JP2003084983A - Software distributor, software distribution system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a software distribution system capable of automatically updating software to be operated constantly or executed frequently by updating it after confirming that the operating state of the software to be updated is not under execution. SOLUTION: This software distributor 2 is characterized in including a update part 11 transmitting the updated software to a distribution destination computer 3 with the set update object software to be updated, an operation state monitor part 12 monitoring whether or not the operation state of the update object software is executed based on update information with a prescribed update method, an introduction part 13 introducing the updated software to the distribution destination computer 3, when the operation state monitor part 12 confirms the non-execution of the update object software, and a start part 14 performing a processing for restarting the introduced updated software based on the update information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software distribution device for distributing updated software via a network to update the software, and particularly to software that needs to be executed at all times or executed frequently. The present invention relates to a software distribution system that can automatically update software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to reduce the management cost of software currently operating in various places, it is necessary to update the software 1
It is managed by a server in one place and the updated software is distributed locally.

Such a software management method is effective when, for example, computer virus monitoring software needs to be updated frequently, and there are many computers that require the software.

According to this method, the update status of the target software is confirmed at the time of starting the computer or starting the execution of the software, and when the update is required, the updated software is received from the computer managing the software via the network. Software was being updated by this.

As another method, when the computer is not operating, the computer is started via the network, the updated software is installed, and the computer is stopped again.

[0006]

However, in the above-described software distribution method, since the update processing is performed without considering the operating status of the update target software in the distribution destination computer, the update target software is running. However, there are cases where the software can be updated despite this, and in this case, the running software ends abnormally, making it impossible to execute processing.

Therefore, software that needs to be operated for 24 hours or software that operates frequently due to a request from another computer cannot be automatically updated, and the person in charge of the update work updates the software. Software was being updated after the target software was stopped or stopped.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to constantly update the software by monitoring the operating status of the software to be updated and confirming that the software is not operating. It is to provide a software distribution system capable of automatically updating operating software and frequently executed software.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the software distribution device according to the invention of claim 1 updates the software by distributing the updated software when the software is updated. A software distribution device for performing update means for transmitting updated software to a distribution-destination computer in which update target software to be updated is set, and an operating status of the update target software is being executed. Whether or not
When the operating status monitoring unit that monitors based on the update information that defines the updating method and the operating status monitoring unit confirms that the update target software is not being executed,
An introduction unit that introduces the updated software to the distribution destination computer; and a starting unit that performs a process for restarting the introduced updated software based on the update information. To do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the update processing is performed after confirming that the update target software set in the distribution destination computer is not in the operating status, the software that is always running or frequently The software to be executed can be updated automatically.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a software distribution method is a software distribution method for updating software by distributing updated software by a computer system when the software is updated. Then, the management computer sends the updated software to the distribution-destination computer in which the update-target software to be updated is set, and the operating status of the update-target software is checked. When the management computer monitors based on update information that defines an update method and the management computer confirms that the software to be updated is not running, the management computer distributes the updated software to the distribution destination. Introduced on the computer, before it was introduced The process for restarting the updated software, the management computer and performing based on the update information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the update processing is performed after confirming that the update target software set in the distribution destination computer is not in operation, the software that is always running or frequently The software to be executed can be updated automatically.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a software distribution system in which a management computer for managing updates of distribution target software stored as a distribution target and an update status of the distribution target software for the management computer are displayed. When inquired and updated, the updated software and the update information that defines the update method are fetched, and whether or not the operating status of the update target software that is the update target is running is determined based on the update information. When it is confirmed that the software to be updated is not running by monitoring, a distribution destination computer that performs a process for introducing the updated software and rebooting based on the update information is included. And

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the update processing is performed after confirming that the update target software set in the distribution destination computer is not running, the software that is always running or frequently The software to be executed can be updated automatically.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the software distribution system, when the distribution target software stored as the distribution target is updated, the management for transmitting the updated software and the update information defining the update method. A computer and the updated software are received from the management computer, and whether or not the operating status of the update target software to be updated is being monitored based on the update information and the update target software is When it is confirmed that the software is not being executed, a distribution destination computer that performs a process for installing the updated software and restarting the software based on the update information is included.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the update process is performed after confirming that the update target software set in the distribution destination computer is not in the operating state. The software to be executed can be updated automatically.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration of a software distribution system according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the software distribution system 1 of this embodiment includes a software distribution device 2 which distributes and updates updated software when the software stored as a distribution target is updated. The distribution destination computer 3 receives the updated software from the software distribution device 2 via the communication network and updates the software to be updated.

Here, the software distribution device 2 has an updating unit 11 for transmitting the updated software to the distribution destination computer 3 when the software is updated, and the operating status of the update target software in the distribution destination computer 3 is being executed. An operation status monitoring unit 12 that monitors whether or not there is
When the operating status monitoring unit 12 confirms that the software to be updated is not being executed, the introduction unit 13 that introduces the updated software to the distribution destination computer 3
And a startup unit 1 for performing a process for restarting the installed updated software on the distribution destination computer 3.
4 and a storage unit 15 storing update information defining a software update method together with software to be distributed.
Includes and.

Next, a software distribution process by the software distribution system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The software distribution device 2 constantly monitors whether or not the software stored as the distribution target is updated, and if there is updated software among the distribution target software (S201), the updated software is updated. Is transmitted to the distribution destination computer 3 via the network (S202).

The software distribution device 2 stores whether the software to be updated set in the distribution destination computer 3 always operates, or whether it is activated in response to a request from another computer or software. The determination is made based on the update information stored in the unit 15 (S203).

Here, an example of the update information is shown in FIG. In the update information, as shown in FIG. 3, the type of software (always start, sequential start), operating status confirmation method, stop method, and start method are registered for each software to be distributed.

If the software to be updated is always running, the software distribution device 2 confirms whether the operating status of the software to be updated is running or waiting (S204), and waits. In case of, the update target software is stopped (S205). At this time,
The operating status is confirmed and the software is stopped by referring to the operating status checking method and the stopping method registered in the update information shown in FIG.

Further, in step S203, if the software to be updated is not always operating, but is sequentially operating in response to a request from another computer or software, the software distributing apparatus 2 is not executing the software to be updated. It is confirmed (S206). At this time also, the confirmation is performed based on the operation status confirmation method registered in the update information.

When it is thus confirmed that the software to be updated is not being executed, the software distribution device 2 introduces the updated software to the distribution destination computer 3 (S207). At this time, in order to prevent the update target software from operating, processing such as changing the name of the file in which the update target software is stored is performed.

When the installation of the software to be updated is completed, the software distribution device 2 starts the software to be updated based on the startup method registered in the update information, or responds to a request from another computer or software. The software distribution process in the software distribution system 1 of the present embodiment is finished by making the system ready to start (S208).

As described above, the software distribution device 2 of the present embodiment confirms that the software to be updated is not running based on the operating status confirmation method registered in the update information, and then updates the updated software. Since the software is introduced, it is possible to automatically update software that is always operating or software that is frequently executed without causing an abnormality in the software to be updated.

Next, the configuration of the software distribution system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the software distribution system 41 of the present embodiment includes a management computer 42 for managing the software to be distributed, and the updated software that fetches the updated software and updates the software to be updated. It is composed of a distribution destination computer 43 for updating.

Here, the management computer 42 includes a storage unit 21 that stores the software to be distributed and update information that defines the software update method.

The distribution-destination computer 43 is in the process of executing the update unit 22 that takes in the updated software and the update information from the management computer 42 when the software is updated, and the operating status of the update-target software to be updated. An operating status monitoring unit 23 that monitors whether or not the software to be updated is not being executed by the operating status monitoring unit 23 that monitors whether or not the updated software is running. , And an activation unit 25 that performs a process for reactivating the introduced updated software based on the update information.

Next, a software distribution process by the software distribution system 41 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The distribution-destination computer 43 accesses the management computer 42 and constantly monitors whether the software stored as the distribution target is updated (S50).
1) If there is updated software among the distribution target software, the updated software is fetched from the management computer 42 via the network (S5).
02). At this time, the update information stored in the storage unit 21 is also fetched at the same time. This update information is the same as the update information described in the first embodiment.

Based on the update information, the distribution-destination computer 43 determines whether the update-target software to be updated always operates or is started in response to a request from another computer or software. A judgment is made (S503).

If the software to be updated is always running, the distribution-destination computer 43 confirms whether the operating status of the software to be updated is running or waiting (S504). Sometimes the software to be updated is stopped based on the update information (S50
5).

Further, in step S503, if the software to be updated is not always operating but is sequentially operating to start in response to a request from another computer or software, the distribution-destination computer 43 updates the software based on the update information. It is confirmed that the software is not running (S506).

When it is thus confirmed that the software to be updated is not being executed, the distribution-destination computer 43 installs the updated software (S507). At this time, in order to prevent the update target software from operating, processing such as changing the name of the file in which the update target software is stored is performed.

When the installation of the software to be updated is completed, the distribution-destination computer 43 starts the software to be updated based on the starting method registered in the update information, or responds to a request from another computer or software. The software distribution process in the software distribution system 41 according to the present embodiment is finished (S508).

As described above, in the software distribution system 41 of the present embodiment, the distribution destination computer 43 installs the updated software after confirming that the software to be updated is not running based on the update information. It is possible to automatically update software that is always operating or software that is frequently executed without causing abnormality in the target software.

Next, the configuration of the software distribution system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the software distribution system 61 of this embodiment, when the software stored as the distribution target is updated, the management computer 62 that distributes the updated software and the updated software. Is received from the management computer 62, and the distribution destination computer 63 that updates the software to be updated is configured.

Here, the management computer 62 sends the updated software and update information to the distribution destination computer 63 when the software is updated.
And a storage unit 32 that stores update information defining a software update method together with the distribution target software.

The distribution-destination computer 63 monitors, based on the update information, whether the operation status of the update target software to be updated is being executed or not.
When it is confirmed by the operation status monitoring unit 33 that the software to be updated is not being executed, the introduction unit 34 for introducing the updated software and the process for restarting the introduced updated software are executed. The activation unit 35 is included based on the update information.

Next, a software distribution process by the software distribution system 61 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The management computer 62 constantly monitors whether or not the software stored as the distribution target is updated, and if there is updated software among the distribution target software (S701), the updated software is updated. It is transmitted to the distribution destination computer 63 via the network (S702). At this time, update information necessary for updating the software is also transmitted at the same time. This update information is the same as the update information described in the first embodiment.

The distribution-destination computer 63 that has received the updated software determines whether the software to be updated is always operating or whether it is activated in response to a request from another computer or software based on the update information. (S703).

If the software to be updated is always operating, the distribution-destination computer 63 confirms whether the operating status of the software to be updated is in execution or in standby based on the update information (S704). When in standby, the software to be updated is stopped based on the update information (S705).

In step S703, if the software to be updated is not always operating but is sequentially operating to start in response to a request from another computer or software, the distribution destination computer 63 is not executing the software to be updated. It is confirmed based on the update information (S706).

When it is confirmed that the software to be updated is not being executed, the distribution-destination computer 63 installs the updated software (S707). At this time, in order to prevent the update target software from operating, processing such as changing the name of the file in which the update target software is stored is performed.

When the installation of the software to be updated is completed, the distribution-destination computer 63 starts the software to be updated based on the starting method registered in the update information, or responds to a request from another computer or software. The software distribution process in the software distribution system 61 according to the present embodiment is finished (S708).

As described above, in the software distribution system 61 of this embodiment, the distribution destination computer 63 installs the updated software after confirming that the software to be updated is not running based on the update information. It is possible to automatically update software that is always operating or software that is frequently executed without causing abnormality in the target software.

[0053]

As described above, according to the software distribution system of the present invention, the update processing is performed after confirming that the update target software set in the distribution destination computer is not running. , It is possible to automatically update software that is always operating and software that is frequently executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first software distribution system according to the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining software distribution processing in the software distribution system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of update information.

FIG. 4 is a second software distribution system according to the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

5 is a flowchart for explaining software distribution processing in the software distribution system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a third software distribution system according to the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

7 is a flowchart for explaining software distribution processing in the software distribution system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 41, 61 Software distribution system 2 Software distribution device 3, 43, 63 Distribution destination computer 11, 22, 31 Update section 12, 23, 33 Operation status monitoring unit 13, 24, 34 Introduction 14, 25, 35 Starter 15, 21, 32 Storage 42, 62 Management computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A software distribution device that distributes updated software to update the software when the software is updated, to a distribution destination computer to which the update target software to be updated is set. Update means for transmitting the updated software, and an operating status monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the operating status of the software to be updated is being executed based on update information defining an updating method, and the operating status When the monitoring means confirms that the update target software is not being executed, an introducing means for introducing the updated software into the distribution destination computer, and a process for restarting the introduced updated software And a start-up means for performing the operation based on the update information. Cloth equipment. 2. A software distribution method for distributing updated software by a computer system to update the software when the software is updated, which is the update target software to be updated when the software is updated. The management computer sends the updated software to the distribution destination computer for which the update target software is set, and whether or not the operating status of the software to be updated is being executed, based on the update information that defines the update method, When the management computer monitors and the management computer confirms that the software to be updated is not running, the management computer installs the updated software to the distribution destination computer, and the installed updated software is installed. Process for restarting the software , Software distribution wherein said management computer and performing based on the update information. 3. A management computer for managing the update of the distribution target software stored as a distribution target, and when the management computer is inquired about the update status of the distribution target software to update,
The updated software and the update information defining the update method are fetched, and whether or not the operating status of the update target software to be updated is being monitored based on the update information and the update target software is A software distribution system, comprising: a distribution destination computer that performs a process for introducing the updated software and restarting it when it is confirmed that the software is not being executed, based on the update information. 4. A management computer that transmits updated software and update information defining an update method when the software to be distributed stored as the distribution target is updated, and the updated software from the management computer. Is received, the operating status of the update target software to be updated is monitored based on the update information, and it is confirmed that the update target software is not running, the update is performed. And a distribution destination computer that performs a process for introducing and restarting already-used software based on the update information.