Apparatus and method for setting control information of a computer system

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for setting control information of a computer system comprising a control information request device for requesting the apparatus for setting control information of another computer system connected over a network to transmit the control information, when a storage device is judged not to store the information by the control information storage check device, a receive device for receiving the control information transmitted from the apparatus for setting control information of the other computer system and allowing the storage device to store it. There is also disclosed an apparatus for setting control information of a computer system comprising a receive device for receiving the request for transmitting the control information transmitted from the apparatus for setting control information of the other computer system, and a transmission device for transmitting the control information stored in a storage device to the apparatus for setting control information of the other computer system. There is further disclosed an apparatus for setting control information of a computer system comprising a control information registration request device for requesting the apparatus for setting control information of the other computer system connected over the network to register inputted control information. There is further disclosed an apparatus for setting control information of a computer system comprising a receive device for receiving the request to register the control information transmitted from the apparatus of the other computer system, and a storage device for storing the requested control information.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1)Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus and method for setting control information such as a network address applied to a computer system to communicate over a network. (2) Description of the Related Art The following is a description of computer systems applying a conventional apparatus for setting control information, and a network system applying the computer systems with reference to FIG. 1. A client computer 351 and a server computer 352 are connected with each other via a communication medium 353 which is optical fiber or a coaxial cable. The server computer 352 is usually connected with a plurality of such client computers. Each of the client computers 351 has its own network address such as an internet protocol(IP) address set therein so that the server computer 352 and the other client computers 351 can identify it. Also set to each of the computers is network environment setting information including a netmask and a broadcast address, and user environment setting information including the identifier of the computer, the names of registered users, and a password. (when both of the above information is referred to, it is referred to as environment setting information) The client computer 351 is provided with the following units: an address input unit 301 for inputing its network address, an address storage unit 303 for storing the inputted network address, an information input unit 304 for inputting its environment setting information, an information storage unit 306 for storing the inputted environment setting information, a communication control unit 307 for controlling communication with the server computer 352 via the communication medium 353. The server computer 352 holds the network addresses of all the client computers 351 to manage the entire network besides its own network address. It also has the environment setting information set therein like the client computers 351. The server computer 352 is provided with the following units: an address input unit 308 for inputing the network address of every newly connected client computer 351 to the server computer 352, an address storage unit 309 for storing the inputted network addresses, a communication control unit 310 for controlling communication with the client computers 351 via the communication medium 353. To connect a new client computer 351 with the network system having the above construction, setting of the network address and the environment setting information must be done as follows. In the new client computer 351, the assigned network address is inputted from the address input unit 301 and stored in the address storage unit 303. The predetermined network environment setting information and the user environment setting information are inputted from the information input unit 304 and stored to the information storage unit 306. In the server computer 352, the network address assigned to the client computer 351 is inputted from the address input unit 308 and stored to the address storage unit 309. The communication control unit 310, if directed to transmit data to the client computer 351 by an application program or another program, reads the network address out of the address storage unit 309, generates a packet including transmission data and the read address, and transmits it to the communication medium 353. The communication control unit 307, when the network address contained in the received packet is identified with the network address stored in the information storage unit 303, transfers the data in the packet to the application program or the other. The communication control unit 307 also controls different communications it performs based on the network environment setting information stored in the information storage unit 306. For example, if the destination address contained in the received packet is identified with the broadcast address stored in the information storage unit 306, it is transferred to the application program or the other as the data sent to all the client computers 351. An operation system program or another program provides the users the determined operational environment by reading out the user environment setting information stored in tne information storage unit 306. The above network system has various drawbacks as follows. Many of the users have little knowledge of computer systems and are unaccustomed to handling the machines so that they are likely to fail in inputting serial numbers or characters correctly. This not only prevents the communication between the client computers 351 and the server computer 352, but also causes serious problems to the entire network system such as coming down of the system. It is redundant that both the user and the supervisor of the system input the network address of the client computer 351 respectively to the same client computer 351 and to the server computer 352. It is very hard for the unskilled users to set environment setting information by themselves. European patent application 0 182 417 discloses a local area network comprising a controller 1 and a plurality of terminals 3-n connected to a common transmission medium 2. Each terminal requests the controller to allocate it an address, and sends to the controller a random number generated by a random number generator 301 of the terminal. In response to the request, the controller allocates a unique address, and transmits to the terminal the allocated address and the random number received from the terminal. The terminal then accepts and stores in a store 309 the address allocated by the controller. The store 309 is monitored by an address monitor 311. However, this application does not disclose or suggest transmission of environment setting information from the controller to the terminals. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for setting control information of a computer system capable of bypassing redundant operations which happen while common control information is set to a plurality of computer systems and capable of preventing the computer systems from being set different control information. The above object can be achieved by a computer system comprising a first computer, a second computer, and a communication medium connecting the first and second computers. The system is characterised in that the first computer comprises first storage means for storing environment setting information; environment setting information check means for checking if the environment setting information is stored in the first storage means; environment setting information request means for requesting the second computer to transmit the environment setting information over the communication medium when the environment setting information check means judges that the first storage means does not store the environment setting information; and receive means for receiving the environment setting information and allowing the first storage means to store the environment setting information. The second computer may comprise second storage means for storing environment setting information; detect means for detecting a request from the first computer for transmission of the environment setting information; information location means for locating in the second storage means the environment setting information corresponding to the first computer; and information transmission means for transmitting the environment setting information to the first computer over the communication medium when the information location means locates the environment setting information in the information store means corresponding to the first computer. The information transmission means may transmit to the first computer over the communication medium predetermined environment setting information when the information location means does not locate the environment setting information in the second storage means. The second computer may further comprise information input means for accepting input of environment setting information and allowing the second storage means to store it. The first computer may be a client computer and the second computer may be a server computer. The environment setting information may be network environment setting information to define the conditions for operating the computer system. The network environment setting information may be a broadcast address used as a destination address when the computer system performs broadcast communication. The environment setting information may be user environment setting information to define conditions for operating the first computer. The user environment setting information may be the names of registered users. The above object can be achieved also by a method for setting information in a computer system comprising a first computer, a second computer, and a communication medium connecting the first and second computers. The method comprises the steps of checking whether environment setting information is stored in the first computer; requesting the second computer to transmit the environment setting information to the first computer over the communication medium when the environment setting information is not stored in the first computer; receiving the environment setting information from the second computer; and storing the environment setting information in the first computer. The method may further comprise the steps of detecting by the second computer the request from the first computer for transmission of the environment setting information; locating the environment setting information corresponding to the first computer in a storage of the second computer; and transmitting the environment setting information to the first computer over the communication medium when the environment setting information is located. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of computer systems applying a conventional apparatus for setting control information, and a network system applying the computer systems. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of computer systems applying an apparatus for setting control information of this invention, and a network system applying the computer systems. FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting the operations of setting network address in the client computer of an embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 (a)-(c) are flow charts depicting the operations of setting network address in the server computer of an embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the operations of setting environment setting information in the client computer of an embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 (a)(b) are flow charts depicting the operations of setting environment setting information in the server computer of an embodiment of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 2, a client computer 151 and a server computer 152 are connected with each other via a communication medium 153 which is optical fiber or a coaxial cable. The server computer 152 is usually connected with a plurality of client computers. Each of the client computers 151 has its own network address such as an internet protocol(IP) address set therein so that the server computer 152 and the other client computers 151 can identify it. Also set to each of the computers is network environment setting information including a netmask and a broadcast address, and user environment setting information including the identifier of the computer, the names of registred users, and a password all of which are necessary to the users. (when both of the above information is referred to, it is referred to as environment setting information) The client computer 151 is provided with the following units: an address input unit 107 for inputing its network address, an address storage unit 105 for storing the inputted network address, an address registration request unit 108 for requesting the server computer 152 to register the network address, using an identifying number unique to the computer until the network address can be used, an address check unit 101 for checking if the network address is stored in the address storage unit 105, when, for example, the client computer 151 is raised, an address transmission request unit 102 for requesting the server computer 152 to transmit the network address when it is not stored in the address storage unit 105, an address receive unit 103 for receiving the network address transmitted from the server computer 152, a communication control unit 106 for controlling the communication with the server computer 152 via the communication medium 153, an information storage unit 113 for storing its environment setting information, an information check unit 109 for checking if the environment setting information is stored in the information storage unit 113, an information transmission request unit 110 for requesting the server computer 152 to transmit the environment setting information when it is not stored in the unit 113, and an information receive unit 111 for receiving the transmitted information. The server computer 152 holds the network addresses of all the client computers 151 to manage the entire network besides its own network address. It also holds environment setting information to be set in the client computers 151 as well as has it set therein like the client computers 151. The server computer 152 is provided with the following units: an address input unit 201 for inputing the identifying numbers of, and the network addresses preassigned to each of the client computers 151 to the server computer 152, an address storage unit 202 for storing the inputted network addresses and the identifying numbers in pairs, an address registration request detect unit 207 for detecting the request to register a network address transmitted from the client computer 151, an address pick out unit 208 for picking the network address out of the transmitted registration request information, an address registration unit 209 for making the unit 202 store the picked out network address, an address transmission request detect unit 203 for detecting the request to transmit the address, an address location unit 204 for locating the requested network address among those stored in the unit 202 using the identifying number as the key, and if not located, for generating a new address to assign to the client computer 151 according to a predetermined rule to make the unit 202 store it, an address range designation unit 200 for holding the range of the newly generated network address as the above rule, an address transmission unit 205 for transmitting the network address located and generated by the unit 204 to the client computer 151, a communication control unit 206 for controlling communication with the client computers 351 via the communication medium 153, an information input unit 210 for inputting the environment setting information to be set to each client computer 151, an information storage unit 211 for storing the inputted environment setting information and the identifying numbers in pairs, an information transmission request detect unit 212 for detecting the request to transmit the environment setting information, an information location unit 213 for locating the requested environment setting information among those stored in the information storage unit 211 using the network address contained in the request as the key, and an information transmission unit 214 for transmitting the located environment setting information to the client computer 151. The following is a description of the operations performed by the client computers 151 and the server computer 152 having the above construction. Network addresses are set as follows. After a client computer 151 has been booted, the address check unit 101 checks if the network address is stored in the address storage unit 105 or not as shown in FIG. 3 (S101). If stored, the operations for setting environment setting information follows this. On the other hand, if not stored, the client computer 151 either asks the server computer 152 for the network address or directs the user to input it (S102). If the former is performed, the address transmission request unit 102 transmits a packet requesting for the transmission of the network address to the server computer 152 via the communication control unit 106 (S103). The packet includes the identifying number of the client computer 151. After the server computer 152 has transmitted the network address upon the request as described later, the address receive unit 103 receives it and allows the address storage unit 105 to store it (S105). On the other hand, if the latter is performed at (S102), the network address is inputted to the address unit 107 (S106), and the address storage unit 105 stores it (S107). After that, the address registration request unit 108 transmits a packet requesting to register the network address to the server computer 152 (S108). In the server computer 152, after the operation directing the server computer 152 to input the network address of the client computer 151, the network address is inputted to the address input unit 201 as shown in FIG. 4(a)(S201), and the address storage unit 202 stores it (S202). When the address transmission request detect unit 203 detects the packet requesting the network address transmitted from the client computer 151, the operation shown in FIG. 4(b) is carried out. The address location unit 204 tries to locate the network address in the address storage unit 202 using the identifying number included in the packet as the key (S211). If it is stored, the unit 204 reads it out (S213), otherwise it generates a network address in the range designated by the address range designation unit 200 (S214). The address transmission unit 205 transmits a packet including the network address which is either read out or generated, and the identifying number (S215). After that, the client computer 151 stores the network address as above. When the address registration request detect unit 207 detects the packet requesting to register the network address transmitted from the server computer 152 at (S108), the operation shown in FIG. 4(c) is carried out. The address pick out unit 208 picks out the network address and the identifying number included in the packet (S221). The address registration unit 209 makes the address storage unit 202 store the picked out network address and the identifying number (S222). Environment information is set as follows. In the client computer 151, the information check unit 109, as shown in FIG. 5, checks if the environment setting information is stored or not in the information storage unit 113 (S111). If stored, another processing follows this. If not stored, the information transmission request unit 110 transmits the packet requesting to transmit the environment setting information via the communication control unit 106 to the server computer 152 (S112). After the server computer 152 has transmitted the network address upon the request as described later, the information receive unit 111 receives it (S113) and allows the information storage unit 113 to store it (S114). On the other hand, in the server computer 152, if an operation directing the server computer 152 to input the environment setting information has been set in the client computer 151, the information input unit 210 accepts the input of the information as shown in FIG. 6 (a) (S231), and allows the information storage unit 211 to store it (S232). When the information transmission request detect unit 212 detects the packet requesting to transmit environment setting information transmitted from the client computer 151, the operation shown in FIG. 6(b) is carried out. The information location unit 213 locates the environment setting information stored in the information storage unit 211 using the addresser network address included in the packet as the key (S241). If the information is stored, the unit 213 reads it out (S242). The information transmission unit 214 transmits the packet including the read information (S243). After that, the client computer 151 stores the information as above. Unlike the above embodiment, the address storage unit 202 may be designed to check each newly generated address before storing to avoid duplication. Packets having a special format may be used for transmitting network addresses, requesting to register them and the like, or the information indicating the above request may be included in the payload of packets having an ordinary format. The information location unit 213 may be designed to locate environment setting information using an identifying number, instead of a network address, as the key so that the environment setting information can be set in the client computer 151 before the network address has been set. When the environment setting information requested by the client computer 151 is not stored, predetermined default environment setting information may be transmitted for it. The information location unit 213 may be designed to set environment setting information per group of the client computers 151 so that it can locate information using the numbers indicating the groups as the key. The same unit 213 may be omitted when common environment setting information is set to all the client computers 151. Environment setting information as well as the network address may be inputted to the client computer 151 in addition to the server computer 152. Network addresses and environment setting information from the server computer 152 may be designed to be transmitted voluntarily when it is confirmed to exist, instead of responding to the request of the client computer 151. Whether a network address or environment setting information is stored in either the address storage unit 105 or the information storage unit 113 may be checked when a communication is actually carried out, when the user desires, or when the client computer 151 is newly connected with the communication medium 153, instead of when the client computer is raised. Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Claims: A computer system comprising a first computer (151), a second computer (152), and a communication medium (153) connecting the first and second computers, the computer system being characterised in that the first computer (151) comprises: first storage means (113) for storing environment setting information; environment setting information check means (109) for checking if the environment setting information is stored in the first storage means (113); environment setting information request means (110) for requesting the second computer (152) to transmit the environment setting information over the communication medium (153) when the environment setting information check means (109) judges that the first storage means (113) does not store the environment setting information; and receive means (111) for receiving the environment setting information and allowing the first storage means (113) to store the environment setting information. A computer system of claim 1, wherein the second computer (152) comprises: second storage means (211) for storing environment setting information; detect means (212) for detecting a request from the first computer (151) for transmission of the environment setting information; information location means (213) for locating in the second storage means (211) the environment setting information corresponding to the first computer (151); and information transmission means (214) for transmitting the environment setting information to the first computer (151) over the communication medium (153) when the information location means (213) locates the environment setting information in the information store means (211) corresponding to the first computer (151). A computer system of claim 2, wherein the information transmission means (214) transmits to the first computer (151) over the communication medium (153) predetermined environment setting information when the information location means (213) does not locate the environment setting information in the second storage means (211). A computer system of claim 2, wherein the second computer (152) further comprises information input means (210) for accepting input of environment setting information and allowing the second storage unit (211) to store it. A computer system of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the first computer (151) is a client computer and the second computer (152) is a server computer. A computer system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the environment setting information is network environment setting information to define the conditions for operating the computer system. A computer system of claim 6, wherein the network environment setting information is a broadcast address used as a destination address when the computer system performs broadcast communication. A computer system of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the environment setting information is user environment setting information to define conditions for operating the first computer (151). A computer system of claim 8, wherein the user environment setting information is the names of registered users. A method for setting information in a computer system comprising a first computer (151), a second computer (152), and a communication medium (153) connecting the first and second computers, the method being characterised in the steps of: checking (S111) whether environment setting information is stored in the first computer (151); requesting (S112) the second computer (152) to transmit the environment setting information to the first computer (151) over the communication medium (153) when the environment setting information is not stored in the first computer (151); receiving (S113) the environment setting information from the second computer (152); and storing (S114) the environment setting information in the first computer (151). The method of claim 10 wherein the method further comprises the steps of: detecting by the second computer (152) the request from the first computer (151) for transmission of the environment setting information; locating the environment setting information corresponding to the first computer (151) in a storage of the second computer (152); and transmitting the environment setting information to the first computer (151) over the communication medium (153) when the environment setting information is located.

Inventors: AKIYOSHI TAKASHI, MATSUSE TETSUO, AKIYOSHI, TAKASH, MATSUSE, TETSUO, AKIYOSHI, TAKASHI
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04L29
IPC codes: G06F13, H04L29