JP2003122730A - Information processing method, agent system, agent system program, and recording medium on which agent system program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (With correction) [Problem] To provide an agent system that can efficiently use a network and contribute to a reduction in the amount of work. SOLUTION: When receiving a serialized data and a message digest from another service providing host 3, a data receiving unit 34 checks whether or not a class code paired with the message digest is present in a database 35. , Restore the agent object with its class code. On the other hand, if there is no message digest, the message digest is transmitted to all the class code registration / distribution servers 1. Each class code registration / distribution server 1 searches the database 13 for a signed class code paired with the transmitted message digest, and finds the signed class code and the secret key used to sign the class code. And a certificate containing the public key pair.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method in an agent system, an agent system, an agent system program, and a recording medium having the agent system program recorded therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an agent system that moves a program between computers to perform processing, information processing is performed by the following method. In a computer, a program called a class code performs processing in the form of an agent object (also simply called an object). When the processing is completed, this object is converted into data including the processing result and status. This conversion is called serialization, and the converted data is called serialized data. The object and the serialized data are generally called an agent.

Then, the serialized data and the class code are transmitted to the computer for the next processing. Such communication is referred to as agent movement.

At the destination computer, the object is restored to serialized data with the transmitted class code. In this way, the processing result and status of the computer before the movement can be reflected in the processing of the destination computer.

Further, the class code is placed in each computer in advance and only serialized data is transmitted.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional agent system, the class code itself moves on the network together with the serialized data, which causes an increase in traffic. Furthermore, even if the same class code is transmitted with serialized data every time, efficient use of the network is hindered.

Further, in the operation of arranging the class code in advance, there is a wasteful work of arranging it even in a computer that is not actually needed, just in case. Moreover, when the class code is updated, it is necessary to relocate even the class code that has never been used, so the total amount of work is immeasurable.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing method and an agent system that can efficiently use a network and contribute to a reduction in the amount of work. An agent system program and a recording medium on which the agent system program is recorded are provided.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention according to claim 1 provides information processing when a computer for processing an agent object and a server for servicing the computer are connected. A method, wherein the computer sends a message digest received with a serialized agent object and receives a class code prior to being compressed into the message digest sent by the server and serialized with the class code An information processing method characterized by restoring the previous agent object is a solution.

The present invention according to claim 2 is an information processing method when a computer for processing an agent object and a server for servicing the computer are connected to each other, wherein the server has a class code and a class code. An information processing method characterized in that a class code paired with a message digest received by the server is searched from a database that is stored as a pair with a compressed message digest, and the searched class code is returned. Will be the solution.

A third aspect of the present invention is an agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected, and each of the servers includes: A database in which a class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are stored as a set, and each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from a source computer, The message digest is transmitted to all the servers, and each server retrieves the class code paired with the transmitted message digest from the database of the server, responds with the retrieved class code, and transmits the message. Clasco The computer that receives the command restores the agent object with the class code, serializes the processed agent object, and sends the serialized agent object and the message digest to the destination computer. The agent system will be the solution.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that service the computers are connected. The computer includes a database in which a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are paired and stored, and each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from a source computer. , The message digest is transmitted to all the servers, and each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the transmitted message digest, and , The class And a certificate including a public key paired with the private key used for signing the password, and each of the computers uses the public key included in the transmitted certificate to send the signed class. If the signature of the code is verified and the signature is valid, the agent object is restored with the class code, the agent object after processing is serialized, and the serialized agent object and message digest are moved. An agent system, which is characterized by transmitting to the preceding computer, is a solution.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected. The server is provided with a database in which a class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are stored as a set, and each server stores a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed in a set. When each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from the source computer, a class that forms a pair with the received message digest in the database of the computer. When there is no code, the message digest is sent to all the servers, and each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the sent message digest, and adds the found signature. Responding with a certificate containing a public key paired with a class code and a private key used for signing the class code, each computer combining the message digest transmitted in the computer's database. The agent object is restored by one of the following class code and the transmitted class code when the signature is verified by verifying the signature with the public key included in the transmitted certificate, and processing is performed. Serialized agent object after With agent system and transmits the transfected and message digest to the destination computer and solutions.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, each computer, when generating an agent object, requests a class code from any one of the servers set in advance according to the type of the agent object, and each server When the class code is requested from the server,
The agent system according to claim 5, which responds with the latest class code in the database of the server, is a solution means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, each server compresses a class code transmitted at the time of a class code registration request to generate a message digest, and a set of the class code and the message digest is stored in the database of the server. The agent system according to claim 5 or 6 serves as a solution.

According to the present invention of claim 8, a plurality of computers for performing processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers for servicing the computers are connected, and each computer has a class code and the class code. An agent system provided with a database in which a compressed message digest is stored as a set, and each server is provided with a database in which a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are stored as a set. The program, when each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from the source computer, forms a pair with the received message digest in the database of the computer. When there is no class code, sending a message digest to all the servers, and each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the sent message digest, and the searched class code is searched. Replying a certificate including a public key paired with a signed class code and a private key used for signing the class code; and each computer in the database of the computer, the transmitted message. The agent object is restored with either the class code paired with the digest or the sent class code when the signature is verified by verifying the signature with the public key included in the sent certificate. , Serialize the agent object after processing and serialize And solutions with an agent system program; and a step of transmitting the the agent object and the message digest to the destination computer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected, and each computer has a class code and the class code. An agent system provided with a database in which a compressed message digest is stored as a set, and each server is provided with a database in which a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are stored as a set. A recording medium in which a program is recorded, wherein when each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from a source computer, the received message folder is stored in a database of the computer. When there is no class code paired with the digest, the step of transmitting the message digest to all the servers, and each server, the signed class code paired with the message digest transmitted from the database of the server. A step of searching and responding with a certificate including a public key paired with the searched signed class code and a private key used for signing the class code; In the above, either one of the class code paired with the transmitted message digest and the transmitted class code when the signature is verified by verifying the signature with the public key included in the transmitted certificate. Restore the agent object with and serialize the agent object after processing. And, the agent system program and having a step of transmitting the agent object and the message digest that is the serialized in the destination computer to solutions with a recording medium which is recorded.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an agent system according to an embodiment of the present invention. ◎ Class code registration / distribution server 1, 1, ..., Service registration terminal 2,
, And the service providing hosts 3, 3, 3, ... Are connected via a communication network (not shown).

Each class code registration and distribution server 1 is a single computer that stores and distributes class codes, a plurality of interconnected computers, or a component of these computers, and is provided for each type of agent. There is. Each class code registration / distribution server 1 includes a signed class code registration receiving unit 11 that receives a signed class code and a certificate transmitted from the service registration terminal 2.
And a message digest generation unit 12 that generates a message digest by compressing the class code in the received signed class code with the hash function H, and the received signed class code, the certificate, and the message digest as a set. A signed class code transmission unit 14 that searches the database 13 for a signed class code that is composed of a database 13 that is accumulated and a message digest sent from the service providing host 3 and sends the class code to the service providing host 3 concerned. And are provided respectively.

The constituent elements are embodied by a process, which is an execution mode of a program stored in advance in the class code registration / distribution server, and computer hardware, and are configured in an external storage device in the database 13. It The same applies to the components and databases of the service registration terminal 2 and the service providing host 3.

The service registration terminal 2 is a computer used by an operator such as a class code creator, and a signature giving section 21 for giving the signature of the class code creator to the class code input to the service registration terminal 2.
It is provided with a signed class code registration request unit 22 for transmitting such a signed class code and the certificate of the class code creator to the class code registration / distribution server 1 instructed by the operator. The certificate in this specification is a certificate including the public key of the class code creator,
It is stored in the service registration terminal 2 in advance.

Each service providing host 3 is a computer that provides services to other computers (not shown). In the service providing host 3, the activated agent performs the first processing, and also the agent that has moved performs the processing.

The service providing host 3 has a start request receiving section 31 for receiving an agent start request, a signed class code obtaining section 32 for obtaining a signed class code and a certificate from the class code registration / distribution server 1, and a class code. A signature verification unit 33 that verifies the signature of the signed class code transmitted from the registration distribution server 1, and a data reception unit 34 that receives serialized data and a message digest transmitted from another service providing host 3.
And a database 35 in which a class code and a message digest are stored as a set, a storage processing unit 36 for storing a set of the class code and the message digest in the database 35, and an object is generated by the class code stored in the database 35. The object generating unit 37, the serializing unit 38 that serializes the processed object, and the data transmitting unit 39 that transmits the serialized data and the message digest to the destination service providing host 3. The signature verification unit 33 is provided with the public key of the certificate authority 4 that issued the certificate of the class code creator downloaded in advance.
The public key of the class code creator can be retrieved from the certificate.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the class code registration process of the class code registration / distribution server 1. The signature assigning unit 21 attaches the signature of the class code creator to the class code input to the service registration terminal 2. That is, the hash function H is added to the class code.
Generate a message digest by compressing with, encrypt this message digest with the secret key (pair key with the public key) of the class code creator, and add the encrypted information, that is, the signature to the class code. . In addition,
When the class code is 70 Kbytes (kilobytes), the message digest and its signature are 20 bytes.
It will be about the size. Then, the signed class code registration request unit 22 makes a class code registration request to the class code registration / distribution server 1, but at this time, the signed class code and the certificate are transmitted.

The signed class code registration receiving unit 11
The class code registration request from the signed class code registration request unit 22 is continuously detected (step S1). When the request is detected (S1, YES) and the signed class code and the certificate are received, the message digest generation unit 12 compresses the class code in the received signed class code by the hash function H. To generate a message digest (step S3). Then, the signed class code registration reception unit 11 and the message digest generation unit 12 additionally store the received signed class code and certificate, and the generated message digest as a set in the database 13 (step S5). Then, in the class code registration / distribution server 1, the signed class code registration receiving unit 11 performs the detection in step S1 again.

The process of FIG. 2 is performed regardless of whether the registration-requested class code is a new class code or an updated (version-up) class code. Further, any class code registration / distribution server 1 provided for each type of agent performs such processing when the service registration terminal 2 requests registration. Therefore, the database 1 of each class code registration / distribution server 1
In 3, a set of a class code with a signature, a certificate and a message digest is accumulated.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing performed by the service providing host 3 and the class code registration / distribution server 1 from the generation of the agent to the transmission thereof.

The activation request accepting unit 31 continuously detects the activation request of the agent (step S11), and when the activation request is detected (S11, YES), the signed class code acquisition unit 32 determines the type of the activation request. The class code registration and distribution server 1 predetermined according to the above is requested for the class code (step S13).

In the class code registration / distribution server 1 that has made this request, the signed class code transmitting unit 14 searches the database 13 for the latest set of the signed class code and the certificate, and the service providing host 3 (Step S15).

In the service providing host 3, when the signed class code acquisition unit 32 receives the signed class code and the certificate (step S17), the signature verification unit 33.
Verifies the signature of this signed class code (step S19).

In the signature verification, the signature verification unit 33
Generates a message digest (referred to as MD1) by compressing this class code with the hash function H. On the other hand, the signature verification unit 33 extracts the public key of the class code creator from the certificate using the public key of the certificate authority 4, and uses this public key to convert the signature of the signed class code into a message digest (referred to as MD2). Take out. Then, the message digests MD1 and MD2 are compared, and if they match, it is determined that the signature is valid, and the process proceeds to step S21. If they do not match,
Assuming that the signature is invalid, the process returns to step S13 to request the class code again. It should be noted that the process may be interrupted if the signature is invalid.

Now, in step S21, the storage processing unit 3
6 additionally stores the received class code and message digest set in the database 35. Then, the object generator 37 generates an object with the stored class code (step S23).

When the object has been processed by the service providing host 3, the serializing unit 38
Serialize the processed object (step S
25). When the class code is 70 Kbytes, the serialized data has a size of about 6 Kbytes.
Then, the data transmission unit 39 transmits the serialized data and a message digest that is a combination of the serialized data to the service providing host 3 of the moving destination (step S27). Therefore, almost 6 Kby
It is sufficient to send the data of te.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the processing performed by the service providing host 3 and the class code registration / distribution server 1 from the reception to the transmission of the agent.

The data receiving unit 34 continuously detects the transmission of the serialized data and the message digest from the other service providing host 3 (step S3).
1) When detecting such a transmission (S31, YES), the data receiving unit 34 checks whether or not the class code paired with this message digest exists in the database 35 (step S33). Yes (S
33, YES), the object generation unit 37 restores the received object to an object using the class code (step S35).

When the object has been processed by the service providing host 3, the serialized unit 38 serializes the processed object into serialized data (step S37), and the data transmission unit 3
By 9, the serialized data and the message digest are transmitted to the service providing host 3 of the moving destination (step S39).

On the other hand, when it is determined NO in step S33, that is, when the class code paired with the transmitted message digest does not exist in the database 35,
The signed class code acquisition unit 32 requests the class code from all of the class code registration / distribution servers 1, 1, ... (Step S41). At this time, the signed class code acquisition unit 32 transmits the message digest.

In response to this request, in each class code registration / distribution server 1, the signed class code sending unit 14 sends the signed class code and the certificate that form a pair with the sent message digest to the database 13. 13 is checked (step S4
5). If the database 13 does not have the desired signed class code and certificate (step S45, N
O), the class code registration / distribution server 1 ends the process.

On the other hand, when there is the desired signed class code and certificate (step S48, YES), the signed class code transmitting section 14 returns the signed class code and the certificate to the service providing host 3. (Step S47).

In the service providing host 3, the signed class code acquisition unit 32 receives the signed class code and the certificate (step S49), and the signature verification unit 33 performs the same process as in step S19. The signature of the signed class code is verified (step S51), and when the signature is valid, the storage processing unit 36 additionally saves the set of the class code of the signed class code and the message digest in the database 35 (step S53). ), And the process proceeds to step S35. Therefore, processing is performed by the object, and the serialized data and the message digest are transmitted to the service providing host 3 of the moving destination.

It should be noted that the signature, the certificate, and the constituent elements and processes related to them are not always necessary. For a relatively safe agent system provided in a company or the like, these can be omitted to increase the processing speed. it can.

In the above embodiment, the class code registration / distribution server 1 is provided for each type of class code. However, when one class code registration / distribution server holds and manages a plurality of types of class codes, Identification information is provided for each type of class code, and the service providing host 3 transmits the identification information of the desired class code when the class code acquisition request is made, and the class code registration / distribution server 1 transmits this. You may make it respond with the latest one in the class code corresponding to the identified information.

In the above embodiment, the agent may perform any processing on the service providing host 3 of the moving destination. For example, it may be a local information processing performed only by the service providing host 3 or a communication process with another computer.

The agent system program for executing the above-described processing is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, or a communication such as the Internet. By transmitting it through the network,
It can be widely distributed.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A plurality of computers that perform processing while the agent object moves and services the computers 1
Or, in an agent system where multiple servers are connected, the computer sends a message digest to the server and restores the agent object with the received class code.
It becomes unnecessary to send and receive class codes between computers, and the network can be used efficiently.

Further, since the server retrieves the class code paired with the received message digest and responds with the retrieved class code, pre-arrangement of the class code is unnecessary and the work amount can be reduced. Contribute.

Further, since the server responds to the computer with the signed class code, and the computer restores the agent object when the signature is valid, the agent object is restored with a different class code. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience.

Further, since the computer restores the agent object with this class code when the computer has the class code, unnecessary communication processing with the server becomes unnecessary.

When the agent object is generated, the server determined according to the type of the agent object responds to the computer with the latest class code. Therefore, the desired agent object is generated with the latest class code. can do.

Further, since the server compresses the class code transmitted at the time of requesting the registration of the class code to generate the message digest and accumulates the set of the class code and the message digest, the class code is registered by communication. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an agent system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a class code registration process of a class code registration / distribution server 1.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing performed by the service providing host 3 and the class code registration / distribution server 1 from generation of an agent to transmission of the agent.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing performed by the service providing host 3 and the class code registration / distribution server 1 from reception to transmission of an agent.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 class code registration and distribution server 2 service registration terminals 3 Service providing host 4 Certificate Authority 11 Signed class code registration reception section 12 Message digest generator 13,35 database 14 Signed class code transmitter 21 Signing Unit 22 Signed class code registration request section 31 Activation Request Reception Unit 32 Signed class code acquisition unit 33 Signature verification unit 34 Data receiver 36 Storage processing unit 37 Object Generator 38 Serialization Department 39 Data transmitter

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Kawai             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B045 BB28 BB42 GG01                 5B085 AA08 AE29 BG07                 5B098 AA10 GA01 GC16                 5J104 AA08 LA03 LA05

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method of processing information when a computer for processing an agent object and a server for servicing the computer are connected, wherein the computer transmits a message digest received together with a serialized agent object. At the same time, the class information before being compressed into the message digest transmitted by the server is received, and the agent object before being serialized by the class code is restored. 2. An information processing method when a computer for processing an agent object and a server for servicing the computer are connected, wherein the server comprises a class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed. An information processing method, wherein a class code paired with a message digest received by the server is retrieved from a database that is stored as a pair and the retrieved class code is returned. 3. An agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected, each of the servers being a class code and the class code. Is provided with a database in which a compressed message digest is stored as a set, and each computer receives the serialized agent object and the message digest from the source computer, Each of the servers, retrieves the class code paired with the transmitted message digest from the database of the server, responds with the retrieved class code, and receives the transmitted class code Did The computer restores the agent object with the class code, serializes the processed agent object, and sends the serialized agent object and the message digest to the destination computer. . 4. An agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected, each server including a signed class code and A database in which a message digest in which the class code is compressed is stored as a pair, and each computer receives the message digest when the serialized agent object and the message digest are received from the source computer. All the servers are sent, and each server searches the server's database for a signed class code paired with the sent message digest, and searches the signed class code and the signature of the class code. Used for And a certificate including a public key paired with the private key, the computer verifying the signature of the transmitted signed class code with the public key included in the transmitted certificate. If the signature is valid, the agent object is restored with the class code, the processed agent object is serialized, and the serialized agent object and message digest are sent to the destination computer. An agent system characterized by that. 5. An agent system in which a plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or a plurality of servers that serve the computers are connected, each computer including a class code and the class code. Is provided with a database in which a compressed message digest is stored as a set, and each server is provided with a database in which a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed are stored as a set, When each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from the source computer and there is no class code paired with the received message digest in the database of the computer, A message digest is sent to all the servers, and each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the sent message digest, and the searched signed class code and the class A certificate including a public key paired with the private key used for signing the code, and each computer responds with a class code paired with the transmitted message digest in the database of the computer; The signature is verified with the public key included in the transmitted certificate, and the agent object is restored by one of the transmitted class codes when the signature was valid, and the agent object after processing is restored. Serialize the serialized agent object and message Agent system and transmits the digest to the destination computer. 6. Each computer, when generating an agent object, requests a class code from any one of the servers preset according to the type of the agent object, and each server requests the server to classify the class code. 6. The agent system according to claim 5, wherein when the code is requested, the latest class code in the database of the server is returned. 7. Each of the servers compresses a class code transmitted when a class code registration request is made to generate a message digest, and stores a set of the class code and the message digest in a database of the server. The agent system according to claim 5 or 6. 8. A plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or more servers that service the computers are connected, and each computer has a class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed. An agent system program in which each server is provided with a database that is stored as a set, and each server is provided with a database that is stored as a set of a signed class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed, When each computer receives a serialized agent object and a message digest from the source computer, there is no class code paired with the received message digest in the database of the computer. When the message digest is transmitted to all the servers, each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the transmitted message digest, and the retrieved signed class code And a certificate including a public key paired with the private key used for signing the class code, and each computer including the transmitted message digest in the database of the computer. The agent object is restored by one of the following class code and the transmitted class code when the signature is verified by verifying the signature with the public key included in the transmitted certificate, and processing is performed. Serialized agent object after the serialization, and the serialized agent Agent system program; and a step of transmitting object and a message digest to the destination computer. 9. A plurality of computers that perform processing while an agent object moves and one or more servers that service the computers are connected, and each computer has a class code and a message digest in which the class code is compressed. A record in which an agent system program is recorded when each server is provided with a database that is stored in pairs A medium, wherein each computer, when receiving a serialized agent object and a message digest from the source computer, forms a set with the received message digest in the database of the computer. When there is no class code to be sent, a step of sending a message digest to all the servers, and each server searches the database of the server for a signed class code paired with the sent message digest, and the searched class code is searched. Responding with a certificate that includes a public key paired with the signed class code and the private key used to sign the class code; Restores the agent object with either the class code paired with the message digest or the sent class code when the signature is valid by verifying the signature with the public key included in the sent certificate Serialize the agent object after processing, Recording medium agent system program is recorded, characterized in that it comprises a step of transmitted the agent object and the message digest to the destination computer.