US 5,291,591 A · Method of managing programs for distributed processing systems and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A distributed processing system distributively performs a series of processes for a job at a plurality of processing units connected to a common transmission path and has a circuit for transmitting information from a processing unit to the common transmission path. The distributed processing system includes a circuit for receiving from the common transmission path the information required for the processing of a program stored in each processing unit, and a circuit for detecting if all the information required for the processing of the program has been collected, for performing the processing of the program using the collected information as input information for the processing and for transmitting the processed result data to the common transmission path. Managing of the programs is performed by transmitting a program stored in each processing unit or a program newly generated or modified by each processing unit, together with program generation information, to the common transmission path and discriminating a difference between generations of a plurality of developed programs.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for managing generation management information for programs in a distributed processing system having a plurality of processing units connected to a common transmission path, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a program and generation management information of said program from one of said processing units onto said common transmission path;
b) receiving said program and said generation management information at another one of said processing units;
c) modifying said program at said another processing unit;
and
d) managing said generation management information in response to said modifying step;
said managing step comprising the steps of:
i) replacing the generation management information with information indicating said program is new if a relationship between input data nd output data of said program has been altered as a result of said program modification, and
ii) adding information indicative of program modification to said generation management information if the relationship between said input data and said output data of said program has not been altered as a result of said program modification.

5 more elements

An apparatus for managing generation management information for programs in a distributed processing system having a plurality of processing units connected to a common transmission path, said apparatus comprising:

a) means for transmitting a program and generation management information of said program from one of said processing units onto said common transmission path;
b) means for receiving said program and said generation management information at another one of said processing units;
c) means for modifying said program at said another processing unit;
and
d) means for managing said generation management information in response to said modifying means;
said managing means comprising:
i) means for replacing the generation management information with information indicating said program is new if a relationship between input data and output data of said program has been altered as a result of said program modification, and
ii) means for adding information indicative of program modification to said generation management information if the relationship between said input data and said output data of said program has not been altered as a result of said program modification.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of managing programs for distributed processing systems and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Method of managing programs for distributed processing systems and apparatus therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24