JPH11212911A - Distributed service cooperation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transfer cooperative service supply system in an internet/intranet to enable a user to enjoy the optimum service among a single or plural types of services just by designating and requesting his desired service. SOLUTION: A processing request of a web client 4 which executes a store user interface program downloaded from a web server 3 of an internet/intranet 5 is received by a service cooperation server 2. The data are directly transferred and also processed between the built-in service controllers of two service supply servers 1 with no intervention of the server 2 against the processing request of the server 2 that is selected and separately transmitted. Then a server 1 sends the result data on the service function back to the client 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed service cooperation apparatus for linking services existing on a network in a flexible manner to realize a desired function of a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a conventional distributed service cooperation apparatus generally shown in FIG. 9 cooperates with a service cooperation server 2e to concentrate the results of processing requests to a built-in service controller of each service providing server 1f. A data centralized cooperative service providing method that enables a service cooperating server 2e to interrupt data transfer between the providing servers 1f) is adopted. The service providing server 1f returns a service function separately stored in the built-in service controller to the service cooperation server 2e as result data in response to a processing request from the service cooperation server 2e. The service cooperation server 2e receives the transmission processing request separately from the Web client 4, starts the cooperation processing for mapping to the processing request, controls the execution of the service controller built in the service providing server 1f, and performs the control by the one or more service providing servers 1f. Merge and sort the result data, and
Return it to the web client 4. The Web server (server for transmitting information on the Internet / intranet) 3
A user interface program to be separately stored in response to a request from the web client 4 is downloaded. W
The web client (data access client on the Internet / intranet) 4 executes the user interface program by the web server 3 and separately sends a processing request to the service cooperation server 2e. The Internet / intranet 5 is the service providing server 1
f, service cooperation server 2e, Web server 3, and Web
The client 4 is connected, and a service composed of services provided by one or a plurality of service providing servers 1f is made available. For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-106.
No. 421 discloses a conventional distributed service cooperation apparatus shown in FIG.
0, a user-determined service providing method characterized in that a user receives a service from an appropriate resource. The user means 11 holds a user situation which is information relating to a situation of a user who requests a service. The resource unit 12 holds a resource status, which is information on the status of the resource providing the service. The service management unit 13 compares the user status by the user unit 11 with the resource status by the resource unit 12, and selects the appropriate resource for the user.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional distributed service cooperation apparatus employs a data centralized cooperation type or a user judgment type service providing system. It is difficult to realize stream-type data transfer such as image data that needs to be transferred. In addition, the load is concentrated on the service cooperation server that needs to exchange all data between the client and the service providing server and between the service providing servers, and the response of the system is inevitably reduced. When a service combining a plurality of services is used, the user is required to make a GUI (graphical user) every time a service processing request needs to be made for each step unless the services provided by the service providing servers are linked to each other.
There is a problem that it is necessary to input similar input data through an interface. In the case of the user determination type, it is necessary to take a series of procedures until the user receives the service, such as waiting for a response from all server terminals, deciding the server providing server at the user's own judgment, making a processing request, and so on. Not only does it take a lot of non-required processing time to actually receive the service, but also the network data transfer time differs depending on the processing performance and network connection type of each service providing server, so the required service processing time If a specific service providing server is determined only by the load status (the number of accumulated processing requests) in an attempt to shorten the response time including the network data transfer time, the user has not selected the optimal service providing server. There was a possible problem.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a user simply designates a desired service in a distributed service cooperation apparatus and requests the service cooperation server to select an optimum service from services provided by one or a plurality of service providing servers. An object of the present invention is to provide a method (data transfer cooperative service providing system) that enables a cooperative mode of exchanging data without using a service cooperative server between service controllers with built-in service providing servers so that services can be used.

[0005]

A distributed service cooperation apparatus according to the present invention utilizes services distributed on the Internet / intranet. To solve the above-mentioned problems, the following means are provided, and a data transfer cooperation apparatus is provided. It is characterized by adopting a type service providing method.

[0006] The service cooperation server uses the Internet /
Upon receiving a processing request from a Web client that executes a user interface program downloaded from a Web server on the intranet, a service providing server that actually stores the processing request data is selected, and a separate processing request is sent to the service controller with a built-in service providing server. Send.

[0007] The service providing server directly exchanges data between the built-in service controller and another service providing server or a Web client without passing through the service cooperation server in response to a processing request from the service cooperation server, and executes processing. Then, the obtained optimal service function is returned to the Web client as result data. Alternatively, the data obtained by the built-in service controller
b. Not only to the client, but also to another service providing server or service cooperating server that executes the processing next, and before the transmission, the receiving side understands the internal format of the result data and converts it into a data format that can be processed. .
Further, when a large amount of data is transferred, the data is temporarily buffered on the transmission side so as to be divided into a required amount such as one display and transferred. It also handles streaming data transfer in which the display is prioritized and the data amount is reduced when moving image playback and display is applied on the client side. Or, when realizing a desired service by combining the services using a plurality of types, it is necessary to judge the user for the most suitable service providing server at the time of exchanging load status information with the service cooperation server. And do not choose.

[0008] The distributed service cooperation apparatus is a Web service via a service cooperation server in one of a plurality of independent systems.
The access control from the outside is performed from the client using the function provided by the service providing server via the other service cooperation server in the system.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A distributed service cooperation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and a Web server 3, a Web client 4, and the Internet / intranet 5 correspond to FIG. . The service providing server 1 transfers data directly between the built-in service controller and another service providing server 1 or the Web client 4 without passing through the service cooperation server 2 in response to a processing request from the service cooperation server 2, and performs processing. The optimal service function to be executed and acquired is W
Return it to the web client 4. The service cooperation server 2
Upon receiving a processing request from the Web client 4, the service providing server 1 that actually stores the processing request data is selected, and a processing request is separately transmitted to the service controller. By directly transferring data between the built-in service controllers of each service providing server 1 and between the built-in service controllers and the Web client 4,
Response expansion due to load concentration on the service providing server 1 can be achieved by extending functions such as data buffering and stream transfer, and by not applying a load for execution control to the service cooperation server 2 which does not need to intervene in data transfer. In addition to being able to prevent the drop, there are the following effects. (1) Due to the buffering function of the service controller built in the service providing server 1, only the data amount required when the display of the Web client 4 is applied can be acquired, and the user can transfer the data for a longer time compared to the batch transmission of all data to the Web client 4. No need to wait. In addition, there is no need to execute processing for each request and recreate data at the time of cooperation between the service providing servers 1, and similar data can be transmitted to a plurality of services at the same time. In addition, when a public line having a connection stability problem is connected, disconnection and reconnection can be performed to recover a transmission error and continue transmission. (2) With the monitoring function of the service cooperation server 2, the execution history data of the service controller built in each service providing server 1 can be collected, and the processing can be stopped during the execution of the combined service of a plurality of services.
The service controller based on the execution history data can be selected by the service controller built in each service providing server 1, and the optimal service providing server 1 dynamically responding to a change in the load situation after the processing request by the service cooperation server 2 can be selected. (3) When constructing a system in which another system is newly incorporated in a plurality of systems, the exchange of processing requests between the systems is limited to the service cooperation server 2 and only the relationship between the two can be recognized. Each Web client 4 can easily expand the system without having to set up another system. In addition, each service providing server 1 can manage the access right only in the service cooperation server without requiring it, and can easily manage the system.

The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment enables a cooperation mode in which data is exchanged between the service controllers in the service providing servers 1 without passing through the service cooperation server 2 (data transfer cooperation service provision). Method).

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, a service providing server is assumed to be, for example, a database service as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 (but is not limited to a specific information system). 1
a or 1b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, first, the service cooperation server 2a receives a processing request from the Web client 4 for using a service that returns tabular data having a large number of records, and selects the service storage server 2a to actually store the processing request data. Service providing server 1a
To the Web client 4 of the network address information (machine name and calling method name) for the service controller. Next, a service request specifying a required data amount is received from the Web client 4 directly connected to the service providing server 1a, and a service requesting side / providing separately stored by the service cooperation server 2a by the data format conversion function of the service controller. The processing request format conversion between data is performed with reference to the side input / output data format information. Here, since the processing request by the Web client 4 is not for a specific database system (because the actual database system used is not fixed and is determined at the time of execution), the database system that actually executes the processing performs the processing request. You need to convert the request to a format that can be resolved. Upon receiving the format converted processing request, the database system executes the processing and returns record data to the service controller as acquisition result data. Further, for the record data, similarly, referring to the input / output data format information by the service cooperation server 2a,
After converting to the service request side output data format and temporarily storing it in a separately provided buffer, the record data of the requested number is stored in W
Return it to the web client 4. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 does not return the result data directly to the Web client 4 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but the service controller of the service providing server 1b matches the input data format of the next service. Using the data to be converted and transmitted, the service controller of the next service providing server 1b performs the same service processing.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, instead of the service providing server 1, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a service providing server 1c which assumes an image data transfer service requiring a stream system may be configured. Good. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the service cooperation server 2b first receives a processing request for using the stream-type image data transfer service from the Web client 4, and actually stores the processing request data in the selected service providing server 1b. Is notified to the Web client 4 of network address information (machine name and calling method name) corresponding to.
Next, stream-type image data is transferred between the service providing servers 1a that are directly connected to the Web client 4, and the Web client 4 displays the image data.

Further, instead of the service providing server 1 in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the service providing server 1d may be configured as shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, first, the service cooperation server 2c receives a processing request for using the optimum selection service from the Web client 4 and actually stores the processing request data.
Service providing server 1d having the best response performance based on execution information (response time and number of processing requests) for monitoring and collecting information
A processing request is transmitted based on the service cooperation definition information (service input data, service execution procedure, service execution method name, result data transmission destination address, etc.) (see FIG. 6). Service providing server 1 that receives the information
d. The server controller compares the own server load status information separately stored by the service controller d with the expected response time obtained from the reference service execution expected response time list separately stored by the service cooperation server 2c, and executes the process in the service providing server 1d. Alternatively, the processing request is transferred to the service providing server 1d having the next shorter expected response time (see steps S1 to S8 in FIG. 7). At the same time, the service cooperation server 2c
To the service providing server 1d. Since the expected response time changes every moment, if the desired service providing server 1d cannot be selected despite the predetermined number of transfers between the service controllers, the last service providing server 1d performs processing. Or returns a processing request to the first selected service providing server 1d to execute the processing. At the time of execution combination processing of a plurality of services, a result (there may be output data) is not returned to the service cooperation server 2c every time the service execution is completed, and the service execution order information in the processing request is referred to as described above. While the execution is passed between the service controllers, the service selection function of the service controller itself selects a reference service execution expected response time list by the service cooperation server 2c from the list of expected service execution response times, and requests the service providing server 1d having the shortest response time among the next services. To transfer.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is a service cooperation server 2d which is configured in place of the service cooperation server 2, and receives a processing request designated by the Web client 4 to access itself, and separates it as it is. Use of the processing request received by referring to the access right information (access right list) separately transferred to the service cooperation server 2d for managing the execution of the designated processing request found from the stored service information (service list) and separately stored The access right to the service (there may be a plurality of services) for the user, transmits the processing request to the selected service providing server 1e as usual when the access is permitted, receives the desired service, and requests the Web client 4 when the access is not possible. To return an error indicating that the service providing server 1e on the side does not have access right It may be.

[0015]

As described above, the distributed service cooperation apparatus of the present invention employs a data transfer cooperation service provision method. Therefore, each service provision server is different from the conventional data centralized cooperation type or user determination type service provision method. By directly transferring data between the built-in service controller and between the built-in service controller and the client,
Functions such as data buffering and stream transfer can be extended, and the load on the service cooperation server that does not need to intervene in data transfer is not applied for execution control. It has the following effects in addition to being prevented. (1) Due to the buffering function of the service controller with built-in service providing server, only the necessary data amount can be acquired when the display on the client side is applied, and the user needs to wait for a longer transfer time than when transmitting all data to the client at once. Disappears. Further, there is no need to execute processing for each request and recreate data at the time of cooperation between service providing servers, and similar data can be transmitted to a plurality of services at the same time. In addition, when a public line having a connection stability problem is connected, disconnection and reconnection can be performed to recover a transmission error and continue transmission. (2) By the monitoring function of the service cooperation server,
The execution history data of each service providing server built-in service controller can be collected, the processing can be stopped during the execution of the combined service of a plurality of services, and the service selection based on the execution history data can be performed by each service providing server built-in service controller, It is possible to select an optimal service providing server that dynamically responds to a change in the load situation after the processing request by the service cooperation server. (3) When constructing a system in which another system is newly incorporated in a plurality of systems, it is only necessary to limit the exchange of processing requests between systems to the service cooperation server and to recognize only the relationship between the two. Can easily expand the system without having to set up another system. Also, the access right can be managed only in the service cooperation server without being required for each service providing server, and the system can be easily managed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a distributed service cooperation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the service cooperation server shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the service providing server shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of a distributed service cooperation apparatus showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e service providing server, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d service cooperation server, 3 Web server, 4 Web client, 5
Internet / Intranet. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. W on the Internet / Intranet
A service that receives a processing request from a Web client that executes a user interface program downloaded from an e-server, selects a service providing server that actually stores the processing request data, and separately transmits a processing request to the service controller with a built-in service providing server A coordination server, and a built-in service controller and another service providing server or the Web server for processing requests from the service coordination server without passing through the service coordination server
b that directly exchanges data with the client, and returns an optimal service function for executing and acquiring processing to the Web client as result data, the service providing server being distributed on the Internet / intranet. Service coordination device that uses the service to be performed. 2. The service providing server transmits the result data obtained by the built-in service controller not only to the Web client but also to another service providing server or service cooperation server that executes the next process, and the receiving side transmits the data before the transmission. 2. The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the result data is converted into a data format that can understand and process the internal format of the result data. 3. The service providing server sends the data obtained by the built-in service controller not only to the Web client but also to another service providing server or service cooperating server that executes the next process. 2. The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is temporarily buffered on the transmission side such that the data is transferred after being divided into required amounts such as times of display. 4. The service providing server transmits the result data obtained by the built-in service controller not only to the Web client but also to another service providing server or service cooperation server that executes the next processing, and also plays and displays a moving image on the client side. 2. The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein streaming data transfer is performed in which transfer is performed with a reduced data amount with priority given to display when applied. 5. When the service providing server uses a plurality of types and combines the services to realize a desired service, providing the same kind of service optimal when exchanging load status information with the service cooperation server. 2. The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server is selected without requiring the user to make a determination on the server. 6. Independently controlling a plurality of Web clients via one service link server in the system using a function provided by the service providing server via the other service link server in the system to perform external access control. The distributed service cooperation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus exists.