JP3266641B2 - Control device and mail server - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system for executing a job using an electronic mail system and a job execution method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art E-mail-based methods include:
(1) A method of registering SYSOUT data, that is, a job execution result, in a distribution destination mail box by requesting by e-mail as described in JP-A-1-108830, (2) JP-A-64-6
A method of requesting a host administrator to execute a job by e-mail and distributing an execution result e-mail from the host computer as described in JP-A-7672, (3) E-mail as described in JP-A-1-267758 Thus, there is known a method of requesting a host computer to execute a job and distribute an execution result via an e-mail system independent of the host computer.

[0003]

The prior art (1) has a configuration in which an electronic mail system operates on a computer system. Therefore, there are the following various problems in terms of ease of use. For example, it is necessary to define a mail terminal on the computer in advance, and since the time of applying for mail depends on the operation time of the computer system, that is, the operation time of the system, the requester always keeps the operation time of the host computer. You need to be aware of

In the above prior art (2), the host administrator determines whether or not to accept a job execution request mail.
It has the disadvantage of requiring manual intervention.

[0005] The above prior art (3) does not have the above problems, but in spite of the fact that there are some matters to be considered when realizing such a system, this prior art does not have these problems. Did not touch. For example, when there are a plurality of host computers, there is a problem as to which host computer executes the requested mail job. Still another problem is how to deal with a failure of any of the host computers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer system and a job execution method for solving such a practical problem that arises when implementing a system for requesting job execution using electronic mail. To provide.

[0007]

According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, a mail terminal,
The system is constituted by an e-mail system, a computer system for executing a job, and a job control terminal as a device for monitoring the operation of the computer system. In the mail terminal, the user applies for job execution control and refers to the job execution progress status and execution result by mail (hereinafter, mail relating to a job is referred to as job mail). The job execution control application mail includes a job execution request specified by the user, a request for receiving and receiving a job execution result (single / broadcast / circulation distribution), a request for receiving the job execution progress status, Job execution instructions such as a request to be sent as input data to the server. An e-mail system is a host computer for a group of mail terminals, includes a storage device for job mail, has a format conversion table between the host computer and each mail terminal, and has data that can be referred to by each mail terminal for job execution results. Convert to The job control terminal includes an e-mail system and a means for exchanging job mail. The means for issuing a control command to the computer processing system by interpreting the acceptability of the job mail and interpreting the content of the request. And a means for receiving job execution progress data and generating a job mail for reporting the data to the job requester, an electronic mail system, and a means for exchanging job mail relating to the job execution result and the progress status. Since the job control terminal operates independently of the computer system, (a) the job application can be accepted at any time without depending on the operation time of the computer (operates as a job reception server), (b) Since the operation of the computer system is collectively managed in an external manner, it is possible to select the execution of another computer in operation at the time of computer failure, degeneration, or operation. Furthermore, in order to reduce the TAT (Turn Around Time; the time from the application of job execution to the end of execution) of the job submitted by e-mail, the TA of the job for each active host computer is reduced.
By measuring and managing T, an execution computer is selected according to the load. Next, the computer system interprets the command issued from the job control terminal, accepts mail from the mail terminal as input data at the time of job execution, starts the job at a specified date and time, Means for distributing the progress status of the job execution and the execution result at the end of the job execution to the electronic mail system via the job control terminal.

[0008] In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mail terminal, an electronic mail system, and a computer system constitute a system. A mail exchange means is provided between the electronic mail system and the computer system, and a series of processing described in the first embodiment is realized. In the present embodiment, since the configuration does not include the job control terminal, the electronic mail system directly communicates with the computer system to determine the operation state of the computer system. Since the job application is made to the electronic mail system using mail as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to use a terminal defined on the computer system. The problem that a job application can be made only in an area where a terminal defined in the conventional computer system exists is solved.

[0009] In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the first or second embodiment, T connected to a computer system is used.
When a batch job is submitted at an SS (Time Sharing System) terminal, the mail distribution destination of the job execution result is specified. At the end of the job execution, the mail of the job execution result is distributed to the electronic mail system by the mail exchange described in the first and second embodiments. This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in which a job execution is requested by e-mail, and is a usage method in which job execution is immediately instructed and only the result is received by e-mail.

[0010]

According to the present invention, it is possible to select an execution host according to the operating state and the load of the host computer. Also, the execution result of the job requested by the TSS terminal can be transmitted by e-mail.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a system to which an electronic mail driven job execution control system of the present invention is applied. It comprises a mail terminal 1 for sending and receiving mail, an e-mail server 2 for performing processing instructed by the mail terminal 1, a group of host computers 42, and a job control terminal 4 as a device for monitoring the execution status of jobs by those. The computer system 3 is connected to the LAN 11 and the computer system 3 and the job control terminal 4
9 is connected. Another WS 83 not directly related to the present invention may be connected to the LAN 11. This embodiment is characterized in that the electronic mail server 2 is configured on a computer different from the computer system, and the job control terminal 4
And can be communicated by e-mail. The feature of the above configuration is that the job control terminal 4 basically monitors the operation in the computer system 3, particularly monitors the operation state and the load amount, and issues from the mail terminal 1 using the result. This is to perform schedule control for selecting an execution host computer in response to a request mail relating to the executed job execution control. Further, the job control terminal 4 can always receive a request mail relating to job execution control without being affected by the operation state of the computer system 3. Various terminals such as a personal computer 18 and a word processor 19 can be connected to the electronic mail server 2 as mail terminals via a display terminal 12 and a telephone line via a public network 17. The mailbox 10 is a post office box for managing e-mails transmitted and received from the mail terminal 1. The post office box 39 addressed to the host is an application form e-mail 6 requesting job execution control. The job execution result mail 7, the job execution progress mail 8, and the post office box 41 for the job can be created for each job, and the data mail 9 used as the input data at the time of job execution is stored. These mails 6 to 9 relate to the job execution control of the present invention, and are collectively called job mail 5. The mailbox 10 is a mailbox of a general-purpose e-mail system, and there is a user use mail other than the job mail. Email server 2
Is a job network exchange M routine 16 for exchanging the job control terminal 4 and the job mail 5 which is a characteristic component of the existing electronic mail system 15 and the first embodiment. It is composed of a mail format / code conversion 13 for performing mail format and code conversion processing at the time of exchange, and a mail conversion table 14 (MCT). Blocks 13 and 16 in the electronic mail server 2 are each constituted by a program. To the job control terminal 4, a mailbox branch office 20, a mail / host conversion ID file 49, and a display terminal 21 are connected. The mailbox branch office 20 includes a post-office box 22 for the host, a post-office box 23 for the job, and a post-office box 24 for each user as in the case of the mailbox 10 of the e-mail server 2. Holds the contents of The mailbox branch office 20 holds only the job mail 5. As described above, the mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 each have the following two advantages of having a mail box. (A) The job control terminal 4 does not need to be aware of the mail format unique to the electronic mail server 2. The job control terminal may be in a standard mail format (for example, a UNIX system mail format). (B) By having the mail box branch station 20, the job control terminal 4 only needs to hold mail relating to job execution control, and does not need to be aware of other general user mail.
Further, when all the host computers are in a stopped state, mail can be pooled in the mail box branch station 20 until the host computers start operating. Here, the mail format is mainly header information of the mail (control information other than the text such as the issuer name, recipient name, and address information), and differs depending on each electronic mail system. The mail / host ID conversion file 49 stores the mail ID used when the user logs in to the electronic mail server 2 from the mail terminal 1.
And a correspondence table of host IDs when host computers are used. The mail ID is used for user permission check of a request mail related to job execution control, and the host ID is used for user charging of the host computer. The components of the job control terminal 4 will be described. An operating system (OS) 25 controls the entire job control terminal. The job control terminal 4 is composed of a computer, and each component is composed of a program. The job console control 28 controls a job executed in the computer system 3 or manages a console screen of an operator who controls the entire computer system 3. Job mail reception and distribution 2
7 issues a control command to the computer system 3 by interpreting the job mail 5 requested from the mail terminal 1 and further receives the job execution result and the job progress data from the computer system 3 to convert the job mail 5. Generate.
The job mail network exchange J routine 26 exchanges the job mail network 5 with the job mail network exchange M routine 16. Host computer operation monitoring control 44
(A) communicates with the OS of each host computer to monitor the operating state of the host computer, and (b) compares the TAT of a job executed on each host computer with a job TAT corresponding to the job class for each host computer. Table (JTATW) 86
Manage with. (A) manages whether the host computer is running or stopped, and is used to select a running host computer as an execution host when receiving job execution by mail. (B) shows the TAT corresponding to the job class in the job TAT table (JTATH) 87 on the host computer.
Information is managed and periodically, JTATW ( 86 )
Is reflected in The TAT information corresponding to the job class is provided by the job control terminal 4 in response to a mail job execution request, by selecting an execution host according to the load, and when the job request is accepted, the expected end time of the job is indicated by the applicant. Used to notify. The user ID conversion 50 uses the mail / host ID conversion file 49 to convert the user ID of the mail sender into the corresponding user ID of the host computer.
Convert to D The computer system 3 includes a plurality of host computers 42, a plurality of TSS terminals 30, and a job JCL file 3 for storing JCL data of a job requested by the mail terminal 1 as a disk file.
8. Spool file 3 storing job execution results
7. A job application bibliography file 36 storing the application bibliography 6 requested from the mail terminal is connected. In the computer system 3 of this embodiment, the disk files 36 to 38 are connected to each host computer and are shared. The spool file 37 includes an input queue 47 for a job waiting to be executed and an output queue 48 in which the execution result of the job is stored. Here, J1 to J3 are normal batch jobs, M1 to
M2 is a job requested by mail and can be mixed. Program configuration of the computer system 3, di storing OS code 31 for controlling the entire computer system, job mail execution control routine 33 for controlling the execution of the job that has been requested from the mail terminal 1, the job 34 currently running
Job mail table (JMT) 32, TSS control 45,
A TSS command 46 executed under the TSS control 45,
A spool extraction routine 35 for extracting a job execution result from a spool file 37 , a job TAT table (JTAT) for managing a job TAT for each job class.
H) It is composed of 87 . The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. A method of sending a job execution result by e-mail from the TSS command 46 will be described in a third embodiment.

The processing will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a series of job execution control functions that can be requested from the mail terminal 1. 51 to 54 are request functions in the present invention. Reference numeral 51 denotes an execution request for a job executed by the computer system 3. Reference numeral 52 denotes a request to receive a job execution result executed by the computer system 3 by e-mail. Reference numeral 53 denotes a request to receive the progress of the job being executed by the computer system 3 by e-mail. Progress is reported at regular intervals. Reference numeral 54 requests that the mail in the post office box 9 addressed to the job in the mailbox 10 in FIG. 1 be sent as input data of the job executed in the computer system 3. The job execution control function that can be requested by the mail terminal 1 has been described above.

FIG. 3 shows details of the application bibliography 6 in the post office box 39 addressed to the host. This is a specific application method for the request function of FIG. 61 is the name of the job to be submitted, 72 is the job J
CL (job control language) is the content of the execution instruction to the computer. In the JCL, it is possible to specify a plurality of program names to be specifically instructed to be executed and data and the like at the time of executing the programs. This is particularly effective when executing an irregular business program or directly specifying execution control parameters of a program. 72 can be omitted, and if omitted, the job JCL corresponding to the job name of 61 is
Extracted from the CL file 38. The job name may be a data set name in which the execution JCL is stored.
62 designates a job execution request, 63 designates a job execution date and time designated when the job execution request of 62 is designated, 64 designates reception of a job execution result, and 73 designates a job execution result. Specify the output job class that specifies the data actually received. Reference numeral 65 denotes a distribution destination name when receiving is designated by 64, and reference numerals 66 to 68 designate a distribution method. A single distribution 66, a broadcast distribution 67, a circulation distribution 68, and a reception date and time 69 can be designated. 70 is a request to receive the progress of job execution, and 71 is a request to send mail data to the job. 6 of the above job execution request function
2, 64, 70 and 71 can be specified individually and independently.

FIG. 4 explains in detail three mail data sending request methods among the four distribution methods shown in FIG. The single information distribution 66 stores the job execution result 82 of the spool file 37 in the distribution destination user post-office box 81 of the mailbox 10 connected to the electronic mail server 2. The distribution destination is specified by the distribution destination name 65 described in FIG. The broadcast distribution 67 transmits the user post-office boxes 83, 84, and 8 of the mailbox 10 for the user names A1, B1, and C1 designated by the group name 86 of the group file 43.
5, the job execution result 82 is stored at the same time. Similarly, the distribution destination group name 86 is designated by the distribution destination name 65 in FIG. Similarly to the broadcast distribution, the distribution destination is specified by the group name 86 of the group file 43, but the job execution result 82 is first stored in the post office box 83 of the user name A1. When the user A1 refers to the stored e-mail and instructs the e-mail system to distribute to the next person, then the user B1
It is stored in one PO box 84. After that, it is distributed to the next user in the same procedure. It should be noted that the user may add a note when referring to the mail. In this case, the edited result is distributed to the next user. Next, in the mail data transmission, the mail sent to the post-office box 41 for the job in the mailbox 10 connected to the electronic mail server 2 is stored as input data when the corresponding job of the job JCL file is executed. It is necessary to send mail data to the post-office box 41 to the job by the time the job is executed. A job PO box exists for each job. The sales slip of the branch is sent using the e-mail system, and the total is used at the head office or the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, the flow of the process of FIG. 1 will be described. The sharing of processing for each of the mail terminal 1, the electronic mail server 2, the job control terminal 4, and the computer system 3 will be described.
First, a user requests a job using the mail terminal 1 (step 100). At this time, job submission,
A series of job execution controls such as receiving job execution results, receiving job execution progress status, sending mail data, etc.
A description will be given of the flow of processing in the case where the request has been made. The e-mail server 2 sends the mail addressed to the host requested by the mail terminal 1 to the mailbox branch office 20 of the job control terminal 4 by mail exchange (step 101). The job control terminal 4 interprets the mail and issues a control command to the host computer 42 (Step 102). The host computer 42 stores the contents of the request in the job application bibliography file 36 (step 103). Execution of the job is waited until a specified time. Next, the user sends mail data to the job as input data of the job at the mail terminal 1 (step 104). The e-mail server 2 sends the mail addressed to the job to the mailbox branch office 20 of the job control terminal 4.
(Step 105). The job control terminal 4 issues a control command for mail data to the host computer 42 (Step 106). The host computer 42 stores the mail data as input data of the corresponding job in the job JCL file 38 (Step 107). In the host computer 42, the job JC
The JCL for execution is extracted from the L file 38, and execution of the job is started (step 111). During execution of the job, job execution progress data is sent to the job control terminal 4 at regular intervals. The job control terminal 4 receives the job progress data and sends the data to the mailbox 1 of the electronic mail server 2.
0 by mail exchange (step 110). The e-mail server 2 registers the above e-mail in the PO box of the requester (step 109). The user refers to the job execution progress mail on the mail terminal 1 (step 10).
8). When the execution of the job is completed, the host computer 42 extracts the job execution result from the spool 37 and sends it to the job control terminal (step 115). The job execution control terminal 4 receives the job execution result and sends it to the mailbox 10 of the electronic mail server 2 by mail exchange (step 114). The e-mail server 2 registers the job execution result mail in the post-office box of the user. At this time, SY
The format information unique to the SOUT data is converted to correspond to the mail terminal 1 (113). The user refers to the job execution result on the mail terminal 1. Further, processing, redistribution and the like are possible (step 112).

The details of each process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the job mail network exchange M routine 16 which is a component of the electronic mail server 2.
This is the process. In the present embodiment, the job network exchange M routine 16 of the electronic mail server 2 writes and reads mail to and from the mailbox branch office 20 of the job control terminal 4. The advantage of this method is that the job control terminal 4 does not need to be aware of the unique mail format of the electronic mail server 2 (conversion of the mail format is performed by the electronic mail server 2). The job control terminal 4
You only need to be aware of the standard UNIX system mail format. Other embodiments relating to mail exchange between the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 will be described at the end. This routine 16 is executed by the electronic mail system 1 at regular intervals.
5 is started. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the write processing 16a to the mailbox branch station 20 in this routine 16. In step 121, a remote mount command is issued to access the mailbox branch office 20 connected to the job control terminal 4. This processing enables access to files on the network. At step 122, the mail is read from the post-office box 39 addressed to the host of the mail box 10. In step 123, the mail format / code conversion 13 is called to perform a mail format and code conversion process for the job control terminal 4. In step 124, the converted mail is written in the corresponding post office box of the mailbox branch office 20 of the job control terminal 4. In step 125, it is determined whether or not all mails addressed to the host have been processed. If there is an unprocessed mail, the process returns to step 122. When all the mails addressed to the host have been processed, a series of processes from steps 121 to 125 are performed on the mail addressed to the job in step 126. Next, reading processing 1 from the mailbox branch office 20
6b (FIG. 7) is performed. In step 131, a remote mount command is issued to access the mailbox branch office 20 connected to the job control terminal 4. In step 132, a mail is read from the post office box 24 addressed to the user of the mailbox branch office 20 . Step 13
In step 3, a mail format / code conversion 13 is called to perform a mail format and code conversion process for the electronic mail server 2. At step 134, the converted mail is written in the corresponding post-office box of the mailbox 10 of the electronic mail server 2 . At this time, a writing process to the post office box is performed based on the designated distribution method (single mail, broadcast, circulation). In the case of single distribution, it is stored in the user post box of the distribution destination name 65 described in FIG. In the case of broadcast distribution, the information is simultaneously stored in each user's post-office box belonging to the group name designated by the distribution destination name 65. In the case of circulation distribution, the mail is stored only in the first user's post-office box belonging to the group name designated by the distribution destination name 65, and when the first user refers to or edits the mail and instructs distribution to the next user, the mail is stored in the next user's post-office box. You. The above is the processing of the distribution method. Thereafter, in step 135, it is determined whether or not all mails addressed to the user have been processed. If there is an unprocessed mail, the process returns to step 132.
When all the mails addressed to the user have been processed, the process ends. 6 and 7, the mail exchange between the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 is realized.

Next, the processing of the mail format / code conversion 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows the e-mail server 2
Mail conversion table (M
CT) 14. 141 is for the host 42, 142 is for the e-mail server 2, and the subsequent entries are for the mail terminal 1. The entry for the mail terminal 1 is of the type of the mail terminal 1 connected to the electronic mail server 2.
146, 154 and 155 are entry names. 147
Are codes used by each system, and code conversion is performed based on this information. 148, a character size group used in each system; 149, a character pitch group; 150, a line pitch group; 151, a typeface group; 152, the number of lines per page;
Is a group of functional characters such as underlines and special characters defined in the data to control the format. 148 to 1
Reference numeral 53 is used particularly for converting spool data. Correspondence for each system is described for each of these items 147 to 153. For example, in order to convert the contents of the spool 37 of the host 42 for the e-mail server 2, the 141 and 142 entries are converted in correspondence. The entry of the mail terminal 1 at 143 is used for conversion when the mail terminal 1 refers to the mail in the mailbox 10. According to FIG.
Will be described. First, in step 161, a conversion process is performed on the mail format (management information and text) between the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4. The management information includes information such as a caller name, a call date, a receiver name, and a title. In step 162, the content of the mail is converted between the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 using the entry of the MCT (14). Here, the job control terminal 4 uses the host entry 141 because the host data is stored as it is, and the e-mail server 2 uses the entry entry 142 for it. Step 163 is a process of determining whether the converted data is a job execution result. If the converted data is a job execution result, in step 164, the spool data is converted for the electronic mail server using the MCT (14). From the host item of the code 141 of the MCT to the item of the email server of the code 142, 1
48 to 153 are converted in correspondence with each other. The case that does not pass step 163 is a job progress mail. The above is the processing of the mail format / code conversion 13.

Next, the job mail network exchange J routine 2 of the job control terminal 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Step 6 will be described. FIG. 10 shows the mailbox branch office 10.
This is a flowchart of the reading processing 26a from the OS 25 of the job control terminal 4 at regular time intervals. In step 171, the job application bibliographic mail is read from the post office box 22 addressed to the host of the mailbox branch office 20.
In step 172, the contents of the application bibliography are analyzed and the job mail reception / distribution 27 is started. At step 173, it is determined whether all the mails have been read and the processing has been completed. If not completed, the process returns to 171. If it has been completed, in step 174, the mail data in the post-office box 23 for the job in the mailbox branch office 20 is also deleted in step 17
From 1 to 173, the same processing is performed. The above is the reading process from the mailbox branch office 20. FIG.
1 is a flowchart of a writing process 26b of the job execution result mail and the job progress status mail to the mailbox branch station 20. It is started by the job mail reception / distribution 27. In step 176, the job mail is created by analyzing the data passed from the job mail reception / distribution 27.
This job mail includes two types, a job execution result and a job progress status. In step 177, the created mail is registered in a post-office box addressed to the user. FIG. 10 above
And FIG. 11 show the job mail network exchange J routine 2
6 is an explanation of the process 6;

Next, the processing of the job mail reception routine 27a and the distribution routine 27b will be described with reference to FIGS. The mail reception routine 27a of FIG. 12 is started from the job mail network exchange J routine 26, and receives the job mail read from the mailbox branch office 20. This job mail is of two types: job application and data mail. In step 180, the user ID conversion routine 50 executes the mail / mail
Using the host ID conversion file 49, a process of converting the mail ID of the requester to the corresponding host ID is performed. The configuration of the mail / host ID conversion file 49 will be described with reference to FIG. Mail ID entry 291 and host I
It is composed of a correspondence table with the D entry 292. When converted to the representative user ID, the same host ID may correspond to each mail ID. If the requester's e-mail ID does not exist in the e-mail ID entry 291, the request is recognized as an unauthorized user, and the mail box branch office 20 is sent to the job execution applicant to distribute a notification of the non-permission. Write a reply mail to the post office box 24 addressed to the user. In step 181, the mail is analyzed,
Create a data stream for host transfer. The data stream will be described with reference to FIG. Step 18
In step 2, a transfer macro is issued to transfer data to the execution host 42. At the time of the process of step 182, in order to select an operating host, the communication with the host computer operation monitoring routine 44 is performed to obtain the operating state of the host. When all the hosts are stopped, the job mail is written to the mailbox branch office 20 so that the mail can be selected again. When there are a plurality of active hosts, the TAT of the job class to which the job belongs is checked for each host with reference to the job TAT table (JTATW) 86 in FIG. 24, and the computer with the smallest TAT is set as the execution host. select. JTATW
( 86 ) is composed of a job TAT (284) for managing the TAT of each host computer corresponding to the job class 283. In step 183, the expected TA of the job
To distribute T to applicants by e-mail,
Job prediction T in post office box 24 addressed to user of box branch office 20
Write the reply mail with the AT entered. The job TAT (284) of the execution host selected in JTATW ( 86 ) is used as the expected TAT of the job. The above is the job reception processing. FIG. 13 shows a process of receiving a job result from the host 42. There are two types of job results: job execution results and job execution progress data. Step 1
Reference numeral 86 denotes a data reception waiting routine from the host 42. Step 18 when data is transferred from the host 42
7 is executed. In step 187, the host 42
Is analyzed, the job mail network exchange J routine 26 is activated to pass the analysis data, and is finally registered as a mail in the post office box 24 addressed to the user of the mailbox branch office 20.

The format of a data stream transferred between the host 42 and the job control terminal 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14A shows a job request format, and FIG. 14B shows a mail data transmission format.
Transferred to In FIG. 14A, 190 is the identifier ID of the data stream, 191 is the host user ID obtained in step 180 of FIG. 12, 212 is the host number selected as the execution host computer in step 180 of FIG. 12, and 192 is the application. This is the bibliographic content. FIG. 14B shows a data stream for sending mail data, 193 denotes an identifier ID of the data stream, 194 denotes a job ID for receiving data, and 195 denotes mail data. FIG.
4C shows the job progress status, and FIG. 14D shows the format of the job execution result, which is sent from the host 42 to the mailbox 10 via the job control terminal 4. FIG. 14 (c)
199 is an identifier ID of the data stream, 197 is an identifier ID (mail ID) of the job requester, and 198 is data indicating the job execution progress status. 1 in FIG. 14 (d)
Reference numeral 96 denotes an identifier ID of the data stream, and reference numeral 200 denotes distribution destination information including a distribution destination name and a distribution method. 202 is spool information including a job execution result, and 201 is its format control information. The format information 203 to 211 is included. 203 is the character size of the spool information 202, 204 is the character pitch, 205 is the line pitch, 206 is the typeface, 207 and 211
Is ruled line address information, which is stored for each same line type. 208 is a line type, and 209 and 210 are coordinate values of two points of the line, respectively. The spool information 202 includes a job execution result and a function character for changing the format information 201. The above is the format of the data stream transferred between the job control terminal 4 and the host 42.

The processing of the job mail execution control routine 33 and the spool removal routine 35 executed on the host 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 shows a process 33a for receiving a job mail from the job control terminal 4 in the job mail execution control routine 33. Step 2
Reference numeral 21 denotes a data reception waiting process from the job control terminal 4.
Analyze the data stream described in. Step 22
Reference numeral 3 denotes a job request determination process. In the case of a job request, step 225 is executed. Step 224 is processing for mail data. Reference numeral 225 registers the job request information received from the job control terminal 4 in the job application bibliographic file 36. Reference numeral 224 stores the mail data as input data of the corresponding job in the job JCL file 38. The above is the job mail reception processing. FIG. 16 shows a startup processing routine 33 for a job requested to be executed.
b. In step 231, the start date and time of each job is registered in the OS 31 with reference to the job application bibliographic file 36, and a timer interrupt occurs at the start date and time. Steps 232 and 233 are interrupt processing. Step 232
Is the job JC for the JCL of the job
Take out from the L file 38. J of the retrieved job
The CL is input to the OS 31 after being converted to be executed as a job for the host user ID of the job requester. If the job JCL is described in the application bibliography 6, the job JCL (72) in the application bibliography 6 is not read from the job JCL file 38, and it is determined whether the job JCL (72) is a job for the host user ID of the job requester. To
Examine the JCL. If it is the host user ID of the job requester, it is submitted to the OS 31. If not, an error message is output to the spool file 37 as the execution result of the job. The jobs submitted to the OS are sequentially stored in the input queue 47 of the spool file 37. Stored together with normal batch jobs. Step 23
In step 3, the bibliographic content of the start job is registered in the job mail table (JMT) 32. The above is the job activation process. With reference to FIG. 17, the contents of the JMT 32 that manages a job that is currently requested and executed by e-mail will be described. 236 is the content of the application bibliography at the time of job request, 234 is the estimated CPU time of the job, and 235 is the CP of the job executed so far.
Stores U time. Estimated CPU for execution CPU time 235
The job execution progress is calculated by dividing by the time 234. FIG. 18 shows a process of sending the job progress data currently being executed. This process is started by the OS 31 at regular time intervals. In step 241 collects execution CPU time of the current to the running job from the OS 31, JMT 32
To be stored. In step 242, the job execution progress described above is calculated from the expected CPU time 234 and the execution CPU time 235 of the job from the JMT 32, and the data stream shown in FIG. 14C is created. The data stream is transferred to the job control terminal 4. Note that the method of calculating the job progress is merely an example, and ESR defined in the following publication may be used.

"One Method of Performance Management in Computer System and Experiments Using It, Transactions of Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 591-598" Next, job end processing 33d will be described with reference to FIG. I do. With the realization of this processing, it becomes possible to return the execution result by e-mail only for the job requested to receive the execution result by e-mail. The job end process 33d is started by the OS 31 when the job ends. Step 255 is
It is determined whether the currently completed job is a job requested to receive the result. If the job name matches the job name field of JMT32, the job is recognized as a job requested by e-mail, and if a request to receive the execution result is requested, the following processing is performed. If the received job is a normal batch job or a job for which execution result reception has not been requested, the process ends. Step 256 is a process for determining whether or not the receiving date and time has been designated at the time of job request. If the receiving date and time is specified, the job receiving date and time is
1 so that a timer interrupt occurs at the reception date and time.
At the time of timer interruption, control is passed to the processing of step 257. Step 257 is a process of extracting the execution result of the job, and starts the spool extraction process 35. In step 258, a data stream of the job execution result shown in FIG. 14D is created from the information extracted from the spool extraction routine 35 and transferred to the job control terminal 4. In step 259, the job is deleted from JMT32. Next, the processing of the spool removal routine 35 will be described with reference to FIG. In step 266, an OS macro is issued to read the designated job from the spool 37. The OS 31 takes out the designated job from the job execution result output queue 48. If an output job class is specified, it is specified by an OS macro in order to retrieve a job execution result corresponding to the output job class. If no output job class is specified, read all job execution results. At step 267, the format information (character size, character pitch,
(Ruled line address, etc.) from the read file. In step 268, the actual job execution result is extracted from the read file. The above is the processing of the spool removal routine 35. Next, JTATH in FIG.
( 87 ) manages the job TAT (282) corresponding to the job class 281 executed on the host computer. The job TAT (282) is the time from when the job is input to the system until the execution is completed. The job TAT (282) is calculated for each job by the OS 31 and is constantly updated by averaging with the job TAT 282 of the job class to which the job belongs. You. The contents of JTATH ( 87 ) are periodically reflected in JTAW ( 86 ) of the job control terminal 4.

The above is the description of the first embodiment. Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described.

(1) There are the following two mail exchange methods between the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4.

(A) This is a method in which the job mail network exchange J routine 26 of the job control terminal 4 writes a mail into the mailbox 10 of the electronic mail server 2 and reads a mail from the mailbox branch office 10. In this method, the mail format conversion is performed by the job control terminal 4. The advantage of this method is that the e-mail server 2
Means that it is not necessary to pay special attention to the job control terminal 4.

(B) As another modified example, the job network exchange routines 16 and 26 of the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 normally use a UNIX system mail distribution program (Sendmail). In this method, it is not necessary for the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 to directly contact the other party's mailbox.

(2) The disk files 36 to 38 connected to the host computers exist independently for each host computer. In such a configuration, the host computers are geographically dispersed and exist as a single system. Even in this case, the configuration of the job control terminal does not change. However, the line 29 connecting each host computer and the job control terminal is a line. Even in such a system configuration, the e-mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 operate similarly.

(Embodiment 2) The embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 20 described above is a system including the electronic mail server 2, the job control terminal 4, and the computer system 3. Next, an embodiment in the case where the job control terminal 4 does not exist will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an implementation method in an operation mode in which there is no job control terminal for centrally managing the computer system 3. The description will focus on the differences from FIG. A series of job execution control functions that can be requested from the mail terminal 1 are the same as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the job mail network exchange M routine 16 of the electronic mail server 2 reads and writes the mailbox branch office 20 of the job control terminal 4, but in FIG. 21, it is connected to the host 42. The process is performed on the mailbox branch office 45. E-mail server 2 job mail network exchange M routine 1
6 has the advantage that (a) the host computer system 3 does not need to be aware of the unique mail format of the electronic mail server 2. (B) The host computer system 3 has no host processing by referring to the mailbox 10 of the electronic mail server 2 on the network and no overhead of the LAN 11. In particular, mailbox 10
This is effective when there is no job execution request mail. The application bibliography 6 of the job request requested by the mail terminal 1 and the data 9 to be sent to the job are stored in the mailbox branch office 45 connected to the host computer 42 by the job mail network exchange M routine 16 of the electronic mail server 2. You. Thereafter, the job mail network exchange H routine 44 in the host computer periodically refers to the mailbox branch office 45 to send the job request application bibliography 6 to the job application bibliography file 36 and send the data 9 to the job.
Is stored in the job JCL file 38 as input data of the corresponding job. The job mail execution control routine 33 takes out the application bibliography 6 of the job request from the job application bibliography file 36 and calls the user ID conversion 85.
Using the mail / host ID conversion file 84, the user ID conversion 85 checks the mail ID of the mail sender and converts the mail ID into the corresponding host ID. The host ID is used as in the first embodiment. Next, the job corresponding to the application bibliography 6 of the job request is extracted from the job JCL file 38, the job is started at the designated date and time, and it is recognized whether the job has been requested by e-mail at the end of the job execution.
When the execution result is requested by e-mail, the job execution result is taken out and the job progress data is periodically created. The job execution result and job execution progress data are stored in the job mail network exchange H routine 44.
Is stored in the mailbox branch office 45. The job mail network exchange M routine 16 of the electronic mail server 2 periodically refers to the mailbox branch office 45 to
It is stored in the mailbox 10 based on the specified distribution method. By the above series of processing, the mail terminal 1
Reference, processing, redistribution, and the like of job execution results and the like can be performed. Since the other components in FIG. 21 are the same as those in FIG. 1 except for the configuration of the host computer 42, the description is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the job control terminal 4 determines whether or not the host computer is stopped due to a failure or degeneration. In the present embodiment, the job network exchange M routine 16 in the electronic mail server 2 is used. Periodically communicates with the host computer and determines whether communication can be performed normally. If there is an unreachable host computer,
Transfer mail by communicating with another running host computer. While all host computers are down, mailbox 1
Keep the mail at 0 and wait for it to run.

The above is the description of the second embodiment. Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.

(1) There are the following two mail exchange methods between the electronic mail server 2 and the host computer 42.

(A) This is a method in which the job mail network exchange H routine 44 of the host computer 42 writes mail in the mailbox 10 of the electronic mail server 2 and reads mail from the mailbox branch office 10. In this method, the conversion of the mail format is performed by the host computer 4.
2 is performed. The advantage of this method is that the e-mail server 2
Means that it is not necessary to pay special attention to the host computer 42.

(B) As another modification, the electronic mail server 2 and the job network exchange routines 16 and 44 of the host computer 42 normally use a UNIX system mail distribution program (Sendmail). In this method, it is not necessary for the electronic mail server 2 and the job control terminal 4 to directly contact the other party's mailbox. This is effective when the host computer is a UNIX system.

(2) The disk files 36 to 38 and 84 connected to the host computers exist independently for each host computer. In such a configuration, the host computers are geographically dispersed and exist as a single system. In such a system configuration, the e-mail server 2 operates similarly.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a job execution request is
An embodiment in which a job execution result is received from an SS terminal and received by e-mail will be described. 1 and 21 can be applied. FIG. 22 shows the TSS terminal 30
(FIG. 1 or FIG. 21) SUBM for submitting a job
The IT command 271 is shown. This command includes a job name 272 and an M that designates distribution of a new job execution result.
AIL operand 273 is newly provided. In the MAIL operand, the distribution destination ID (274) and the distribution method (27
Specify 5). The MAIL operand is processed by the job mail execution control 33 in the same manner as when the distribution destination and the distribution method are specified in the job request application bibliography.
By performing the MAIL operand, the job name 272, the distribution destination ID 274, and the distribution method 275 of FIG.
An application bibliography file composed of a job application bibliography file 36
Is stored in The SUBMIT command corresponds to the TS in FIG.
Executed as 46 tasks under S control 45,
Submits the job specified by. When the execution of the job is completed, the job execution result is finally stored as mail by the job mail execution control 33 in the mailbox 10 of the e-mail server 2 based on the distribution destination and distribution method designated by the SUBMIT command. .
In addition, instead of specifying with the SUBMIT command,
The same effect can be obtained by specifying the distribution destination ID and the distribution method in the job JCL.

[0037]

According to the present invention, a job execution control function on a computer system can be used to request a job execution, send data to an execution job, grasp the progress of an execution job, and receive a job execution result from a mail terminal. become. The above processing can be performed by the mail terminal, so that the use area of the computer system can be widened, and the processing result can be processed and redistributed by receiving the execution result by the mail terminal.

Since the e-mail system and the computer system are independent and equipped with information exchange means between the mutual systems, there is no need to define a mail terminal on the computer system in advance, and connection is made via a telephone line. This enables immediate job execution request and execution result reference anywhere.

Further, since the job control terminal operates independently of the computer system, it is possible to (a) accept a job application at any time without depending on the operation time of the computer, and (b) In order to collectively manage the operations in an external manner, it is possible to select the execution of another computer in operation at the time of computer failure or degeneration, and (c) to shorten the TAT of the job submitted by e-mail. By managing the job TAT for each running computer, it becomes possible to select an execution host according to the load on the host computer.

Further, it becomes possible to receive the execution result of the job requested from the TSS terminal by e-mail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram including an electronic mail driven job execution control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a job execution control function of the present invention in a mail terminal.

FIG. 3 shows designated items of a job execution request application journal.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method of receiving a job execution result and a method of sending mail data.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow of a system including an electronic mail driven job execution control method.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow of a job mail network exchange M unit in the electronic mail server (write processing to a mailbox branch office).

FIG. 7 is a processing flow (read processing from a mailbox branch office) of a job mail network exchange M unit in the electronic mail server.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an MCT (mail conversion table) table.

FIG. 9 is a processing flow of a mail structure / code conversion unit.

FIG. 10 is a processing flow (read processing from a mailbox branch office) of a job mail network exchange J section in the job control terminal.

FIG. 11 is a processing flow (write processing to a mailbox branch office) of a job mail network exchange J section in the job control terminal.

FIG. 12 is a processing flow of job reception by a job mail reception / distribution unit.

FIG. 13 is a processing flow of job result distribution by a job mail reception / distribution unit.

FIG. 14 shows a format of a transfer data stream between a job control terminal and a host.

FIG. 15 is a processing flow of accepting a job mail by the job mail execution control unit.

FIG. 16 is a processing flow of job activation of the job mail execution control unit.

FIG. 17 is a table configuration diagram of a JMT (job mail table).

FIG. 18 is a processing flow of sending a job execution progress status of the job mail execution control unit.

FIG. 19 is a processing flow of job termination by a job mail execution control unit.

FIG. 20 is a processing flow of a spool removal processing unit.

FIG. 21 is another configuration diagram provided with the electronic mail driven job execution control method of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a mail distribution designation method at the time of job submission of a TSS command.

FIG. 23 is a job TAT table managed by the host computer.

FIG. 24 is a job TAT table managed by the job control terminal.

FIG. 25 shows a received mail of a job execution result created by a SUBMIT command.

FIG. 26 shows the structure of a mail / host ID conversion file.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mail terminal, 2 ... E-mail server, 3 ... Computer system, 4 ... Job control terminal, 5 ... Job mail, 10
... mail box, 13 ... mail structure / code conversion, 1
4: MCT (mail conversion table), 16: job mail exchange network exchange M, 20: mailbox branch office, 26: job mail network exchange J, 27: job mail reception / distribution, 32: JMT (job mail table), 33 ... Job mail execution control, 35 ... Spool removal, 36 ... Job application bibliography file, 37 ... Job spool, 38 ... JC JCL file, 42 ... Host computer, 43 ... Group file, 44 ... Job network exchange H, 45 ... Host Mailbox branch office, user ID conversion ... 50.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Hirosawa 1-280 Higashi Koikekubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd. Central Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Masaharu Iwanaga 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Software Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Endo 6-81, Onoe-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-275563 (JP, A) JP-A-1-267758 (JP, A) JP-A-1-108830 (JP, A) JP-A-64-67672 (JP, A) JP-A-4-160950 (JP, A) JP-A-4-142842 (JP, A)

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control device connected to a plurality of computers and connected to a terminal via an electronic mail system, wherein each of the plurality of computers is operating or stopped. Monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a job execution request mail for requesting execution of a job transmitted from the terminal via the e-mail system; and A means for interpreting and generating a control command for executing the job; and a computer for transmitting the control command from among the plurality of computers which are confirmed to be operating by the monitoring means. A mail box for holding the job execution request mail from the terminal when all of the plurality of computers are stopped. And a means for managing the load of each computer of the plurality of computers for each job content, and the selection means transmits the control command based on the load of each computer managed by the management means. A control device characterized by selecting: 2. A control device connected to a plurality of computers and connected to a terminal via an e-mail system, wherein each of the plurality of computers is operating or stopped. Means for managing the load of each computer of the plurality of computers for each job content, and a job execution request for requesting execution of a job transmitted from the terminal via the email system. Means for receiving an e-mail, and selecting one computer from the plurality of computers based on the load of each computer managed by the management means, and sending the job requested by the job execution request e-mail to the computer. Means for transmitting a control command for execution, and holding the job execution request mail from the terminal when all of the plurality of computers are stopped. A control device, comprising: 3. The means for transmitting the control command selects one computer from among the plurality of computers confirmed to be operating by the management means, and sends the selected computer to the computer. Sends a control command to execute the job requested by the job execution request mail
Control device according to claim 2, characterized in that. 4. A means for storing e-mail system identifiers assigned to a plurality of persons requesting a job using the e-mail system, and a sender of the mail included in the received job execution request mail And means for judging whether or not the e-mail system identifier is one of the pre-registered ones, and when the identifier is not one of the pre-registered ones, suspends execution of the job. 3. The control device according to any one of 3. Wherein said control command, the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises information specifying the job start time designated by the job execution requesting mail. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of computers, which manages each job, manages a job based on a time required for executing the job.
Means for estimating the expected execution completion time of the job requested by the job execution request mail, and transmitting an e-mail notifying the expected execution completion time to the sender of the job execution request mail The control device according to claim 1. 7. After the command is transmitted to the selected computer, the progress of the job requested by the job execution request mail is monitored, and a response is sent to the mail received from the terminal and inquiring about the progress of the job. 7. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting an e-mail notifying a progress status of the job to a sender of the job execution request e-mail. 8. The job execution request mail according to claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the job execution request mail receives a job execution request mail describing a job to be executed using the control command. The control device according to claim 1. 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising means for distributing a job execution result by said job execution request mail based on a distribution method designated by said job execution request mail. The control device according to any one of the above. 10. The means for distributing the execution results may be a single distribution to an individual, a simultaneous distribution to all members of the group at the same time, or a circular distribution that can be distributed in the order of users designated in the group and added upon distribution. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein
The control device as described. 11. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for distributing the execution result distributes the execution result mail at the time of distribution specified by the job execution request mail. 12. A mail server connected to a plurality of host computers and a mail terminal, means for receiving a mail requesting a job execution request from the terminal, wherein the mail server periodically communicates with the plurality of host computers. A means for performing communication, determining whether communication with each computer is possible, and transferring the mail to a mailbox connected to the computer capable of communication; and a mailbox. A mail server wherein, when communication with all the computers is not possible, a mail requesting an execution request of a job received from the terminal is stored in the mailbox.