Patent ID: 7127484

Claim:
A server decision method which decides the existence of an only server to operate a specific task within a plurality of servers connected via a network, the method comprising: classifying a plurality of servers into a main server candidate group capable of operating the specific task, a sub-server candidate group capable of operating a back-up operation of the specific task, and an out-of-candidate server group that is excluded from operating the specific task and the back-up operation, wherein each server in said main server candidate group presents public relations information necessary for an election judgment of a main server to all other servers and runs for a candidate at a boot time and, at the same time, compares said main server public relations information to that of other servers and, when it is determined that a particular server is not a desirable candidate, presentation of said particular server's public relations information is stopped and its candidacy is withdrawn, wherein each server in said sub-server candidate group presents public relations information necessary for an election judgment of a sub-server to other servers and runs for a candidate at a boot time and, at the same time, compares said sub-server public relations information to that of other servers and, when it is determined that a particular sub-server is not a desirable candidate, presentation of said particular sub-server's public relations information is stopped and its candidacy is withdrawn, and wherein, after said boot time, a main server or a sub-server periodically reports an operation of the specific task to other servers and asserts a right of said main server or sub-server and, when a same report is received from other servers asserting the right of said main server or sub-server, a duplicate-starting of a plurality of main servers or a plurality of sub-servers is recognized, and public relations information from the asserted server or sub-server is presented to all servers and said asserted server or sub-server runs as a candidate and, at the same time, compares its public relations information to that of other servers, and when it is determined that the asserted server or sub-server is not a desirable candidate, presentation of its public relations information is stopped and its candidacy is withdrawn.