Application software and data management method, management system, and thin client terminal, management server and remote computer used therefor

• US 8,041,787 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Isokawa, Hiromi, Tsunehiro, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US12/010,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A thin client terminal that can perform information processing in an off-line state is provided. A thin client terminal 101a sends a request for registration of data to be used off-line and designation of application software to be used off-line to a management server 107 through a remote computer 104. The management server 107 registers the data and application software according to the request. The thin client terminal 101 requests the management server 107 to acquire the requested data and application software, receives the data and application software, and stores the received data and application software into a storage medium 110.

Claims

1. An application software and data management method for using a thin client terminal for information processing in an off-line state, in a thin client system that performs information processing using the thin client terminal connected to a network, the application software and data management method using:

a remote computer that is connected to the network and is controlled remotely by the thin client terminal to perform the information processing;

a management server that is connected to the network and manages data and application software required for using the thin client terminal for the information processing in the off-line state,

wherein the management server manages the data and the application software using first management data that includes information specifying the data required for using the thin client terminal for the information processing in the off-line state and information specifying the application software required for using the thin client terminal for the information processing in the off-line state in association with each other; and

a storage medium that is connected to the thin client terminal, wherein the storage medium stores the data and the application software required for using the thin client terminal in the off-line state and stores second management data for managing the data that includes information specifying status of data uploading from the storage medium of the thin client terminal to the management server;

wherein;

when the management server receives at least one request, from the thin client terminal, for sending information for registration of data to be used in the off-line state and designation of application software for performing processing on the data, then the management server sends, to the thin client terminal, input screen information for sending the information for registration;

when the management server receives, from the thin client terminal that has sent the at least one request for sending information for the registration of the data, information indicating the request for registration of the data and the designation of the application software for performing processing on the data, then the management server acquires the data, whose registration has been requested, from the remote computer, and stores the acquired data into a storage device of the management server itself, and makes the first management data of the storage device to include information specifying the data and information specifying the application software in association with each other;

the management server receives the second management data stored in the storage medium connected to the thin client terminal that has sent the information specifying the application software, refers to the received second management data, and when the management server judges that data generated by the thin client terminal in the off-line state exists in the storage medium connected to the thin client terminal, then the management server acquires the data generated from the storage medium and stores the acquired data into a storage medium of the management server itself;

the management server receives the information indicating the at least one request for the registration of data and the at least one request for the designation of the application software that performs processing of data, and performs judgment processing on whether off-line execution concerning the application software and data processing should be approved; and

in cases of approval, the management server sends to the thin client terminal data and the application software whose off-line use has been approved, in reply to the at least one request from the thin client terminal.

2. The application software and data management method of claim 1, wherein:

in the judgment processing, upon receipt of the information indicating the request for the registration of the data and/or the request for the designation of the application software that performs the processing of the data, a request for approval of the off-line execution concerning data and the application software is sent to an address of a person who has authority to approve the off-line execution concerning data and the application software; and

when approval information is received from the person to whom the request for approval has been sent, a result of approval is sent to the thin client terminal.

3. The application software and data management method of claim 1, wherein:

the first management data further includes information indicating license periods of the application software and data; and

the information indicating the license periods is sent to the thin client terminal together with the application software and data.

4. The application software and data management method of claim 1, wherein:

the first management data further includes information indicating permitted operations concerning the application software and data; and

the information indicating the permitted operations is sent to the thin client terminal together with the application software and data.