System application management method and system, and storage medium which stores program for executing system application management

• US 6,779,028 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kengo
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/521,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/101, 709/217, 709/205, 718/101, 719/330, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

All the operation definitions of a plurality of applications building a system are set in only a specific computer in advance and systematically managed. Additionally, the operation definition of an application is looked up from a computer in which the application actually operates to control the operation of the application. This resolves cumbersomeness of management and enables flexible application distribution.

Claims

1. An application management system applied to a system including a network and a plurality of computers connected to said network, comprising:

systematic management means, provided in a specific computer of said plurality of computers, for setting in advance operation definitions of a plurality of applications which operate on one or more computers except said specific computer and systematically managing the operation definitions, each of the operation definitions being set in a table located on the specific computer for each of the plurality of applications; and

application management means, provided in said one or more computers except said specific computer, for directly accessing, through said network, at least one operation definition entry from the table containing the operation definitions managed by said specific computer to control an operation of a to-be-managed application.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said systematic management means comprises means for storing the operation definitions of the plurality of applications put into groups in designated units of applications or functions, and

said application management means looks up the operation definitions to simultaneously operate the plurality of applications put into groups.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring an execution time of the to-be-managed application.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an operation error of the to-be-managed application and requesting said application management means to execute post processing of the application.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting an operable/inoperable state of each of the plurality of applications put into groups in the designated units of applications or functions.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for operating the to-be-managed application at a predetermined cycle.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for recognizing a state of an application for receiving data in communication between applications, and in accordance with a recognition result, dynamically changing a computer in which the application for receiving data operates.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for looking up an operation state of an application operating in each of plurality of computer groups.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions includes an assigned group name defined to manage a corresponding application.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions includes an assigned application server computer which defines a computer capable of operating a corresponding application.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions in the file includes an application path name which defines a location where a corresponding application execution file is stored.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions in the file includes an operation priority which defines a priority in operation of a corresponding application.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions in the file includes a monitor time as a reference for externally monitoring an operation time of a corresponding application.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions in the file includes a cycle time for externally periodically operating a corresponding application.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the operation definitions in the file includes a post-processing pattern in case of an operation error of a corresponding application.

9. An application management method applied to a system including a network and a plurality of computers connected to said network, comprising:

setting in advance, in a specific computer of said plurality of computers, operation definitions of a plurality of applications which operate on one or more computers except said specific computer;

systematically managing the operation definitions, each of the operation definitions being set in a table located on the specific computer for each of the plurality of applications; and

directly accessing, through said network, at least one operation definition entry from the table containing the operation definitions managed by said specific computer to control an operation of a to-be-managed application from said one or more computers except said specific computer.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

storing the operation definitions of the plurality of applications put into groups in designated units of applications or functions; and

looking up the operation definitions to simultaneously operate the plurality of applications put into groups.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising monitoring an execution time of the to-be-managed application.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

detecting an operation error of the to-be-managed application; and

issuing an execution request for post processing of the application.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising setting an operable/inoperable state of each of the plurality of applications put into groups in the designated units of applications or functions.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising operating the to-be-managed application at a predetermined cycle.

15. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

recognizing a state of an application for receiving data in communication between applications; and

dynamically changing a computer in which the application for receiving data operates in accordance with a recognition result.

16. A method according to claim 9, further comprising looking up an operation state of an application operating in each of a plurality of computer groups.

17. A computer readable storage medium having program components stored thereon that perform application management in a system including a network and a plurality of computers connected to said network, said program components comprising:

means for setting in advance, in a specific computer of said plurality of computers, operation definitions of a plurality of applications which operate on one or more computers except said specific computer and for systematically managing the operation definitions, each of the operation definitions being set in a table located on the specific computer for each of the plurality of applications; and

means for directly accessing, through said network, at least one operation definition entry from the table containing the operation definitions managed by said specific computer to control an operation of a to-be-managed application.