US20060242209A1 - Computer network system including an information collector computer - Google Patents
Computer network system including an information collector computer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060242209A1 US20060242209A1 US11/475,135 US47513506A US2006242209A1 US 20060242209 A1 US20060242209 A1 US 20060242209A1 US 47513506 A US47513506 A US 47513506A US 2006242209 A1 US2006242209 A1 US 2006242209A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- information
- computer
- stored
- version
- generation number
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
- H04L69/32—Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
- H04L69/322—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
- H04L69/329—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/53—Network services using third party service providers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
- Y10S707/953—Organization of data
- Y10S707/959—Network
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
- Y10S707/99951—File or database maintenance
- Y10S707/99952—Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S707/00—Data processing: database and file management or data structures
- Y10S707/99951—File or database maintenance
- Y10S707/99952—Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
- Y10S707/99955—Archiving or backup
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a computer network system including an information collector computer and, more particularly, to a computer network system including a plurality of information provider computers, at least one information collector computer and a communication network for connecting these computers.
- a network system wherein a plurality of units cooperate for processing while monitoring the operating state of each other unit. If these units are connected therebetween by one or more of communication network, the monitoring operation is generally performed while exchanging the data based on a simple network management protocol (SNMP). If these units are computers and the information is stored in the computers, the amount of data to be exchanged between the computers is large to thereby cause a heavy burden on the network as well as the computers. If such a computer network system includes a large number of computers connected via the communication network, the burden on the communication network as well as the computers further increases.
- SNMP simple network management protocol
- monitoring computer In such a large-scale computer network system, it is not practical to use a single monitoring computer for monitoring the information stored in a large number of other computers, i.e., information provider computers, and thus a plurality of monitoring computers, i.e., information collector computers are used for monitoring the information in a distributed processing.
- a technique is known wherein if an information provider computer updates the information therein, the information provider computer transmits the updated part of the information to the information collector computer, for reducing the amount of data to be exchanged for the monitoring.
- each information provider computer must know the presence itself and the addresses of the information collector computers monitoring the each information provider computer. This increases a heavy burden on the each information provider computer which has own task for processing.
- the present invention provides a computer network system including a plurality of information provider computers, at least one information collector computer, and a network for connecting the information provider computers and the information collector computer together: each of the information provider computers storing therein updated information in connection with generation number information including a version code thereof, the information collector computer including: a local buffer for storing therein the updated information in connection with the corresponding version codes thereof; a receiving unit for receiving the generation number information from the information provider computers at a specified timing; and a comparator for comparing each version code received at the specified timing against the version codes stored in the local buffer, wherein if one of the version codes in the generation number information received at the specified timing is not stored in the local buffer, the receiving unit receives the updated information corresponding to the one of the version codes from a corresponding one of the information provider computer.
- the present invention also provides a method for collecting information by using an information collection computer from a plurality of information provider computers via a communication network, the method including the steps of: storing in each of the information provider computers updated information in connection with generation number information including a version code thereof; storing in the information provider computer the updated information in connection with the corresponding version codes thereof; receiving the generation number information by using the information provider computer from the information provider computers at a specified timing; detecting whether or not each version code received at the specified timing is stored in the information collector computer; and receiving the updated information from one of the information provider computers if a corresponding version code is not stored in the information collector computer.
- the amount of data transmitted between the information collector computer and each of the information provider computers via the network can be reduced for alleviating the burden on the communication network and the information collector computer.
- FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computer network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a detailed functional block diagram of the information provider computer shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is flowchart of the processing by the information provider computer of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the processing by the information collector computer shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 5A to 5 C are schematic diagrams showing the contents of data stored in the information provider computer and information collector computer shown in FIG. 1 during consecutive states thereof.
- FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the computer network system of FIG. 6 .
- FIGS. 8A to 8 D are schematic diagrams showing the contents of data stored in the information provider computer and information collector computer shown in FIG. 6 during consecutive states thereof.
- a computer network system generally designated by numeral 100 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes at least one information collector computer 10 , a plurality of information provider computers 20 and 30 , and a communication network 40 connecting these computers 10 , 20 and 30 together. It is to be noted that the number of information collector computers 10 and the number of information provider computers 20 and 30 are not limited to any numbers, and should depend on the system desired.
- the information collector computer 10 includes a receiving unit 11 for receiving and collecting information from any of the information provider computers 20 and 30 through the communication network 40 , a local buffer 12 for storing therein the information received by the receiving unit 11 , and a comparator 13 for comparing the ID/version code of the information stored in the information provider computer 20 or 30 against the ID/version code of the corresponding information stored in the local buffer 12 .
- the term “version” as used herein may include a major version and a minor version, wherein the major version information may be specified by most significant bits of the version code, and the minor version information may be specified by the least significant bits thereof.
- the information provider computer 20 includes an information manager 21 , a transmitting unit 22 , an information update unit 23 and a version code update unit 24 .
- the information manager 21 manages the information in the information provider computer 20 as to the operating state thereof while separating the information into A-group information (A-group information set) 2111 , B-group information 2121 and C-group information 2131 based on the update frequency thereof. For example, the separation is such that the A-group information 2111 has a lowest update frequency, the B-group information 2121 has a medium update frequency and the C-group information 2131 has a highest update frequency.
- each group information set 2111 , 2121 or 2131 has generation number information 2112 , 2122 or 2132 including an ID code of the group information, which identifies the each group information set, and a version code which identifies the version of the each group information set.
- Other information provider computers such as 30 have similar configurations.
- the information provider computer 20 When the information provider computer 20 (or 30 ) stores a new group information set, the information provider computer 20 registers therein the new group information in association with the ID code and a version code, i.e., zero.
- a version code i.e., zero.
- FIG. 3 showing the procedure of the information provider computer 20 (or 30 )
- the corresponding version code is also updated or incremented following the update of the group information.
- the information collector computer 10 receives all the updated group information from the information provider computers 20 and 30 , to store the same in association with the ID codes and version codes thereof.
- the information collector sever 10 intermittently or periodically operates for receiving all the updated group information from the information provider computers 20 and 30 .
- the receiving unit 11 of the information collector computer 10 first reads all the ID codes and version codes of the information from the information provider computers 20 and 30 (step B 1 ). Then, the comparator 13 compares the ID code and version code received by the receiving unit 11 against the ID code and version code, respectively, already stored in the local buffer 12 . If it is judged in the comparison that the version code is updated in the information provider computer 20 or 30 , the receiving unit 11 receives the group information corresponding to the updated version code. On the other hand, if it is judged in the comparison that the version code is not updated in the information provider computer 20 , the receiving unit 11 of the information collector computer 10 does not receive the group information corresponding to the non-updated version code.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show the procedure of the information provider computer 20 (or 30 ) and the procedure of the information collector computer 10 , respectively.
- the information update unit 23 updates the information stored in the information manager 11 for each group information set based on the change (step A 1 ).
- the version code update unit 24 increments the version code corresponding to the updated group information (step A 2 ).
- the receiving unit 11 of the information collector computer 10 intermittently or periodically receives the generation number information to read the ID code and version code of each group information set stored in the information provider computers 20 and 30 via the communication network 40 (step B 1 ).
- the ID code may be a file number of the group information, or an original version code of the group information, which is determined upon the initial registry of the group information and from which each version code derives or originates.
- the comparator 13 of the information collector computer 10 compares the ID code in the generation number information received from the information provider computer 20 or 30 against the ID codes stored in the local buffer 12 to detect whether or not the received ID code coincides with one of the stored ID codes (step B 2 ). If it is judged that the received ID code coincides with one of the stored ID codes, the comparator 13 further compares the received version code against the version code of the group information stored in the local buffer 12 and having the one of the ID codes (step B 3 ).
- the information collector computer 10 receives the group information corresponding to the received ID code and version code (step B 4 ). Upon the receipt, the receiving unit 11 receives the group information via the transmitting unit 22 or 32 and communication network 40 . On the other hand, if the received ID code and received version code coincide with one of the stored ID codes and the corresponding stored version code, respectively, in steps B 2 and B 3 , the information collector computer 10 finishes the processing without receiving the corresponding group information.
- FIGS. 5A to 5 C there are shown data stored in the information provider computer 20 and the information collector computer 10 during consecutive steps in the computer network system of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5A shows an initial stage of the system wherein the information provider computer 20 stores therein, together with other group information, C-group information 2131 in association with the generation number information 2132 including an ID code and a version code, “100”, and wherein the information collector computer 10 stores therein a copy of the C-group information 2131 as well as a copy of the generation number information 2132 including an ID code and a version code, “100”, which coincides with the version code, “100”, stored in the information provider computer 20 .
- the information update unit 23 updates the C-group information 2131 after detecting the change of data therein (step Al in FIG. 3 ).
- the version code update unit 24 then updates the version code of the generation number information 2131 by incrementing the version code from “100” to “101” (step A 2 in FIG. 3 ).
- the receiving unit 11 of the information collector computer 10 receives and reads all the generation number information stored in the information provider computers 20 and 30 (step B 1 in FIG. 4 ).
- the received generation number information includes the generation number information 2132 including the ID code and version code, “101”, which corresponds to the updated C-group information 2131 .
- the comparator 24 detects an inequality between the updated version code, “101” of the generation number information 2132 stored in the information provider computer 20 and the copy of the non-updated version code, “100”, stored in the information collector computer 10 (step B 3 in FIG. 4 ).
- the information collector computer 10 receives the C-group information 2131 corresponding to the generation number information 2132 , and stores a copy of the C-group information 2131 in association with a copy of the generation number information 2132 including the version code, “101” in the local buffer 12 (step B 4 in FIG. 4 ).
- the information collector computer 10 After a specified time length elapses to enter another information collection timing, the information collector computer 10 again receives the generation number information, such as 2312 , stored in the information provider computers 20 and 30 (step B 1 in FIG. 4 ). Since the received generation number information 2132 including the version code, 101 , coincides with the generation number information 2132 stored in the information collector computer 10 , the information collector computer 10 finishes the receiving procedure without receiving the corresponding group information 2131 .
- the amount of data transmitted therebetween can be reduced to save the amount of processing by the communication network and the information collector computer 10 .
- an information provider computer 20 A disposed in a computer network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the information collector computer ( 10 ) in the present embodiment is similar to the information collector computer 10 in the first embodiment.
- the information provider computer 20 A of the present embodiment is similar to the information provider computer 20 in the first embodiment except that the information manager 21 A in the present embodiment stores therein a plurality of generation number information sectors including a major information sector 2113 and minor information sectors 2112 and 2122 for defining the generation number information of the A-group information (subset) 2111 and B-group information (subset) 2121 .
- A-group information subset 2111 and B-group information subset 2121 having a common generation number information sector 2113 configure an information set.
- the information manager 21 A stores therein a single generation number information sector (major information sector) 2133 for the C-group information (set), which is generally updated less frequently compared to the A- and B-group information 2111 and 2121 .
- the version code of the minor information sector 2112 is incremented, and the version code of the major information sector 2113 is also incremented responding to the increment of the minor information sector 2112 .
- the C-group information 2131 is updated, the single information sector (major information sector) 2133 is incremented.
- the procedure of the information collector computer 10 is shown in FIG. 7 , which is similar to FIG. 4 except for steps B 20 and B 40 conducted in the present embodiment.
- the step B 20 in the present embodiment is such that it is examined based on the ID codes whether or not the version codes of the received major information sectors coincide with those stored in the local buffer 12 . If it is judged in step B 20 that all the version codes of the received major information sectors coincide with those stored in the local buffer 12 , then the procedure advances to step B 3 , wherein the information collector computer 10 finishes the procedure without receiving the group information.
- step B 20 or B 3 If it is judged in step B 20 or B 3 that any of the ID codes or version codes of the received major information sectors does not coincide with those stored in the local buffer 12 , the procedure advances to procedure B 40 .
- the information collector sever 10 stores therein the ID code and version code of the received major information sectors which does not coincide with those stored in the local buffer 12 (step B 41 ).
- step B 42 it is judged in step B 42 whether or not a subordinate information sector, which is subordinate to the stored major information sector, is stored in the information provider computer 20 A. If it is affirmative, the information collector computer 10 receives all the subordinate information sectors (step B 43 ), and compares the ID code and version code of each subordinate information sector against all the ID codes and version codes stored in local buffer 12 (step B 44 ).
- step B 44 If it is judged in step B 44 that the ID code of the subordinate information sector coincides with one of the ID codes stored in the local buffer 12 , the procedure advances to step B 45 wherein it is examined whether or not the version code of the subordinate information sector coincides with one of the version codes stored in the local buffer 12 . If it is affirmative in step B 45 , the information collector computer 10 finishes the procedure without receiving the group information. If it is negative in step B 45 or step B 44 , the procedure returns to step B 41 , wherein the subordinate version code sector which does not coincide with those stored in the local buffer is stored in the local buffer 12 . If it is judged in step B 42 that there is no remaining subordinate version code sector, the information collector computer 10 now receives all the group information which correspond to the subordinate information sectors stored in step B 41 .
- FIGS. 8A to 8 D illustrating the data stored in the information provider computer 20 A and the information collector computer 10 . It is assumed, as shown in FIG. 5A , that the information provider computer 20 A stores therein information including two groups of information including A-group information 2111 , B-group information 2121 and other group information.
- the A-group information 2111 is associated with a minor generation number information sector 2112 including a minor version code, “100”, and a major generation number information sector 2113 including a major version code, “300”.
- the B-group information 2121 is associated with a minor generation number information sector 2122 including a minor version code, “200”, and the major generation number information sector 2113 . Copies of these generation number information sectors 2112 , 2122 and 2133 including the ID codes and version codes are stored in the information collector computer 10 .
- the information provider computer 20 A updates the B-group information 2121 due to a change in the operating state thereof, whereby the minor version code in the generation number information sector 2122 is incremented from “200” to “201”, and the major version code in the generation number information sector 2113 is incremented from “300” to “301”.
- the information collector computer 10 receives the generation number information sector 2113 (step B 1 ). Since it is judged in step B 20 that the ID code of the generation number information sector 2113 is stored in the local buffer 12 of the information collector computer 10 , the comparator 13 of the information collector computer 10 compares the major version code, “301”, in the generation number information sector 2113 against the version code, “300”, stored in the information collector computer 10 , thereby detecting a disagreement therebetween (step B 3 ). Thus, the information collector computer 10 stores the received version code, “301”, in the local buffer 12 (step B 41 ).
- the information collector computer 10 then detects the subordinate information sectors 2112 and 2122 which are subordinate to the stored information sector 2113 , receives the same (steps B 42 and B 43 ), and starts for the operation in connection with the generation number information sector 2112 . Since it is judged in step B 44 that a copy of the generation number information sector 2112 is stored in the local buffer 12 , and the version code thereof is “100”, the information collector computer 10 finishes the procedure for the generation number information sector 2112 .
- the information collector computer 10 then starts for the operation in connection with the generation number information sector 2122 .
- generation number information sector 2122 is stored in the information collector computer 10
- the new version code thereof, 201 ′′ in the information provider computer 20 A is not stored in the information collector computer 10 (step B 45 ).
- the process returns to step B 41 , wherein the information collector computer 10 stores the version code, “201”, of the generation number information sector 2122 in the local buffer 12 .
- the information collector computer 10 receives the B-group information corresponding to the generation number information sector 2122 , and stores the same in the local buffer 12 (step B 46 ), thereby finishing the information collection.
- the information collector computer 10 Upon a next timing for the information collector computer 10 to receive the information from the information provider computers, the information collector computer 10 receives, from the information collector computer 20 A, the generation number information sector 2113 including the version code, “301”, which is stored in the information collector computer 10 (steps B 20 and B 3 . Thus, the information collector computer 10 finishes the receiving operation at this stage without receiving the group information.
- the ID codes as well as the version codes are separated into a plurality of generation number information sectors, the amount of data to be received by the information collector computer can be reduced compared to the first embodiment so long as the group information has not been updated.
- the present invention can be applied to any computer network system, wherein a plurality of computers are connected via at least one communication network.
- the present invention can be suitably applied to a multi-processor system wherein a plurality of computers are connected and an information collector computer monitors the load of each computer for allocating the task to the each computer based on the load thereof.
- the A-group information includes the architecture or organization of the computer
- B-group information includes the current load of the peripheral devices of the computer
- the C-group information includes the load of the computer itself. If it is detected based on the B- or C-group information that the current load for a peripheral device or the computer is heavy, the next task to be allocated to the device or computer is allocated to another peripheral device or another computer to distribute the burden on the entire system.
- the information collector computer may collect the information periodically at a specified interval, intermittently, e.g., at the timing of end of a task, or by responding to an instruction for the collection.
- the generation number information stored in the information provider computer or information collector server may include only a version code. In such a case, the information collector computer may compare the version code stored in the information provider computer against the version codes stored in the information collector computer before determining whether or not the information is to be received.
Abstract
A computer network system includes a plurality of information provider computers, an information collector computer and a communication network for connecting these computers together. The information provider computers store therein a plurality of information sets in connection with respective generation number information including ID codes and version codes. The information collector computer stores therein the information sets in connection with the version codes, periodically or intermittently receives the generation number information, compares the same against corresponding information stored therein, and receives the information set if a corresponding version code is not stored therein.
Description
- This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/660,493, filed Sep. 12, 2003, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-268754, filed Sep. 13, 2002, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- (a) Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a computer network system including an information collector computer and, more particularly, to a computer network system including a plurality of information provider computers, at least one information collector computer and a communication network for connecting these computers.
- (b) Description of the Related Art
- A network system is known wherein a plurality of units cooperate for processing while monitoring the operating state of each other unit. If these units are connected therebetween by one or more of communication network, the monitoring operation is generally performed while exchanging the data based on a simple network management protocol (SNMP). If these units are computers and the information is stored in the computers, the amount of data to be exchanged between the computers is large to thereby cause a heavy burden on the network as well as the computers. If such a computer network system includes a large number of computers connected via the communication network, the burden on the communication network as well as the computers further increases.
- In such a large-scale computer network system, it is not practical to use a single monitoring computer for monitoring the information stored in a large number of other computers, i.e., information provider computers, and thus a plurality of monitoring computers, i.e., information collector computers are used for monitoring the information in a distributed processing. For such a network system, a technique is known wherein if an information provider computer updates the information therein, the information provider computer transmits the updated part of the information to the information collector computer, for reducing the amount of data to be exchanged for the monitoring.
- However, there is a problem in such a system that if there are a plurality of information collector computers, each information provider computer must know the presence itself and the addresses of the information collector computers monitoring the each information provider computer. This increases a heavy burden on the each information provider computer which has own task for processing.
- In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer network system including a plurality of information provider computers and at least one information collector computer, which are connected via a network, and capable of reducing the burden on the network and the computer network system as a whole.
- The present invention provides a computer network system including a plurality of information provider computers, at least one information collector computer, and a network for connecting the information provider computers and the information collector computer together: each of the information provider computers storing therein updated information in connection with generation number information including a version code thereof, the information collector computer including: a local buffer for storing therein the updated information in connection with the corresponding version codes thereof; a receiving unit for receiving the generation number information from the information provider computers at a specified timing; and a comparator for comparing each version code received at the specified timing against the version codes stored in the local buffer, wherein if one of the version codes in the generation number information received at the specified timing is not stored in the local buffer, the receiving unit receives the updated information corresponding to the one of the version codes from a corresponding one of the information provider computer.
- The present invention also provides a method for collecting information by using an information collection computer from a plurality of information provider computers via a communication network, the method including the steps of: storing in each of the information provider computers updated information in connection with generation number information including a version code thereof; storing in the information provider computer the updated information in connection with the corresponding version codes thereof; receiving the generation number information by using the information provider computer from the information provider computers at a specified timing; detecting whether or not each version code received at the specified timing is stored in the information collector computer; and receiving the updated information from one of the information provider computers if a corresponding version code is not stored in the information collector computer.
- In accordance with the system and the method of the present invention, the amount of data transmitted between the information collector computer and each of the information provider computers via the network can be reduced for alleviating the burden on the communication network and the information collector computer.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, referring to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computer network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a detailed functional block diagram of the information provider computer shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is flowchart of the processing by the information provider computer ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the processing by the information collector computer shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing the contents of data stored in the information provider computer and information collector computer shown inFIG. 1 during consecutive states thereof. -
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the computer network system ofFIG. 6 . -
FIGS. 8A to 8D are schematic diagrams showing the contents of data stored in the information provider computer and information collector computer shown inFIG. 6 during consecutive states thereof. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , a computer network system generally designated bynumeral 100, according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes at least oneinformation collector computer 10, a plurality ofinformation provider computers communication network 40 connecting thesecomputers information collector computers 10 and the number ofinformation provider computers - The
information collector computer 10 includes a receivingunit 11 for receiving and collecting information from any of theinformation provider computers communication network 40, alocal buffer 12 for storing therein the information received by the receivingunit 11, and acomparator 13 for comparing the ID/version code of the information stored in theinformation provider computer local buffer 12. The term “version” as used herein may include a major version and a minor version, wherein the major version information may be specified by most significant bits of the version code, and the minor version information may be specified by the least significant bits thereof. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , theinformation provider computer 20 includes aninformation manager 21, a transmittingunit 22, aninformation update unit 23 and a versioncode update unit 24. Theinformation manager 21 manages the information in theinformation provider computer 20 as to the operating state thereof while separating the information into A-group information (A-group information set) 2111, B-group information 2121 and C-group information 2131 based on the update frequency thereof. For example, the separation is such that theA-group information 2111 has a lowest update frequency, the B-group information 2121 has a medium update frequency and the C-group information 2131 has a highest update frequency. In addition, each group information set 2111, 2121 or 2131 hasgeneration number information - When the information provider computer 20 (or 30) stores a new group information set, the
information provider computer 20 registers therein the new group information in association with the ID code and a version code, i.e., zero. Referring toFIG. 3 showing the procedure of the information provider computer 20 (or 30), when a group information set stored in theinformation provider computer 20 is updated, the corresponding version code is also updated or incremented following the update of the group information. Theinformation collector computer 10 receives all the updated group information from theinformation provider computers information provider computers - More specifically, the receiving
unit 11 of theinformation collector computer 10 first reads all the ID codes and version codes of the information from theinformation provider computers 20 and 30 (step B1). Then, thecomparator 13 compares the ID code and version code received by the receivingunit 11 against the ID code and version code, respectively, already stored in thelocal buffer 12. If it is judged in the comparison that the version code is updated in theinformation provider computer receiving unit 11 receives the group information corresponding to the updated version code. On the other hand, if it is judged in the comparison that the version code is not updated in theinformation provider computer 20, the receivingunit 11 of theinformation collector computer 10 does not receive the group information corresponding to the non-updated version code. -
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the procedure of the information provider computer 20 (or 30) and the procedure of theinformation collector computer 10, respectively. InFIG. 3 , when theinformation provider computer 20 detects a change in thecomputer 20, such as a change of data therein or the operating state thereof, during the own processing, theinformation update unit 23 updates the information stored in theinformation manager 11 for each group information set based on the change (step A1). Subsequently, the versioncode update unit 24 increments the version code corresponding to the updated group information (step A2). - In
FIG. 4 , thereceiving unit 11 of theinformation collector computer 10 intermittently or periodically receives the generation number information to read the ID code and version code of each group information set stored in theinformation provider computers - Subsequently, the
comparator 13 of theinformation collector computer 10 compares the ID code in the generation number information received from theinformation provider computer local buffer 12 to detect whether or not the received ID code coincides with one of the stored ID codes (step B2). If it is judged that the received ID code coincides with one of the stored ID codes, thecomparator 13 further compares the received version code against the version code of the group information stored in thelocal buffer 12 and having the one of the ID codes (step B3). - If the received ID code is not stored in the
local buffer 12 or if the received version code does not coincide with the corresponding stored version code, theinformation collector computer 10 receives the group information corresponding to the received ID code and version code (step B4). Upon the receipt, thereceiving unit 11 receives the group information via the transmittingunit communication network 40. On the other hand, if the received ID code and received version code coincide with one of the stored ID codes and the corresponding stored version code, respectively, in steps B2 and B3, theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the processing without receiving the corresponding group information. - Referring to
FIGS. 5A to 5C, there are shown data stored in theinformation provider computer 20 and theinformation collector computer 10 during consecutive steps in the computer network system ofFIG. 1 .FIG. 5A shows an initial stage of the system wherein theinformation provider computer 20 stores therein, together with other group information, C-group information 2131 in association with thegeneration number information 2132 including an ID code and a version code, “100”, and wherein theinformation collector computer 10 stores therein a copy of the C-group information 2131 as well as a copy of thegeneration number information 2132 including an ID code and a version code, “100”, which coincides with the version code, “100”, stored in theinformation provider computer 20. - In
FIG. 5B , upon a change of the operating state in theinformation provider computer 20 during the processing thereof, theinformation update unit 23 updates the C-group information 2131 after detecting the change of data therein (step Al inFIG. 3 ). The versioncode update unit 24 then updates the version code of thegeneration number information 2131 by incrementing the version code from “100” to “101” (step A2 inFIG. 3 ). - In
FIG. 5B , upon a timing for collection of information by theinformation collector computer 10, the receivingunit 11 of theinformation collector computer 10 receives and reads all the generation number information stored in theinformation provider computers 20 and 30 (step B1 inFIG. 4 ). The received generation number information includes thegeneration number information 2132 including the ID code and version code, “101”, which corresponds to the updated C-group information 2131. - The
comparator 24 detects an inequality between the updated version code, “101” of thegeneration number information 2132 stored in theinformation provider computer 20 and the copy of the non-updated version code, “100”, stored in the information collector computer 10 (step B3 inFIG. 4 ). Thus, as shown inFIG. 5C , theinformation collector computer 10 receives the C-group information 2131 corresponding to thegeneration number information 2132, and stores a copy of the C-group information 2131 in association with a copy of thegeneration number information 2132 including the version code, “101” in the local buffer 12 (step B4 inFIG. 4 ). - After a specified time length elapses to enter another information collection timing, the
information collector computer 10 again receives the generation number information, such as 2312, stored in theinformation provider computers 20 and 30 (step B1 inFIG. 4 ). Since the receivedgeneration number information 2132 including the version code, 101, coincides with thegeneration number information 2132 stored in theinformation collector computer 10, theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the receiving procedure without receiving thecorresponding group information 2131. - In the above embodiment, since the group information itself is not transmitted between the
information provider computer 20 and theinformation collector computer 10 if the group information is not updated, the amount of data transmitted therebetween can be reduced to save the amount of processing by the communication network and theinformation collector computer 10. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , there is shown aninformation provider computer 20A disposed in a computer network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The information collector computer (10) in the present embodiment is similar to theinformation collector computer 10 in the first embodiment. Basically, theinformation provider computer 20A of the present embodiment is similar to theinformation provider computer 20 in the first embodiment except that theinformation manager 21A in the present embodiment stores therein a plurality of generation number information sectors including amajor information sector 2113 andminor information sectors A-group information subset 2111 and B-group information subset 2121 having a common generationnumber information sector 2113 configure an information set. Theinformation manager 21A stores therein a single generation number information sector (major information sector) 2133 for the C-group information (set), which is generally updated less frequently compared to the A- and B-group information - In the present embodiment, if the
A-group information 2111 is updated, for example, the version code of theminor information sector 2112 is incremented, and the version code of themajor information sector 2113 is also incremented responding to the increment of theminor information sector 2112. On the other hand, if the C-group information 2131 is updated, the single information sector (major information sector) 2133 is incremented. - The procedure of the
information collector computer 10 is shown inFIG. 7 , which is similar toFIG. 4 except for steps B20 and B40 conducted in the present embodiment. The step B20 in the present embodiment is such that it is examined based on the ID codes whether or not the version codes of the received major information sectors coincide with those stored in thelocal buffer 12. If it is judged in step B20 that all the version codes of the received major information sectors coincide with those stored in thelocal buffer 12, then the procedure advances to step B3, wherein theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the procedure without receiving the group information. - If it is judged in step B20 or B3 that any of the ID codes or version codes of the received major information sectors does not coincide with those stored in the
local buffer 12, the procedure advances to procedure B40. The information collector sever 10 stores therein the ID code and version code of the received major information sectors which does not coincide with those stored in the local buffer 12 (step B41). Subsequently, it is judged in step B42 whether or not a subordinate information sector, which is subordinate to the stored major information sector, is stored in theinformation provider computer 20A. If it is affirmative, theinformation collector computer 10 receives all the subordinate information sectors (step B43), and compares the ID code and version code of each subordinate information sector against all the ID codes and version codes stored in local buffer 12 (step B44). - If it is judged in step B44 that the ID code of the subordinate information sector coincides with one of the ID codes stored in the
local buffer 12, the procedure advances to step B45 wherein it is examined whether or not the version code of the subordinate information sector coincides with one of the version codes stored in thelocal buffer 12. If it is affirmative in step B45, theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the procedure without receiving the group information. If it is negative in step B45 or step B44, the procedure returns to step B41, wherein the subordinate version code sector which does not coincide with those stored in the local buffer is stored in thelocal buffer 12. If it is judged in step B42 that there is no remaining subordinate version code sector, theinformation collector computer 10 now receives all the group information which correspond to the subordinate information sectors stored in step B41. - The above procedure will be further detailed with reference to
FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrating the data stored in theinformation provider computer 20A and theinformation collector computer 10. It is assumed, as shown inFIG. 5A , that theinformation provider computer 20A stores therein information including two groups of information includingA-group information 2111, B-group information 2121 and other group information. - The
A-group information 2111 is associated with a minor generationnumber information sector 2112 including a minor version code, “100”, and a major generationnumber information sector 2113 including a major version code, “300”. The B-group information 2121 is associated with a minor generationnumber information sector 2122 including a minor version code, “200”, and the major generationnumber information sector 2113. Copies of these generationnumber information sectors information collector computer 10. - As shown in
FIG. 8B , theinformation provider computer 20A updates the B-group information 2121 due to a change in the operating state thereof, whereby the minor version code in the generationnumber information sector 2122 is incremented from “200” to “201”, and the major version code in the generationnumber information sector 2113 is incremented from “300” to “301”. - At a timing of the information collection, the
information collector computer 10 receives the generation number information sector 2113 (step B1). Since it is judged in step B20 that the ID code of the generationnumber information sector 2113 is stored in thelocal buffer 12 of theinformation collector computer 10, thecomparator 13 of theinformation collector computer 10 compares the major version code, “301”, in the generationnumber information sector 2113 against the version code, “300”, stored in theinformation collector computer 10, thereby detecting a disagreement therebetween (step B3). Thus, theinformation collector computer 10 stores the received version code, “301”, in the local buffer 12 (step B41). - In
FIG. 8C , theinformation collector computer 10 then detects thesubordinate information sectors information sector 2113, receives the same (steps B42 and B43), and starts for the operation in connection with the generationnumber information sector 2112. Since it is judged in step B44 that a copy of the generationnumber information sector 2112 is stored in thelocal buffer 12, and the version code thereof is “100”, theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the procedure for the generationnumber information sector 2112. - In
FIG. 8D , theinformation collector computer 10 then starts for the operation in connection with the generationnumber information sector 2122. Although generationnumber information sector 2122 is stored in theinformation collector computer 10, the new version code thereof, 201″ in theinformation provider computer 20A is not stored in the information collector computer 10 (step B45). Thus, the process returns to step B41, wherein theinformation collector computer 10 stores the version code, “201”, of the generationnumber information sector 2122 in thelocal buffer 12. - Since it is judged in step B42 that there is no remaining subordinate generation number information sector, the
information collector computer 10 receives the B-group information corresponding to the generationnumber information sector 2122, and stores the same in the local buffer 12 (step B46), thereby finishing the information collection. - Upon a next timing for the
information collector computer 10 to receive the information from the information provider computers, theinformation collector computer 10 receives, from theinformation collector computer 20A, the generationnumber information sector 2113 including the version code, “301”, which is stored in the information collector computer 10 (steps B20 and B3. Thus, theinformation collector computer 10 finishes the receiving operation at this stage without receiving the group information. - In the present embodiment, since the ID codes as well as the version codes are separated into a plurality of generation number information sectors, the amount of data to be received by the information collector computer can be reduced compared to the first embodiment so long as the group information has not been updated.
- The present invention can be applied to any computer network system, wherein a plurality of computers are connected via at least one communication network. For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a multi-processor system wherein a plurality of computers are connected and an information collector computer monitors the load of each computer for allocating the task to the each computer based on the load thereof. In such a system, for example, the A-group information includes the architecture or organization of the computer, B-group information includes the current load of the peripheral devices of the computer, and the C-group information includes the load of the computer itself. If it is detected based on the B- or C-group information that the current load for a peripheral device or the computer is heavy, the next task to be allocated to the device or computer is allocated to another peripheral device or another computer to distribute the burden on the entire system.
- The information collector computer may collect the information periodically at a specified interval, intermittently, e.g., at the timing of end of a task, or by responding to an instruction for the collection. The generation number information stored in the information provider computer or information collector server may include only a version code. In such a case, the information collector computer may compare the version code stored in the information provider computer against the version codes stored in the information collector computer before determining whether or not the information is to be received.
- Since the above embodiments are described only for examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various modifications or alterations can be easily made therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims (6)
1. A method for collecting information by using an information collection computer from a plurality of information provider computers via a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:
storing in each of said information provider computers updated information in connection with generation number information including a version code thereof;
storing in said information provider computer said updated information in connection with corresponding said version codes thereof;
receiving said generation number information by using said information provider computer from said information provider computers at a specified timing;
detecting whether or not each said version code received at said specified timing is stored in said information collector computer; and
receiving said updated information from one of said information provider computers if a corresponding version code is not stored in said information collector computer.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said generation number information includes an ID code and said version code.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said information in each of said information provider computers is separated into a plurality of information sets, which are stored in connection with respective generation number information.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said generation number information includes an ID code and said version code of each of said information sets.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said information sets includes a plurality of subsets, which are stored in connection with respective generation number information sectors.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said separation of said information is based on an update frequency of said information set.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/475,135 US20060242209A1 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2006-06-27 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2002-268754 | 2002-09-13 | ||
JP2002268754A JP4026456B2 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2002-09-13 | Computer system and information collection method |
US10/660,493 US7113965B2 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-09-12 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
US11/475,135 US20060242209A1 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2006-06-27 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/660,493 Division US7113965B2 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-09-12 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060242209A1 true US20060242209A1 (en) | 2006-10-26 |
Family
ID=31986787
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/660,493 Active 2025-03-09 US7113965B2 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-09-12 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
US11/475,135 Abandoned US20060242209A1 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2006-06-27 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/660,493 Active 2025-03-09 US7113965B2 (en) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-09-12 | Computer network system including an information collector computer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7113965B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4026456B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2008102786A (en) * | 2006-10-19 | 2008-05-01 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Communication method, terminal device using the same, and communication system |
JP5506260B2 (en) * | 2009-07-03 | 2014-05-28 | 日立コンシューマエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Video transmission device and video reception device |
JP5996855B2 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2016-09-21 | ゼネラル・エレクトリック・カンパニイ | System and method for configuring a substation remote terminal with a central controller |
CN110223127A (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2019-09-10 | 深圳壹账通智能科技有限公司 | Bill data backing method and system |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4788637A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1988-11-29 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Communication control apparatus |
US5473772A (en) * | 1991-04-02 | 1995-12-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automatic update of static and dynamic files at a remote network node in response to calls issued by or for application programs |
US5574899A (en) * | 1993-09-16 | 1996-11-12 | Fujitsu Limited | Generation number managing apparatus for adjusting generation numbers among processors or program files |
US5613101A (en) * | 1993-05-05 | 1997-03-18 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining at execution compatibility among client and provider components where provider version linked with client may differ from provider version available at execution |
US5909581A (en) * | 1995-12-30 | 1999-06-01 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Automatic software updating method |
US6006034A (en) * | 1996-09-05 | 1999-12-21 | Open Software Associates, Ltd. | Systems and methods for automatic application version upgrading and maintenance |
US6119244A (en) * | 1998-08-25 | 2000-09-12 | Network Appliance, Inc. | Coordinating persistent status information with multiple file servers |
US6535911B1 (en) * | 1999-08-06 | 2003-03-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Viewing an information set originated from a distribution media and updating using a remote server |
US20030233594A1 (en) * | 2002-06-12 | 2003-12-18 | Earl William J. | System and method for monitoring the state and operability of components in distributed computing systems |
US20040015953A1 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2004-01-22 | Vincent Jonathan M. | Automatically updating software components across network as needed |
US6718350B1 (en) * | 2000-11-21 | 2004-04-06 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and system for selectively updating rating data and software data via internet or intranet in a carrier management system |
US6757896B1 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2004-06-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and apparatus for enabling partial replication of object stores |
-
2002
- 2002-09-13 JP JP2002268754A patent/JP4026456B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2003
- 2003-09-12 US US10/660,493 patent/US7113965B2/en active Active
-
2006
- 2006-06-27 US US11/475,135 patent/US20060242209A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4788637A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1988-11-29 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Communication control apparatus |
US5473772A (en) * | 1991-04-02 | 1995-12-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Automatic update of static and dynamic files at a remote network node in response to calls issued by or for application programs |
US5613101A (en) * | 1993-05-05 | 1997-03-18 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining at execution compatibility among client and provider components where provider version linked with client may differ from provider version available at execution |
US5574899A (en) * | 1993-09-16 | 1996-11-12 | Fujitsu Limited | Generation number managing apparatus for adjusting generation numbers among processors or program files |
US5909581A (en) * | 1995-12-30 | 1999-06-01 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Automatic software updating method |
US6006034A (en) * | 1996-09-05 | 1999-12-21 | Open Software Associates, Ltd. | Systems and methods for automatic application version upgrading and maintenance |
US6119244A (en) * | 1998-08-25 | 2000-09-12 | Network Appliance, Inc. | Coordinating persistent status information with multiple file servers |
US20030149812A1 (en) * | 1998-08-25 | 2003-08-07 | Network Appliance, Inc. | Coordinating persistent status information with multiple file servers |
US6757896B1 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2004-06-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and apparatus for enabling partial replication of object stores |
US6535911B1 (en) * | 1999-08-06 | 2003-03-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Viewing an information set originated from a distribution media and updating using a remote server |
US6718350B1 (en) * | 2000-11-21 | 2004-04-06 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and system for selectively updating rating data and software data via internet or intranet in a carrier management system |
US20040015953A1 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2004-01-22 | Vincent Jonathan M. | Automatically updating software components across network as needed |
US20030233594A1 (en) * | 2002-06-12 | 2003-12-18 | Earl William J. | System and method for monitoring the state and operability of components in distributed computing systems |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2004110166A (en) | 2004-04-08 |
US20040054910A1 (en) | 2004-03-18 |
US7113965B2 (en) | 2006-09-26 |
JP4026456B2 (en) | 2007-12-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6742092B1 (en) | System and method for backing up data from a plurality of client computer systems using a server computer including a plurality of processes | |
US7016957B2 (en) | Distributed data processing system and error analysis information saving method appropriate therefor | |
US6067634A (en) | System and method for resource recovery in a distributed system | |
US6134673A (en) | Method for clustering software applications | |
US7035840B2 (en) | Techniques for managing a database system including one or more database servers | |
US20060285506A1 (en) | Delta transfers in distributed file systems | |
WO1997037302A1 (en) | Identification and selection of a server among multiple servers of varying protocols on the same network | |
US20050246702A1 (en) | System and method for automatically updating versions of software programs in client computers | |
JP2002501254A (en) | Access to content addressable data over a network | |
WO2019232993A1 (en) | Adaptive data recovery flow control method and apparatus, electronic device and storage medium | |
US5960175A (en) | Identification and selection of a desired server from a plurality of servers of varying protocols on the same network via a single boot ROM | |
US20060242209A1 (en) | Computer network system including an information collector computer | |
US6539540B1 (en) | Methods and apparatus for optimizing simple network management protocol (SNMP) requests | |
EP0770242B1 (en) | Method for warming up a spare process in a replicated real-time system, in particular in a telephone exchange | |
US6519652B1 (en) | Method and system for activation and deactivation of distributed objects in a distributed objects system | |
JP2000155719A (en) | Backup and restoration system for data and asynchronous data managing method | |
US6728895B1 (en) | System and method for resource recovery in a distributed system | |
JPH07183905A (en) | Remote monitor system | |
US20070180452A1 (en) | Load distributing system and method | |
US7680921B2 (en) | Management system, management computer, managed computer, management method and program | |
JP3020402B2 (en) | Status information collection system and status management system | |
CN111431951A (en) | Data processing method, node equipment, system and storage medium | |
CN112541006B (en) | Database command request processing method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium | |
WO2024051738A1 (en) | Data writing method and apparatus, and electronic device and storage medium | |
US6832301B2 (en) | Method for recovering memory |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |