Computer system and job executing method

Claims

We claim:

1. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a job control system;

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a transmission system for electronic mail interconnecting the user system, the computer system and, the electronic mail system, and the job control system; and

the transmission system sending job offer type of electronic mail from the user system through the electronic mail system to the job control system independently of running of the host computers within the computer system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system monitors a running state of the host computers within the computer system to produce running state data with respect to each host computer within the computer system;

wherein said job control system selects one of the host computers within the computer system as a selected computer with selection being based upon an analysis of the running state data of at least some of the host computers; and

wherein said job control system issues a job execution command to the selected computer based upon content of the job offer type of electronic mail.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system monitors load of the host computers within the computer system to produce load data with respect to each host computer within the computer system;

wherein said job control system selects one of the host computers within the computer system as a selected computer with selection being based upon an analysis of the load data of at least some of the host computers; and

wherein said job control system issues a job execution command to the selected computer based upon content of the job offer type of electronic mail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system commands the computer system to send job execution results based upon execution of the job of the job offer type of electronic mail, generates job execution result electronic mail from the job execution results, and issues the job execution result electronic mail to pass through the electronic mail system to the user system based upon information in the job offer type of electronic mail.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system commands the computer system to send, to the job execution system, job execution progress type of electronic mail based upon execution of the job of the job offer type of electronic mail, generates job execution progress electronic mail from the job execution progress, and issues the job execution progress type of electronic mail to pass through the electronic mail system to the user system based upon information in the job offer type of electronic mail.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system includes software and a dedicated computer separate from the host computers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system includes software and one of the host computers of the computer system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system has file storage and wherein said job control system has storage independent of the computer system for storing execution results from execution of the job in the computer system, and for storing both generated electronic mail and received electronic mail.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system includes means for converting an electronic mail system ID into a computer system ID independently of the electronic mail system.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system includes means for analyzing and converting a format of the electronic mail received from the electronic mail system to generate commands to the computer system, and for analyzing and converting the format of data from the computer system to generate electronic mail for the electronic mail system, so that the computer system is vender independent with respect to the electronic mail and user systems and so that the internal structure of and format of data within the computer system is transparent to the electronic mail system and user system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system selects one of the host computers for executing a job within a received job offer type of electronic mail based upon a comparison of information in the job offer type of electronic mail and authorization to the host computers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system selects one of the host computers for executing a job within a received job offer type of electronic mail based upon a comparison of information in the job offer type of electronic mail and security levels of the host computers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system, at fixed periodic intervals, monitors turnaround time of job execution on each of the host computers within the computer system, selects one of the host computers for executing the job of the job offer type of electronic mail based upon the turnaround times of the host computers, and issues electronic mail to the user system through the electronic mail system to provide a predicted turnaround time for job execution by the selected host computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system, at fixed periodic intervals, monitors a turnaround time of job execution on each of the host computers within the computer system, and selects one of the host computers for execution of the job within the job offer type of electronic mail with the selection being based upon a comparison of turnaround time of at least some of the host computers.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system extracts an execution date from the job offer type of electronic mail, interrupts execution within a host computer based upon the execution date and issues an execution command for execution of the job to the interrupted host computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system analyzes the job offer type of electronic mail and determines whether or not job execution result type of electronic mail is to be issued to the mail system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system analyzes the job offer type of electronic mail and determines whether or not job execution progress type of electronic mail is to be issued to the electronic mail system.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system, based upon data received from the computer system, generates and issues job electronic mail through the electronic mail system to the user system by one of single, simultaneous and circular distribution selected in accordance with information within job offer type of electronic mail.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system has an electronic mail system mail box and said electronic mail system has a mail server with an electronic mail box, so that the job control means is independent of the format/code of the mail server and the job control system stores electronic mail independently of the structure of the user system.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system enters a wait state until selection criteria is met for at least one of the host computers and stores the job offer type of electronic mail during the wait state.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system interprets the job offer type of electronic mail to issue commands to the computer system, and generates job electronic mail from data received from the computer system.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further including the mail system having a dedicated computer, a plurality of electronic mail terminals and job electronic mail storage.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further including the electronic mail system having format/code conversion means for converting at least one of the format and code of data passing through the electronic mail system.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system, in response to a single job request by the job offer type of electronic mail, first selects a host computer for job execution and issues a job execution command to the selected host computer, thereafter monitors the selected host computer as to job execution progress, and when execution trouble or error occurs in the selected host computer, selects another host computer and issues a job execution command for executing the job of the single job request.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said job control system monitors turnaround time of job execution for each host computer with respect to each of a plurality of job classes; and

wherein said job control system analyzes the job offer type of electronic mail to determine the job class of the job offer type of electronic mail, and selects one of the host computers of the computer system in dependence upon comparison of the turnaround times of at least some of the host computers with respect to the determined job class.

26. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the job control system, the computer system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system monitoring running of the host computers within the computer system and producing monitoring data with respect to each host computer within the computer system;

said job control system selecting one of the host computers within the computer system as a selected computer with selection being based upon an analysis of the monitoring data of at least some of the host computers; and

said job control system issuing a job execution command to the selected computer based upon the requested job execution of the electronic mail.

27. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system analyzing and converting one of code and format of the electronic mail received from the electronic mail system to generate commands to the computer system; and

said job control system analyzing and converting one of code and format of data from the computer system to generate electronic mail for the electronic mail system, so that the computer system is vender independent with respect to the electronic mail and user systems, and so that structure of the computer system is transparent to the electronic mail and user systems.

28. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system selecting one of the host computers for executing a job within a received electronic mail, with the selection being based upon a comparison of information in the electronic mail and security or authorization levels of host computers.

29. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system monitoring, at fixed periodic intervals, a turnaround time of job execution on each of the host computers within the computer system; and

said job control system selecting one of the host computers for execution of a job within the electronic mail from the user system with the selection being based upon a comparison of turnaround time of at least some of the host computers.

30. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system extracting an execution time from the electronic mail issued by the user system; and

said job control system interrupting execution of a host computer based upon the execution time and issuing an execution command for execution of a job within the electronic mail, with the issuing being to the interrupted host computer.

31. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system analyzing the electronic mail from the user system; and

said job control system, based upon the analyzing, determining whether or not a job execution result type of electronic mail is to be issued to the electronic mail system.

32. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system receiving the electronic mail from the user system through the electronic mail system; and

said job control system entering a wait state after receiving the electronic mail until selection criteria is met by at least one of the host computers and storing the electronic mail during the wait state.

33. A job executing apparatus, comprising:

a computer system composed of a plurality of host computers;

a user system for issuing electronic mail requesting job execution;

an electronic mail system for transferring the electronic mail;

a job control system;

a transmission system for interconnecting the user system, the computer system, the job control system and the electronic mail system;

the job control system monitoring execution within a host computer of a job defined by the electronic mail; and

said job control system in response to execution trouble or error occurring within the host computer executing the job, selecting another host computer and issuing a job execution command for executing the job in the selected another host computer.

34. A system for connection with an electronic mail system having an electronic mail terminal, comprising:

a computer system for executing jobs when running;

a monitor system monitoring the running of said computer system; and

a job control system receiving electronic job mail from the electronic mail system, generating a command for executing the a job defined in the electronic job mail, and sending the command to said computer system in response to the monitoring.

35. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said computer system includes a plurality of job execution computers, and

wherein said job control system includes select means for selecting one of said job execution computers for executing the command, with the selecting being in response to said monitor system monitoring individual running of said job execution computers.

36. A system as set forth in claim 35, wherein said select means selects said one of said job execution computers from among said job execution computers that are determined by said monitor system to be running.

37. A system as set forth in claim 35, wherein said select means selects said one of said job execution computers in dependence upon individual loads upon said job execution computers as determined by said monitor system.

38. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system receives the electronic job mail from the electronic mail terminal independently of running of said computer system.

39. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system registers electronic mail system discriminators that are assigned to a plurality of entities using the electronic mail system, and when an electronic mail system discriminator contained in the electronic job mail is not registered, said job control system prevents execution of the electronic job mail by the computer system.

40. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system stores a correspondence between a plurality of computer system discriminators and a plurality of electronic mail discriminators that are individually assigned to identify a plurality of senders requesting jobs by using the electronic mail system, and said job control system converting an electronic mail discriminator contained in received electronic job mail into a corresponding one of the computer system discriminators by using the stored correspondence.

41. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for starting a job in the computer system at a job starting time that is derived from the electronic job mail.

42. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for determining an estimated execution end time of executing a job of the electronic job mail and sending through the electronic mail system a status type of electronic mail addressed to a sender of the electronic job mail for informing the sender of the estimated execution end time.

43. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for monitoring progress of executing the electronic job mail by said computer system and for sending through the electronic mail system a status type of electronic mail informing a sender of the electronic job mail of the progress in response to the electronic job mail.

44. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for requesting and receiving through the electronic mail system data type of electronic mail containing input data for executing a job defined by the electronic job mail at s time of executing the job in said computer system.

45. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for converting the electronic job mail into job control language, JCL, of said computer system.

46. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said electronic mail system includes an electronic mail box, and means for reading the electronic job mail from said electronic mail box and sending the electronic job mail to said job control system.

47. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said job control system includes means for reading the electronic job mail from an electronic mail box in the electronic mail system.

48. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said computer system includes means for starting a batch job generated within the computer system, and

wherein said computer system includes means for registering both a job started by said job control means and the batch job commonly in a job awaiting queue.

49. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein said computer system transfers an execution result, of executing a job of the electronic job mail, to said job control system, and

wherein said job control system includes means for transferring the execution result as a part of electronic mail to said electronic mail terminal through said electronic mail system.

50. A system as set forth in claim 49, wherein said computer system includes means for extracting the execution result from a spool file when the job execution is ended, and for adding format control information intrinsic to said computer system to the execution result,

wherein said job control system includes means for transferring the execution result and format control information to said electronic mail system, and

wherein said electronic mail system includes means for converting the format control information into format control information intrinsic to said electronic mail system, and for registering a result of the converting in a private box of an electronic mail box of said electronic mail system.

51. A system as set forth in claim 34, wherein the electronic job mail contains distribution information for identifying a method of distributing a result of executing a job of the electronic mail job, and

wherein said job control system includes means for determining a private electronic mail box for registering the result of executing as a part of electronic mail, with the determining being on a basis of the distribution information.

52. A system as set forth in claim 51, wherein said means for determining, in response to the distribution information, selects the method among simultaneous distribution for distributing to all the users in a group simultaneously, and a circular distribution for serially distributing to the users in a group in an appointed order and in a correctable manner.

53. A system as set forth in claim 51, wherein said job control system includes means for distributing the result of executing to the electronic mail system at a time dependent upon information in the electronic job mail.

54. A job executing method, comprising:

receiving an electronic mail defining a job, with the receiving being by a distribution determining computer;

determining a distribution within the electronic mail system of an execution result of executing the job of the electronic mail with said determining being when the electronic mail is received from a TSS (Time Sharing System) terminal, said determining being performed by the distribution determining computer,and said determining being prior to the executing of the job of the electronic mail by an execution computer that is different from the distribution computer, and

issuing a job execution result with said issuing being according to the distribution, said issuing being by electronic mail at the end of execution of the job by the execution computer, and said issuing being on the basis of said determining.

55. A job executing method as set forth in claim 54, including distributing the execution result by an electronic mail system mounted on a computer that is different from the distribution computer and the execution computer.

56. A job executing method as set forth in claim 54, including monitoring running of the execution computer, and generating electronic mail containing the execution result in accordance with said monitoring under control of the distribution computer.

57. A job executing method as set forth in claim 54, including sending the execution result to the distribution computer from the execution computer.

58. A job executing system, comprising:

a computer system for executing jobs;

a TSS (Time Sharing System) terminal connected with said computer system;

an electronic mail system mounted on a first computer;

means for monitoring running of said computer system;

means for receiving a job defining electronic mail from said TSS terminal, determining from the job defining electronic mail a request to have an execution result sent by the electronic mail system, and providing a job, defined in the job defining electronic mail, to said computer system for execution by the computer system to produce an execution result; and

means responsive to said determining for generating electronic mail that includes the execution result and distributing the electronic mail that includes the execution result through said electronic mail system.

59. A job executing system, comprising:

a computer system for executing jobs;

a TSS (Time Sharing System) terminal connected with said computer system;

an electronic mail system mounted on a first computer;

a monitor for monitoring running of said computer system;

in response to receiving a job defining electronic mail from said TSS terminal, said first computer determining from the job defining electronic mail a request to have an execution result sent by the electronic mail system, and providing a job, defined in the job defining electronic mail, to said computer system for execution by the computer system to produce an execution result; and

in response to the determining, said first computer generating electronic mail that includes the execution result and distributing the electronic mail that includes the execution result through said electronic mail system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer system using an electronic mail system for executing a job.

There are the following electronic mail systems analyzed by the present invention: (1) SYSOUT data, i.e., a job execution result is asked by electronic mail on a host computer and registered in a mail box of a distribution destination, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 108830/1989; (2) a job execution is requested for a host manager by electronic mail so that an execution result mail is distributed by a host computer, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 67672/1989; and (3) the execution of a job and the distribution of the execution result are requested for a host computer by electronic mail through an electronic mail system independent of the host computer, Japanese application Laid-Open No. 01-267758.

SUMMARY

The parent application, mentioned above, uses a monitoring circuit interposed between a computer and an operator console in order to monitor an error within the system including the computer. Such an error may include error of an operating system and error of the hardware of the computer system. The monitoring is based upon messages transferred between the operator console and the computer. In the event that an error has been detected, a remote operator console is called via a public telephone network, and in response to such call an operator at the remote operator console can send commands to the computer via the telephone network in order to provide an appropriate response to such error. A monitoring circuit is provided for each of a plurality of computer systems. Each combination of a monitoring circuit and computer system is connected to a public telephone communication network. A remote operator console or remote terminal or remote computer system or one of the computer systems themselves operating over the public network may control operations of the plurality of computer systems. Each of the monitoring circuits is capable of detecting the above-mentioned error in its associated computer system.

The aforementioned prior art Japanese Laid-Open No. 108830/1989 is constructed such that the electronic mail system operates with an EDP system. A job request is given by a requesting person in terms of a request mail, which includes a name of a job to identify results of execution, a name of a receiving person to receive the results of execution, a name of the requesting person who issued the request mail, a data portion to be delivered with the result of executing the job, and a timing for the delivery of the result. When the job has been executed, a portion of the result of execution designated by the request mail is transmitted to the receiving person according to timing, as received mail that includes the name of the requesting person, a timing of receipt of the mail and an address where the results of execution are held in the EDP system. The received mail is then displayed on a display at a terminal of the receiving person together with other mail that have been addressed to the receiving person. When the receiving person requests receipt of the results of execution through the terminal, the results of execution are transferred from a location corresponding to the address within the EDP system to the receiving person's terminal. This construction raises the following problems. For example, the mail terminal has to be defined in advance on the computer, and a mail offer is dependent upon the running time of the computer system, i.e., the running time of the system, so that the requester always has to be conscious of the running time of the host computer.

The aforementioned Japanese patent Laid-Open No. 67672/1989 discloses a system where a job request is given in terms of request mail from a requester to a host operator of a host computer that the requester uses. The request mail includes a name of the receiving person, a mail ID of the receiving person, items requested, and items of results to be delivered. The mail is quickly transferred to the host computer and the requested job is executed. The items of the results of execution identified in the request mail are then used in the automatic generation of result send mail, which is then mailed to the receiving person, in accordance with the registering of the job within the host computer. This disclosure does not refer specifically to a mail system, unlike the above-mentioned '830; '672 includes the results within the result mail in contrast to merely indicating an address where such results may be obtained. Such disclosure is defective in that manpower is necessary because the decision of accepting a job execution requesting mail is performed by a host manager.

The aforementioned Japanese Laid-Open patent application No. 01-267758 relates to an electronic mail system wherein a job request is given in terms of request mail that includes a program name, data to be processed by the job and an address to which the results of job execution are to be delivered. A computer that has received the request mail analyzes the request mail to find a job to be executed and then proceeds to execute the job. The results of job execution are then transferred. A network of terminals is shown whereby mail may be circulated among a plurality of people, as a combination of a mail system and an EDP system. The results of execution are sent with the result mail in contrast to '830 wherein only the address of the results is sent with the result mail. The aforementioned is free from the above-specified problems but has failed to touch several items to be considered when such system is to be constructed. For example, in case there are a plurality of host computers, there arises a problem of what host computer is used to execute the mail job requested. Another problem is how host computer trouble is to be remedied.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic computer system solving the practical problems arising when requesting the execution of a job by using electronic mail.

According to the present invention, for achieving the above-specified object, the system is constructed of a mail terminal, an electronic mail system, a computer system for executing a job, and a job control for monitoring the run of the computer system.

At the mail terminal, the user (a person or program) issues job offer mail for job execution, and the job electronic execution progress and result of the job execution is received by electronic mail (the electronic mail concerning a job will be called the "job mail"). The job offer mail is stored with job executing instructions, such as one or more of a job execution request issued by the user, a request for receipt of the job execution result, a receiving method (e.g., the distribution of single/simultaneous/circular), a request for receiving job execution progress, and a request for sending data mail as the input data to the job.

The electronic mail system includes a computer, a group of mail terminals and job mail storage. The electronic mail system has a format conversion table for converting format or code between that used by the host computer and that used by the individual mail terminals, to convert the job execution result into data which can be referred to by the individual mail terminals. A job control system interprets job mail to issue a control command to a computer system, and receives the job execution result and job execution progress data from the computer system to generate job mail for informing the job requester of results and progress. Since the job control system is constructed to operate independently of the computer system host computers, it can receive a job offer mail at any time independent of the running of the host computers (that is act as a job receiving server). Since the mail operations of the computer system are managed altogether by an external device, the job control terminal can execute and select another running computer when the previously selected computer is troubled or contracted for other execution. In order to shorten the TAT (i.e., Turn Around Time: the time period from the receipt of a command for execution of a job to the end of the execution within a host computer) of the job offered by the job mail, moreover, an execution host computer is selected according to a load, the TAT of executing prior jobs, for each running host computer. The computer system interprets a job execution command issued from the job control terminal, receives data mail as input data at the job execution time from the mail terminal, starts a job on an appointed date, distributes the progress of the job execution at a constant time interval, and passes the execution result at the end of the job execution to the electronic mail system by way of the job control terminal.

Mail exchange is interposed between the electronic mail system and the computer system for realizing the series of steps described above. Instead of having the job control terminal, the job control system may include a dedicated or use of a host computer in addition to its interfacing software so that the electronic mail system communicates directly with the computer system, with job control software and storage interfacing, to decide the running state of the computer system. Since the offer of the job is accomplished for the electronic mail system by making use of the job mail, it is unnecessary to use a terminal defined on the computer system. Thus, the present invention does not require that a job offer is limited to an area of a computer system as a defined terminal in the computer system.

The result or progress mail distribution destination of the job execution is instructed, when a job is requested, by a TSS (i.e., Time Sharing System) terminal connected with the computer system. At the end of the job execution, job execution result mail is distributed to the electronic mail system by the job mail exchange or offered by the job mail.

In the present invention, an execution host computer can be selected according to the authorization, security level, execution failure, running state and load of host computers. Moreover, the execution result of a job requested by the TSS terminal can be sent by electronic mail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system structure with an electronic mail driven type job execution control of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the job execution control of the present invention at a mail terminal;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing appointment items of job request;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining receiving a job execution result and sending mail data;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a system equipped with the electronic mail drive type job execution control;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of writing in a mail box branch according to a job mail network conversion routine in an electronic mail server;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of reading from a mail box branch according to the job mail network conversion routine in an electronic mail server;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a construction of an MCT (Mail Conversion Table);

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a mail format/code conversion routine;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for reading job mail from a mail box branch at a job control terminal;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for writing job mail in a mail box branch at a job control terminal;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a job receipt at a job mail;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a job result distribution;

FIGS. 14(a)-14(d) show forms of data streams transferred between a job control terminal and a host computer;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of a job mail receipt at a job mail execution control portion;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a job start at a job mail execution control portion;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing construction of a JMT (Job Mail Table);

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a job execution sending at a job mail execution control portion;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a job ending at a job mail execution control portion;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of a spool file extraction at a job mail execution control portion;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another electronic mail driven type job execution control of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing mail distribution appointing at a job submit time of a TSS command;

FIG. 23 is a job TAT table to be managed by a host computer;

FIG. 24 is a job TAT table to be managed by a job control terminal;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a receipt mail of a job execution result prepared by a SUBMIT command;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a construction of a mail ID/host ID conversion file; and

FIG. 27 shows another networking of the elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 22.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a construction of a system with an electronic mail driven job execution control of the present invention. A mail terminal 1 for transmitting/receiving mail and an electronic mail server 2 for performing steps instructed by the mail terminal 1 are connected as an electronic mail system through a LAN 11 with a computer system 3. The computer system 3 is constructed of a group of host computers 42, and is connected to a job control system having a job control terminal 4 for monitoring the execution of the jobs executed by the host computers 42 and interfacing between the electronic mail system 2 and the computer system 3. The computer system 3 and the job control terminal 4 are connected by a line 29. The LAN 11 may be connected with other workstations WS 83 having no direct relation to the present invention.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the electronic mail server 2 includes a computer that is not a part of the computer system 3 and that can communicate with the job control terminal 4 through job mail over the LAN 11. The characteristic obtained with the aforementioned construction is that the job control terminal 4 monitors the running of the computer system 3, especially, the running state and the load. The job control terminal 4 uses the monitoring result to control the selection schedule of host computers 42, within the computer system 3, for executing the job requested by job mail, which job mail is issued from the mail terminal 1 and requests job execution control. Moreover, the job control terminal 4 receives the request job mail for the job execution control at all times without being influenced by, i.e., independent of, the running state and load of the computer system 3. The electronic mail server 2 can be connected with a display terminal 12 by a telephone line and through a public telephone network 17 with a variety of terminals such as a personal computer (PC) 18 that can also function as the mail terminal or a word processor (WP) 19.

A mail box 10 has private boxes for managing the job mail 5 transmitted to and received from the mail terminal 1 through the file server 2 over the LAN 11. A host addressed private box (PB) 39 stores an offer paper mail (OPM) 6 for requesting the execution control of a job. A user addressed private box (PB) 40 is provided for each user and stores job execution result mail (JERM) 7 and job execution progress mail (JEPM) 8. A job addressed private box (PB) 41 can be prepared for each