CLOUD COMPUTING SYSTEM, SERVER COMPUTER, DEVICE CONNECTION METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20110295970A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Hiroyasu
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine

Abstract

A cloud computing system includes an initial request reception unit, a request reception unit, and a transmission unit. The initial request reception unit receives a connection request from a device. In a case where the device has tried to access a request reception unit, the request reception unit receives a service usage request and service identification information from the device and determines whether a back-end processing unit is present that both corresponds to the device and is configured to execute the service. If present, a service utilization preparation completion screen is transmitted to the device. If not present, an instance generation instruction is sent to a management unit and instruction to launch an instance generated to execute the service is sent. After the instance is launched and the back-end processing unit is realized, the service utilization preparation completion screen is transmitted to the device.

Claims

1. A cloud computing system including a group of server computers, the cloud computing system comprising:

an initial request reception unit configured to receive a connection request from a device configured to transmit the connection request, a service usage request, and service identification information, wherein the initial request reception unit includes a notification unit configured to notify the device of information required to identify a request reception unit configured to receive a service usage request;

a request reception unit configured, in a case where the device has tried to access the request reception unit based on the information required to identify a request reception unit, to receive a service usage request and service identification information transmitted from the device, wherein the request reception unit includes a determination unit configured to determine, based on the received service identification information, whether a back-end processing unit is present that both corresponds to the device and is configured to execute the service; and

a transmission unit configured, in a case where the determination unit determines that a back-end processing unit that both corresponds to the device and is configured to execute the service is present, to transmit a service utilization preparation completion screen to the device without instructing generation of an instance that can realize the back-end processing unit and, in a case where the determination unit determines that a back-end processing unit that both corresponds to the device and is configured to execute the service is not present, to send an instance generation instruction to a management unit configured to manage instances and to further send an instruction to launch an instance generated to execute the service, wherein after the instance is launched and the back-end processing unit is realized, the transmission unit further is configured to transmit the service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.

2. The cloud computing system according to claim 1, wherein the request reception unit further is configured to transmit the service utilization preparation completion screen to the device if it is determined that a service instance is present.

3. A cloud computing system including a group of server computers, the cloud computing system comprising:

an initial request reception unit configured to receive a connection request from a device and, if it is determined that the device is a registration completed device, notify the device of information indicating a request reception unit configured to receive a request that corresponds to a service that can be used by the device as well as service identification information required to identify the service; and

a request reception unit configured to receive, from the device, device model information and the service identification information, and to determine whether a service instance is present that both is configured to perform processing for providing the service identified by the service identification information and corresponds to the received device model information and the service identification information, and, in a case where the request reception unit determines that the service instance is not present, the request reception unit further is configured to send a service instance generation instruction to a management unit configured to manage instances and send an instruction to launch a generated instance, wherein, if the generated instance is launched, the request reception unit further is configured to transmit a service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.

4. The cloud computing system according to claim 3, further comprising the management unit.

5. The cloud computing system according to claim 4, wherein, when the generated instance is launched, if the device is replaceable by any other device upon connection of the device, the request reception unit sends to the management unit an instruction to deactivate one service instance of a plurality of service instances that can be used by the device, and further sends to the management unit an instruction to delete the deactivated one service instance, and if the one service instance is deleted, the request reception unit transmits the service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.

6. The cloud computing system according to claim 5, wherein

if a disconnection request is received from the device, the initial request reception unit is configured to transmit the disconnection request to the request reception unit that receives a request corresponding to a service that can be used by the device, and

if the disconnection request is received from the initial request reception unit, the request reception unit is configured to send to the management unit the instruction to deactivate the one service instance and further to send to the management unit the instruction to delete the deactivated instance.

7. The cloud computing system according to claim 6, wherein if the request reception unit receives the device model information and the service identification information from the device in a case where the request reception unit determines that the service instance is not present that both is configured to perform processing for providing the service identified by the service identification information and corresponds to the received device model information and the service identification information, the request reception unit notifies the device of availability of an alternative instance until generation and launching of the instance is completed.

8. A server computer, comprising:

an initial request reception unit configured to receive a connection request from a device and, if it is determined that the device is a registration completed device, notify the device of information indicating a request reception unit configured to receive a request that corresponds to a service that can be used by the device as well as service identification information required to identify the service; and

a request reception unit configured to receive, from the device, device model information and the service identification information, and to determine whether a service instance is present that both is configured to perform processing for providing the service identified by the service identification information and corresponds to the received device model information and the service identification information, and, in a case where the request reception unit determines that the service instance is not present, the request reception unit further is configured to send a service instance generation instruction to a management unit configured to manage instances and send an instruction to launch a generated instance, wherein, if the generated instance is launched, the request reception unit further is configured to transmit a service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.

9. A device connection method for connecting a device to a cloud computing system including a group of server computers, the device connection method comprising:

receiving a connection request from a device and, if it is determined that the device is a registration completed device, notify the device of information indicating a request reception unit configured to receive a request that corresponds to a service that can be used by the device as well as service identification information required to identify the service; and

receiving, in a request reception unit from the device, device model information and the service identification information, and determining whether a service instance is present that both is configured to perform processing for providing the service identified by the service identification information and corresponds to the received device model information and the service identification information; and

in a case where it is determined that that the service instance is not present, sending a service instance generation instruction to a management unit configured to manage instances and sending an instruction to launch a generated instance, wherein, if the generated instance is launched, transmitting a service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing a group of server computers to perform a method according to claim 9.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that causes a group of server computers to functionally operate as:

an initial request reception unit configured to receive a connection request from a device and, if it is determined that the device is a registration completed device, notify the device of information indicating a request reception unit configured to receive a request that corresponds to a service that can be used by the device as well as service identification information required to identify the service; and

a request reception unit configured to receive, from the device, device model information and the service identification information, and to determine whether a service instance is present that both is configured to perform processing for providing the service identified by the service identification information and corresponds to the received device model information and the service identification information, and, in a case where the request reception unit determines that the service instance is not present, the request reception unit further is configured to send a service instance generation instruction to a management unit configured to manage instances and send an instruction to launch a generated instance, wherein, if the generated instance is launched, the request reception unit further is configured to transmit a service utilization preparation completion screen to the device.