Server construction support technique

Abstract

A system for supporting construction of a server having a plurality of constraints determined depending on an application area of the server is disclosed. A service method definition section defines a value of each of the plurality of constraints by defining a value of each of a group of constraints to thereby determine a value of each of the other group of constraints which are related to at least one constraint of the group of constraints. A program generator generates a server construction program using the defined constraints. The server operates according to the server construction program received from the system. A simultaneous multiple-access processing server used by the interactive program, WEB shopping, and the like can be easily constructed.

1 . A system for supporting construction of a server having a plurality of constraints determined depending on an application area of the server, comprising: 
 a service method definition section for defining a value of each of the plurality of constraints by defining a value of each of a group of constraints to thereby determine a value of each of the other group of constraints which are related to at least one constraint of the group of constraints;    a program generator for generating a server construction program using the values of the constraints defined by the service method definition section; and    a server program distributor for distributing the server construction program to the server.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a constant detector for detecting at least one constant value dependent on the server,    wherein the service method definition section uses said at least one constant value to determine the value of each of the other group of constraints.    
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the service method definition section presents the plurality of constraints so as to enter the value of each of the group of constraints.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the service method definition section presents at least one possible value of each of the other group of constraints so as to select an appropriate value thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A system for supporting construction of a server, comprising: 
 a service method definition section for defining a value of each of a plurality of types of constraints when the server collects replies received from respondents through a network, by defining a value of each of a portion of the constraints to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints.    
     
     
         6 . A system for supporting construction of a server, comprising: 
 a service method definition section for defining a value of each of a plurality of types of constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, by defining a value of each of a portion of the constraints to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints.    
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the service method definition section performs processing of one of a statistics computation and another computation on the replies.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the other portion of the constraints includes at least one type of constraints.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the other portion of the constraints includes a plurality of types of constraints, the service method definition section obtains combinations of possible values of the plurality of types of constraints.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the service method definition section presents a value of each of the other portion of the constraints.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the service method definition section presents a value of each of the other portion of the constraints.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein, when combinations of possible values of the plurality of types of constraints are presented, the service method definition section presents a choice of said combinations.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein, when combinations of possible values of the plurality of types of constraints are presented, the service method definition section selects and presents one of said combinations according to a predetermined rule.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of types of constraints includes at least one of collection time permissible for reply collection, processing time permissible for reply processing, the number of replies collected, a processing method for replies, a reply form to a question, and the number of servers to be used for reply collection.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the statistics computation includes total summation, simple summation, cross summation, sampling, frequency distribution, averaging, standard deviation, and correlation, and the other computation includes lot casting, top-ranked respondents extraction, low-ranked respondents extraction, first-arrivals extraction, partial data extraction, encryption, decryption, authentication, comparison, document alteration, information dispensing, and menu displaying.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a reply field definition section for defining the reply form,    wherein the service method definition section inputs the reply form defined by the reply field definition section.    
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the reply field definition section further defines a question and outputs the defined question and the reply form to the service method definition section.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the reply field definition section manually inputs the defined reply form on a monitor screen.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the reply field definition section defines the reply form based on a reply form template manually selected from a plurality of prepared reply form templates.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a program generator for automatically generating a server program which allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the values of the portion of the constraints and the values of the other portion of the constraints.    
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein, when the service method definition section presents combinations of possible values of the plurality of types of constraints, the program generator automatically generates a server program which allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the values of the portion of the constraints and one selected from the combinations.  
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the program generator automatically generates a server program which allows the server to present collection and processing results.  
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the server comprises a plurality of data collection sections and a data processing section, 
 wherein the program generator generates a server program allowing the plurality of data collection sections to operate in parallel.    
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the program generator automatically generates operation definition information based on the values of the portion of the constraints and the values of the other portion of the constraints to combine it with a prepared server program to produce the server program, wherein the operation definition information allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies.  
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein, when the service method definition section presents combinations of possible values of the plurality of types of constraints, the program generator automatically generates operation definition information based on the values of the portion of the constraints and one selected from the combinations to combine it with a prepared server program to produce the server program, wherein the operation definition information allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies.  
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the program generator automatically generates operation definition information to combine it with a prepared server program to produce the server program, wherein the operation definition information allows the server to present collection and processing results.  
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the server comprises a plurality of data collection sections and a data processing section, 
 wherein the program generator generates the operation definition information allowing the plurality of data collection sections to operate in parallel.    
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the data collection sections collect the replies from the respondents.  
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the data collection sections collect the replies from the respondents.  
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the data collection sections collect the replies from the respondents and processes collected replies.  
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 27 , wherein the data collection sections collect the replies from the respondents and processes collected replies.  
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the data processing section stores replies collected by at least one data collection section.  
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the data processing section stores replies collected by at least one data collection section.  
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the data processing section processes replies processed by at least one data collection section.  
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the data processing section processes replies processed by at least one data collection section.  
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a server program distributor for distributing the server program generated by the program generator to the server.    
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a server program distributor for distributing the prepared server program and the operation definition information generated by the program generator to the server.    
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a server program distributor for distributing the prepared server program and the operation definition information generated by the program generator to the server.    
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the service method definition section uses at least one constant value dependent on the server to define the values of the other portion of the constraints, wherein said at least one constant value is obtained by actually measuring one of the server and another server having environment equivalent to the server.  
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the service method definition section uses at least one constant value dependent on the server to define the values of the other portion of the constraints, wherein said at least one constant value is obtained by actually measuring one of the server and another server having environment equivalent to the server.  
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the server includes a constant determination section for determining at least one constant value dependent on the server itself by actual measurement, 
 wherein the service method definition section uses said at least one constant value determined by the constant determination section to define the values of the other portion of the constraints.    
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the server includes a constant determination section for determining at least one constant value dependent on the server itself by actual measurement, 
 wherein the service method definition section uses said at least one constant value determined by the constant determination section to define the values of the other portion of the constraints.    
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the server comprises: 
 a constant determination section for determining at least one constant value dependent on the server itself by actual measurement; and    a first communication section for transmitting said at least one constant value to the system, 
 wherein the system further comprises:  
 a second communication section for receiving said at least one constant value from the first communication section.  
   
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the server comprises: 
 a constant determination section for determining at least one constant value dependent on the server itself by actual measurement; and    a first communication section for transmitting said at least one constant value to the system, 
 wherein the system further comprises:  
 a second communication section for receiving said at least one constant value from the first communication section.  
   
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the server comprises at least one collecting server and a processing server, wherein 
 the collecting server comprises: 
 a storage for storing replies received from the respondents from the network; and  
 a data transmitter for transmitting the replies stored in the storage to the processing server,  
   wherein the processing server stores the replies received from the collecting server.    
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the storage is a non-volatile recording medium.  
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the collecting server further comprises: 
 a second storage for storing the replies concurrently with the first storage,    wherein the replies are normally read from the storage to be transmitted and, when a failure occurs in the collecting server itself, are read form the second storage to be transmitted.    
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the processing server comprises: 
 a high-speed storage; and    a low-speed storage,    wherein both the high-speed storage and the low-speed storage store the replies received from the collecting server.    
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 48 , wherein the low-speed storage stores the replies in parallel with the high-speed storage.  
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 48 , wherein the low-speed storage stores the replies after the high-speed storage has stored the same.  
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the server comprises at least one collecting server and a processing server, wherein 
 each collecting server comprises: 
 a collecting section for collecting replies received from the respondents from the network;  
 a first processing section for processing the collected replies;  
 a storage for storing the processed relies; and  
 a data transmitter for transmitting the processed replies stored in the storage to the processing server, and  
   the processing server comprises: 
 a second processing section for processing the processed replies received from the collecting server.  
   
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the storage is a non-volatile recording medium.  
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the collecting server further comprises: 
 a second storage for storing ones of the processed replies and the collected replies concurrently with the storage,    wherein the processed replies are normally transmitted based on the contents of the storage and, when a failure occurs in the collecting server itself, are transmitted based on the contents of the second storage.    
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the first processing section and the second processing section sequentially receives data to produce a processing result from currently received data and a previous processing result.  
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 54 , wherein 
 the first processing section of each collecting server calculates an addition result as the processing result by adding the number of previous replies to the number of current replies, and    the second processing section of the processing server adds the addition result received from the at least one to produce a sum total of replies received at the at least one collecting server.    
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 54 , wherein 
 the collecting section receives replies, each of which belong to one of a plurality of predetermined reply groups,    the first processing section determines which reply group a reply belongs to, counts replies belonging to each of the reply groups by incrementing by one each time it is determined that a reply belongs to a corresponding reply group to produce the processing result, and    the second processing section adds the processing result received from the at least one to produce a sum total of received replies for each of the reply groups.    
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 54 , wherein 
 the first processing section stores a predetermined number of sequentially received replies with their arrival times as the processing result in the storage, and    the second processing section sorts the replies received from the at least one based on the arrival times to produce a first-arrival result including a predetermined number of replies from a total of received replies sorted in the order of arrival.    
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 54 , wherein 
 the collecting section receives replies each of which includes a predetermined item filled with a numerical value,    the first processing section determines whether the numerical value of a currently received reply falls within a predetermined rank by comparing the currently received numerical value with a processed result stored in the storage and, if it is ranked higher than the predetermined rank, then a lowest-ranked reply in the processed result stored is replaced with the currently received reply to update the processed result stored in the storage, and    the second processing section sorts the processed result received from the at least one collecting server based on the numerical value of the predetermined item to produce a ranking result including replies within the predetermined rank.    
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 54 , wherein 
 the first processing section stores a predetermined number of received replies in the storage and, if a reply is received beyond the predetermined number, then replace a selected one of the stored replies with the reply with a probability varying in the order of arrival thereof to update the stored replies as the processing result, and    the second processing section randomly selects a predetermined number of replies from the processing result received from the at least one collecting server to produce a lot result.    
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein the second processing section randomly selects a number of replies from the processing result received from each collecting server, with a probability varying in proportion to the number of received replies for each collecting server.  
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the processing server sends a data transmission request to a collecting server and thereby the collecting server starts sending the replies back to the processing server.  
     
     
         62 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein the processing server sends a data transmission request to a collecting server and thereby the collecting server starts sending the processed replies back to the processing server.  
     
     
         63 . A service method definition device for use in a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a service definition editor for editing a value of each of a plurality of types of constraints when the server collects replies received from respondents through a network by inputting a value of each of a portion of the constraints to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints.    
     
     
         64 . A service method definition device for use in a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a service definition editor for editing a value of each of a plurality of types of constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, by inputting a value of each of a portion of the constraints to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints.    
     
     
         65 . The service method definition device according to  claim 64 , wherein the service definition editor performs processing of one of a statistics computation and another computation on the replies.  
     
     
         66 . The service method definition device according to  claim 64 , wherein the plurality of types of constraints includes at least one of collection time permissible for reply collection, processing time permissible for reply processing, the number of replies collected, a processing method for replies, a reply form to a question, and the number of servers to be used for reply collection.  
     
     
         67 . The service method definition device according to  claim 65 , wherein the plurality of types of constraints includes at least one of collection time permissible for reply collection, processing time permissible for reply processing, the number or replies collected, a processing method for replies, a reply form to a question, and the number of servers to be used for reply collection.  
     
     
         68 . The service method definition device according to  claim 65 , wherein the statistics computation includes total summation, simple summation, cross summation, sampling, frequency distribution, averaging, standard deviation, and correlation, and the other computation includes lot casting, top-ranked respondents extraction, low-ranked respondents extraction, first-arrivals extraction, partial data extraction, encryption, decryption, authentication, comparison, document alteration, information dispensing, and menu displaying.  
     
     
         69 . An automatic program generating device for use in a server construction supporting system, comprising; 
 a program generator for generating a server program which allows a server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on values of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints and values of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, wherein a value of each of the portion of the constraints is defined to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints.    
     
     
         70 . An automatic program generating device for use in a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a program generator for generating operation definition information based on values of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints and values of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, to combine the operation definition information with a prepared server program to produce a server program, wherein the operation definition information allows a server to collect replies from the respondents and process collected replies.    
     
     
         71 . The automatic program generating device according to  claim 69 , wherein the plurality of types of constraints includes at least one of collection time permissible for reply collection, processing time permissible for reply processing, the number of replies collected, a processing method for replies, a reply form to a question, and the number of servers to be used for reply collection.  
     
     
         72 . The automatic program generating device according to  claim 70 , wherein the plurality of types of constraints includes at least one of collection time permissible for reply collection, processing time permissible for reply processing the number of replies collected, a processing method for replies, a reply form to a question, and the number of servers to be used for reply collection.  
     
     
         73 . A service program distribution manager for managing distribution of a server program to a server in a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a program generator for generating a server program which allows a server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on values of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints and values of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, wherein a value of each of the portion of the constraints is defined to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints; and    a distribution scheduler for scheduling distribution of the server program to the server.    
     
     
         74 . A service program distribution manager for managing distribution of a server program to a server in a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a program generator for generating operation definition information based on values of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints and values of the other portion of the constraints other than the defined constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, to combine the operation definition information with a prepared server program to produce a server program, wherein the operation definition information allows a server to collect replies from the respondents and process collected replies; and    a distribution scheduler for scheduling distribution of the server program to the server.    
     
     
         75 . A program instructing a computer to implement a server construction supporting system, the program comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining a value of each of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints when a server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network; and    b) defining a value of each of the other portion of the constraints based on the defined constraints to define the values of the constraints.    
     
     
         76 . The program according to  claim 75 , further comprising the steps of: 
 c) generating a server program which allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the values of the constraints.    
     
     
         77 . The program according to  claim 75 , further comprising the steps of: 
 c) generating operation definition information based on the values of the constraints; and    d) combining the operation definition information with a prepared server program to produce a server program, wherein the operation definition information allows the server to collect replies from the respondents and process collected replies.    
     
     
         78 . The program according to  claim 75 , wherein the step b) comprises the step of: 
 measuring one of the server and another server having environment equivalent to the server to obtain at least one constant value dependent on the server; and    define the values of the other portion of the constraints using said at least one constant value.    
     
     
         79 . A server operating according to a server program distributed by a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a status detector for detecting a status of the server itself;    a storage for storing a server program for each of different sets of values defined in a plurality of constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, wherein the server program allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the defined constraints, wherein a value of each of a portion of the constraints is defined to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints, and    an operation changing section for changing an operation of the server by executing a server program for a set of defined values of the constraints suitable for the detected status of the server.    
     
     
         80 . A server operating according to a server program distributed by a server construction supporting system, comprising: 
 a status detector for detecting a status of the server itself;    a storage for storing a server program for each of different sets of values defined in a plurality of constraints when the server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network, wherein the server program is obtained by combining a prepared server program with operation definition information which allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the defined constraints, wherein a value of each of a portion of the constraints is defined to obtain a value of each of the other portion of the constraints; and    an operation changing section for changing an operation of the server by executing a server program for a set of defined values of the constraints suitable for the detected status of the server.    
     
     
         81 . A server construction supporting method comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining a value of each of a portion of a plurality of types of constraints when a server collects and processes replies received from respondents through a network; and    b) defining a value of each of the other portion of the constraints based on the defined constraints to define the values of the constraints.    
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 81 , further comprising the steps of: 
 c) generating a server program which allows the server to collect the replies from the respondents and process collected replies based on the values of the constraints.    
     
     
         83 . The method according to  claim 81 , further comprising the steps of: 
 c) generating operation definition information based on the values of the constraints; and    d) combining the operation definition information with a prepared server program to produce a server program, wherein the operation definition information allows the server to collect replies from the respondents and process collected replies.    
     
     
         84 . The method according to  claim 81 , wherein the step b) comprises the step of: 
 measuring one of the server and another server having environment equivalent to the server to obtain at least one constant value dependent on the server; and    define the values of the other portion of the constraints using said at least one constant value.