JP2011053966A - Information processing apparatus, software management system, and software management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus, a software management system, and a software management method enabling only legitimate users to use software placed in a location that can be accessed by a large indefinite number of people. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus 100 is connected via a predetermined data transmission path I to a center 300 having a package management server function disclosed to the outside, and includes: an information acquisition means 111 for acquiring the information needed for software updates from the center 300; a confirmation means 112 for confirming whether or not dependency in the software updates can be solved according to the information acquired by the information acquisition means 111 and to an update key 12D retained in a predetermined storage area of the apparatus issued to a legitimate user; and a download means 111 for downloading update data 32D for the software to be updated from the center 300 based on the result of confirmation by the confirmation means 112 as to whether or not the dependency can be solved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a software management system for managing software installed in one or more devices connected via a data transmission path, and more particularly to a technique for updating software using a package management function. is there.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for distributing software through a computer network.

  The background to the proposal of these technologies is the convenience of users using software. When using software, various management tasks are required. For example, software enhancements, bug fixes, and updates. For example, when software installed in a considerable number of devices set in the user environment is provided by a manufacturer on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disk), it is necessary to perform work for each installed device, which is complicated. It is. Even when the number of software contracts is large, it is necessary to manage and store information related to the software provided by the manufacturer (notification of various information such as function expansion, bug correction, and update) and recording media. .

  Therefore, the user can easily perform the management work related to the software by using the proposed technique (software management system) (the load of the management work can be reduced).

  In such a software management system, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) may be used as software providing means (software update function).

  However, when a software update function is implemented using FTP, a large number of development steps are required. This is because the software update function downloads / installs based on the information of “updatable packages” and “packages necessary for installing the packages” (information related to the dependency of the software group to be installed). This is because a mechanism is required.

  Therefore, there is a method of performing download / installation by solving the dependency relationship of the software group to be installed by using a package management function such as YUM (Yellow dog Updater, Modified). YUM is an RPM (RPM Package Manager) compatible package management system of Linux (registered trademark). The package management system is a system that manages the introduction and deletion of various software and the dependency between software and libraries in one environment called OS (Operating System).

  With such a software update function using the package management function, it is possible to download without having to be aware of the above-mentioned dependency by determining “updatable packages” and “packages necessary to install the package”. / Can be installed. As a result, the software update function using the package management function can reduce the development man-hours related to the implementation.

  However, in the software update function using the package management function, there is a problem that software (update data) that should be downloaded only by authorized users (users after contract) is downloaded by an unspecified number of people.

  The package management system has a configuration in which software is placed in a place (repository accessible from an unspecified logarithm (package management server)) on the Internet due to the characteristics of a package to be managed. Therefore, the above problem occurs.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to allow software that is placed in a place accessible from an unspecified logarithm to be used only by authorized users. The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a software management system, and a software management method.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is connected to a center having a package management server function that is open to the public via a predetermined data transmission path. Based on information acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for software update from the center, information acquired by the information acquisition means, and an update key issued to a regular user and held in a predetermined storage area of the device Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the dependency relationship in software update can be resolved; and download means for downloading update data of software to be updated from the center based on the confirmation result of the dependency relationship resolution possibility by the confirmation means; have.

  With such a configuration, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires information necessary for software update (information related to the update key and update data) from the center having the package management server function. Whether the information processing apparatus can solve the dependency relationship in software update based on the acquisition information and the update key issued to the authorized user and stored in a predetermined storage area of the apparatus using the package management function To check. If the dependency relationship can be resolved, the information processing apparatus downloads update data of software to be updated from the center.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention uses the package management function to perform software from the center based on the determination of whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved in the software update using the update key issued to the authorized user. To control downloading of update data.

  As a result, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can make the software placed in a place accessible from an unspecified logarithm only available to authorized users (preventing use other than authorized users). .

  In order to achieve the above object, a software update system according to the present invention is a software management system in which a center having a package management server function disclosed to the outside and an information processing apparatus are connected by a predetermined data transmission path. The information processing apparatus acquires information necessary for software update from the center, information acquired by the information acquisition means, and predetermined storage of the apparatus issued to a regular user. Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the dependency relationship in software update can be resolved based on the update key held in the area, and software to be updated from the center based on the confirmation result of whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved by the confirmation means Download means for downloading the update data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a software management method according to the present invention is a software management method in an information processing apparatus connected to a center having a package management server function disclosed to the outside via a predetermined data transmission path. An information acquisition procedure for acquiring information necessary for software update from the center, information acquired by the information acquisition procedure, and an update issued to a regular user and held in a predetermined storage area of the device Download update data of the software to be updated from the center based on the confirmation procedure for confirming whether or not the dependency relationship in the software update can be resolved based on the key for use and the confirmation result on whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved in the confirmation procedure Download procedure.

  By such a procedure, the software management method according to the present invention uses the package management function to obtain information necessary for software update (information relating to the update key and update data) acquired from the center having the package management server function. And whether or not the dependency relationship in software update can be resolved based on the update key issued to the authorized user and held in the predetermined storage area of the device. The operation of downloading the update data of the software to be updated from the center is realized.

  As a result, the software management method according to the present invention can provide an environment in which only authorized users can use software placed in a location accessible from an unspecified logarithmic person.

  According to the present invention, using the package management function, update data relating to software can be downloaded from the center based on the determination of whether or not the dependency in software update using the update key issued to the authorized user can be resolved. By controlling, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, a software management system, and a software management method that make it possible for only authorized users to use software placed in a place accessible from an unspecified logarithmic person.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the software management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information processing apparatus (software management server, center, apparatus) which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the software management function which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the software update information which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of download control according to the solution of the dependency relation which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process sequence which performs the reservation setting of automatic update which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of the software update reservation which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the automatic update script file which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram (the 1) which shows the example of a process sequence which updates the software which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram (the 2) which shows the example of a process sequence which updates the software which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
First, the configuration of the device management system will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a software management system 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows a manufacturer-side system (hereinafter referred to as “manufacturer-side system”) S that provides software, and one or a plurality of user-side systems (hereinafter referred to as “user-side systems”) Ua into which the software has been introduced. , Ub are connected to each other via an external network I such as the Internet. Each of the systems S, Ua, Ub is connected to the external network I via, for example, an FW (Fire Wall).

  In the manufacturer-side system S, a software providing device (hereinafter simply referred to as “center”) 300 that provides software is installed. That is, the center 300 corresponds to the above-described device having a package management server function that is a repository accessible from an unspecified logarithmic person (corresponding to a place disclosed on the Internet).

The user-side system Ua includes an information processing apparatus (software management server) 100a having a software management function, and one or a plurality of devices (clients) 200a ₁ , 200a ₂ , 200a on which software to be updated (installed) operates. ₃ are arranged. These devices are connected by an internal network Na such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The same applies to the user side system Ub.

  With such a system configuration, the software management system 1 can realize the following operation related to software update.

  For example, the information processing apparatus 100a of the user side system Ua downloads update data relating to server software and / or client software from the center 300 via the external network I.

  The information processing apparatus 100a installs update data related to the downloaded server software in the apparatus. In addition, the information processing apparatus 100a holds update data relating to the downloaded client software in a predetermined storage area.

The devices 200a ₁ , 200a ₂ , and 200a ₃ download the update data related to the client software from the information processing apparatus 100a via the internal network Na. The devices 200a ₁ , 200a ₂ , and 200a ₃ install the downloaded update data related to the client software on the device.

  As described above, the software management system 1 can provide a software management service (software management function) such as function addition / update (including change and extension) / deletion in the user environment.

In the following description, when a plurality of user-side systems Ua and Ub are collectively referred to as “user-side system U”. Similarly, when a plurality of information processing apparatuses 100a and 100b constituting the system U are collectively referred to as “information processing apparatus 100”. Further, when a plurality of devices 200a ₁ , 200a ₂ , 200a ₃ , 200b ₁ , 200b ₂ , 200b ₃ constituting the system U are collectively referred to as “device 200”.

<Hardware configuration>
Next, the hardware configuration of each device constituting the software management system 1 will be described. In this embodiment, the “software management server”, “center”, and “device” are assumed to be PCs (Personal Computers), and the information processing apparatus 100 that is a “software management server” will be described as a representative.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 100 (software management server, center, device) according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 100 includes an input device 101, a display device 102, a drive device 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 105, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 106, an interface. A device 107, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 108, and the like are provided and are connected to each other via a bus B.

  The input device 101 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and is used to input each operation signal to the information processing device 100. The display device 102 includes a display or the like, and displays a processing result (for example, “software management information”) by the information processing device 100.

  The interface device 107 is an interface (NIC: Network I / F Card) that connects the information processing device 100 to a predetermined data transmission path. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 100 can perform data communication with the device 200 and the center 300 via the interface device 107.

  The HDD 108 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various programs and data. The stored programs and data are, for example, basic software such as an information processing system (for example, “Windows (registered trademark): omitted)” or “UNIX (registered trademark: omitted)” that controls the entire information processing apparatus 100. An OS), and an application that provides various functions (for example, “software management function”) on the information processing system. The HDD 108 manages the stored program and data by a predetermined file system and / or DB (Data Base).

  The drive device 103 is an interface with a removable recording medium 103a. As a result, the information processing apparatus 100 can read and / or write the recording medium 103 a via the drive apparatus 103.

  The ROM 105 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain internal data even when the power is turned off. The ROM 105 stores data such as a basic input / output system (BIOS) that is executed when the information processing apparatus 100 is activated, and system settings and network-related settings of the information processing apparatus 100.

  The RAM 104 is a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that temporarily stores programs and data read from the various storage devices. The CPU 106 implements the overall control of the information processing apparatus 100 and the operation of various functions by executing the program read out on the RAM 104.

  With such a hardware configuration, for example, the information processing apparatus 100 can execute a program (software component that realizes a mounting function) read from the HDD 108 onto the RAM 104 by the CPU 106 to realize the mounting function.

  The device 200 is not limited to the hardware configuration described above. For example, the device 200 may be an image processing device. In this case, for example, the device 200 includes the above-described hardware configuration in a controller (not shown) that is a control board, and further, a plotter (not shown) that forms an output image on a sheet, or a scanner that generates a read image of a document. Various image processing units (not shown) are connected to the controller via a bus B.

<Software management function>
The software management function according to this embodiment will be described.

  In the information processing apparatus (software management server) 100 according to the present embodiment, information necessary for software update (information relating to the update key and update data) is acquired from the center 300 having a package management server function. Whether the information processing apparatus 100 can solve the dependency in the software update based on the update information issued to the authorized user and stored in a predetermined storage area of the apparatus using the package management function Confirm whether or not. If the dependency relationship can be resolved, the information processing apparatus 100 downloads update data of software to be updated from the center 300. The information processing apparatus 100 has such a software management function.

  In the software management system 1 using FTP as software providing means, when a software update function is implemented, a mechanism for downloading / installing based on information related to the dependency relationship of software to be installed is required. Requires development man-hours.

  Therefore, there is a method for realizing a software update function using a package management function such as YUM.

  However, in the software update function using the package management function, there is a problem that software (update data) that should be downloaded only by authorized users (users after contract) is downloaded by an unspecified number of people.

  In view of this, in the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the center 300 uses the package management function to determine whether the dependency relationship can be resolved in the software update using the update key issued to the authorized user. Controls downloading of update data related to software. In other words, the present embodiment provides a mechanism in which update data cannot be downloaded from the center 300 unless the dependency relationship in software update is resolved using the update key using the package management function.

  As a result, in the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, software that is placed in a location accessible from an unspecified logarithmic person can be used only by a regular user (prevention of use by non-regular users). it can).

The configuration and operation of the software management function will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the software management function according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the software management function is realized by a functional unit included in each device constituting the software management system 1.

  First, functional units included in peripheral devices (center and equipment) of the information processing apparatus (software management server) 100 will be described.

"Center"
The center 300 includes an automatic update reservation control unit 31, an update data holding unit (for center) 32, and the like.

  The automatic update reservation control unit 31 is a functional unit that controls automatic update related to software (server / client software) that operates on the information processing apparatus 100 and the device 200 based on the received reservation setting. The automatic update reservation control unit 31 transmits the reservation setting to the information processing apparatus 100 and makes an update reservation to the automatic update control unit 11 described later. As a result, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 receives the reservation result from the information processing apparatus 100 and notifies the reservation completion. The details of the automatic update reservation control unit 31 will be described later in the functional operation.

  The update data holding unit (for center) 32 is a functional unit that holds update data related to server software and / or client software in a predetermined storage area. That is, the update data holding unit (for center) 32 is a function of a storage device (for example, “HDD”) included in the device. Here, “update data related to server software” refers to update data related to software operating on the information processing apparatus 100 which is a software management server. Further, “update data related to client software” is update data related to software operating on the device 200. Therefore, the update data holding unit (for the center) 32 manages and holds a software group provided from the manufacturer side to the authorized user as a package. The details of the update data held by the update data holding unit (for center) 32 will be described later in the description of the automatic update control unit 11 hereinafter.

"machine"
The device 200 includes an update confirmation unit 21 and the like.

  The update confirmation unit 21 is a functional unit that confirms the necessity of software update based on the version (current version) of software (client software) that operates on the device. The update confirmation unit 21 determines whether update is necessary based on the confirmation result of the latest version of the client software performed on the information processing apparatus 100. As a result, the update confirmation unit 21 downloads the latest version of update data from the information processing apparatus 100. As a result, the device 200 can update the client software. The details of the update confirmation unit 21 will be described later in the functional operation.

<< Information processing device (software management server) >>
The information processing apparatus 100 includes an automatic update control unit 11 and an update data holding unit (for device) 12.

  The update data holding unit (for device) 12 is a functional unit that holds update data related to software (client software) running on the device 200 in a predetermined storage area. That is, the update data holding unit (for device) 12 is a function of a storage device (for example, “HDD”) included in the device. Therefore, the update data holding unit (for device) 12 manages and holds an update data group downloaded from the center 300 by the automatic update control unit 11 described later.

  Further, the update data holding unit (for device) 12 also holds an update key issued to the authorized user. The details of the update key held by the update data holding unit (for device) 12 will be described later in the description of the automatic update control unit 11 below.

  The automatic update control unit 11 is a functional unit that controls automatic update of software (server software) that operates on the apparatus and / or download of software (client software) that operates on the device 200 according to the update reservation. The automatic update control unit 11 performs the above control according to the update reservation set by the automatic update reservation control unit 31 included in the center 300.

  For example, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 included in the center 300 has an automatic update script file in which a processing procedure for performing software update using a package management function is defined together with reservation settings such as update date and time for the information processing apparatus 100. Send.

  Therefore, the automatic update control unit 11 performs automatic software update control by executing the processing procedure defined in the received automatic update script file at the set update date and time. Therefore, the automatic update control unit 11 includes a script execution unit 111 that is a functional unit that executes an automatic update script file, and a script deletion unit 115 that is a functional unit that deletes a file after automatic update.

  Further, in the automatic update control unit 11, when the automatic update script file is executed by the script execution unit 111, the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112, the update data validity confirmation unit 113, the update data storage unit 114, etc. Each functional unit operates. That is, the automatic update script file defines a processing procedure for operating these functional units.

  The dependency relationship resolution confirmation unit 112 is a functional unit that confirms resolution (resolved / unresolved) of dependency relationships in software updates such as “updatable package” and “package necessary for installing the package”, for example. It is. The dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 uses a package management function that operates by executing a script to determine whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved in software update using an update key issued to an authorized user. The dependency solution confirmation unit 112 stores information necessary for software update acquired from the center 300 (information related to the update key and update data) and a predetermined storage area of the device issued to the authorized user. It is determined whether or not the dependency in software update can be resolved based on the update key.

  Here, software update information having dependency relationships and an operation example for solving these dependency relationships will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data example of software update information according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows an example of software update information held by the update data holding unit (for device) 12 included in the information processing apparatus 100 and the update data holding unit (for center) 32 included in the center 300.

The update data holding unit (for device) 12 holds an update key 12D issued to an authorized user. The update key 12D, a public key 12D ₁ for confirming the validity of the encrypted update data includes a communication certificate 12D ₂ with the center 300.

The update data holding unit (for center) 32 holds an update data group 32D related to software. The update data group 32D, a server for updating data 32D ₂ and the client update data 32D _3, includes a parent update data 32D ₁ corresponding to the parent to these data.

Broken line arrows in the figure represent the dependency relationship between the various software update information. For example, as described above, the server update data 32D ₂ and the client update data 32D ₃ are dependent on the parent update data 32D ₁ . That is, the parent update data 32D ₁ is required for installation of the server update data 32D ₂ and the client update data 32D ₃ (software update using these data). The update data 32D is dependent on the update key 12D. That is, the update key 12D is required for installing the parent update data 32D ₁ , the server update data 32D ₂ , and the client update data 32D _{3 included in} the update data 32D.

  Package management functions such as YUM dynamically resolve such dependencies. Therefore, the dependency relationship resolution confirmation unit 112 controls the download of the update data 32D related to the software from the center 300 using the characteristics of the package management function (resolution of dependency relationships).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a download control example according to the solution of the dependency relationship according to the present embodiment.
For example, FIG. 5A shows a software update environment for authorized users. In this case, the information processing apparatus 100 performs the following download control.

  First, the information processing apparatus 100 acquires information necessary for software update (information related to the update key and update data) from the center 300. The information obtained at this time is information indicating the dependency. Based on this acquired information, the information processing apparatus 100 grasps the dependency relationship of software groups that must be resolved when updating software. In the information processing apparatus 100, the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 confirms the solution of the dependency relationship grasped based on the acquired information. As a result, in the information processing apparatus 100, the update data holding unit (for equipment) 12 receives the update key 12 </ b> D necessary for installing the update data 32 </ b> D held in the update data holding unit (for center) 32 of the center 300. Since it is retained, it can be confirmed that the dependency relationship is resolved. As described above, when the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 determines that the dependency relationship can be resolved (when it is confirmed that the dependency has been resolved), the information processing apparatus 100 receives the update data 32D relating to the software from the center 300. Downloadable.

  On the other hand, FIG. 5B shows a third-party software update environment. In this case, the information processing apparatus 100 performs the following download control. It is as described above until the information processing apparatus 100 grasps the dependency relationship between the software groups.

  In the information processing apparatus 100, the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 confirms the solution of the dependency relationship grasped based on the acquired information. As a result, in the information processing apparatus 100, the update data holding unit (for device) 12 receives the update key 12D necessary for installing the update data 32D held by the update data holding unit (for center) 32 of the center 300. Since it is not retained, it can be confirmed that the dependency relationship is not resolved. That is, since the information processing apparatus 100 does not hold the update key 12D, it is confirmed that the information processing apparatus 100 is not a software management server owned by an authorized user. For this reason, the information processing apparatus 100 cannot download the update data related to the software from the center 300 when it is determined that the dependency relationship cannot be resolved (when it is confirmed that the dependency is not resolved).

  In this way, in the information processing apparatus 100, the download of update data related to software from the center 300 is controlled based on the determination of whether or not the dependency relationship is resolved by the package management function.

The update data validity confirmation unit 113 is a functional unit that confirms the validity of the update data 32D downloaded and encrypted by the above control. Update data validity confirmation unit 113, the update data holding unit (equipment) 12 using a validation public key 12D ₁ included in the update key 12D for holding in check the validity of the update data 32D. At this time, in the information processing apparatus 100, if the update data validity confirmation unit 113 cannot confirm the validity, the information processing apparatus 100 notifies that fact and ends the process related to the software update.

The update data storage unit 114 is a functional unit that stores the client update data 32D ₃ whose validity has been confirmed in the update data holding unit (for device) 12. The update data storage unit 114 stores the client update data 32D ₃ according to a predetermined storage location (a predetermined storage area location).

  Further, the automatic update control unit 11 confirms whether or not software update is necessary based on the version (current version) of software (server software) operating on the apparatus. The automatic update control unit 11 determines whether update is necessary based on the confirmation result of the latest version of the server software performed on the center 300. The details of the automatic update control unit 11 will be described later in the functional operation.

  As described above, the software management function according to the present embodiment is realized by the above-described functional units linking to each other.

  Next, a detailed operation of the software management function (operational group group linkage operation) will be described with reference to a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure.

  In the software management function, a program (software component for realizing the software management function) installed (installed) in the information processing apparatus 100 is read from the storage location (for example, “ROM”) onto the RAM 104 by the CPU 106. This is realized by executing the following processing.

  The following description will be divided into “processing related to automatic update reservation” (pre-processing) and “processing related to software update” (processing 2).

<Processing related to automatic update reservation>
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure for performing automatic update reservation setting according to the present embodiment. In the software management system 1, the following automatic update reservation process is performed between the information processing apparatus 100 and the center 300 via the external network I.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the center 300, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 accepts automatic update reservation settings related to software via a predetermined GUI (Graphical User Interface) (step S101). For example, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 displays a setting screen as shown in FIG. 7 on a display device (not shown) provided in the center 300.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a software update reservation setting screen according to this embodiment.
FIG. 7A shows an example of a list screen of various information related to automatic update. The user can browse such a list screen and check the current automatic update status. For example, it can be seen from the list screen shown in FIG. 7A that the automatic update processing of the update type identifier [ID01] for identifying the type of automatic update has been completed. It can also be seen that the automatic update processing of the update type identifier [ID02] is incomplete.

  For the incomplete automatic update process, for example, by clicking the [Create] link on the list screen, reservation setting for automatic update can be performed from the setting screen.

  FIG. 7B shows an example of a reservation setting screen related to automatic updating. The user can perform various settings related to automatic update via such a setting screen. For example, from the setting screen shown in FIG. 7B, an update type, an update date and time, an automatic update script file, and the like can be designated. The automatic update script file can be specified by selecting a file created and saved by the user by clicking the [Browse] button on the setting screen.

Here, the automatic update script file created by the user will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data example of the automatic update script file 41 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 shows an example of an automatic update script file 41 using a shell script. The shell script is a script that can be directly interpreted and processed by the OS shell, which is used when a plurality of processes are performed together (batch processing).

  In the automatic update script file 41 shown in FIG. 8, “yum update” is described, and the processing procedure of update execution (software update execution) by YUM (package management function) is defined. This corresponds to the operation execution definition of the dependency relationship solution confirmation unit 112.

  As described above, the automatic update script file 41 has a predetermined processing procedure for operating each functional unit such as the update data validity check unit 113 and the update data storage unit 114 as well as the dependency solution check unit 112. It can be defined by writing in the script language.

Returning to FIG. 6, the process related to the automatic update reservation will be described.
In the center 300, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 transmits the reservation setting accepted via the setting screen to the information processing apparatus 100 via the external network I (step S102). At this time, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 transmits the specified automatic update script file together with the update type and the update date / time. In this way, the center 300 requests the information processing apparatus 100 to make a reservation for automatic update related to software.

  The information processing apparatus 100 passes the received information to the automatic update control unit 11. Thereby, in the information processing apparatus 100, automatic update reservation is performed by the automatic update control unit 11 (step S103). At this time, the automatic update control unit 11 stores the received automatic update script file in a predetermined storage area in association with the update type and update date / time information.

  The information processing apparatus 100 transmits the automatic update reservation result [OK / NG] by the automatic update control unit 11 to the reservation request source center 300 via the external network I and responds. Accordingly, in the center 300, the automatic update reservation control unit 31 notifies the reservation completion based on the reservation result received from the information processing apparatus 100.

  In the software management system 1 according to the present embodiment, the software update performed by the information processing apparatus 100 is reserved by executing the process related to the automatic software update reservation shown in the above processing procedure.

<Processing related to software update>
9 and 10 are sequence diagrams (Nos. 1 and 2) showing an example of a processing procedure for updating software according to the present embodiment. In the software management system 1, the following processing related to software update is performed between the information processing apparatus 100 and the center 300 via the external network I.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 100 uses the automatic update control unit 11 to confirm the version of software (server software) that operates on the apparatus (step S <b> 201). At this time, the automatic update control unit 11 acquires the current version of the software.

  The information processing apparatus 100 uses the automatic update control unit 11 to access the update data holding unit (for center) 32 included in the center 300 via the external network I, and confirms the latest version of software operating on the apparatus ( Step S202). Thereby, the automatic update control unit 11 acquires the latest version of the software.

  In the information processing apparatus 100, the automatic update control unit 11 determines whether or not the software operating on the apparatus needs to be updated based on the current version and the latest version (step S203). When the current version is different from the latest version, the automatic update control unit 11 determines that software update is necessary.

  Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 100 uses the script execution unit 111 included in the automatic update control unit 11 to specify the specified automatic update script file 41 (the script specified based on the update type) according to the update date and time set when the automatic update reservation is accepted. ) Is executed (step S204).

  When the automatic update script file 41 is executed, the information processing apparatus 100 performs the following process. The processing procedure of FIG. 9 described below is a processing procedure when, for example, an update by a YUM (package management function) described in the executed automatic update script file 41 is executed.

  The script execution unit 111 accesses the update data holding unit (for center) 32 included in the center 300 via the external network I, and receives information (information related to the update key 12D and the update data 32D) necessary for software update. Obtain (step S205). Thereby, the script execution part 111 acquires the information which shows the dependence relationship of a software group.

  Subsequently, the script execution unit 111 executes processing by the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 defined in the script.

  The dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 confirms the solution of the dependency relationship related to the software update based on the acquired information and the update key 12D held in the update data holding unit (for device) 12 of the information processing apparatus 100. (Step S206). Based on the acquired information, the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 identifies the update key 12D necessary for installing the software update data 32D. The dependency solution confirmation unit 112 determines whether or not the identified update key 12D is held in the update data holding unit (for device) 12 included in the information processing apparatus 100 (determines the presence of the update key). ). As a result, when the update key 12D is held (if it exists), the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 confirms that the dependency relationship related to the software update is resolved. On the other hand, when the update key 12D is not held (when it does not exist), it is confirmed that the dependency relationship related to the software update is not resolved.

  When it is confirmed that the update key 12D exists and the dependency relationship can be resolved (step S207: YES), the dependency relationship confirmation unit 112 returns the confirmation result to the script execution unit 111.

Based on the confirmation result, the script execution unit 111 requests the center 300 to download the update data 32D via the external network I (step S208). That is, the script execution unit 111 accesses the update data holding unit (for center) 32 included in the center 300, and acquires the corresponding update data 32D. At this time, the script execution unit 111, by using the center communication certificate 12D ₂ included in the update data 12D resolving dependencies, it communicates with the center 300.

  On the other hand, if the dependency solution confirmation unit 112 returns the result indicating that the update key 12D does not exist and the dependency relationship cannot be resolved, the script execution unit 111 returns If there is a possibility that the software update process is not performed, a predetermined error process is performed, and the process ends.

  As described above, in the information processing apparatus 100, the download of the update data 32 </ b> D from the center 300 is permitted only to authorized users determined based on the dependency relationship confirmation.

  Subsequently, the script execution unit 111 executes processing by the update data validity checking unit 113 defined in the script.

The update data validity confirmation unit 113 confirms the validity of the update data 32D downloaded from the center 300 (step S209). Update data validity confirmation unit 113, using the validation public key 12D ₁ included in the update key 12D resolving dependencies, decrypts the encrypted update data 32D, whether valid data Determine.

  When it is confirmed that the update data 32 is valid data (step S210: YES), the update data validity confirmation unit 113 returns the confirmation result to the script execution unit 111.

From here, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 10 will be described.
Subsequently, the script execution unit 111 executes processing by the update data storage unit 114 defined in the script.

  On the other hand, if the script execution unit 111 returns a result indicating that the update data 32 is not valid data from the update data validity check unit 113, the script update unit 111 may not be able to perform software update processing normally. If there is, a predetermined error process is performed and the process is terminated.

The update data storage unit 114 stores the update data 32D whose validity has been confirmed based on the confirmation result in the update data holding unit (for device) 12 included in the information processing apparatus 100 (step S211). At this time, the update data storage unit 114 stores the update data 32D whose validity has been confirmed in the storage destination (storage area) of the existing data, and updates the data. Update data 32D that validity has been confirmed that when an update server data 32D _2, based on the update necessity determination result in step S203, the existing data is updated.

  After the update data 32 is stored, the update data storage unit 114 returns the execution result to the script execution unit 111.

  In this way, the script execution unit 111 executes a processing procedure related to automatic update of software defined in the script.

  When the script execution unit 111 finishes executing the automatic update script file 41, the script execution unit 111 returns the execution result to the automatic update control unit 11.

  In response to the execution result, the information processing apparatus 100 deletes the post-execution automatic update script file 41 by the script deletion unit 115 included in the automatic update control unit 11 (step S212). Thereby, the information processing apparatus 100 obtains the deletion result by the automatic update control unit 11 and ends the series of processes.

  In the software management system 1, the following processing related to software update is performed between the information processing apparatus 100 and the device 200 via the internal network N.

  The device 200 uses the update confirmation unit 21 to confirm the version of software (client software) that operates on the device (step S301). At this time, the update confirmation unit 21 acquires the current version of the software.

  The device 200 uses the update confirmation unit 21 to access the update data holding unit (for device) 12 included in the information processing device 100 via the internal network N, and confirms the latest version of the software that operates on the device (step). S302). Thereby, the update confirmation part 21 acquires the newest version of software.

  In the device 200, the update confirmation unit 21 determines whether or not the software operating on the device needs to be updated based on the current version and the latest version (step S303). If the current version is different from the latest version, the update confirmation unit 21 determines that the software needs to be updated.

Update check unit 21, based on the confirmation result, via an internal network N, it requests a download of client update data 32D ₂ in the information processing apparatus 100 (step S304). That is, the update check unit 21 accesses the update data holding unit (equipment) 12 of the information processing apparatus 100 has to acquire the client update data 32D ₂ corresponding.

  In the device 200, the software is updated using the update data 32D downloaded in this way.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, information necessary for software update (information related to the update key and update data: information indicating the dependency relationship) from the center 300 having the package management server function. ) To get.

  Using the package management function, the information processing apparatus 100 can solve the dependency relationship in software update based on the acquisition information and the update key 12D that is issued to the authorized user and held in a predetermined storage area of the apparatus. Check whether or not.

  At this time, the information processing apparatus 100 confirms the resolution of the dependency relationship as follows. The information processing apparatus 100 specifies the update key 12D necessary for installing the software update data 32D based on the acquired information. The information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the specified update key 12D is held in the update data holding unit (for device) 12 included in the apparatus (determines the presence of the update key). As a result, when the update key 12D is held (if present), the information processing apparatus 100 confirms that the dependency relationship related to the software update is resolved. On the other hand, when the update key 12D is not held (when it does not exist), it is confirmed that the dependency relationship related to the software update is not resolved.

  If the dependency relationship can be resolved, the information processing apparatus 100 downloads the update data 32D related to the software from the center 300.

  That is, the information processing apparatus 100 uses the package management function to update the software from the center 300 based on the determination of whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved in the software update using the update key 12D issued to the authorized user. Control download of data 32D.

  As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide a mechanism in which the update data 32D cannot be downloaded from the center 300 unless the dependency relationship in software update is resolved using the update key 12D.

  As a result, the software update function implemented with a small number of development man-hours by using the package management function can make the software located in a place accessible from an unspecified logarithm only available to authorized users. Yes (can prevent use by non-regular users).

  Although the above embodiment has been described so far, the “software management function” of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the above embodiment is different from each processing procedure described with reference to the drawings in the operating environment (platform). This is realized by the CPU 106 executing a program coded in a programming language suitable for the above.

  The program can be stored in a computer-readable recording medium 103a. Examples of the recording medium 103a include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD memory card (SD Memory Card), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

  Therefore, the program can be installed in the information processing apparatus 100 via the drive device 103 that can read the recording medium 103a by storing the program in the recording medium 103a. In addition, since the information processing apparatus 100 includes the interface device 107, the program can be downloaded and installed using an electric communication line such as the Internet.

  Finally, the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations of other elements with the shapes and configurations described in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Software management system 11 Automatic update control part 111 Script execution part 112 Dependency solution confirmation part 113 Update data correctness confirmation part 114 Update data storage part 115 Script deletion part 12 Update data holding part (for apparatus)
12D update key (D ₁ : Public key for validity confirmation, D ₂ : Certificate for center communication)
21 Update Confirmation Unit 31 Automatic Update Reservation Control Unit 32 Update Data Holding Unit (for Center)
32D update data (D ₁ : parent update data, D ₂ : server update data, D ₃ : client update data)
41 Automatic update script file 100 Information processing apparatus (software management server)
101 Input Device 102 Display Device 103 Drive Device (a: Recording Medium)
104 RAM (volatile semiconductor memory)
105 ROM (nonvolatile semiconductor memory)
106 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
107 Interface device (NIC)
108 HDD (nonvolatile storage device)
200 equipment (information processing device: client)
300 Software providing device (information processing device: package management server: center)
I External network (Internet)
N Internal network (LAN)
S Manufacturer side system U User side system

JP 2006-309497 A

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus connected to a center having a package management server function disclosed to the outside via a predetermined data transmission path,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for software update from the center;
Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the dependency in software update can be resolved based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means and the update key issued to the authorized user and held in a predetermined storage area of the device When,
An information processing apparatus comprising: download means for downloading update data of software to be updated from the center based on a confirmation result of whether or not dependency relation resolution is possible by the confirmation means. The information acquisition means includes
The information regarding one or a plurality of update data of software held by the center as a package and an update key necessary for installing the update data is acquired as information necessary for software update. Item 4. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. The confirmation means includes
Whether or not an update key necessary for installing the update data is held in a predetermined storage area of the device based on information relating to the update key included in the information acquired by the information acquisition unit Determine
If it is determined that the update key is held,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is confirmed that the dependency relationship can be solved. The download means includes
When the confirmation means confirms that the dependency can be solved,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update data is downloaded from the center. The download means includes
5. The update data is downloaded by performing communication with the center using a communication certificate included in an update key when the dependency is confirmed by the confirmation unit. The information processing apparatus described.   6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the software is connected to a device that updates the software based on a determination result of whether or not the software operating on the device is necessary, through a predetermined data transmission path. The information processing apparatus described. A software management system in which a center having a package management server function disclosed to the outside and an information processing apparatus are connected by a predetermined data transmission path,
The information processing apparatus is
Information acquisition means for acquiring information necessary for software update from the center;
Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the dependency in software update can be resolved based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means and the update key issued to the authorized user and held in a predetermined storage area of the device When,
A software management system comprising: download means for downloading update data of software to be updated from the center based on a confirmation result of whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved by the confirmation means. A software management method in an information processing apparatus connected to a center having a package management server function disclosed to the outside via a predetermined data transmission path,
Information acquisition procedure for acquiring information necessary for software update from the center;
Confirmation procedure for confirming whether or not the dependency in software update can be resolved based on the information acquired by the information acquisition procedure and the update key issued to the authorized user and held in a predetermined storage area of the device When,
A software management method comprising: a download procedure for downloading update data of software to be updated from the center based on a confirmation result of whether or not the dependency relationship can be resolved by the confirmation procedure.

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