
At this time, if the cooperation is permitted and the cooperation is permitted, the user x further refers to the service management information,
It is determined whether the requested service category belongs to the member organization division (service provision target) (t5).

As a result, when it is determined that the user x belongs to the member organization division of the requested service category, the service of the server Y is provided to the user x via the server X. Of course, if the user x is also a member of the server Y, the service of the server Y is provided (t6). On the other hand, if the server X is not the cooperative acceptance system, or if the user is not the service provision target person, a notification that the service is unavailable is issued (t7, t8). You can seamlessly receive the services provided by Y.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, a plurality of universities that are performing credit transfer using the cooperation server 1 of the present embodiment, students of their own university and students of other universities who are taking the same lesson subject. An example of providing a bulletin board service will be described.

The storage device 3 of the cooperation server 1 of this embodiment stores management information (setting information) as shown in FIG. Student of own university, system of other university (server Y)
When using the service provided by, a student logs in to the system (server X) of his / her university as shown in FIG. 6 (s1), and when the bulletin board is selected from the service menu here (s4), The posting category information in the server X and the cooperation destination information are sent from the server X to the client terminal and displayed (s5, s6). Then, when the student who is the user selects and specifies a cooperation destination (s7), the server X refers to the system cooperation management information set in the server X, and the cooperation destination server (server of another university specified via the network The cooperation service request is transmitted to Y) (s8).

The server Y, which is the cooperation destination server, determines from the user information included in the received cooperation service request whether the student is a registered member of the server Y by referring to the user management information. Here, if the student is not registered in the server Y, the server Y next refers to the system cooperation management information and confirms whether the request is a cooperation service request from a system that is permitted to accept the cooperation. . Here, at this time, if the cooperation is permitted and the cooperation is permitted, the service management information is further referred to, and the student is a member who is set in the requested service category (here, the bulletin board service). Determine if it belongs to the organization category. The above determination is performed by the cooperation determination in s9.

As a result, when it is determined that the student belongs to the member organization division of the requested service category, of the bulletin board services provided by the server Y for this student,
A list of bulletin categories available to students is sent via the server X (s10). Then, when the student selects a desired posting category from the list of the posting categories of the cooperation destination displayed on the client terminal (s11), the server Y sends the corresponding posting content to the client terminal via the server X and displays it ( s12, s13). Of course, even if the student is also a registered member who can receive the specific service provided by the server Y of another university, the service provided by the server Y of another university can be received. On the other hand, if No is determined in the cooperation determination in s9,
A notice of unavailability is sent from the server Y to the client terminal (s14).

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and a configuration and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also possible. included. For example, the present invention may use a LAN or a dial-up network other than the Internet.

Further, a program for realizing some or all of the functions of the processing unit 2 in FIG. 1 is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in this recording medium is read by a computer system. , May be used to perform cooperative management. The “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

The "computer system" is a WW.
If the W system is used, the homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. The "computer-readable recording medium" means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-
A portable medium such as a ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means a volatile memory (R
(AM), which holds the program for a certain period of time.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system having the program stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be a program for realizing some of the functions described above. further,
It may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a user only needs to access one of the server computers of the present invention from a client terminal to provide another server computer which provides a desired service. You can receive the service from. That is, the user can seamlessly use the services provided by each of the plurality of server computers. Further, since each server computer of the present invention only needs to have the user information of each user, the user information is distributed to each server computer, which is different from the case where the user information is centrally managed. Is simplified.

Further, according to the present invention, a service is provided to a user in cooperation with a plurality of server computers.
Therefore, when the system is expanded, by installing a new service providing function in the new server computer of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the operation management from becoming complicated due to the expansion of the system. Further, by setting the range of registered users of the server computer registered as a target for accepting cooperation, it is possible to finely control the service provision.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cooperation server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing cooperation by two cooperation servers of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining setting information in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the outline of the cooperation operation of the two cooperation servers of the embodiment with respect to access from the client terminal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of setting information in one example using the cooperation server of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining operations of the client terminal and the two cooperation servers in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Cooperation server (server computer) 2 ... Processing unit 3 ... Storage device

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinichiro Matsumoto             3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Yuhashi             3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5B085 AE02 AE23 BG07                 5B089 GA11 JA11 KA01 KA06 KC58

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A server computer which exists in a plurality on a network and provides a service to a client terminal in cooperation with another server computer, wherein the client terminal is used to log in to one of the server computers. If the user using the service provided by another server computer, the other server computer requests the user without re-authentication to the user if the user is a registered user of the other server computer. A server computer, which provides a specified service. 2. The other server computer, when the user is not a registered user of the other server computer, registers the server computer to which the user is logged in as a target for accepting cooperation in the other server computer. The server computer according to claim 1, wherein the requested service is provided to the user without re-authentication. 3. The other server computer limits the range of services available to the user by setting the range of registered users of the server computer registered as a target for accepting cooperation for each service to be provided. The server computer according to claim 2, wherein 4. A cooperation management method for providing a service to a client terminal by cooperating with a plurality of server computers existing on a network, wherein the first server computer accesses the first server computer. A procedure for performing user authentication of the client terminal, and a second server registered in the first server computer as a cooperation destination in accordance with designation by the user after the authentication processing in the first server computer. A procedure of transmitting a cooperation service request to a computer, and in the second server computer, the cooperation service request received from the first server computer is a cooperation service request from a server computer that is a target for accepting cooperation. To confirm that the A procedure for determining whether the service provided by the second server computer can be provided in response to the cooperation service request transmitted from the first server computer at the computer, and the service provided at the second server computer. And a step of providing a service that can be provided in response to the cooperation service request received from the first server computer when it is determined that the service can be provided in the procedure of determining whether it is possible. Management method between server computers. 5. The cooperation management method according to claim 4, wherein a range of registered users of the server computer registered as a target for accepting cooperation is preset for each service provided by the second server computer, Cooperation management between server computers, characterized in that, based on the range of the registered users, it is judged whether or not the service provided by the second server computer can be provided in response to the cooperation service request transmitted from the first server computer. Method. 6. A cooperative management method executed by each server computer for cooperating a plurality of server computers existing on a network to provide a service to a client terminal, the user authentication of a client terminal that has accessed. And a procedure for transmitting a cooperation service request to a server computer registered as a cooperation destination after the authentication process, according to a designation by a user, and a cooperation service request received from another server computer, Procedures for confirming whether it is a cooperation service request from a server computer that is the target of accepting cooperation, procedures for determining whether a service can be provided for a cooperation service request received from another server computer, and providing services Service can be provided by the above procedure to determine whether If it is determined that that, with respect to coordination service request received from another server computer, cooperative management method in a server computer, characterized in that it comprises, a step of providing services that can be provided. 7. The cooperation management method according to claim 6, wherein a range of registered users of the server computer registered as a target for accepting cooperation is set in advance for each service to be provided, and based on the range of the registered users. , In response to the cooperation service request received from the other server computer,
A cooperative management method in a server computer, characterized by determining whether a service can be provided. 8. A program for causing a server computer to execute the method according to claim 6 or 7.