JP2010213073A - Environmental information change system, terminal device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environmental information change system etc., which changes the environmental information on PCs for end user, and greatly reduces the load on a system operator during large-scale change operation for the environmental information. <P>SOLUTION: The system operator registers server-holding information in a file server 5 (S101). Then, an environmental information change program is installed to a terminal device 3 (S102). Then an end user logs in on a terminal device 3 prior to the time of changing(S103). The end user logs in on the terminal device 3 after the change time (S104). In S103, S104, the environmental information change program is executed automatically, to determine whether the environmental information is changed, based on the change time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an environment information change system, a terminal device, a program, and the like that change environment information of a PC (Personal Computer) for end users.

  Currently, in companies and the like, at least one PC is assigned to one employee. In a company with a large number of employees, it is difficult to smoothly operate such an end user PC. As trouble cases in the operation of PCs for end users, there are many problems related to the network.

  Network connection settings in a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) network include (1) setting using a fixed IP address (= fixed address setting), and (2) using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). There are two settings for automatically allocating IP addresses (= dynamic address setting).

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a problem in connecting a PC to a network at a location different from the location where the user normally uses in the fixed address setting. In the fixed address setting, when connecting the PC to the network at a location different from the location where it is normally used, check whether or not the IP address that is normally used is usable. Set to use the assigned IP address.

JP 2005-252561 A

  However, the mechanism described in Patent Document 1 is only temporarily changed in order to use environment information related to network connection in a place where it is not normally used.

  On the other hand, companies may change from fixed address setting to dynamic address setting or vice versa. In this case, the information to be changed includes various settings such as settings related to individual applications and settings related to individual business systems as well as network connection settings. Hereinafter, such information is collectively referred to as environment information. In particular, environment information regarding network connection is referred to as network environment information.

  In order to perform such a change work of the environment information, the inventors operate a system capable of setting the changed environment information in each PC by performing the following steps (1) to (3). It was. (1) The system operator registers the changed environment information in the server as advance preparation. (2) As an advance preparation, the system operator distributes to each PC an application (= change tool) that acquires the changed environment information from the server and automatically changes the environment information (the change tool is installed) Automatically executed.) (3) The end user causes his / her PC to execute the change tool after the end of the day before the change work.

  However, this system has the following problems. For example, there are many cases where the end user cannot execute the change tool the previous day due to a business trip or the like, or forgets to execute the change tool. For example, when changing the environment information of a large number of PCs, there are many cases where the changed environment information is not correctly registered in the server, or registration is not in time. In these cases, network connection or the like fails after the environment information is changed. For such a PC, the system operator must go to the site and set the correct environmental information after the change. On the day of the large-scale change work, such a lot of work occurred and a heavy load was imposed on the system operator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is a system that changes environment information of a PC for an end user, and the load on the system operator is changed when a large-scale environment information is changed. It is to provide an environmental information change system that can greatly reduce the risk.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a first invention is an environment information changing system configured by a terminal device and a server connected to the terminal device via a network and changing environment information of the terminal device. The server includes server holding information storage means for storing server holding information including change date and time indicating the date and time when the environment information is changed, and the terminal device is connected to the server and acquires the server holding information. If the server holding information acquisition means and the current date and time have passed the change date and time of the server holding information acquired by the server holding information acquisition means, the setting value of the environment information of the terminal device is set as the server holding information. Environment information changing means for changing to the change information of the server, the terminal device at the time of login, the server holding information acquisition means and the environment information change means. An environmental information changing system characterized by functioning as a unit.

  By including the date and time of change in the server holding information and the terminal device automatically functioning as the server holding information acquisition means and environment information changing means at the time of login, the end user needs to perform special work before and after the date and time of changing the environment information. There is no. Therefore, trouble due to an end user's work mistake does not occur, and the load on the system operator can be greatly reduced. Even if the server holding information is misregistered or unregistered, if the environment information other than the network environment information is changed, the system operator does not need to go to the site and manually change the environment information. This is because the end user may re-login the terminal device after the system operator correctly registers the server holding information.

  In the first invention, when the environment information of the terminal device is changed from fixed address setting to dynamic address setting, the terminal device backs up the fixed address before the change as a failure return address, It is desirable to further comprise.

  In the first invention, when the environment information of the terminal device is changed from dynamic address setting to fixed address setting, the server holding information stored in the server holding information storage means identifies the terminal device. It is preferable that each identifier further includes change information indicating the change contents of the environment information, and the server holding information acquisition unit is connected to the server and acquires the server holding information corresponding to the identifier.

  A second invention is an environment information changing method for changing environment information of the terminal device in a system in which the terminal device and the server are connected via a network, wherein the server sets a date and time when the environment information is changed. Server holding information including the change date and time to be stored, the terminal device connected to the server and acquiring the server holding information, and the current date and time are acquired by the server holding information acquisition means If the acquired date and time of the server holding information has passed, an environment information changing step for changing the setting value of the environment information of the terminal device to the change information of the server holding information is executed at the time of login. This is a characteristic environmental information changing method.

  A third invention is a terminal device connected to a server via a network, the server holding information acquisition means for connecting to the server and acquiring the server holding information, and the current date and time is the server holding information acquisition Environment information changing means for changing a setting value of environment information of the terminal device to change information of the server holding information when the change date and time of the server holding information acquired by the means has passed. The device is a terminal device that functions as the server holding information acquisition unit and the environment information change unit when logging in.

  A fourth invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the terminal device of the third invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system for changing environment information of a PC for an end user, such as an environment information changing system that can significantly reduce the load on the system operator when changing large-scale environment information. .

The figure which shows the outline of environment information change system 1 Hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device 3 Flow chart showing the overall flow of environment information change processing The figure which shows the memory | storage part 32 of the file server 5 The figure which shows an example of the data of the server holding information 41 Flow chart showing the flow of processing realized by the environment information change program Flow chart showing the flow of processing realized by the environment information change program Flow chart showing the flow of environmental information change processing Diagram showing an example of changing the setting type

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment of the present invention, a case where a PC for an end user in a company or the like is changed from a fixed address setting environment to a dynamic address setting environment or vice versa is considered.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the environment information change system 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the environment information change system 1 includes a plurality of terminal devices 3, a file server 5, a DHCP server 7, and the like connected via a network 9.

  The terminal device 3 is, for example, a PC for an end user in a company or the like. In the environment information change system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the environment information of the terminal device 3 is changed. The environment information includes not only network environment information but also environment variables of individual applications, settings related to individual business systems, and the like.

  The file server 5 holds environment information after the terminal device 3 is changed. The changed environment information is registered by the system operator before the change. In order to avoid concentration of access, the file server 5 may have a redundant configuration of a plurality of units by synchronizing information held therein. The DHCP server 7 assigns an IP address when the terminal device 3 is connected to the network by dynamic address setting.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device 3. Note that the hardware configuration in FIG. 2 is an example, and various configurations can be adopted depending on the application and purpose. The hardware configuration of the computer that implements the file server 5 and the DHCP server 7 is also the same.

  In the terminal device 3, a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a media input / output unit 33, a communication control unit 34, an input unit 35, a display unit 36, a peripheral device I / F unit 37, etc. are connected via a bus 38. .

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

The CPU calls a program stored in the storage unit 32, ROM, recording medium, or the like into a work memory area on the RAM, executes it, drives and controls each device connected via the bus 38, and is performed by the terminal device 3. The processing described later is realized.
The ROM is a non-volatile memory, and permanently stores a boot program for the terminal device 3, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like.
The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores a program, data, and the like loaded from the storage unit 32, ROM, recording medium, and the like, and includes a work area used by the control unit 31 for performing various processes.

The storage unit 32 is an HDD (hard disk drive), and stores programs executed by the control unit 31, data necessary for program execution, and the like. With regard to the program, a control program corresponding to an OS (operating system) and an application program for causing the terminal device 3 to execute processing to be described later are stored.
Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 31 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, read by the CPU, and executed as various means.

  The media input / output unit 33 (drive device) inputs / outputs data, for example, media such as a CD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.), DVD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.) Has input / output devices.

  The communication control unit 34 has a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, is a communication interface that mediates communication between the computer and the network 9, and controls communication with other computers via the network 9.

The input unit 35 inputs data and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device such as a numeric keypad.
An operation instruction, an operation instruction, data input, and the like can be performed on the computer via the input unit 35.

  The display unit 36 includes a display device such as a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal panel, and a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing a video function of the computer in cooperation with the display device.

  The peripheral device I / F (interface) unit 15 is a port for connecting a peripheral device to the computer, and the computer transmits and receives data to and from the peripheral device via the peripheral device I / F unit 37. The peripheral device I / F unit 37 is configured by USB, IEEE 1394, RS-232C, or the like, and usually includes a plurality of peripheral devices I / F. The connection form with the peripheral device may be wired or wireless.

  The bus 38 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of the environment information change process. The system operator registers server holding information in the file server 5 (S101).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the storage unit 32 of the file server 5. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of server holding information 41 is registered in the storage unit 32 of the file server 5. The server holding information 41 is, for example, a text file whose file name is the host name of the terminal device 3 (“ABC”, “DEF” in FIG. 4). Further, the server holding information 41 may be managed by a database management system (DBMS) using, for example, the host name of the terminal device 3 as a primary key. It is assumed that the end user is not authorized to change the host name of the terminal device 3. In other words, the end user operates using his / her terminal device 3 with the general user authority instead of the so-called administrator authority.

  When the environment information of the terminal device 3 is changed from fixed address setting to dynamic address setting and only the network environment information is changed, the server holding information may be only the change date and time.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data of the server holding information 41. In FIG. 5, network environment information is shown as the environment information included in the server holding information 41. The server holding information 41 includes a host name 51, a change date 52, a setting type 53, an IP address 54, a subnet mask 55, a default gateway 56, an auxiliary setting 57 when connection is impossible, and the like.

  The host name 51 is a host name of the terminal device 3 and is an identifier for uniquely identifying the server holding information 41. The change date 52 is the date when the environment information of the terminal device 3 is changed. The setting type 53 is a type of network connection after the change, and is a fixed address or a dynamic address. The IP address 54, the subnet mask 55, the default gateway 56, and the auxiliary setting 57 when connection is impossible are information after change. The auxiliary setting 57 when connection is not possible is an auxiliary setting when the network connection cannot be made with a regular address.

  FIG. 5 shows that the terminal device 3 whose host name 51 is “ABC” changes from dynamic address setting to fixed address setting. That is, the setting type 53 is registered as “fixed address”, and the changed information is registered in the IP address 54, the subnet mask 55, the default gateway 56, and the auxiliary setting 57 when connection is impossible. Further, the terminal device 3 having the host name 51 “DEF” indicates that the fixed address setting is changed to the dynamic address setting. That is, the setting type 53 is registered as “dynamic address”, and the IP address 54, the subnet mask 55, and the default gateway 56 are not registered. In the auxiliary setting 57 when connection is impossible, a fixed address for auxiliary setting is registered in preparation for a failure of the DHCP server 7 or the like.

Next, an environment information change program is installed in the terminal device 3 (S102). The environment information change program may be distributed to the target terminal device 3 by the file server 5 or the like via the network 9, or may be recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM and the terminal device via the media input / output unit 33. 3 may be stored in the storage unit 32. When the environment information change program is stored in the storage unit 32, it is installed in the terminal device 3 automatically or according to a user instruction.
Note that S101 and S102 are performed in parallel, and either may be performed first.

Next, the end user logs in to the terminal device 3 at a time before the change date 52 (S103). And an end user logs in to the terminal device 3 at the time after the change date 52 (S104). The terminal device 3 in which the environment information change program is installed performs the processing shown in FIGS.
Note that “login” includes not only a case where an end user explicitly inputs an ID / password to perform a login operation but also a case where access to the server is automatically established by the activation of the terminal device 3.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing realized by the environment information change program. The processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is automatically executed by the control unit 31 of the terminal device 3 at the time of own login.

  The control unit 31 of the terminal device 3 switches from a user with general authority to a user with administrator authority in order to execute a process that requires administrator authority (S201). Next, the control unit 31 performs link confirmation in order to confirm whether a cable such as an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable is physically connected correctly (S202). In the case of link down, the control unit 31 displays a confirmation message on the display unit 36 (S203), and prompts the end user to confirm the cable or the like. The confirmation message is, for example, “Please check whether the cable is connected correctly”. The control unit 31 detects whether or not the end user has pressed the retry button (S204), returns to S202 when the retry button is pressed, and ends the process when the cancel button is pressed. On the other hand, in the case of link up, the control unit 31 proceeds to S205.

  The control unit 31 creates backup data of environment information (S205). The backup target is environment information (= set value) currently set in the terminal device 3. Since the environment information change program is executed in the background, there is a high possibility that the terminal device 3 will be terminated in the middle of the process without realizing that the end user is executing. In such a case, the control unit 31 may restore the setting value based on the backup data created in S205 at the next login.

  The control unit 31 executes an environment information change process (S206). The environment information change process changes the setting value based on the local holding information. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 31 connects to the file server 5 and acquires server holding information (S207). The control unit 31 confirms whether the acquisition of the server holding information is successful (S208). If not successful, the control unit 31 proceeds to S212. On the other hand, if successful, the control unit 31 copies the server holding information acquired in S207 to generate local holding information (S209), uploads the data read log (S210), and proceeds to S211. For example, the data read log is stored in the storage unit 32 of the file server 7 with the combination of the host name and the processing date and time as a file name.

  In S211, the control unit 31 performs an environment information change process. The environment information change process in S208 changes the setting value based on the local holding information at the previous login. On the other hand, in S211, the setting value is changed based on the local holding information generated in S209.

  The control unit 31 checks whether or not the setting value has been changed in the environment information change process (S212). When the change of the set value has not been executed, the control unit 31 proceeds to S216. On the other hand, when changing the setting value, the control unit 31 confirms the connection of the network (S213). If the network connection fails, the control unit 31 displays an error message on the display unit 36 (S214) and ends the process. The error message is, for example, “The network settings have been updated, but communication has not been confirmed.” On the other hand, when the network connection is successful, the control unit 31 uploads the change execution log (S215), and proceeds to S216.

  For example, the change execution log is stored in the storage unit 32 of the file server 7 with the combination of the host name and the processing date and time as a file name. The change execution log also outputs whether the latest server holding information has been acquired and the setting value has been changed, or whether the setting value has been changed according to the previous local holding information, together with the change contents.

  The control unit 31 displays a process completion message on the display unit 36 (S216), and ends the process. The processing completion message is, for example, “Terminal setting change completed. Press OK”.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the environment information change process. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 31 of the terminal device 3 confirms whether or not the current date / time exceeds the change date / time 52 of the local holding information (S <b> 301). When the change date 52 of the local holding information has not been exceeded, the control unit 31 ends the process. On the other hand, when the change date 52 of the local holding information is exceeded, the control unit 31 proceeds to S302.

  The control unit 31 compares the current setting value with the local holding information and checks whether there is a difference in environment information (S302). If there is no difference in environmental information, the control unit 31 ends the process. On the other hand, when there is a difference in environmental information, the control unit 31 proceeds to S303.

  The control unit 31 displays a processing message on the display unit 36 (S303). The in-process message is, for example, “The terminal settings are being changed. Please quit all applications and wait for a process completion message.” The reason for terminating all applications is that the environment variables of each application may be changed.

  If the setting type 53 is “dynamic address”, the control unit 31 changes the setting value to a dynamic address (S304) and confirms the connection (S305). When the IP address cannot be acquired due to a failure of the DHCP server 7 or the like, the control unit 31 determines that “change to auxiliary setting when connection is not possible” is valid (a value is set in the auxiliary setting 57 when connection is not possible). ) May be returned to the fixed address setting by using the auxiliary setting 57 when the connection is impossible (S306).

  The control unit 31 changes the backup data of the setting value based on the local holding information (S307), and ends the environment information change process.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of changing the setting type. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the setting type is changed from fixed address setting (= pre-change setting) to dynamic address setting (= post-change setting) with the change of the terminal device 3.

  (1) shows the change of the setting type when the terminal device 3 is logged in before the change date and time. This example shows a situation when logging in to the terminal device 3 after installing the environment information change program.

  When the server holding information in (a) is unregistered, there is no local holding information before the execution of S206. Therefore, in the environment information change process in S206, the change date cannot be confirmed, and the setting value is not changed. Thereafter, in S207, acquisition of server holding information with a fixed address fails, and there is no local holding information before execution of S214. In the environment information change process in S214, the setting value is not changed because there is no change information.

  In the first login after the server holding information registration in (b), there is no local holding information before the execution of S206. Therefore, in the environment information change process in S206, the change date cannot be confirmed, and the setting value is not changed. Thereafter, in S207, the server holding information is successfully acquired with the fixed address, and the local holding information exists before the execution of S214. In the environment information change process in S214, the change date is confirmed, and the setting value is not changed because the current date has not passed the change date. In this way, when logging in before the change date and time, the setting value is not changed to a dynamic address.

  In the case where the server holding information cannot be acquired for some reason in the first and subsequent logins after the server holding information registration in (c), the local holding information exists before the execution of S206. However, in the environment information change process in S206, the change date is confirmed, and the setting value is not changed because the current date has not passed the change date. Thereafter, in S207, acquisition of server holding information with a fixed address fails, but local holding information already exists before execution of S214. In the environment information change process in S214, the change date is confirmed, and the setting value is not changed because the current date has not passed the change date. In this way, when logging in before the change date and time, the setting value is not changed to a dynamic address.

  When the server holding information can be acquired by the first and subsequent logins after the server holding information registration in (d), the local holding information exists before the execution of S206. However, in the environment information change process in S206, the change date is confirmed, and the setting value is not changed because the current date has not passed the change date. Thereafter, in S207, the server holding information is successfully acquired with the fixed address, and the local holding information already exists before the execution of S214. In the environment information change process in S214, the change date is confirmed, and the setting value is not changed because the current date has not passed the change date. In this way, when logging in before the change date and time, the setting value is not changed to a dynamic address.

  (2) shows the change of the IP address when logging in to the terminal device 3 after the change date and time.

  When the server holding information cannot be acquired for some reason by the login after the server holding information registration in (a), the local holding information is a dynamic address before the execution of S206. In the environment information change process in S206, the change date and time is confirmed, and since the current date and time has passed the change date and time, the setting value is changed to a dynamic address. Thereafter, in S207, acquisition of server holding information with a dynamic address fails. Before the execution of S214, local holding information already exists. In the environment information change process in S214, the change date and time is confirmed, the setting value is confirmed because the current date and time has passed the change date and time, and there is no difference in the setting value, so that the change is not performed. Thus, when logging in after the change, the setting value is changed to a dynamic address before connecting to the file server 5.

  When the server holding information can be acquired by the first and subsequent logins after the server holding information registration in (b), the local holding information is the changed address before the execution of S206. In the environment information change process in S206, the change date and time is confirmed, and since the current date and time has passed the change date and time, the setting value is changed to a dynamic address. Thereafter, in S207, the server holding information is successfully acquired with the dynamic address. If there is a change other than the network connection setting in the server holding information, the change can be reflected in the environment information change process in S214. Thus, when logging in after the change, the setting value is changed to a dynamic address before connecting to the file server 5.

  In this way, by including the change date and time in the server holding information and automatically acquiring the server holding information when logging in to the terminal device 3 and changing the environment information, the end user can make special changes before and after the change date and time of the environment information. You do n’t have to do anything. Therefore, trouble due to an end user's work mistake does not occur, and the load on the system operator can be greatly reduced. Even if the server holding information is misregistered or unregistered, if the environment information other than the network environment information is changed, the system operator does not need to go to the site and manually change the environment information. This is because the end user may re-login the terminal device after the system operator correctly registers the server holding information.

  The preferred embodiments of the environment information changing system and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Environmental information change system 3 ......... Terminal device 5 ......... File server 7 ......... DHCP server 9 ......... Network 31 ......... Control part 32 ......... Storage part 33 ......... Media input / output Section 34 ......... Communication control section 35 ......... Input section 36 ......... Display section 37 ......... Peripheral equipment I / F section 38 ......... Bus 41 ......... Server holding information 51 ......... Host name 52 ... …… Change date and time 53 ………… Setting type 54 ……… IP address 55 ……… Subnet mask 56 ……… Default gateway

Claims (6)

An environment information changing system configured by a terminal device and a server connected to the terminal device via a network, and changing environment information of the terminal device,
The server
Server holding information storage means for storing server holding information including a change date and time indicating the date and time when the environment information is changed;
With
The terminal device
Server holding information acquisition means for connecting to the server and acquiring the server holding information;
Environment information for changing the setting value of the environment information of the terminal device to the change information of the server holding information when the current date and time has passed the change date and time of the server holding information acquired by the server holding information acquisition unit Change means,
With
The terminal device functions as the server holding information acquisition unit and the environment information change unit at the time of login. When the environment information of the terminal device is changed from fixed address setting to dynamic address setting, the terminal device backs up the fixed address before the change as a failure return address,
The environment information changing system according to claim 1, further comprising: When the environment information of the terminal device is changed from dynamic address setting to fixed address setting, the server holding information stored in the server holding information storage means changes the environment information for each identifier for identifying the terminal device. It further includes change information indicating the contents,
The environment information change system according to claim 1, wherein the server holding information acquisition unit is connected to the server and acquires the server holding information corresponding to the identifier of the server holding information acquisition unit. In a system in which a terminal device and a server are connected via a network, an environment information changing method for changing environment information of the terminal device,
The server stores server holding information including a change date and time indicating a date and time when the environment information is changed,
The terminal device is
A server holding information acquisition step of connecting to the server and acquiring the server holding information;
Environment information for changing the setting value of the environment information of the terminal device to the change information of the server holding information when the current date and time has passed the change date and time of the server holding information acquired by the server holding information acquisition unit Change steps,
Is executed at the time of login. A terminal device connected to a server via a network,
Server holding information acquisition means for connecting to the server and acquiring the server holding information;
Environment information for changing the setting value of the environment information of the terminal device to the change information of the server holding information when the current date and time has passed the change date and time of the server holding information acquired by the server holding information acquisition unit Change means,
With
The terminal device functions as the server holding information acquisition unit and the environment information change unit at the time of login.   A program causing a computer to function as the terminal device according to claim 5.

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