Service providing system, computer which executes program providing service and repository service control program

Abstract

In a service providing system which provides, through a network, service which is provided by a program executed on a computer to other computer, a unit is provided for providing service which can not be provided by the computer to other computer than the computer in question.

1 . A system of providing, through a network, service which is provided by a program executed on a computer to other computer, comprising: 
 a unit which provides said service that can not be provided by said computer from other computer than the computer in question; and    a repository service unit which provides service of managing location information for uniquely identifying, on said network, a computer on which predetermined said program operates.    
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said repository service unit being provided in a specific computer among a plurality of said computers.  
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said repository service unit is provided in a specific computer among a plurality of said computers, and    said repository service unit conducts processing of replying, to a request from said program operating on any of said computers, with location information of a computer which activates a predetermined program and processing of rewriting data of a repository data base which stores said location information in response to a request from said program.    
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said repository service unit is provided in a specific computer among a plurality of said computers, and    said repository service unit further conducts processing of replying, to an inquiry from said program activated, with said location information of said computer having said repository service unit.    
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein 
 the processing of replying with said location information searches said repository data base for location information of a computer on which said predetermined program operates which information is inquired by a program operating on any of said computers and when service by the program in question is in operation, replies to the program having made an inquiry with location information of the computer on which the program in question operates.    
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein 
 the processing of rewriting data of said repository data base rewrites the data of said repository data base in response to a request from said program and replies to said program with a result of rewriting.    
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein 
 the processing of making a service request by said program to other computer checks whether said program has location information of said other computer and when the program fails to have the information, requests said location information from said repository service unit.    
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said repository service unit being provided in a specific computer among a plurality of said computers, and    said plurality of computers each include a program starting unit which starts a program that provides said service and a service provision information data base which stores information about a kind of said service and information about a kind of service to be started at the time of starting said computer.    
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein 
 said program starting unit is started simultaneously with activation of said computer.    
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein 
 said program starting unit is started simultaneously with activation of said computer, and    processing of starting said program starting unit refers to information of said service provision information data base and when activation is necessary, starts said repository service unit and when there exists other program required to be started, starts the program in question.    
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein 
 said program starting unit is started simultaneously with activation of said computer, and    main processing of said program starting unit includes processing of, after accepting a request from programs of said plurality of computers, referring to said service provision information data base to determine whether service corresponding to said request can be started or not and when the service can be started, starting or re-starting a program which provides the service in question.    
   
   
       12 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said repository service unit being provided in a part of computers among a plurality of said computers.    
   
   
       13 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein 
 a monitoring service unit which monitors operation of said repository service unit is provided in said part of computers.    
   
   
       14 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein 
 a monitoring service unit which monitors operation of said repository service unit is provided in said part of computers, and which further comprises:    a monitoring unit which monitors operation of said monitoring service unit, and    a data sharing unit for sharing location information data managed by said repository service unit among the computers.    
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein 
 processing of said monitoring unit searches said monitoring service unit to continue checking operation of said monitoring service unit.    
   
   
       16 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein 
 a monitoring service unit which monitors operation of said repository service unit is provided in said part of computers, and    processing of said monitoring service unit monitors said repository service unit provided at said part of computers and when none of said repository service units operates, starts any of the repository service units.    
   
   
       17 . The system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein 
 a monitoring service unit which monitors operation of said repository service unit is provided in said part of computers, and    initial processing of said repository service unit refrains from starting said repository service unit when other repository service unit operates.    
   
   
       18 . A computer which executes a program that provides service through a network, comprising: 
 a repository service unit which provides service of managing location information for uniquely identifying, on said network, a computer on which predetermined said program operates, wherein    said repository service unit conducts processing of replying, to a request from said program operating on any of said computers, with location information of a computer which activates a predetermined program and processing of rewriting data of a repository data base which stores said location information in response to a request from said program.    
   
   
       19 . The computer as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 said repository service unit further conducts processing of replying, to an inquiry from said program activated, with said location information of said computer having said repository service unit.    
   
   
       20 . The computer as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the processing of replying with said location information searches said repository data base for location information of a computer on which said predetermined program operates which information is inquired by a program operating on any of said computers and when service by the program in question is in operation, replies to the program having made an inquiry with location information of the computer on which the program in question operates.    
   
   
       21 . The computer as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein 
 the processing of rewriting data of said repository data base rewrites the data of said repository data base in response to a request from said program and replies to said program with a result of rewriting.    
   
   
       22 . The computer as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a program starting unit which starts a program that provides said service, and a service provision information data base which stores information about a kind of said service and information about a kind of service to be started at the time of starting said computer.    
   
   
       23 . The computer as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein processing of starting said program starting unit refers to information of said service provision information data base and when activation is necessary, starts said repository service unit and when there exists other program required to be started, starts the program in question.  
   
   
       24 . A repository service control program executed on a computer on which a program operates that provides service through a network, comprising the function of: 
 a function of providing service of managing location information for uniquely identifying, on said network;    a function of replying, to a request from a program operating on any of computers connected to said network, with location information of a computer which activates a predetermined program; and    a function of rewriting data of a repository data base which stores said location information in response to a request from said program.    
   
   
       25 . The repository service control program as set forth in  claim 24 , further comprising 
 a function of replying, to an inquiry from said program activated, with said location information of said computer having said repository service unit.