JPH11312080A - Computer network system and program update method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A program installed in a plurality of client terminal devices is updated from a program server device via a network without imposing an excessive burden on a program server device. A program server device broadcasts an installation program, an installation condition table, and an installation condition determination program to a client terminal device. The client terminal device 61 executes the installation condition determination program 57, determines the necessity of updating based on the installation condition table 53, the client terminal device system table 63, and the client terminal device program table 64, and determines that it is necessary. Install program 5 only if
Install 2

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer network system and a program updating method, and more particularly to efficiently updating a program installed in a plurality of client terminal devices from a program server device via a network. And a program update method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A first conventional example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-212.
No. 341 discloses “Software automatic selection installation system and automatic selection installation method”. This is a technique for automatically installing a program in consideration of the disk capacity of a computer.

As a second conventional example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2187
There is a "computer system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 77-77. This is a technique for performing installation with unique settings for each computer when performing automatic installation on a plurality of computers using a network.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The “software automatic selection installation system and automatic selection installation method” disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.
This technology automatically installs programs on two computers.

[0005] Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be applied at all when a program installed in a plurality of client terminal devices is updated from a program server device via a network.

On the other hand, the "computer system" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-218777 can be applied to a case where a program installed in a plurality of client terminal devices is updated from a program server device via a network.

However, it is necessary to manage the name and version of the program installed in each client terminal device by the program server device, select the client terminal device that needs to be updated, and transmit the program. There is a problem that the burden becomes excessive.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer network which can update programs installed in a plurality of client terminal devices from a program server device via a network without imposing an excessive burden on the program server device. It is to provide a system and a program updating method.

[0009]

According to a first aspect, the present invention is a computer network system comprising at least one program server device and at least one client terminal device connected by a network. Wherein the program server device includes broadcast means for broadcasting program update information via the network, wherein the client terminal device receives the program update information via the network, and the received program There is provided a computer network system comprising: a judgment unit for judging the necessity of program update based on update information; and an update execution unit for updating a program only when judged necessary.

In the computer network system according to the first aspect, the program server simply broadcasts the program update information, and the client terminal determines the necessity of the program update based on the received program update information and determines that the program update is necessary. Only update the program if. This eliminates the need for the program server device to manage the names and versions of the programs installed in each client terminal device, so that the program server device can be installed on a plurality of client terminal devices without imposing an excessive burden on the program server device. Can be updated from the program server device via the network.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides the computer network system having the above-mentioned configuration, wherein the program server device includes a program update information including an identifier of a program to be updated and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program. And broadcast
The client terminal device holds program information including an identifier of a program installed therein and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program, and the determination unit holds the received program update information. A computer network system is provided, wherein the necessity of updating a program is determined by comparing the program information with the program information.

In the computer network system according to the second aspect, the client terminal compares the identifier and version of the program to be updated received from the program server with the name and version of the program installed therein. Thus, the necessity of updating is determined, so that the version of the program can be suitably upgraded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the computer network system having the above configuration, the program server apparatus broadcasts program update information including system environment information for executing a program to be updated, and The terminal device retains its own system environment information, and the determining unit determines the necessity of program update by comparing the received program update information with the retained system environment information. To provide a computer network system.

In the computer network system according to the third aspect, the updating is performed only in a system environment in which the program can be updated and executed, so that meaningless updating can be prevented.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a program server apparatus which transmits program update information to a client terminal apparatus without considering the current state of the client terminal apparatus, and which receives the program update information from the client terminal apparatus. There is provided a program updating method characterized in that the necessity of a program update is determined based on the program update information, and the program is updated only when it is determined necessary.

In the program updating method according to the fourth aspect, the program server device simply transmits the program update information, and the client terminal device determines the necessity of the program update based on the received program update information and determines that the program update is necessary. Only update the program if. This allows
Since it is not necessary to manage the names and versions of the programs installed in each client terminal device by the program server device, the programs installed in a plurality of client terminal devices without imposing an excessive burden on the program server device. Can be updated from the program server device via the network.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above-configured program updating method, program update information including an identifier of a program to be updated and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program is transmitted. And a method for updating the program.

In the program updating method according to the fifth aspect, the necessity of updating is determined by comparing the identifier or version of the program to be updated received from the program server device with the name or version of the program installed therein. Is determined, it is possible to suitably upgrade the version of the program.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a program updating method according to the above configuration, wherein the program updating information includes system environment information for executing a program to be updated. provide.

In the program updating method according to the sixth aspect, the updating is performed only in a system environment where the program can be updated and executed, so that meaningless updating can be prevented.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a computer network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The computer network system 1 comprises at least one program server device 50 and at least one client terminal device 61 connected by a network N.

The program server device 50 has a computer main body 54, an external storage device 51, an input device 58 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output device 59 such as a display and a printer, and a communication device 60. .

The computer main body 54 has a CPU 55 and a main storage device 56. The main storage device 56 stores an installation condition determination program 57.

The external storage device 53 stores an installation program 52 and an installation condition table 53.

The client terminal device 61 has a computer main body 65, an external storage device 62, a communication device 69, an input device 70 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and an output device 71 such as a display and a printer. .

The computer main body 65 has a CPU 66 and a main storage device 67. The main storage device 67 stores the program server device 50 via a network.
An installation daemon 68 for executing the program broadcasted by the resident is resident.

The external storage device 62 stores a client terminal device system table 63 and a client terminal device program table 64.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a program updating method according to the present invention.

In step 10, the program server device 50 broadcasts a program update command and a set of programs (100 in FIG. 3) to each client terminal device 61 via the network N.

In step 20, each client terminal device 61 executes the installation condition determination program 57, and it is necessary to update (install) the program with reference to the client terminal device system table 63 and the client terminal device program table 64. It is determined whether or not there is. The installation necessity determination processing in step 20 will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step 30, if there is no need to install the program, nothing is performed, and if it is necessary to install the program, the program is installed in the own client terminal device 61. The installation execution process in step 30 will be described later with reference to FIG.

At step 40, the contents of the client terminal system table 63 and the client terminal program table 64 are updated. Then, the process ends.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a set of programs broadcast by the program server device 50.

The set of programs 100 includes an installation condition determination program 57 for determining whether or not a program needs to be installed, an installation program 52 which is a group of programs to be installed, and a client terminal device necessary for performing the installation. The installation condition table 53 defines the above conditions.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the installation condition table 53.

The installation condition table 53 has an item 1
21 is a table in which 21 and its value 122 are defined. In this example, the items include a “program name” 123 representing the name of the program to be installed, a “version” 124 representing the version of the program, a “computer body” 125 representing a computer body necessary for running the program, “Basic software” 126 representing basic software required to run the program, “memory” 127 representing memory capacity required to run the program, hard disk capacity required to install the program And a "display" 129 representing the accuracy of the display required to run the program.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of the client terminal device system table 63.

Client terminal system table 6
Reference numeral 3 denotes a table that defines a system item 131 representing the configuration of the client terminal device 61, a value 132 thereof, and a last update date 133 representing the last update date of the value. In this example, the system item is a “computer body” 134 representing the computer body of the client terminal device 61 itself,
“Basic software” 135 representing the basic software of the own client terminal device 61, “Memory” 136 representing the memory capacity of the own client terminal device 61, “Free hard disk” 137 representing the free hard disk capacity of the own client terminal device 61, and “Display” 13 representing the accuracy of the display of the own client terminal device 61
There are eight.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the client terminal device program table 64.

The client terminal device program table 64 has a program name 1 representing the name of a program already installed in the client terminal device 61 itself.
41 and version 14 representing the version of the program
2 and last update date 143 indicating the last update date of the program
Is a table that defines

FIG. 7 shows an installation necessity determination process (FIG. 2).
15 is a detailed flowchart of step 20) of FIG.

In step 200, the installation condition table 53 is read from the set of broadcasted programs 100.

In step 220, the client terminal device system table 63 of the own client terminal device 61
And whether the own client terminal device 61 satisfies the system requirements. This system requirement check processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

At step 240, the client terminal device program table 6 of the client terminal device 61
4 and the installation condition table 53, the installation program 52 has already
Check if it has been installed in the first directory. This unfinished installation check processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Then, the process ends.

FIG. 8 shows a system requirement check process (FIG. 7).
21 is a detailed flowchart of step 220) of FIG.

In step 221, the client terminal system table 63 is read and opened. Further, the system condition determination flag is initialized to OFF.

In step 222, it is determined whether the check has been completed for all system items 131 registered in the client terminal device system table 63. If not, the process proceeds to step 223. If completed, the process proceeds to step 224.

In step 223, the value 13 of the system item 131 of the client terminal device system table 63 is set.
Focusing on one of the two, it is determined whether the value 132 satisfies the value 122 of the corresponding item 121 of the installation condition table 53, and if so, the process returns to the step 222; If the value 132 of the system item 131 is defined by a numerical value, the value 132 is
If the value exceeds the corresponding value 122 of “3”, it is determined that “satisfied”. On the other hand, the value 132 of the system item 131
Is defined as a value other than a numerical value, the rank previously associated with the value 132 is compared with the rank previously associated with the corresponding value 122 of the client terminal device system table 53, and the rank is associated with the value 132. If the given rank exceeds the rank associated with the value 122, it is determined that “satisfied”.

In step 224, the system condition judgment flag is set to ON.

In step 225, the client terminal device system table 63 is closed, and the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of the installation not-yet-checked process (step 240 in FIG. 7).

In step 241, the client terminal device program table 64 is read and opened. The program condition determination flag is initialized to OFF.

In step 242, it is determined whether the check has been completed for all the program names 141 registered in the client terminal device program table 64, and if not, the process proceeds to step 243. If completed, the process proceeds to step 245.

In step 243, one of the records of the client terminal device program table 64 is focused on.
It is determined whether or not the value of the program name 141 of the record matches the value of the program name 123 of the installation condition table 53. If the value matches, the process proceeds to step 244. If not, the process returns to step 242.

In step 244, it is determined whether the value of the version 142 of the record of interest matches the value of version 124 of the installation condition table 53. If the value matches, the process proceeds to step 246. If not, the process proceeds to step 242. Return.

At step 245, the program condition judgment flag is set to ON, and the routine proceeds to step 246.

In step 246, the client terminal device program table 64 is closed, and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart of the installation execution process (step 30 in FIG. 1).

In step 401, it is determined whether the system condition flag is ON. If the flag is ON, the process proceeds to step 402, and if not, the process is terminated.

At step 402, it is determined whether the program condition determination flag is ON.
If not, the process ends.

In step 403, the installation of the installation program 52 is executed. Then, the process ends.

[0064]

According to the computer network system and the program updating method of the present invention, a program installed in a plurality of client terminal devices can be transferred from the program server device via the network without imposing an excessive burden on the program server device. Can be updated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a computer network system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a program updating method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a set of programs sent from a program server device.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of an installation condition table.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a client terminal device system table.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram of a client terminal device program table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an installation necessity determination process;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a system requirement check process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an installation-unfinished check process;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an installation execution process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Computer network system, N: Network 5
0: Program server device, 51: External storage device, 5
2: installation program, 53: installation condition table, 54: computer main body, 55: CPU, 56: main storage device, 57: installation condition determination program, 5
8: input device, 59: output device, 60: communication device, 6
1: client terminal device, 62: external storage device, 6
3: client terminal device system table, 64: client terminal device program table, 65: computer main unit, 66: CPU, 67: main storage device, 68: install daemon, 69: communication device, 70: input device, 7
1: Output device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] At least one connected by a network
A computer network system comprising at least one program server device and at least one client terminal device, wherein the program server device comprises a broadcast unit for broadcasting program update information via the network; A terminal device, receiving means for receiving the program update information via the network, determining means for determining necessity of program update based on the received program update information, and updating the program only when determined necessary A computer network system comprising: 2. The computer network system according to claim 1, wherein the program server device broadcasts program update information including an identifier of a program to be updated and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program. The client terminal device holds program information including an identifier of a program installed therein and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program, and the determining unit holds the received program update information and the program update information. A computer network system for comparing program information to determine whether a program needs to be updated. 3. The computer network system according to claim 1, wherein said program server device broadcasts program update information including system environment information for executing a program to be updated, and said client terminal. The apparatus retains its own system environment information, and the determining means compares the received program update information with the retained system environment information to determine the necessity of program update. Computer network system. 4. The program server device transmits program update information to the client terminal device without considering the current state of the client terminal device, and the client terminal device receiving the program update information updates the program based on the program update information. A program updating method which determines the necessity of the program and updates the program only when it is determined necessary. 5. The program updating method according to claim 4, wherein program updating information including an identifier of a program to be updated and at least one of a version and a time stamp of the program is transmitted. . 6. The program updating method according to claim 4, wherein program updating information including system environment information for executing a program to be updated is transmitted.