JP2002007136A - Software distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To store the minimum required files on a disk of a client computer, thereby minimizing the disk usage and reducing the load on the network. Kind Code: A1 A client automatically detects a file required at the time of executing software on a client side, determines whether the file is already stored in a storage area of a local computer, and automatically obtains the file from a distribution server when necessary. Means for performing

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic software distribution system for automatically distributing software and related library files using a computer network. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic software distribution system for automatically updating a library file required when executing software on a client side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, automatic updating of files in a large number of clients existing on a network is generally realized by a batch transmission method from a distribution server. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-003214 discloses a database server for storing software to be distributed, and a search for the database via a network. There has been proposed a network system having means for acquiring a new version of software from a database server.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional software distribution method has the following problems.
The library file is used in common by a plurality of software, and the file used differs depending on the type of software to be executed and the execution format. However, in the conventional distribution method, the distribution server wastes the storage area of the result client in order to distribute all the library files that will be needed to the client, whether or not it is necessary. And the like.

[0004] The reason is that the distribution server cannot grasp all the types and execution formats of software executed by each client, the types of library files to be used, and the like.

[0005] Even in a method in which a client obtains software from a database server according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-003214, the same problem occurs because obtaining all files is the same. Furthermore, since security is not considered in this method, there is a risk that software and related library files may be used illegally.

Further, in the conventional batch transmission method, when the file size of the software to be distributed is large or when the distribution scale is large, the load on the network is increased and the performance is significantly reduced. There was a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a client side automatically detects a library file required for executing software and stores the library file in a storage area of its own computer. Software that aims to minimize the use of the client's storage area and reduce the load on the network by automatically determining from the distribution server if necessary To provide an automatic distribution system.

[0008]

An automatic software distribution system according to the present invention comprises a software provider computer and a plurality of software user computers connected via a network. A management database for storing various management information, means for storing all data of distributed software and related library files in a storage area on the computer, and monitoring whether software or library files in the storage area have been updated Monitoring means to be updated and if updated (file registration,
Update management, distribution management means such as registration means for registering the update content in the master file management table in the management database, and the software user side computer has a library required for execution when executing the software. File management means for automatically judging whether or not a file is stored in the storage area of the own computer, and automatically obtaining the relevant file from the provider's computer when the necessary library file is not present in the own computer And a file acquisition means for storing the file in its own computer.

When the monitoring means detects that the file in the storage area has been updated, the software provider side computer automatically generates a catalog file describing the updated file name and update time. Generating means for automatically generating, and means for automatically distributing the generated catalog file to all software user computers connected via the network, wherein the software user computer includes: Means for sensing the reception of the catalog file, and, simultaneously with the sensing of the reception, automatically search the storage area of the catalog file and the own computer, and the file name described in the catalog file is stored in the own computer. File management means such as a means for checking whether the file is stored, If the file is stored in the own computer, it is determined that the master file has been updated, the file is automatically acquired from the software provider side computer, and a file acquisition unit that stores the file in the own computer. It is characterized by having.

[0010] Further, the management database on the software provider side includes a user information management table for managing various information of available computer on the user side, and information such as which file is distributed to which computer and when. A distribution history management table for managing the distribution history, a distribution history management means for reflecting a distribution result in the distribution history management table, and a file update request from an arbitrary user side computer. A means for detecting and judging whether the request is from an authorized user, and a distribution managing means such as a means for automatically canceling the connection in the case of a request from an unauthorized user, The software user's computer manages the frequency of use of software and library files on its own computer. A management database to be used, a usage frequency management means for reflecting the usage results in a usage frequency management table in the previous term management database, and searching the management database, detecting software and library files that have not been used within a certain period of time, File management means such as a means for automatically deleting the file from its own machine.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

An automatic software distribution system according to the present invention comprises a software provider computer and a plurality of software user computers connected via a network, and provides software and related library files to the software user computer. In the system for distributing the software, the software user side computer automatically determines the necessity of the file when executing the software (11 in FIG. 1), and obtains the file from the software provider side computer as necessary. (12 in FIG. 1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the software provider computer includes a distribution software spool (9 in FIG. 1) for storing software to be distributed to the software user computer, and a file in the distribution software spool. Update results, user information,
A management database (5 in FIG. 1) for managing the result of distribution to the software user's computer, and a distribution management unit (FIG. 1) for appropriately reflecting the status in the management database.
2).

The distribution management means senses a file update request from the user's computer, determines whether the user is an authorized user, and disconnects the connection if the request is from an unauthorized user. Cancel automatically. Further, when a file in the distribution software spool is changed, a catalog file describing the changed file name and update time is automatically generated and automatically distributed to the software user side computer. Generating means (3 in FIG. 1) and a distributing means (4 in FIG. 1).

The software user side computer has an applied software spool (15 in FIG. 1) for storing distributed software, and a management database (FIG. 1) for managing file usage history and the like in the software user side computer. 13) and use management means (11 in FIG. 1) for appropriately reflecting the use state in the management database.

Further, the use management means detects the reception of the catalog file distributed from the software provider side computer, and changes the file name described in the catalog file into the applicable software spool. It is also checked whether it is stored. If the file is stored,
The acquisition unit (12 in FIG. 1) automatically acquires the corresponding file from the software provider computer.

Further, the use management means constantly monitors the inside of the management database, and when detecting software and library files that have not been used for a certain period of time, deletes the corresponding files from the applied software spool.

In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, one software provider computer includes a distribution software spool 9, a management database 5, a distribution management means 2, a catalog file generation means 3, a catalog file And a distribution means 4. The management database 5 includes a master file management table 6, a user information management table 7, a distribution history management table 8,
Having.

The computer 1 on the software user side
0 has an application software spool 15, a management database 13, a use management means 11, and a file acquisition means 12, and the management database 13 has a use history management table 14.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the computer 1 on the software provider side is provided with distribution management means 2,
From the provider's computer, input the software to be distributed and the related library file.

The distribution management means 2 constantly monitors the software spool 9 and, when there is a change in the software spool 9 due to new registration of a file or the like, reflects the contents of the change in the master file management table 6 and An instruction is given to the catalog file generating means 3.
The generating means 3 automatically generates a catalog file in which the updated file name and the update time are described, and instructs the catalog file distributing means 4, and the distributing means 4 makes available software users Distribute the catalog file to the local computer.

Further, the distribution means 2 senses a file update request from the user's computer, determines whether or not the user is authorized, and in the case of a request from an unauthorized user, Disconnect automatically. Maintenance of the user information management table 7 for managing various information of the available software user side computer is performed by the provider side computer as needed.

Software user side computer 10
Comprises a usage management unit 11, which automatically determines whether a required library file is stored in an applicable software spool 15 when executing software, and when there is no required file, a file acquisition unit 12 The acquisition means 12 sends the distributed software spool 9 of the software provider computer 1
, The corresponding file is automatically acquired and stored in the applied software spool 15. In addition, the obtained result is reflected in the usage history management table 14.

The use management means 11 detects the reception of a catalog file distributed from the computer 1 on the side of the software provider, automatically searches the catalog file and the applied software spool 15, and stores the catalog file and the application software spool 15 described in the catalog file. It is checked whether the file name stored in the application software spool 15 is stored. If the file is stored, the file acquisition unit 12 checks whether the distributed software spool stored in the software provider side computer 1 has 9, the corresponding file is automatically acquired and stored in the applicable software spool 15. Further, the use management means 11 constantly monitors the applied software spool, reflects the use results of the stored files in the use history management table, and deletes files that have not been used for a certain period.

[0025]

As described above, the software automatic distribution system of the present invention automatically detects files necessary for executing a program on the user's computer, determines whether the files are necessary, and updates the files by itself. Since the processing is performed, the provider and the user can be released from the maintenance work, and the software can be easily introduced.

Second, since only necessary files are stored in the storage area of the user's computer, use of the storage area can be minimized. Third, the load on the network can be reduced because a large amount of data is not transmitted to a plurality of user computers at once.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Software provider computer, 2 ... Distribution management means, 3 ... Catalog file generation means, 4 ... Catalog file distribution means, 5 ... Management database, 6 ... Master file management table, 7 ... User information management table, 8
... Distribution history management table, 9 ... Distributed software spool, 10 ... Software user side computer, 11 ...
Use management means, 12: file acquisition means, 13: management database, 14: use history management table, 15: applied software spool.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B045 BB11 BB28 BB47 BB49 DD15 DD18 GG01 JJ02 JJ08 5B076 AC03 BB06

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A computer comprising a software provider computer and a plurality of software user computers connected via a network, wherein the software provider computer has a management database for storing various management information, and software to be distributed. Means for storing all data related to the library file in a storage area on the computer, monitoring means for monitoring whether software or library files in the storage area have been updated, and Registration, update, deletion, etc.), distribution management means such as registration means for registering the update content in the master file management table in the management database, the software user side computer, when executing the software, it is necessary for execution Library file File management means for automatically judging whether or not the file is stored in the storage area of the computer, and automatically obtaining the relevant file from the provider's computer when the necessary library file does not exist in the computer, and An automatic software distribution system, comprising: a file acquisition unit that stores the file in a computer. 2. A software provider-side computer and a plurality of software user-side computers connected via a network, wherein the file in the storage area of the software provider-side computer is updated by the monitoring means. Generating means for automatically generating a catalog file in which an updated file name and an update time and the like are described, and transmitting the generated catalog file to all software user side computers connected via the network. Means for automatically distributing to the software user-side computer, the software user-side computer has means for sensing reception of the catalog file, Automatically search and enter in the catalog file File management means such as a means for checking whether the file name stored in the own computer is the same as the master file if the corresponding file is stored in the own computer 2. The automatic software distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a file acquisition unit that automatically acquires the file from the software provider computer and stores the file in the computer. 3. A software provider side computer and a plurality of software user side computers connected via a network, and the management database of the software provider side stores various information of the available user side computers. A software management information management table, and a distribution history management table for managing information such as which file was distributed to which computer and when, and the distribution result is distributed to the software provider side computer. Distribution history management means for reflecting in the history management table, a file update request from any user-side computer, and a confirmation means for judging whether or not the request is from an authorized user; In the case of a request from a user, a distribution management means such as a means for automatically canceling the connection is provided. The Towea user side computer, a management database for managing the use frequency of the software and the library file in its own computer,
A use frequency management means for reflecting the use results in the use frequency management table in the previous term management database, and searching the management database for software and library files that have not been used within a certain period, 3. The automatic software distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a file management unit configured to automatically delete the software from the server.