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EP0284924A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Data processing network with updating of files

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-18
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Abstract

Abstract A data processing network in which a plurality of workstations such as personal computers (PC) (12) are connected to a host processor (11) and contain PC programs at particular levels for controlling tasks on the personal computers. The personal computers send a signal to the host when they are about to conduct a task indicating which data files they have and at what level. The host has an object library containing a copy of each disk file for each version of PC program. The host determines if the personal computer has the latest level data file for the version of program at that personal computer and, if it does not, sends a copy of the latest level data file to the personal computer to replace the down-level data file. Preferably the host checks if the personal computer has all the data files it needs for the particular task and, if it does not and if it should because of the version of PC program stored at the PC, the host can load a copy of the missing file to the personal computer. The host does not have to contain a record of all the levels of all the programs of all the personal computers connected to it. However by updating the object library in the host this arrangement ensures that all personal computers connected to it are automatically brought to the latest authorised level as data files are required by the personal computer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Graham Richard Alderson
  • 👤 Peter Robert Macfarlane
  • 👤 Tohru Mori

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 06:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/17; G06F16/178; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 155 words
A data processing network comprising at least one host processor (1, 10, 11) to which is connected a plurality of workstations (2, 4, 6, 8, 12) containing data files (29 to 34) used at the workstations during tasks thereon, the host processor containing a copy of the data files stored at each workstation which may require updating, characterised in that each workstation is adapted to send a signal to the host processor indicating which data files it is to use for a particular task and the level of those data files, in that the host processor is adapted to determine from said signal whether that workstation has data files at the latest level, and in that if the determination shows that the workstation has a data file or data files at a lower level than the latest level a copy at the latest level is sent to the workstation to replace the down-level data file.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 155 words
A data processing network comprising at least one host processor (1, 10, 11) to which is connected a plurality of workstations (2, 4, 6, 8, 12) containing data files (29 to 34) used at the workstations during tasks thereon, the host processor containing a copy of the data files stored at each workstation which may require updating, characterised in that each workstation is adapted to send a signal to the host processor indicating which data files it is to use for a particular task and the level of those data files, in that the host processor is adapted to determine from said signal whether that workstation has data files at the latest level, and in that if the determination shows that the workstation has a data file or data files at a lower level than the latest level a copy at the latest level is sent to the workstation to replace the down-level data file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
A data processing network as claimed in claim 1, in which the host processor is adapted to determine which version or release of a data file is stored at the workstation and to send to the workstation only the latest level data file appropriate to that version or release.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A data processing network as claimed in either preceding claim, in which the host processor is further adapted to transmit to the work­station any missing data files required for a particular task.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A data processing network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the signal from the workstation to the host processor is sent in response to a general query from the host processor to the workstation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 56 words
A data processing network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the workstations are personal computers, and in which the data files constitute modules of a personal computer program, each data file including a block (42) of code containing information (43) determina­tive of the version of the program and the level of the data file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
A data processing network as claimed in claim 5, in which the block (42) of code further includes a field (44) containing data displayable at the host processor for identifying the data file and a field (45) containing data displayable at the personal computer.

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