JPH032955A - Input/output request control system for computer network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the working efficiency for production of an application program by using a means which converts a logical executing destination input/ output device identifier and a connecting station identifier into the physical types respectively and controls the logical/physical conversion. CONSTITUTION:A procedure is prepared to designate a logical executing destination input/output device identifier for input/output requests and a connecting station identifier for input/output devices 4 and 6. A conversion means converts a designated logical executing destination input/output device identifier and a designated connecting station identifier into the physical types respectively. Then a means is added to transfer an input/output request 8 to another station 5 of a network according to the physical connecting station identifier designated by the request 8 together with a means which controls the logical/physical conversion via a user. In such a constitution, an application program is efficiently produced with use of the network resources and with no consciousness of a physical network protocol.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a shared processing method for input/output devices when multiple computers are connected via a communication network, and in particular to a computer network that manages the distribution of input/output requests. Regarding input/output request management methods.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of computer network input/output device sharing processing has been carried out using a unique input/output device identifier (local unit number, etc.) as an index within the computer network managed by a communication management device, which is one of the input/output devices. This is achieved by making input/output requests to the communication management device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional computer network input/output device sharing management processing method described above is realized in the form of input/output requests to a communication management device, which is one of the input/output devices.
If the protocols and management methods of input/output devices differ depending on the physical communication medium (public line/specific line, etc.), there is a drawback that the input/output requests themselves of the upper application program must be changed.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the computer network input/output request management method of the present invention, when multiple computers are connected via a communication network to share input/output devices, the input/output request is provided with a logical execution destination input/output device identifier and the input/output device. a procedure for specifying a connection station identifier for a device; a means for converting a specified logical destination input/output device identifier and a connection station identifier into a physical destination input/output device identifier and a connection station identifier; It comprises means for forwarding to other stations on the network according to the physical connected station identifier specified in the request, and means for managing the logical/physical conversion by the user.

In addition, input/output requests (Input outputRqu
est Block (IRB) is issued by a higher-level application program (AP) after registering necessary information including execution target input/output devices and connection stations.

The issued IRB is based on the operating system (OS).
) In the case of a request to an input/output device connected to a station other than the local station that has undergone logical/physical conversion of the execution destination under management, it is processed by a data transfer means that has a transfer function to the execution destination station set in the IRB. , is transferred to the destination station and executed.

The logical/physical conversion function existing inside O8 assigns each logical execution destination input/output device/logical input/output custition to a physical execution destination input/output device and physical input/output custition according to parameters at system startup. Furthermore, the logical/physical allocation is changed in response to an update request from the user.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually represents an embodiment of the present invention.

User 1 on the computer network operates AP 3 on station 2 connected to the network to print on A4 size paper printing device 4 connected to station 2 and B5 size paper printing device connected to station 5. An example of printing on the device 6 will be explained.

The logical/physical conversion function on the station 2 sets the logical/physical conversion table using the startup parameters as initial values.

The system user 1 can learn that the printing device that can be used from the station 2 is the printing device 4 by setting parameters when the system is started.

The AP3 activated by the user 1 performs internal processing and, when a print request is generated, sets a print request for the logical printing device of the station 2 in the IRB8 and issues it to the O8. At this time, in the IRB 8, at the same time as the print request command, a logical execution destination input/output device, a printing device identifier for the logical execution destination station, and an execution destination station identifier are set.

The OS that took the IRB8 from the AP3 passes the IRB8 to the logical 7/physical conversion/conversion management and performs conversion processing.

Next, an overview of the logical-physical conversion process will be explained with reference to FIG.

The logical/physical conversion management refers to the logical execution destination input/output device identifier 9 and the connection station identifier 10 set in the IRB 8 that has been assigned.

The IRB8 is updated with the contents 11 of the logical/physical conversion table corresponding to the printing device identifier set in the logical execution destination input/output device identifier 9 of the IRB8.

O8 is an IRB converted by logical/physical conversion management
The IRB is transferred to the execution destination station of 8, but in this case, since it is the local station, the IRB 8 is requested from the printing device 4 in the local station and executed.

When the user 1 issues a print request to the printing device 6, the user 1 requests the O8 to update the contents 11 of the table corresponding to the printing device in the logical/physical conversion table 12. After this request ends, all printing requests on station 2 will be executed to printing device 6 on station 5.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention allows computers that control input/output devices using IRB to be connected via a network without being aware of the physical network protocol.
This has the effect of being able to create an AP that uses network resources.

This means that it is possible to improve work efficiency when creating an AP using the network, which the user had previously spent time on.

- printing program, 4... printing device, 5... station, 6... printing device, 7... physical communication device,
8...IRB, 9...I/O device identifier, 1o...
- Connection station, 11... Contents of printing device identifier correspondence table, 12... Logical/physical conversion table.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When connecting multiple computers via a communication network and sharing input/output devices, there is a procedure for specifying the logical execution destination input/output device identifier and the connection station identifier of the input/output device in the input/output request, and the procedure for specifying the specified input/output device identifier. means for converting logical destination I/O device identifiers and attached station identifiers into physical destination I/O device identifiers and attached station identifiers; 1. An input/output request management method for a computer network, comprising means for transmitting the data to another station on the network, and means for managing logical/physical conversion by a user.