JP3570918B2 - Simultaneous program exchange system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for simultaneously exchanging programs of terminal devices in a system including a host device such as a server and a terminal device such as a client.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a client / server system or the like, during communication between a host device and a terminal device, the latest version of the terminal program distributed to the host device is compared with the version of the terminal-like programming. It is determined whether or not they match. Then, when the versions do not match, a program exchange for updating the terminal program to the latest terminal program has been performed.
The terminal program includes, for example, a business application program, middleware, or a driver.
[0003]
By the way, when the client / server system is a large-scale system, a part of the terminal device is often added later. For example, in a large-scale system released over a long period of several years, each terminal device should be the same as shown in the upper and lower portions on the left or the upper and lower portions in the center of FIG.
[0004]
However, in practice, due to improvements in the terminal device, there are cases where the components of the terminal device are different depending on the purchase time of the terminal device even during the release period. As a result, as shown in the upper and lower right portions of FIG. 1, the types of terminal devices that constitute one system with a plurality of types of terminal devices (terminal 1 and terminal 2) are different, and the drivers are different between the terminal devices. There is. In particular, if the drivers do not have mutual compatibility, even if a single module is distributed to each terminal device, the program may not be updated depending on the terminal device.
[0005]
Therefore, in a client / server system or the like, various maintenance management methods for simultaneously updating the programs of the terminals have been proposed.
For example, Literature 1: "JP-A-3-237530" discloses a software maintenance method in a network system including a host computer connected to a network and a plurality of personal computers as terminal devices. . According to this maintenance method, an update module file for software and an update target list file are created in advance, and the program of the terminal device to be updated is updated.
[0006]
Further, for example, according to the technique disclosed in Document 2: “Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-359345”, a terminal software management table for collectively managing information of each terminal device is provided in the host computer, and this table is provided. , The terminal device that needs to be updated is determined, and the software of the terminal device is exchanged.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique disclosed in Document 1 has a problem that an update module file and an update target list file must be created in advance as described above.
Further, according to the technique disclosed in Document 2, as described above, a management table of software that requires distribution is provided on the host side. For this reason, for example, even if an attempt is made to perform data exchange using a storage card, there is a problem that the host cannot identify the terminal device.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has as its object to provide a technique for easily exchanging programs simultaneously for a plurality of types of terminal devices having different drivers.
[0009]
Reference 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-21100 discloses a technique of broadcasting and distributing software resources from a server to a client. According to this technique, even when the distribution from the server to the client fails, the program is exchanged by directing the redistribution.
However, the technique disclosed in Document 3 does not consider performing simultaneous program exchange for a plurality of types of terminal devices having different drivers.
[0010]
In addition, a technique for transferring a module is also disclosed in Document 4: “Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-171487”. According to this technique, the file transfer amount and the file transfer time are reduced by subdividing the inside of the module.
However, in the technology disclosed in Document 4, as in Document 3, no consideration is given to performing simultaneous program exchange for a plurality of types of terminal devices having different drivers.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, according to the simultaneous program exchange system according to claim 1 of the present invention, the system comprises a host device and a plurality of types of terminal devices. Each of the terminal devices has a corresponding control program module, each of the terminal devices has model information indicating a model of the terminal device, and distributes a new update program from the host device to each of the terminal devices. In performing the program exchange between the program and the update program, the higher-level device distributes each of the modules to each of the terminal devices via the network together with the update program, and each of the terminal devices is configured to execute the When reading the module corresponding to the model information having, once the module corresponding to the specific model is read Inclusive, collates the model and the specific type indicated by the model information possessed by the terminal device, when the verification result is a mismatch, certain modules corresponding to the model indicated by the model information as read-free configuration.
[0012]
According to such a configuration, since each terminal device reads a module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device, simultaneous program exchange can be easily performed for a plurality of terminal devices having different drivers. it can.
Further, the terminal device of the specific model does not need to have the model information, and only the terminal device of the non-specific model device can have the model information. Therefore, the present invention is suitably applied to, for example, a case where the terminal device of a specific model occupies the majority and the terminal device of a non-specific model is a small number.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Processing for simultaneous program exchange in each of the following embodiments is executed by a computer controlled by the program. This program is provided, for example, by a recording medium. As the recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other computer-readable medium can be used.
[0021]
[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the simultaneous program exchange system and the simultaneous program exchange method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the simultaneous program exchange system of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, this system includes a host device 100, a first model terminal device 130 displaying terminal 1, and a second model terminal device 140 displaying terminal 2.
Although FIG. 2 shows one terminal 1 and one terminal 2 as representatives, in practice, a plurality of terminals 1 and two terminals are provided.
[0022]
The host device 100 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, an I / O 104, a PC card slot unit 105, and a storage device 106. The storage device 106 stores a terminal program 107 distributed to each terminal device.
The first model terminal device (terminal 1) 130 includes a CPU 131, a RAM 132, a ROM 133, an I / O pattern 134, a PC card slot 135, and a storage device 136. The storage device 136 stores a terminal program 137 distributed from the host device 100.
The second model terminal device (terminal 2) 140 includes a CPU 141, a RAM 142, a ROM 143, an I / O pattern 144, a PC card slot unit 145, and a storage device 146. The storage device 146 stores a terminal program 147 distributed from the host device 100.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the host device 100 and internal software as terminal programs 107, 137, and 147 in the device storage units 106, 136, and 146 of the terminal devices 130 and 140. .
As shown in FIG. 3, the device storage unit (host device storage area) 106 of the host device 100 stores model identification information 301, version information 307, an application program (AP) 302, and middleware (MW) for executing program exchange. , An operating system (OS) 304 such as a driver and a registry, a module 305 such as a driver and a registry for the terminal 1, and a module 306 such as a driver and a registry for the terminal 2.
As described above, the host device 100 has the control program modules 305 and 306 corresponding to the first and second models, respectively.
[0024]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the device storage unit (terminal 1 storage area) 136 of the first model terminal device 130 stores model identification information 321, version information 327, application program (AP) 302, and executes program exchange. An operating system (OS) 304 such as middleware (MW) to be operated, a driver and a registry, and a module 305 such as a driver and a registry for the terminal 1 are stored.
The model identification information 321 indicates that the model of the terminal device 130 is the first model.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the device storage unit (terminal 2 storage area) 146 of the terminal device 140 of the second model stores model identification information 341, version information 347, an application program (AP) 302, and executes program exchange. An operating system (OS) 304 such as middleware (MW) to be operated, a driver and a registry, and a module 306 such as a driver and a registry for the terminal 2 are stored.
The model identification information 341 indicates that the model of the terminal device 140 is the second model.
[0026]
Next, an example in which a new update program is distributed from the higher-level device 100 to each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 and program exchange between the terminal devices 130 and 140 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an exchange operation in the simultaneous program exchange system of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, first, data exchange processing is performed (S401).
[0027]
In this data exchange process, each module is simultaneously distributed to the terminal devices 130 and 140 together with the update program from the host device 100. That is, the storage card 160 (see FIG. 1) is inserted into the PC card slot unit 105 of the higher-level device 100, and the terminal program 107 in the device storage unit 106 is copied to the storage card 160. By inserting the storage card 160 into the PC card slots 135 and 145 of the terminal devices 130 and 140, respectively, the terminal devices 130 and 140 enter a data exchange processing start state with the device 100 (S401). .
[0028]
Next, the program exchange program included in the MW 303 of each of the terminals 130 and 140 compares the SC version information 307 of the storage card 160 with the version information 327 and 347 of the terminal device (S402).
As described above, this program for exchanging programs is provided to each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 via any suitable storage medium.
[0029]
As a result of the comparison, when the version indicated by the SC version information 307 is equal to the version indicated by the version reports 327 and 347, the process ends (S420).
On the other hand, as a result of the comparison, if the version indicated by the SC version information 307 is different from the version indicated by the version reports 327 and 347, the program exchange is started (S403).
When the program exchange is started, the MW, the AP, and the OS are copied from the storage card 160 to the terminals 130 and 140 (S410).
[0030]
Next, in each of the terminal devices 130 and 140, the program exchange execution program refers to the model information 321 and 341 of the terminal device to identify the model of each terminal device (S411).
When the terminal device 130 is identified as the first model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 130 copies the driver and the registry 305 for the terminal 1 (S412).
On the other hand, when the terminal device 140 is identified as the second model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 140 copies the driver for the terminal 2 and the registration 306 (S413).
In this way, each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 reads the module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device.
[0031]
Next, after reading the module, the program is exchanged (S415).
Since each terminal device obtains a module corresponding to each model, the programs can be simultaneously exchanged by each module.
Then, the data exchange process ends after the program exchange (S420).
As described above, since the modules corresponding to the model information of the terminal devices are read in the terminal devices 130 and 140 via the registration card, the simultaneous program exchange can be easily performed for the terminal devices of different models having different drivers. It can be performed.
[0032]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second embodiment, a program is distributed via a communication line. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the host device 100 and each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 include communication control units 109, 139, and 149 instead of the PC card slot unit.
In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Note that the communication line includes, for example, a wireless or infrared LAN.
[0033]
Next, an example of distributing a new update program from the higher-level device 100 to the terminal devices 130 and 140 and exchanging the programs of the terminal devices 130 and 140 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an exchange operation in the simultaneous program exchange system of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, here, first, the communication control unit 109 of the host device 100 and the communication control units 139 and 149 of the terminal devices 130 and 140 are connected by LAN cables, respectively. And 140 are set in a communicable state and communication is started (S501).
[0034]
Next, the program exchange program included in the MW 303 of each of the terminals 130 and 140 compares the SC version information 307 of the host device 100 with the version information 327 and 347 of the terminal device, respectively (S502).
As a result of the comparison, when the version indicated by the SC version information 307 is equal to the version indicated by the version reports 327 and 347, the process ends (S520).
On the other hand, as a result of the comparison, if the version indicated by the SC version information 307 is different from the version indicated by the version reports 327 and 347, the program exchange is started (S503).
When the program exchange is started, the MW, the AP, and the OS are copied from the host device 100 to the terminals 130 and 140 (S510).
[0035]
Next, in each of the terminal devices 130 and 140, the program exchange execution program refers to the model information 321 and 341 of the terminal device to identify the model of each terminal device (S511).
When the terminal device 130 is identified as the first model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 130 copies the driver and the registry 305 for the terminal 1 (S512).
On the other hand, when the terminal device 140 is identified as the second model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 140 copies the driver for the terminal 2 and the registration 306 (S513).
In this way, each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 reads the module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device.
[0036]
Next, after reading the module, the program is exchanged (S515).
Since each terminal device obtains a module corresponding to each model, the programs can be simultaneously exchanged by each module.
Then, the data exchange processing ends after the program exchange (S520).
As described above, since the modules corresponding to the model information of the terminal devices are read in the terminal devices 130 and 140 via the communication line, the simultaneous program exchange can be easily performed with respect to a plurality of terminal devices having different drivers. It can be performed.
[0037]
[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In general, in a large-scale system, a large number of terminal devices are intensively introduced at an early stage, and a small number of terminal devices are often additionally introduced later. For this reason, the number of terminal devices that are additionally installed and are not compatible with the terminal devices that are initially installed is often small.
Therefore, in the third embodiment, after the module corresponding to the terminal device of the initial introduction is read into all the terminal devices, the module corresponding to the additional introduction is overwritten only for the terminal device again. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given.
[0038]
The system configuration in the third embodiment is such that once the first main module is read by all terminals, the first model terminal device 130 does not need to have model information, and only the second model terminal device 140 It has model information (not shown).
The system configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the above-described second embodiment except that the terminal device 130 of the first model does not have the model information, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. An example of the simultaneous program exchange method will be described with reference to FIG.
[0039]
First, similarly to the above-described second embodiment, the host device 100 and the terminal devices 130 and 140 are placed in a communicable state and communication is started (S601).
Next, similarly to the second embodiment, the SC version information 307 of the host device 100 is compared with the version information 327 and 347 of the terminal device (S602). As a result of the comparison, if the versions are equal, the process is terminated (S620). On the other hand, as a result of the comparison, if the versions are different, the program exchange is started (S603).
[0040]
When the program exchange is started, each of the terminal devices 130 and 140 reads the module corresponding to the specific model once when reading the module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device. That is, in addition to the MW, the AP, and the OS, the driver and the registry for the terminal 1 are copied from the host device 100 to the terminals 130 and 140 (S604).
[0041]
Next, in each of the terminal devices 130 and 140, the MW program exchange execution program checks the model type information 321 and 341 of the terminal device with the first model to identify the model of each terminal device (S605). .
When the terminal device 130 is identified as the first model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 130 performs the program exchange using the already read driver and registry for the terminal 1 (S608).
[0042]
On the other hand, if the terminal device 140 is identified as the second model as a result of the identification, the terminal device 140 further copies the driver and the registration for the terminal 2 from the higher-level device 100 and reads the driver and the registration for the terminal 1 which have already been read. Is overwritten (S606).
In this way, the terminal device 140 of the second model can also read the module corresponding to the model.
[0043]
Next, after reading the module, the terminal device 140 of the second model also exchanges programs (S608).
Since each terminal device obtains a module corresponding to each model, the programs can be simultaneously exchanged by each module.
Then, the data exchange process ends after the program exchange (S620).
[0044]
In the embodiment described above, an example in which the present invention is configured under specific conditions has been described. However, the present invention can be variously modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the types of terminals are the first and second types, but in the present invention, the types of types are not limited to two types. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to, for example, three or more types of models.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, each terminal device reads a module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device. Simultaneous program exchange can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a simultaneous program exchange system according to a first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a host device and a terminal device constituting the simultaneous program exchange system of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of software in a device storage unit in the simultaneous program exchange system of the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an exchange operation in the simultaneous program exchange system of the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a host device and a terminal device constituting a simultaneous program exchange system according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an exchange operation in the simultaneous program exchange system of the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an exchange operation in the simultaneous program exchange system of the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Host device 101, 131, 141 CPU
102, 132, 142 RAM
103, 133, 143 ROM
104, 134, 144 I / O
105, 135, 145 PC card slot unit 106, 136, 146 Device storage unit 107, 137, 147 Terminal program 109, 139, 149 Communication control unit 130 First model terminal device (terminal 1)
140 Terminal device of the second model (terminal 2)
160 storage card

Claims (1)

A system configured by a host device and a plurality of types of terminal devices,
The host device has a control program module corresponding to each model,
Each of the terminal devices has model information indicating a model of the terminal device,
Distributing a new update program from the host device to each of the terminal devices, upon performing a program exchange between the terminal device program and the update program,
The upper device, together with the update program, distributes each of the modules to each of the terminal devices via a network ,
Each of the terminal devices reads the module corresponding to the model information of the terminal device,
Once read the module corresponding to the specific model,
A program exchange system for collating a model indicated by the model information of the terminal device with the specific model, and reading a module corresponding to the model indicated by the model information when the collation results do not match; .

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