JP3635997B2 - Distribution information selection apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, when software and data are distributed from a transmission system to a reception system in a system in which the transmission system and a plurality of reception systems are connected by an information transmission means such as a line, the transmission system and the reception system correspond to attributes of the user of the reception system. The present invention relates to a distribution information selection device capable of selectively distributing specific software and data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a system in which software and data are distributed from a transmitting system to a receiving system, the receiving system operator determines which software and data need to be distributed to which receiving system each time, and receives it. It was necessary to perform distribution operation for each system. Performing this operation for each receiving system becomes very complicated when there are many receiving systems. There is also a high possibility that the software is distributed to an erroneous receiving system due to an operator's erroneous operation.
[0003]
In order to solve this problem, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-177473, a “parameter file” corresponding to the personal environment is statically created for software and data to be transmitted in advance, and this is performed during distribution work. A technique for distributing software and data selected according to the contents of a parameter file is disclosed. However, in this technique, a parameter file is created based on information obtained from the terminal. When the terminal user's affiliation, position, etc. fluctuate, application in an environment where necessary software changes sequentially based on it is not considered.
[0004]
As a method of following the distribution of software and data in response to changes in individual affiliation, job title, etc., a list of several types of transmission attributes is arranged before selectively distributing software or data to the receiving system. Present to the user of the receiving system, let the user of the receiving system select an appropriate transmission attribute in advance, and at the time of distribution, the operator of the transmitting system performs the software distribution operation according to the transmission attribute to transmit There is one that realizes selective distribution of software without increasing the prior work of system operators.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method of presenting and selecting the list in which the transmission attributes are arranged to the user of the receiving system has the following problems.
[0006]
First, since a list of attributes (the above-mentioned “transmission attribute”) indicating rules for software distribution is disclosed to the users of the receiving system, the users of the receiving system can distribute software from the contents of the list. This rule can be inferred. If a user of the receiving system deliberately analogizes the contents of the transmission attribute, or if a selection is made for a transmission attribute that should not be selected due to a mistaken operation by the user of the receiving system, it should not be distributed to the receiving system There is a problem that software and data will be distributed.
[0007]
Secondly, when the operator of the transmission system performs the distribution operation of software or data, the operation of distributing the software or data to one specific transmission attribute or a plurality of transmission attributes (reception system thereof) is performed. There is a problem that it must be done without error and is complicated.
[0008]
A first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem that software and data that should not be distributed may be distributed without increasing the amount of work of an operator on the transmission system side. It is invisible to the user of the receiving system, and the security of the transmission attribute is maintained.
[0009]
A second object of the present invention is to associate software and data with attributes at the time of distribution when performing an operation of distributing software or data to a receiving system having a certain transmission attribute. Distributing operations can be executed more reliably, and periodic automatic execution of the distributing operations is facilitated.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the first object, the distribution information selection device has a function of providing information relating to distribution of software and data among personal information of a receiving system user. Desired personal information is extracted from the device (this is not limited in the present invention) and used to select distribution information.
[0011]
In the present invention, a correspondence relationship between a keyword of personal information related to information distribution and an attribute (hereinafter referred to as transmission attribute) necessary for selective distribution of software and data is defined in advance. At this time, personal information can be associated with a plurality of transmission attributes.
[0012]
When the transmission system recognizes that the use of the reception system has been newly started, the transmission system uses the personal authentication information input to the terminal of the reception system, and from the personal information management device, the user of the reception system Get personal information. Based on the acquired personal information, the transmission system automatically associates the reception system with the corresponding transmission attribute using the correspondence defined above. When distributing software or data, the operator of the transmission system only performs an operation of distributing to a transmission attribute to be distributed. Then, software and data are distributed to all receiving systems belonging to the corresponding transmission attribute.
[0013]
As described above, in the present invention, information necessary for selective distribution of software and data can be set without depending on the operation of the user of the receiving system. In other words, when distributing software or data, the transmission attribute related to distribution is completely invisible to the user of the receiving system, and the presence of the presence is not made conscious to the user of the receiving system. It is superior to the conventional method in that the security of the transmission attribute can be maintained.
[0014]
Further, in order to achieve another object of the present invention, by defining in advance a correspondence relationship between a transmission attribute used when distributing software or data and the software or data, the operator of the transmission system can The software can be distributed to the receiving system for which the corresponding transmission attribute is specified simply by specifying the corresponding software at the time of distribution, and as a result, the operator's consideration can be reduced. Since there is no need to specify a transmission destination each time, automatic distribution operations can be automatically executed periodically.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a distribution software selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a computer used for a software and data transmission system, which uses a personal computer or workstation that can be continuously operated as a general-purpose computer or server. Reference numeral 110 denotes a computer used for a software and data receiving system, which uses a personal computer or a workstation. Reference numeral 120 denotes a personal information management device in which personal data regarding the user of the receiving system 110 is input. Only the administrator of the personal information management device 120 can perform new input and update work of personal data in the personal information management device 120. Personal information is based on the premise that the latest personal data is always input and updated. The user of the receiving system 110 can refer only to the information of the user himself / herself by authenticating the personal information managing device 120 that the user is the user himself / herself. In the present invention, the form of authentication is not limited. A network 130 connects the transmission system 100, the reception system 110, and the personal information management device 120.
[0018]
The transmission system 100 includes a software management unit 101 for determining and transmitting a software transmission destination (distribution destination). The software management unit 101 is a file transfer control unit 101a for transmitting software, and personal information having a function of associating personal information of a main user of the receiving system 110 with a transmission attribute used to specify a software transmission destination. Transmission attribute correspondence unit 101b, transmission attribute management unit 101c having a function of managing and saving transmission attributes corresponding to the registered reception system 110 and its user, and transmission destination determination unit 101d for actually determining the transmission destination And a software to transmission attribute corresponding unit 101e for associating transmission attributes with software to be transmitted.
[0019]
The reception system 110 includes a software management unit 111 and a hard disk device 112 that actually stores the received software and data. The software management unit 111 is a file transfer control unit 111a having a function of receiving software and data transmitted from the transmission system 100, and uses the reception system for storing and managing the user name of the reception system 110 in the reception system 110 A user name management unit 111b and a received software management unit 111c for recording and managing what software and data have already been installed in the reception system 110 are provided. The receiving system use user name management unit 111b includes an interface for interacting with a user of the receiving system 110.
[0020]
If personal information management device 120 can obtain personal information related to the use of software for the user of receiving system 110 when there is an authentication request for the individual, any method for providing personal information of the device May be adopted. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the personal information management device 120 is a directory server including the personal information database 121 and inputs / outputs information through the network 130.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents of a table provided in the software-transmission attribute correspondence unit 101e of FIG. This table is a table that determines what transmission attribute the name of the software or data to be distributed corresponds to, and must be defined in advance for each software to be distributed. In FIG. 2, it is defined that “Financial Management” software is associated with transmission attributes of “Financial Manager” and “General Manager”, “Word Processor” is associated with “ALL” (distributed to all), and the like.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents of a table provided in the personal information to transmission attribute correspondence unit 101b of FIG. This table is a rule table necessary for obtaining a matching result between personal information and a transmission attribute in order to convert a variety of personal information into a transmission attribute and make the destination determination unit 101d recognize it. It is necessary to keep it. For example, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the transmission attributes of the “development department manager” who is an individual are “department manager”, “development manager” and “ALL”.
[0023]
FIG. 4 shows a form in which the software transmission attribute matched using the table of FIG. 3 is stored in the transmission attribute management unit 101c in FIG. That is, from the correspondence between the reception system name of each machine and the personal information of the individual who uses the reception system, a transmission attribute corresponding to each personal information is obtained using the table of FIG. The table shown in FIG. 4 is a list in which the transmission attributes are associated with each other. For example, the receiving system name host_001 is a machine used by the finance department manager, and the transmission attributes of the finance department manager are “manager”, “financial staff”, and “ALL”. It is associated. The correspondence relationship between the reception system name and the reception system user is managed by the transmission attribute management unit 101c.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows that in the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, after the user of the receiving system 110 inputs the authentication information, the receiving system name of the receiving system 110 and the transmission attribute to which the receiving system user belongs belong to the transmitting system. FIG. 5 shows a flow from input to the transmission attribute management unit 101c in 100 until it is held in the form shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of FIG. 5 divided into the processing of the transmission system 100 and the processing of the reception system 110.
[0025]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the transmission system 100 when actually distributing software. FIG. 8 shows that when a personal attribute (such as a job system) of a user of the reception system 110 changes, the user of the reception system 110 requests the attribute change, and newly required software is stored in the reception system 110. The processing until distribution is shown in a flowchart.
[0026]
Next, a usage example of the above-described apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0027]
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, as a first example of use, a flow of processing when a user is newly registered in the receiving system 110 in the transmission / reception system configured as described above will be described.
[0028]
First, the user inputs a user name and authentication data (password) by using a user interface connectable to the receiving system use user name management unit 111b in the receiving system 110 (FIG. 5 (1)), Usage registration work for the receiving system 110 is started (step 611 in FIG. 6). At this time, the receiving system using user name management unit 111b makes an inquiry to the newly registered user “whether or not to use this receiving system constantly”. If the user responds that they will use it, the following procedure is executed.
[0029]
First, the receiving system user name management unit 111b confirms that the user name of the user newly registered this time does not exist in the past user names using the receiving system 110 (step 612). If this user name is not registered in the past user name, the receiving system 110 sends a personal name (user name), authentication data (password), and the receiving system to the transmitting system 100 via the network 130. 110 receiving system names are transferred (step 613, FIG. 5 (2)). Next, the receiving system 110 registers the user name in the receiving system using user name management unit 111b (step 614).
[0030]
The transmission system 100 receives the information transmitted in step 613 (step 621), makes an inquiry to the personal information management device 120 (FIG. 5 (3)), and uses the personal name and authentication data to store the personal information database. The personal information of the user stored in 121 is obtained (FIG. 5 (4), step 622). Next, the personal information to transmission attribute correspondence unit 101b in the transmission system 100 refers to the table of FIG. 3 and extracts a transmission attribute corresponding to the received personal information (step 623, FIG. 5 (5)). At this time, a plurality of transmission attributes may be obtained for one individual. For example, “department manager”, “development manager”, and “ALL” are obtained as the transmission attributes of “development department manager”. The transmission attribute obtained is stored or updated in the form shown in FIG. 4 by the transmission attribute management unit 101c in association with the reception system name of the reception system 110.
[0031]
Next, a processing procedure for actually distributing software and data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, an example of distributing software will be described. First, the operator instructs software distribution in the transmission system 100 (step 701). The content instructed by the operator is only the name of the software to be distributed. The transmission destination determination unit 101d determines a transmission attribute corresponding to the software (that is, a transmission attribute for distributing the software) using the table of FIG. 702).
[0032]
Next, a reception system name having the obtained transmission attribute is acquired (step 703). Specifically, the transmission attribute management unit 101c makes an inquiry by passing the transmission attribute, and the transmission attribute management unit 101c that receives the inquiry refers to the table of FIG. Return all. Finally, the file transfer control unit 101a transmits the software using the obtained reception system name as a transmission destination (step 704). In the receiving system 110, the file transfer control unit 111a receives the software and stores it in the hard disk device 112.
[0033]
As described above, simply by designating the software to be distributed, the software is automatically distributed to the receiving system to which the software is to be distributed.
[0034]
Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 8, as usage example 2, when the personal attribute of a user of a certain receiving system is changed (for example, change of position, etc.) in the same operation mode as usage example 1 above The operation of this system will be described below.
[0035]
First, the user of the reception system 110 inputs a management information update request by using the user interface connected to the reception system use user name management unit 111b (step 811). This is, for example, a change in the title of the user. Then, the reception system 110 makes a change request for the same management attribute to the transmission system 100 (step 812).
[0036]
Receiving this, the transmission system 100 inquires of the personal information management device 120 about the personal information of the user (step 821), and confirms that the personal information of the user is surely changed to the requested attribute. To do. In the personal information database 121 of the personal information management device 120, it is assumed that the personal information has already been changed. Next, the personal information-transmission attribute correspondence unit 101b in the transmission system 100 extracts all the transmission attributes corresponding to the changed personal information with reference to the table of FIG. 3, and the transmission attributes before the change (the table of FIG. 4). It is determined whether or not a change has occurred (step 822). If there is no change, the process ends. If there is a change in the transmission attribute, all software having the transmission attribute before the change is extracted (step 823), and all software having the transmission attribute after the change is extracted (step 824).
[0037]
The correspondence relationship between the transmission attribute and the software can be understood by referring to the table in FIG. Further, the extraction of the software having the transmission attribute before the change in step 823 is performed by acquiring the transmission attribute before the change in the receiving system 110 from the table (before change) in FIG. 4 and changing the acquired transmission attribute from the table in FIG. Corresponding software may be extracted, or what software is actually stored in the receiving system 110 by referring to the received software management unit 111c of the receiving system 110 via the network It is good to do.
[0038]
Next, it is determined whether or not there is a difference between the two groups of software extracted in steps 823 and 824 (step 825). If there is no difference, the transmission attribute of the receiving system 110 in the table of FIG. 4 is updated (step 826), and the process is terminated. If there is a difference, the difference software (that is, software that needs to be newly distributed) is distributed to the receiving system 110 (step 827). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 826. In step 827, an instruction to delete software that becomes unnecessary when the personal information is changed may be transmitted to the receiving system 110.
[0039]
The reception system 110 receives the software distributed in Step 827 from the transmission system 100 and stores it in the hard disk device 112 (Step 831). When an instruction to delete unnecessary software is issued, the software is deleted from the hard disk device 112.
[0040]
As described above, even if a personal attribute such as a job title is changed, the user can simply enter an attribute change request and the environment of the receiving system used by the user can be changed according to the change in the personal attribute of the user. Can be updated to a new environment.
[0041]
Next, as a usage example 3, a modification of the usage example 2 will be described. In the above usage example 2, when the transmission system 100 monitors the personal information management device 120 for personal information related to the user of the operating reception system 110 and confirms that the personal information has been changed. Then, the operation of the above usage example 2 is automatically executed. Thereby, the change of the personal information can be detected, and the environment of the receiving system used by the user can be automatically updated to the environment corresponding to the change of the personal information.
[0042]
Next, as a usage example 4, a modification of the usage example 1 will be described. This example is an example of distributing upgraded software with respect to software that has already been distributed using this system. In the usage example 1 described above, the example in which the operator of the transmission system registers software on the transmission system 100, selects the software, and issues a transmission instruction. In this case, even when the upgraded software is distributed, it is necessary to newly register it in the table of FIG. 2, and the operation is complicated. Therefore, in the usage example 4, the matching rule of the software-transmission attribute corresponding unit 101e is given a width. In other words, the “software” column in the table of FIG. 2 is interpreted to include upgraded versions. For example, if the “financial management” software has already been distributed, the “financial management” software in the table of FIG. 2 includes an upgraded version.
[0043]
This makes it possible to match the transmission attribute with the software before the version upgrade. Therefore, since the transmission destination can be automatically determined by the transmission destination determination unit 101d and the transmission attribute management unit 101c, the operator simply replaces the distribution software with the upgraded version and gives an instruction to distribute the software name. Distribution can be performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Furthermore, if the transmission instruction is automatically performed at regular intervals, the transmission system operator can continuously upgrade the version of the appropriate reception system only by uploading the software. .
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, the distribution of software has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to distribution of various data.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the user of the receiving system reliably receives appropriate software and data without being aware of the procedure when the personal information changes or the receiving system is changed. It becomes possible. In addition, since it is possible to automatically erase software that is no longer needed, disk resources can be used effectively.
[0046]
The operator of the transmission system can reduce erroneous transmission due to operation mistakes, and can reduce work in periodic transmission operations. Further, regarding the series of transmission / reception operations described above, since no transmission attribute is disclosed to the user of the reception system, confidentiality regarding the transmission rule can be maintained.
[0047]
From the above, by using the present invention, in selectively distributing software and data, the security relating to transmission attributes is maintained, and the burden on both the transmission system operator and the reception system user is reduced. Play.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a distribution software selection system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an example of a table that defines correspondence between software and data to be distributed and transmission attributes used in the system.
FIG. 3 is an example of a table showing a correspondence relationship between personal information managed by a personal information management device and transmission attributes used in the present system.
FIG. 4 is a correspondence example of transmission attributes to which a receiving system belongs, stored and updated in this system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of information until a transmission attribute management unit obtains a reception system name of a reception system and its transmission attribute in the present system.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing until the transmission attribute management unit obtains the reception system name of the reception system and its transmission attribute in this system.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the transmission system until the receiving system is selected and the software is distributed when an operator of the transmission system issues a distribution instruction to specific software in this system.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing until a user of the receiving system makes an information update request and newly required software is distributed when the personal attribute of the user of the receiving system is changed.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 ... Transmission system, 110 ... Reception system, 120 ... Personal information management device, 130 ... Network, 101 ... Transmission system software management unit, 101b ... Personal information to transmission attribute correspondence unit, 101c ... Transmission attribute management unit, 101e ... Software ~ Transmission attribute correspondence unit, 111 ... Reception system software management unit, 121 ... Personal information database.

Claims (5)

A distribution information selection device that selectively distributes software or data to a receiving system,
First storage means for storing a transmission attribute indicating a rule for distributing software or data and personal information in association with each other, and second storage means for storing software or data and the transmission attribute in association with each other. And
A means of obtaining personal information of the user;
Means for extracting a transmission attribute associated with the acquired personal information from the first storage means ;
Means for associating an identifier for identifying a receiving system used by the user with the extracted transmission attribute in a third storage means ;
Means for obtaining a transmission attributes that are correlated to the software or data is instructed to distribute from the second storage means,
An identifier for identifying a receiving system corresponding to the software or data instructed to be distributed is obtained by extracting an identifier for identifying the receiving system associated with the acquired transmission attribute from the third storage means. Means to
Distributing information selection apparatus being characterized in that a means for distributing the software or data instructed the distributed receiving system specified by the identifier the acquired. In the distribution information selection device according to claim 1,
Means for obtaining a transmission attribute associated with the changed personal information (hereinafter referred to as a changed transmission attribute) from the first storage means when the personal information of the user is changed;
Means for obtaining software or data associated with the changed transmission attribute from the second storage means;
Means for detecting a difference in the software or data associated with the transmission attributes of the changed, the software or data associated with the transmission attribute before personal information changes stored in the storage means,
Distribute the software or data is differentiated with the detected, and / or a means for deleting the software or data of said difference,
A distribution information selection device further comprising: In the distribution information selection device according to claim 2,
The personal information regarding the user of the receiving system is monitored, and when it is confirmed that the personal information has been changed , the software or data having the difference is distributed and / or deleted according to the change of the personal information. A distribution information selection device characterized by that. A distribution information selection method for selectively distributing software or data to a receiving system,
  A transmission attribute indicating a rule for distributing software or data and personal information are associated with each other and stored in the first storage means, and the software or data and the transmission attribute are associated with each other and stored in the second storage means,
  The personal information acquisition means acquires the user's personal information,
  A transmission attribute extracting unit extracts a transmission attribute associated with the acquired personal information from the first storage unit;
  The means for associating the identifier for identifying the receiving system with the transmission attribute in the third storage means associates the identifier for identifying the receiving system used by the user with the extracted transmission attribute, and Stored in the storage means,
  The transmission attribute acquisition means is associated with the software or data for which distribution is instructed. A transmission attribute to be acquired from the second storage means,
  The means for acquiring an identifier for specifying a receiving system extracts the identifier for specifying the receiving system associated with the acquired transmission attribute from the third storage means, so that the software instructed for distribution or Get an identifier that identifies the receiving system corresponding to the data,
  Software or data distribution means distributes the software or data instructed to be distributed to the receiving system specified by the acquired identifier.
  The distribution information selection method characterized by the above. In the distribution information selection method according to claim 4,
  When the personal information of the user is changed, the post-change transmission attribute acquisition means sets the transmission attribute (hereinafter referred to as the post-change transmission attribute) associated with the personal information after the change to the first storage means. Get from
  Software or data acquisition means acquires software or data associated with the changed transmission attribute from the second storage means,
  The difference detection means detects a difference between the software or data associated with the changed transmission attribute and the software or data associated with the transmission attribute before the personal information change stored in the storage means. ,
  Software or data distribution / deletion means distributes the detected difference software or data and / or deletes the difference software or data.
  The distribution information selection method characterized by the above.

Images