Systems and methods for managing the operation of multiple virtual machines among multiple terminal devices

• US 8,533,785 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ohno, Takashi, Miyamoto, Ryo, Yamasaki, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMITOSKI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/028,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 718/1, 726/4, 726/27
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable

Abstract

An information processing device includes: a connection monitoring unit performs determining whether a first external device is connected, and determining whether a receiving unit receives the request from the first or second external device, wherein when the connection monitoring unit determines that the first external device is not connected, a usage permission/prohibition determining unit updates the usage permission/prohibition information stored in a management table so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of a first virtual computer is prohibited, and wherein when the connection monitoring unit determines that the receiving unit receives the request from the second external device and that the first external device is connected, the usage permission/prohibition determining unit transmits, to the first external device, information that instructs the first external device to prohibit use of a second virtual computer.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

a processor configured to

operate a first virtual computer;

store usage permission/prohibition information that indicates whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted in a management table;

update the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table;

control, based on the usage permission/prohibition information, whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted;

monitor a first external device on which a second virtual computer to which the first virtual computer is switched operates and

determine whether the first external device is connected,

wherein when the processor determines that the first external device is not connected, the processor updates the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is prohibited.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize information on the operational state of the first virtual computer with information on the operational state of the second virtual computer when the processor receives a request to start using the first virtual computer.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize information on the operational state of the first virtual computer with information on the operational state of the second virtual computer when the processor receives a request to terminate use of the first virtual computer from the second external device,

wherein the processor transmits, to the first external device, the information that instructs the first external device to prohibit use of the second virtual computer.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize information on the operational state of the first virtual computer with information on the operational state of the second virtual computer when the processor determines that the first external device is not connected and that the processor receives a request to start using the first virtual computer.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

set, in the management table, a time period for use of the second virtual computer that operates on the first external device; and

determine whether an actual time period for use of the second virtual computer exceeds the set time period for use of the second virtual computer when the processor determines that the first external device is not connected,

wherein the processor determines whether the first external device is connected when the actual time period for use of the second virtual computer exceeds the set time period for use of the second virtual computer, and

wherein when the actual time period for use of the second virtual computer exceeds the set time period for use of the second virtual computer and the processor determines that the first external device is not connected, the processor updates the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is permitted.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to notify an OS operating on the first virtual computer of a location at which the first virtual computer operates when the first virtual computer is used by the first external device.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the processor transmits, to the first external device, information that instructs the first external device to cause the second virtual computer to operate,

wherein the processor receives, from the first external device, a signal that indicates an operation of the second virtual computer, and

wherein when the processor receives the signal that indicates the operation of the second virtual computer, the processor updates the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is prohibited.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize information on the operational state of the first virtual computer with information on the operational state of the second virtual computer when the processor determines that the first external device is connected.

9. The information processing device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

store information generated in a process performed by the first virtual computer; and

determine whether an actual time period for use of the first virtual computer exceeds a set time period for use of the first virtual computer when the processor determines that the first external device is not connected, and delete the information stored when the actual time period for use of the first virtual computer exceeds the set time period for use of the first virtual computer.

10. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor a second external device that uses the first virtual computer and on which the second virtual computer does not operate;

receive a request to start using the first virtual computer from each of the first and second external devices;

determine whether the processor receives the request from the first or second external device;

wherein when the processor receives the request from the second external device and the first external device is connected, the processor transmits, to the first external device, information that instructs the first external device to prohibit use of the second virtual computer.

11. A computer system comprising:

a server device on which a first virtual computer operates;

a first terminal device that is connected to the server device and on which a second virtual computer to which the first virtual computer is switched operates; and

a second terminal device that uses the first virtual computer and on which the second virtual computer does not operate,

wherein the server device includes a processor configured to;

store usage permission/prohibition information that indicates whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted;

update the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table and control, based on the usage permission/prohibition information, whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted;

monitor the first terminal device and the second terminal device;

determine whether the first terminal device is connected, and

wherein when the processor determines that the first external device is not connected, the processor updates the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is prohibited.

12. The computer system according to claim 11,

wherein the first terminal device prohibits use of the second virtual computer when the first terminal device receives the information that instructs the first terminal device to prohibit use of the second virtual computer.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores a program that causes a computer to perform:

operating a first virtual computer;

determining whether a first external device on which a second virtual computer to which the first virtual computer is switched operates is connected;

updating, when it is determined that the first external device is not connected, usage permission/prohibition information stored in a management table and indicating whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is prohibited;

controlling whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted based on the usage permission/prohibition information;

determining, when a request to start using the first virtual computer is received, whether the request to start using the first virtual computer is transmitted by the first external device or a second external device on which the second virtual computer does not operate;

transmitting, to the first external device, information that instructs the first external device to prohibit use of the second virtual computer when it is determined that the second external device transmits the request and that the first external device is connected.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, which stores the program that causes the computer to further perform:

transmitting information that instructs the first external device to cause the second virtual computer to operate;

determining whether the second virtual computer starts being used; and

updating the usage permission/prohibition information stored in the management table and indicating whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted when it is determined that the second virtual computer starts being used.

15. A method for limiting use of a virtual computer, the method causing a computer to perform:

operating a first virtual computer;

determining whether a first terminal device on which a second virtual computer to which the first virtual computer is switched operates is connected;

updating, when it is determined that the first terminal device is not connected, usage permission/prohibition information stored in a management table and indicating whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted so that the usage permission/prohibition information indicates that use of the first virtual computer is prohibited;

controlling whether use of the first virtual computer is permitted based on the usage permission/prohibition information;

determining, when a request to start using the first virtual computer is received, whether the request to start using the first virtual computer is transmitted by the first terminal device or a second terminal device on which the second virtual computer does not operate;

transmitting, to the first terminal device, information that instructs the first terminal device to prohibit use of the second virtual computer when it is determined that the second terminal device transmits the request and that the first terminal device is connected.