JPH09292980A - File distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load on a server and the burden on a server manager in a client server system. SOLUTION: An AP(application program) version checking part 24 is started at the time of starting AP at a terminal 20, accesses to an AP version table storing part 12 in a server 10 to obtain newest version information of AP from a version table and when it is not coincident with version information of AP at the terminal 20, starts an AP down-loading part 25. The AP down-loading part 25 down-loads the program file of the newest version of AP to the terminal 20 from an AP file storing part 13 in the server 10 to start a setup tool 23. The setup tool 23 is provided with an installation processing part 26 to install the newest version of AP down-loaded by a version updating tool 22 to the terminal 20 to set up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to distribution of an application program (hereinafter referred to as "AP") of a client system in a client-server system including a server system and a client system connected via a network, and distribution. A file distribution system for updating.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a client-server system, a plurality of client systems are connected to a server system via a network. Generally, a client-server system is constructed by connecting a large number of terminals as client systems to a network coupled to a server system which is a host system.

In such a client-server system, the server system mainly handles the management of software such as version management of AP, distribution and update of program files, and setup of AP.

That is, the server stores and manages the version information of the software such as the AP held by each client system in the form of a table or the like. When a new version of software is provided due to an AP version upgrade, etc., while the terminal is running, transfer the program file of the new version of software from the server system to the terminal and install the software on the terminal. To do.

Software management in such a conventional client-server system will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the client-server system shown in FIG. 6, a server 1 which is a server system and a terminal 2 which is a client system are coupled. Although only one terminal 2 is shown in FIG. 6, normally, a large number of terminals 2 having the same configuration are provided for one server 1. In reality, many terminals 2 of 1000 or more are often connected to the server 1.

The server 1 has a version management unit 3, a start check unit 4, a transfer processing unit 5 and an installation processing unit 6. The version management unit 3 manages the version of the AP of each terminal 2. The activation check unit 4 is for each terminal 2
Check if is running. Transfer processing unit 5
Performs a transfer process of the AP program file from the server 1 to each terminal 2. The installation processing unit 6 is for each terminal 2
Install AP on. The terminal 2 has an AP execution unit 7. The terminal 2 executes the AP by the AP execution unit 7, and exchanges data with the server 1 as necessary.

Software management performed by the version management unit 3, the activation check unit 4, the transfer processing unit 5, and the installation processing unit 6 of the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The server 1 manages the version information of the AP in each terminal 2 connected to the server 1 in the version management unit 3 (step S1). The version management unit 3 constantly checks whether or not there is an AP of a newer version than the terminal 2 in the server 1 (step S2), and when there is a new version of AP, the activation check unit 4 causes the corresponding terminal 2 to It is checked whether or not it is activated (step S3). When it is confirmed that the terminal 2 is activated, the transfer processing unit 5 transfers the program file of the new version AP to the terminal 2 (step S4), and the new version AP is installed by the installation processing unit 6 Is installed in the terminal 2 (step S5).

When the installation of the new version AP in the terminal 2 is completed, the version management unit 3
The version management information of the corresponding terminal 2 is rewritten to the installed new version (step S
6). In step S3, whether or not the terminal 2 is activated is checked because the program file cannot be transferred to the terminal 2 if the terminal 2 is not activated.

[0010]

As described above, in the client-server system, the AP of each terminal 2 is conventionally used.
The server 1 manages all the software such as version management, transfer distribution and update of program files, and AP setup. Therefore, the following problems have arisen in the software management in the conventional client-server system.

(1) The software management itself imposes a heavy load on the server 1. In particular, in order to perform version management of a plurality of APs of a large number of terminals 2 by one server 1, it is necessary to hold enormous version management information in the version management unit 3 of the server 1.

(2) If the terminal 2 is not activated, the AP program file cannot be transferred and installed. Therefore, a large number of terminals 2 must be regularly monitored for software management. That is,
The server 1 has to access a large number of terminals 2 at regular intervals, which imposes a heavy load on not only the server 1 but also the network.

(3) AP is not easy to install,
It often happens that the operation of the administrator and the server 1 are burdened. Installation of the AP may require a manual operation, which is a burden on the administrator of the server 1. In particular, even if the terminal 2 is running, if the AP to be upgraded is running, the file of the AP cannot be updated and the version cannot be upgraded.

(4) Since the AP of the terminal 2 is installed from the server 1, there is only one type of installation method, and there is no installation flexibility. For example, it is difficult to execute the AP-specific setting file change processing, special settings for each terminal 2, and the like. Moreover, since the AP has various settings, it is difficult for the administrator to know whether the installation has been completed normally.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a file distribution system capable of efficiently distributing files such as application programs to a client system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a file distribution system that can reduce the load on the server and the burden on the server administrator in the client-server system.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, a file distribution system according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided in a server system, and has the latest version information of application programs and the latest version information for managing the program files. When the latest version information of the application program is acquired by accessing the latest information management means of the server system provided in the information management means and the client system, and the application program existing in the client system is updated, A version update means for downloading a program file of the latest version of the application program from the server system; and a version update means provided in the client system and downloaded by the version update means. The latest version of the program file of the application program, characterized by comprising a setup unit installed on the client system to update the setup of the application program, the.

In this system, the client program is always maintained in the latest version. Also, most of the processing such as checking for program file version upgrade, transferring the program file to each terminal, and setup is performed by the client system. Therefore,
The burden on the server and its administrator is small.

The version update means is provided in the client system, accesses the latest information management means of the server system to obtain the latest version information of the application program, and version information of the application program existing in the client system. And version checking means for checking whether or not the application program is updated, and a program file of the latest version of the application program which is provided in the client system and whose update is detected by the version checking means. It may be configured by a download means for downloading from the server system.

The setup means is realized, for example, by executing the setup tool program included in the program file of the latest version downloaded by the version update means. With such a configuration, the setup can always be performed by an optimum method.

The version updating means is realized, for example, by executing a version updating tool that is updated by installing the downloaded latest version of the program file by the setup means. With such a configuration, the downloaded program can always be installed by an optimum method.

The latest information management means comprises, for example, a program file storage means for storing a program file of the application program and a table storage means for storing a version table in which the latest version information of the program file is registered. To be done.

As the latest version information, either the time stamp information of the program file or the version number information can be used.

The version updating means is activated when the application program is activated or when the client system is activated. With such a configuration, the latest version of the application program can always be used.

Further, in the file distribution system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the client server system, the server system comprises the latest version information of the file and the latest information management means for managing the file, and the client system Accesses the latest information management means of the server system to obtain the latest version information of the file, and when the file existing in the client system is updated, the latest version of the file is updated from the server system. Equipped with version update means for downloading files,
It is characterized by the following.

With such a configuration, the latest version of the file can always be used.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A file distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of one embodiment of a client-server system to which the file distribution system according to the present invention is applied. The client-server system comprises a server 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 connected to a network. The server 10 constitutes a host system, and the server 10 includes a latest version information management unit 11. The latest version information management unit 11 has an AP version table storage unit 12 and an AP file storage unit 13, and manages the latest version information of the AP and its program file.

The AP version table storage unit 12 stores A
The AP version table in which the latest version information of P is registered is stored. Here, the version information used for the latest version information is, for example, a time stamp when the AP program file is created / updated. As the version information, the version number may be used instead of the time stamp. The AP file storage unit 13 stores a program file including at least the latest version.

A plurality of terminals 2 which are client systems
0 is coupled to the server 10 via a network such as an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network. Each of the terminals 20 includes an AP execution unit 21, a version update tool 22 and a setup tool 23.

The AP execution unit 21 operates in association with the server 10 to execute the AP. Version update tool 22
Has an AP version check unit 24 and an AP download unit 25. The AP version check unit 24
AP of AP version table storage unit 12 of server 10
The version information of the latest version stored in the version table is taken out and compared with the version information of the AP in the terminal 20. If the version information of both APs does not match, it is determined that the AP of the terminal 20 is the old version, and the AP download unit 25 is activated. The AP download unit 25 downloads the program file of the latest version of the corresponding AP from the AP file storage unit 13 of the server 10 to the terminal 20, and activates the setup tool 23.

The setup tool 23 has an installation processing unit 26, and installs the latest version of the AP downloaded by the version update tool 22 in the terminal 20 and sets it up. The installation processing unit 26 arranges the downloaded AP in a predetermined location, for example, a predetermined directory in the storage device, and changes the setting file.

The version update tool 22 is distributed together with the AP program file. Therefore, it may be updated by the program file of the downloaded new version of AP. The setup tool 23 is attached to the AP, and may be attached to the program file downloaded by the version update tool 22, for example.

Next, the operation of the client-server system to which the above-mentioned file distribution system shown in FIG. 1 is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

It is assumed that the server 10 has been activated in advance of the activation of the terminal 20. The latest version information management unit 11 of the server 10 stores the program file of the latest AP in the AP file storage unit 13, and the latest version AP as shown in Table 1 in the AP version table storage unit 12.
Stores a version information table file.
Information on the latest version of these APs is managed by the server 10.

[0035]

[Table 1]

Next, the procedure for updating the AP file to the latest version will be described with reference to FIG. (1) When the power of the terminal 20 is turned on, the terminal 20 first automatically activates the version update tool 22 (step S11).

(2) Then, the version update tool 22 of the terminal 20 logs in to the server having the latest version information (step S12).

(3) The version update tool 22 downloads the information file of the version table from the AP version table storage unit 12 of the latest version information management unit 11 of the server 10 (step S13).

(4) The AP version check unit 24 of the version update tool 22 checks the AP version of the terminal 20 based on the downloaded version table information (step S14). The version check unit 24 of the version update tool 22 compares the time stamp information of Table 1 with the time stamp information of the file of the terminal 20, and determines whether or not the AP corresponding to the terminal 20 exists, and if it exists, the terminal It is determined whether the 20 APs are the new version (current version) or the old version.

(5) When the corresponding AP of the old version exists in the terminal 20 (step S15), the program file of the AP is downloaded from the AP file storage unit 13 of the server 10 (step S16). When it is determined in step S15 that the AP of the old version does not exist (that is, when the AP of the terminal 20 is the latest version), the process immediately proceeds to step S21, and the version update tool 22 ends.

(6) When the latest version of the program file is downloaded from the server 10 in step S16, the setup tool 23 attached to the downloaded program file is activated (step S1).
7). That is, the setup tool 23 included in the downloaded latest AP and created by the AP developer in advance is activated.

(7) When the setup tool 23 is activated, the latest version of AP is installed in the terminal 2 (step S18). At this time, the time stamp attached to the latest version of the installed AP is maintained as it is without being updated.

(8) Until the installation processing by the setup tool 23 is completed, the version update tool 22 monitors whether or not the setup tool 23 is being executed at regular intervals, and if so, continues the standby state. If so, the AP distribution tool is terminated (steps S19, S).
20).

(9) After that, the server 10 is logged out and the version update tool 22 is terminated. (Step S21).

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the processing of steps S13 to S17 of FIG. 2, that is, the version check processing and download processing by the version update tool 22.

First, when the version check process is started, the AP version table storage unit 12 of the server 10 is started.
The file name and the time stamp are acquired as the version information from (step S31). Then, the time stamp of the same file in the terminal 20 is acquired (step S32).

The time stamps obtained in steps S31 and S32 are compared (step S33). If they match, the version update tool 22 is terminated. If it is determined in step S33 that the two time stamps do not match, the specified file has an updated version, so the latest version is downloaded from the AP file storage unit 13 of the server 10 (step S34). When the download of the AP file is completed, the setup tool is activated (step S17).

FIG. 4 shows steps S17 to S in FIG.
20 shows the details of the process 20, that is, the activation of the setup tool 23 by the version update tool 22 and the installation process by the setup tool 23.

In step S17, the setup tool 23
When is started, the installation process is started (step S18). The installation process in step S18 is
First, the program file of the target AP is overwritten and updated (step S35). Next, the setting file related to the AP is updated (step S36), and the version upgrade information is presented to the user of the terminal 20 by display or the like (step S37). Then, the installation process ends (step S38). In this installation process, the time stamp attached to the downloaded AP is not updated. This is step S33 (S1
This is because the time stamps in 5) are compared appropriately.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of updating the version update tool 22 itself. First, the version update tool 22 for the old version logs in to the server 10 (step S41) and checks the version information (step S42). When the version upgrade of the version update tool 22 itself is detected, the setup tool 23 is activated (step S43).

The setup tool 23 requests the version update tool 22 for specified information such as login information (user ID, password) and acquires it (step S4).
4), installation processing such as software overwriting is performed (step S45). At this time, the version update tool 22 is logged in to the server, provides the login information such as the user ID and password to the setup tool 23, and then ends and logs out (step S).
46).

Next, the version update tool 23 is restarted, and the login information acquired in step S44 is provided to the version update tool 23 (step S47). The version update tool 22 automatically logs in to the server 10 with the provided login information (step S4).
8). Then, the version check other than the version update tool is continued (step S49).

In this system, the file distribution system is activated during the activation of the client. Therefore, it is not necessary to check whether the client is running. Further, it is only necessary to substantially arrange the version table in the server 10 to update the file, and it is not necessary for the server 10 to manage the version of APs of many clients, and the load on the server 10 is reduced. .

Since the version information of the AP is used as the time stamp of the file, it is not necessary to store the version table file on the terminal and the management is easy.

Further, the version check and download process (version update tool) and the install process (setup tool) are set as separate programs. Therefore, by having the AP manufacturer manufacture the setup tool, optimum installation for the AP becomes possible. A dedicated installation process for each AP is now possible
It is possible to upgrade P by making it in advance (it is also possible to update itself).

Further, by using the above-mentioned setup tool, it is possible to operate the environment of the terminal, change the autoexec.bat file, etc., and delete the specific file, and various setup processing is possible.

At the beginning of use of the terminal, a storage medium storing a program for realizing the file updating system of this embodiment is attached to the terminal, and the program is installed in the hard disk of the terminal.
The above file update system is configured. After that, the file is updated by downloading the file from the server. Also, the above program may be downloaded from the server to the hard disk of the terminal from the beginning, and thereafter, the program may be sequentially updated by the file updating system and used.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the file distribution / update system is activated when the AP is activated, but the file distribution / update system may be activated when the client is activated. Further, the version information is not limited to the time stamp and may be a version number or the like. The version update tool and the setup tool may be integrated.

[0059]

As described above, in the file distribution system according to the present invention, the latest version A such as program file version check, transfer of program file to each terminal, and setup is set.
Most of the processing related to P distribution is processed by the client system. The load on the server and the burden on the server administrator can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a client-server system to which a file distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the file distribution system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of FIG. 2 more specifically.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of FIG. 2 more specifically.

5 is a flowchart for explaining another operation of the file distribution system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration for explaining a conventional client-server system version update process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 server 11 latest version information management unit 12 AP (application program) version table storage unit 13 AP file storage unit 20 terminal 21 AP execution unit 22 version update tool 23 setup tool 24 AP version check unit 25 AP download unit 26 installation processing unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A latest information management means provided in a server system for managing the latest version information of an application program and its program file, and a latest information management means provided in a client system for accessing the latest information management means of the server system. Version update means for acquiring the latest version information of the program and downloading the program file of the latest version of the application program from the server system when the application program existing in the client system has been updated; and the client system. The program file of the latest version of the application program downloaded by the version updating means is installed in the client system. File distribution system which is characterized by comprising a setup unit installed on arm updating setup of the application program, the. 2. The version update means is provided in the client system, accesses the latest information management means of the server system to obtain the latest version information of the application program, and stores the latest version information of the application program in the client system. Version checking means for checking whether or not the application program is updated by comparing with the version information, and a program of the latest version of the application program provided in the client system, the update of the application program being detected by the version checking means The file distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising download means for downloading a file from the server system. 3. The setup means is a means implemented by executing a setup tool program included in a program file of the latest version downloaded by the version updating means. File distribution system described. 4. The version updating unit is a unit realized by executing a version updating tool updated by installing the downloaded latest version of the program file by the setup unit. The file distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The latest information management means includes a program file storage means for storing a program file of the application program, and a table storage means for storing a version table in which the latest version information of the program file is registered. The file distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. 6. The file according to claim 5, wherein the table storage means includes at least one of time stamp information and version number information of a program file as the latest version information stored as a version table. Distribution system. 7. A means for activating the version updating means at least one of when the client system is activated and when an application program is activated, according to any one of claims 1 to 6. File distribution system described in. 8. The client-server system, wherein the server system comprises latest version information of a file and latest information managing means for managing the file, and the client system accesses the latest information managing means of the server system. Characterized in that it comprises version update means for acquiring the latest version information of the file and downloading the latest version of the file from the server system when the file existing in the client system has been updated. File distribution system.