Method and system for revising data in a distributed data communication system

• US 5,602,993 A
• Filed: 02/07/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICL Systems AB (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: ICL Systems AB (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Stromberg, Fredrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/167,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/222.8, 364/276.3, 364/281.9, 364/280.3, 364/962.1, 395/200, 395/200.03, 395/200.04, 395/200.1, 395/650, 395/700, 395/183.14
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement and to a method for revising selected data in a distributed data communication system, eg such data as a data program or document intended for a number of a plurality of destination devices (AEI, AEII, LSE2, LSE3) in the data communication system individually selected by an administrator, in which each destination device includes at least one memory unit (ME, LSM2, LSM3) for individual storage of data. The revision involves, for instance, installing and/or changing the selected data, a) a list of the selected destination devices is established; b) a procedure for the revision of the data on the selected destination devices is established and the procedures (L2; C2) are stored as a revision recipe; c) there is created a data package which at least contains the data to be revised and its revision recipe; d) the data package is distributed internally in the data communication system to the selected destination devices; e) the selected destination devices interpret the information in the data package with the aid of a special interpretation program installed in each destination device and initiating procedures on the basis thereof.

Claims

1. In a distributed network-connected data communications system having a plurality of working stations for users of the data communication system, a method to achieve unison revision of selected data, such as a data program or document, in a number of destination devices selected from a plurality of destination devices (AEI, AEII, LSE2, LSE3) by an administrator through an administration device in the data communication system and intended for the users, where each destination device includes at least one memory unit (ME, LSM2, LSM3) for individual storage of data, said revision being data revision and comprising, for instance, installing and/or removing and/or changing the selected data, the following method steps being carried out by the method:

(a) a list of the selected destination devices is established; and

(b) a data package is distributed internally in the data communication system to the selected destination devices;

characterised in that in order to be able to direct data packages individually to destination devices, which may be of different kinds and/or have different kinds of users, before distribution of the data package for the selected destination devices of each kind and/or each kind of user the following steps are carried out;

(c) an individual procedure for revision of the data on the selected destination devices is established by the administrator, and the procedure (L2;

C2) stored as a special revision recipe comprising structured text indicating how the revision is to take place;

(d) at least the data to be revised and its revision recipe are combined to form the data package, and that after distribution of the data package,

(e) the selected destination devices interpret the information in the data package with the aid of a special interpreter program installed in each destination device, and the procedures are initiated on the basis of this interpretation.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in preparation for said unison revision:

a) firstly, data which is to be revised is stored and kept stored in its original form (L1;

Cl);

b) then, subsequent to said unison revision, information concerning said data revision is stored (LARK;

CARK) in a data register in connection with the administration device (LADM).

3. A method according to claim 1 for use where destination devices are connected to local networks (LN1, LN2;

LAN), which local networks are connected to a remote communication network (WAN), and where revision of data is to be effected from a first local network, eg a local network for a central site, to at least one other local network, characterised

by forming in the first network a transmission package containing at least one said data package for installation in a destination device in a said other local network and at least one management order for each data package relating to what shall be done with that data package at the destination device;

by distributing the transmission package to the local network or networks in which data is to be revised, each network to which the transmission package is distributed being considered as a destination device for the transmission package;

by receiving the transmission package and storing said package at least temporarily in each other local network. concerned; and

by unpacking the data packages with their management orders from the transmission package in the receiving local network and carrying out the orders in the same sequence as that in which they were placed in the transmission package.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that a local administration device (AD1, AD2;

LADM) handles, through a computer, the transmission package and compiles at least one local data revision package from the contents of the transmission package and distributes this revision package to any destination device connected to the relevant local network for which the data revision package is appropriate, said destination devices having the form of user units, server computers, etc.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that distribution of the data package is effected by sending a message to each of the destination devices on the list to the effect that the data package can be fetched, wherein each destination device at the first convenient opportunity thereafter informs that it can receive the data package, whereafter the package is transferred.

6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that when necessary a time stamp (S5) is associated with at least one of said data package(s), said time stamp implying that the data package with time stamp is transferred to and/or is distributed to the selected destination devices at a time evident from the time stamp.

7. A method according to claim 2, characterised in that the receiving destination devices confirm receipt of the data package by communication with the transmitting administration device.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that each means which receives the data package first checks that the information contained in the data package is valid (S9).

9. An arrangement for revising in a network-connected distributed data communication system selected data, such as a computer program or document adapted for revision in a plurality of destination devices (AEI, AEII, LSE2, LSE3) in the data communication system, each destination device having at least one memory unit (ME, LSM2, LSM3) for individual storage of data, wherein said revision involves, for instance, installing and/or removing and/or changing the selected data, said arrangement including:

at least one device functioning as a destination device also functioning as an administration device (LADM, CADM), operable by an administrator, for revision of selected data on at least one of the destination devices carried out internally within the data communication system;

means in each administration device (LADM;

CADM) for distributing said package to the destination device or devices;

characterised by

(a) means in each administration device (LADM;

CADM) whereby the respective administrator selects the destination devices of the system in which data is to be revised and makes individually adapted special recipes comprising structured text indicating how the revision is to take place for each selected destination device;

(b) a synthesis program in each administration device (LADM;

CADM) by means of which, when data not intended for direct installation is to be received, a compilation is effected of the data to be revised and the respective revision recipe to form a respective said data package; and

(c) a special interpretation program is installed in each destination device for interpreting information in a said data package distributed thereto and initiating procedures on the basis thereof.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that for the data to be revised, the following arrangement is provided for the administration devices:

a first data register means (L1;

C1) for initial storage of the data to be revised in its original form;

a second data register means (L2;

C2) for storing the special revision recipe generated by the administrator at the administration device (LADM;

ID) and

a third data register means (LARK;

CACK) for storing information concerning the revision of data subsequent to completion of said revision.

11. An arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that the destination devices are divided into groups;

in that each destination device may be included in one or more groups; and

in that each administration device, by means of said synthesis program interacting with the administrator, is adapted to make a selection among the destination devices, such as a selection from among the groups, and when necessary is adapted to administrator distribution of the data package to the selected groups in the data communication system.

12. An arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the first, the second and the third data register means comprise parts of a common register memory area in the distributed data communication system, this common register memory area being adapted to register continuously data that is revised in the destination devices, and in that each administration device (LADM;

CADM), interacting with the administrator, is adapted to store in the common register memory area revision recipe information with each revision of said data.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the administration devices have each been allotted a respective priority device;

and in that a central administration device (CADM) is assigned the highest priority, i.e. is superior of all others.

14. An arrangement according to claim 11, characterised in that the destination devices are connected to local networks (LN1, LN2;

LAN) and the local networks are connected to a remote communications network (WAN) for transmission from a first local network to at least one other local network;

in that a said administration device (CADM;

ID) in the first local network is adapted to create a transmission package from information stored in the first and the second data register means associated with said administration device and at least one management order for further processing of the information in the local network;

in that the administration device in the first local network is adapted to distribute the transmission package to the other local network, which acts as an independent destination device for this transmission package;

in that the administration device (AD1, AD2;

LADM) in the other local network is adapted to receive the transmission package and if necessary to compile, either automatically or manually, at least one local revision package data package from the contents of the transmission package and to distribute the same to any destination device connected to the local network in question for which the data revision package is appropriate, in accordance with the management orders contained in the transmission package.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, characterised in that the data register means coacting with each local administration device are instantaneous memories which are adapted to be erased or written-over with new information prior to the creation of each new revision package subsequent to carrying out revision and resending information concerning the revision for storage in data register means that coact with a central administration device (CADM).