JP2006243985A - Message notification system and method, and server used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a message notification system capable of acquiring the processing result of a server asynchronously with the input of a user without introducing any special software on a client side by using a browser, an instant messenger or a mail client normally used by a user. <P>SOLUTION: In this message notification system, a server 2 performs a predetermined processing in response to a request from a client machine 1, and then the client machine 1 is notified of the processing result. This message notification system is provided with an IM relay server 3 as well as the server 2 for processing, and configured to notify the client machine 1 of the processing result as an IM message or an electronic mail message according to whether or not the client machine which should be notified of the processing result is under online connection by the IM replay server 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a message notification system and method and a server used therefor, and in particular, a message notification for notifying a user of a processing result of a WEB application by using an optimal notification means among notification means such as IM (instant messenger) and electronic mail. It relates to the method.

  Since the WEB application is a synchronous system, there is a problem that a response cannot be obtained until the processing for the user's input is completed. As one method for solving this problem, the client periodically sends a server. There is a method for acquiring the processing result of the server by introducing a tool for accessing the server.

  In addition, there is a system in which the processing result of the server is acquired asynchronously with the user input by notifying the processing result by e-mail. For example, as an example of notifying a business result that is a processing result, there is a means that links a WEB application and a mail service. In this configuration, the processing result of the WEB application is notified to an arbitrary user by mail. An example using this mechanism is a shopping site. Specifically, a mechanism for sending a purchase confirmation email to a user when purchasing an item at a shopping site corresponds to this.

Here, referring to Patent Document 1, a system is disclosed in which a message is transmitted using a communication means preset by a user.
JP 2004-241946 A

  By introducing a tool that periodically accesses the server from the client, the method of acquiring the processing result of the server has a new problem that it is necessary to install a special tool on the client side.

  Also, in the case of a system that notifies the processing result by e-mail, that is, in the example of the shopping site described above, there is a time lag from when the process is performed until the e-mail arrives, and the e-mail is quickly buried in many e-mails. Processing confirmation cannot be performed. Furthermore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to determine whether or not the notification destination user is online, and a time lag occurs in processing that requires immediate approval.

  In the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a message is transmitted using a communication means set in advance by a user. If an electronic mail is designated, the above-described problem still remains.

  The object of the present invention is to use a browser, instant messenger, mail client, etc. that are normally used by the user, and obtain the server processing result asynchronously from the user input without introducing special software on the client side. The present invention provides a message notification system and method capable of performing the same, and a server used therefor.

  A message notification system according to the present invention is a message notification system in which predetermined processing is performed in a server in response to a request from a client, and the processing result is notified to the client, whether or not the client is online. And a means for notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message.

  A message notification method according to the present invention is a message notification method in which a server performs a predetermined process in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result, and whether or not the client is online. In response, the method includes a step of notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message.

  A server according to the present invention is a server in a message notification system that performs predetermined processing in a server in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result, and stores the message of the processing result in a database. And means for sending a message notification request including information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client to which the message is to be notified and its storage location to an external instant message relay server. And

  An instant message relay server according to the present invention is an instant message relay server that performs predetermined processing in a processing server in response to a request from a client and notifies the processing result to the client, In response to a message notification request including information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client to be notified of the processing result and the storage location, information indicating the storage location is determined according to whether or not the client is online. And a means for notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message.

  A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute an operation of a server in a message notification system in which predetermined processing is performed in a server in response to a request from a client and the processing result is notified to the client. And a message notification request including processing for storing the processing result message in a database, and information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client to which the message is to be notified and its storage location, And a process of sending to the network.

  Another program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute an operation of an instant message relay server that performs predetermined processing in a processing server in response to a request from a client and notifies the processing result to the client. In response to a message notification request including information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client that should be notified of the processing result and the storage location from the processing server, whether the client is online or not And a process of notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message including information indicating the storage location.

  The first effect of the present invention is that the processing of the WEB application can be realized asynchronously with the user input. The reason is that the WEB application notifies the IM server of the result screen via the IM relay server, so that when the business process is completed, the process completion notification can be received by an instant message. is there.

  The second effect of the present invention is that the result of the business process can be transmitted to the online user. The reason is that the connected user determination unit of the IM relay server grasps the online user, and therefore the business process result can be transmitted to the online user.

  A third effect of the present invention is that it is not necessary to install a special application on the client side. The reason is that a generally used instant messenger is used as a message notification means. Also, by separating the WEBAP server and the IM relay server, various business applications can use the IM relay server. This is because instant messages can be transmitted using each business application, and it is not necessary for each business application to implement an instant message transmission function.

  The fourth effect of the present invention is that an optimal notification means can be selected according to the user's condition. The reason is that the connected user determination unit grasps the connection state of the IM connected user, and the transmission message sorting unit selects an appropriate notification means.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a client machine 1, which is a computer (central processing unit, processor, data processing unit, etc.) that operates by program control, a WEBAP server 2, an IM relay server 3, an IM (instant message) The server 4, the mail server 5, the notification screen temporary storage DB 27 that is a storage device, and the IM user management DB 35 are configured.

  The client machine 1 includes a browser 11, an IM client 12, and a mail client 13. These mean commonly used browsers, IM clients, and mail clients.

  The WEBAP server 2 has a function of receiving an HTTP (S) request, which is a conventional function, and returning a processing result to the browser. (“HTTP” is an abbreviation for “Hyper Text Transfer Protocol”, and “HTTPS” indicates “Hyper Text Transfer Protocol over SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)”.) In order to realize this function, a request reception unit 21, a reception screen generation unit 24, a background work processing unit 22, a notification screen generation unit 26, a notification URL transmission unit 23, and a notification screen display unit 25 are provided.

  Each of these parts has the following functions. The request reception unit 21 has a function of receiving a request from the browser 11 and distributing the request to each unit, and the reception screen generation unit 24 has a function of generating a screen for notifying that the request has been received. The background business processing unit 22 has a function of performing business processing received from the browser 11 asynchronously with user input. The notification screen generation unit 26 has a function of generating a screen to be notified to the IM client 12.

  The notification URL transmission unit 23 has a function of transmitting the URL of the screen to be displayed to the user to the IM server 4. The notification screen display unit 25 has a function of acquiring the screen generated by the notification screen generation unit 26 from the DB 27 and returning it to the browser 11. In addition, a notification screen temporary storage DB 27 that stores the notification screen created by the notification screen generation unit 26 is provided as a storage device.

  The IM relay server 3 includes a notification URL reception unit 31, a connected user determination unit 32, a transmission message distribution unit 33, and a pseudo IM client 34. The functions of these parts are as follows. The notification URL receiving unit 31 has a function of receiving a URL transmitted from the WEBAP server 2 and a message storing information on a transmission destination user ID. The connected user determination unit 32 has a function of determining whether or not the designated user is currently connected to the IM server 4.

  The transmission message distribution unit 33 has a function of distributing whether the URL of the screen to be notified is transmitted via an instant message or electronic mail (hereinafter simply referred to as mail). The pseudo IM client 34 has a function of transmitting a message to the IM server 4 of the IM client 12 and a function of checking whether an arbitrary user is connected. In addition, an IM user management DB 35 that stores information on users currently connected to the IM server 4 is provided as a storage device.

  The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a series of flows until the user of the client machine 1 inputs business data to the WEB application and receives the processing result as an instant message. The processing flow and message flow will be described below. Note that the operation of each unit will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS.

  The user inputs business data from the browser 11 (step S1). The request reception unit 21 of the WEBAP server 2 receives an HTTP (S) request transmitted from the browser 11. The reception screen generation unit 24 of the WEBAP server 2 generates an input reception screen for this input and returns it as a response to the browser 11 (steps S2 and S3). At this time, the background work processing unit 22 of the WEBAP server 2 performs the work process on the input data asynchronously with respect to the input of the screen (step S4).

  When the business processing in the background business processing unit 22 is completed, the notification screen generation unit 26 generates a WEB screen as a result of the business processing (step S5). This WEB screen includes a screen for notifying processing results such as processing completion and failure, and a screen for requesting the next business processing such as an approval request for business and an estimate response. The WEB screen created by the notification screen generation unit 26 is stored in the notification screen temporary storage DB 27. At this time, a unique URL is assigned (step S6).

  The notification URL transmission unit 23 transmits the user ID of the user and the URL of the notification screen when transmitting a notification message to the IM relay server 3 as a WEB screen notification request (step S7). The user who notifies the message is determined from the content of the request and the content of the business process. It is assumed that the user to be notified is both the same user as the user accessing the WEBAP server 2 and the case of notifying other users.

  In the IM relay server 3, when the notification URL receiving unit 23 receives the WEB screen notification request message from the WEBAP server 2, the connected user determination unit 32 determines whether the user corresponding to the received user ID is currently online. The user management DB 35 is searched and determined (step S8). In response to the determination result, the transmission message distribution unit 33 requests the pseudo IM client 34 to transmit the URL of the notification screen when the transmission destination user is online (step S9).

  The instant message transmitted from the pseudo IM client 4 is transmitted to the IM client 12 via the IM server 4 corresponding to the pseudo IM client (step S10). When the IM client 12 receives the instant message from the IM server 4, the browser 11 opens the URL of the WEB screen described therein (step S11). In the WEBAP server 2, the notification screen display unit 25 searches the notification screen temporary storage DB 27 for the URL of the WEB screen sent from the browser 11 (steps S12 and S13), acquires the WEB screen, and returns it to the browser 11 as a response. .

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of processes for updating the online state of the IM connected user. The connected user determination unit 32 acquires all user IDs from the IM user management DB 35 (step S31). It is checked using the pseudo IM client 34 whether the user corresponding to the acquired user ID is connected to the IM server (step S32). The pseudo IM client 34 has a function of acquiring a connection state of the designated user to the IM server, like a normal IM client. At this time, the connection state of the user whose connection state is determined by the pseudo IM client 34 is written in the connection flag of the IM user management DB 35 (step S33).

  Similar processing is repeated for all registered users (step S34). Further, the updating process of the connected state of the IM user management DB 35 is repeated at regular intervals (steps S35 and S36).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of flows from when the WEBAP server 2 receives the HTTP transmission request (S) request until the WEB screen notification request message is transmitted to the IM relay server 3. .

  In the WEBAP server 2, the request receiving unit 21 receives an HTTP (S) request (step S41). The request receiving unit 21 determines the type of request (step S42), and when the request content is an instant message transmission request, the reception screen generating unit 24 generates a reception screen and returns it to the browser 11 as a response (step S43). ). At the same time, the background work processing unit 22 performs the work process for the input from the screen asynchronously with the input (step S44).

  When the business processing of the background business processing unit 22 is completed, based on the result of the processing, the notification screen generation unit 26 generates a screen to notify the user (step S45), and this notification screen is stored in the notification screen temporary storage DB 27. And a unique URL for the notification screen is set (step S46). For example, a URL is set so as to be a host name, a request request, and a unique ID like “http: //www.hostname/request/000018091.htm”. The instant message destination user is determined according to the content of the request and the content of the business process. The instant message transmission destination user ID and the notification screen URL are sent as a message of the WEB service to the IM relay server 3 as an instant message notification request (step S47).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of flow from when the IM relay server 3 receives the instant message notification request message from the WEBAP server 2 to when the IM relay server 3 transmits the instant message to the IM server 4.

  The IM relay server 3 receives an instant message notification request message from the WEBAP server 2 (step S51). The transmission message sorting unit 33 uses the connected user determination unit 32 to check the connection state of the user with respect to the received user ID (steps S52 and 53). The connected user determination unit 32 searches the IM user management DB 35 by the user ID to acquire the connection state of the user.

  If the destination user is online, an IM transmission request message is transmitted to the pseudo IM client 34 (step S54). When the transmission destination user is offline, it waits for a predetermined time until the connection destination user is online (steps S56 and S57). The waiting time in this case is set to an appropriate value according to user requirements. If the user is online within a certain time, an IM transmission request message is transmitted to the pseudo IM client 34 when the user is online (step S54).

  When a certain time has passed while the user is offline, a notification message is transmitted to the mail server 5 (step S58). The mail address of the sending user is acquired by searching the IM user management DB 35. Upon receiving the IM transmission request message, the pseudo IM client 34 transmits an instant message to the destination user via the IM server 4 (step S55).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of flows from when the WEBAP server 2 receives a notification screen display request to when the notification screen is displayed on the browser. The request receiver 21 of the WEBAP server 2 receives the HTTP (S) request (step S61). When the request type is notification screen display (step S62), the notification URL is passed to the notification screen display unit 25. The notification screen generation unit 26 searches the notification screen temporary storage DB 27 with the notification URL, and acquires a notification screen file (step S63). This notification screen is returned as a response to the browser (step S64).

  The above configuration has the following effects. First, the processing of the WEB application can be realized asynchronously. Since the WEB application is a synchronous system, the result of business processing can be received only at the timing of input and synchronization.

  However, by using the present invention, a process completion notification can be received by an instant message when the business process is completed. The reason is that the WEB application has a mechanism for notifying the IM server of the result screen via the IM relay server.

  Secondly, it is possible to transmit the result of business processing to a user who is online. As a means of notifying other users of the result of business processing, a WEB application that transmits the result by e-mail is used. However, with this mechanism, it cannot be determined whether the destination user is currently online, and e-mail is also sent. If you use, you will be overwhelmed by many other emails and you will not be able to check the processing results at the right time.

  However, by using the present invention, the result of the business process can be transmitted to an online user as an instant message. Since it is received as an instant message, the processing result can be confirmed at a more appropriate timing than mail. The reason is that the connected user determination unit of the IM relay server grasps the online user, and therefore the business process result can be transmitted to the online user.

  Third, it is not necessary to install a special application on the client side. Many mechanisms have been used to acquire server processing results using client-side applications. However, these mechanisms require the installation of dedicated applications on the client side. There is a problem that it takes a lot of trouble.

  However, by using the present invention, it is not necessary to install a special application just by installing an arbitrary browser and instant messenger on the client side. This is because an instant messenger that is generally used is used as the notification means. Further, by separating the WEBAP server and the IM relay server, various business applications can send instant messages using the IM relay server. As an advantage, it is not necessary for each business application to implement an instant message transmission function.

  Fourth, it is possible to select an optimal notification means depending on the user's condition. By using the present invention, it is possible to notify a message by an instant messenger when the message transmission destination user is online, or by mail when the user is offline. The reason is that the connected user determination unit grasps the connection state of the IM connected user, and the transmission message sorting unit selects an appropriate notification means.

  By using the present invention, the present invention can be applied to complicated and time-consuming processing for calling a plurality of WEB services and the like. In the WEB application, there is a requirement that a response is returned within a predetermined time such as a normal 5-second rule. However, in complex processing for calling a WEB service or the like, processing time is overwhelming as compared with a conventional application. In addition, since these processes call external services and cannot be solved only by the performance tuning of the own server, in the present invention, the acceptance result for the input is once returned to the browser, and the response processing is performed by performing the business process in the background. Can be solved.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to workflow processing such as approval. In the conventional approval request using e-mail, there is a problem in that it is not possible to determine whether the approver of the e-mail destination is online, so that there is no immediate approval process. In the present invention, the approval request message is online. Can be sent as an instant message to any user, allowing for immediate approval requests.

It is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the update process of an online connection state of an IM connection user. 6 is a flowchart from when the WEBAP server 2 receives an HTTP (S) request for an IM transmission request to when a WEB screen notification request message is transmitted to the IM relay server 3. 6 is a flowchart from when the IM relay server 3 receives an instant message notification request message from the WEBAP server 2 to when the IM relay server 3 transmits an instant message to the IM server 4. It is a series of flowcharts from when the WEBAP server 2 receives a notification screen display request until the browser displays a notification screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client machine 2 WEBAP server 3 IM relay server 4 IM server 5 Mail server 11 Browser 12 IM client 13 Mail client 21 Request reception part 22 Background business process part 23 Notification URL transmission part 24 Reception screen generation part 25 Notification screen display part 26 Notification screen generation unit 27 Notification screen temporary storage DB
31 Notification URL Receiving Unit 32 Connected User Determination Unit 33 Transmission Message Sorting Unit 34 Pseudo IM Client 35 IM User Management DB

Claims (12)

  A message notification system that performs predetermined processing in a server in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result, and determines the processing result according to whether or not the client is online. A message notification system comprising means for notifying by an instant message or an e-mail message.   The means notifies the client by an instant message if the client is online, otherwise notifies by an instant message when the client is online after a certain period of time. 2. The message notification system according to claim 1, wherein notification is made by an electronic mail message.   3. The message notification system according to claim 1, wherein the means is an instant message relay server provided separately from the server.   A message notification method in which predetermined processing is performed in a server in response to a request from a client and the processing result is notified to the client, wherein the processing result is determined depending on whether or not the client is online. A message notification method comprising a step of notifying by an instant message or an e-mail message.   The step of notifying with an instant message when the client is online, and the step of notifying with an instant message when the client is online after a certain period of time when the client is not online 5. The message notification method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of notifying by an e-mail message in other cases.   6. The message notification method according to claim 4, wherein the step is performed in an instant message relay server provided separately from the server. A server in a message notification system that performs predetermined processing in a server in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result,
Means for storing a message of the processing result in a database;
And a means for sending a message notification request including an ID (identification information) of a client to which the message is to be notified and information indicating a storage location thereof to an external instant message relay server. An instant message relay server that performs predetermined processing in a processing server in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result,
In response to a message notification request including information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client to be notified of the processing result and the storage location from the processing server, depending on whether or not the client is online An instant message relay server comprising means for notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message including information indicating the storage location.   The means notifies the client by an instant message if the client is online, otherwise notifies by an instant message when the client is online after a certain period of time. 9. The instant message relay server according to claim 8, wherein notification is made by an electronic mail message. A program for causing a computer to execute an operation of a server in a message notification system that performs predetermined processing in a server in response to a request from a client and notifies the client of the processing result,
A process of storing a message of the processing result in a database;
A program for sending a message notification request including an ID (identification information) of a client to be notified of the message and information indicating a storage location thereof to an instant message relay server provided outside. A program for causing a computer to execute an operation of an instant message relay server that performs predetermined processing in a processing server in response to a request from a client and notifies the processing result to the client,
In response to a message notification request including information indicating the ID (identification information) of the client to be notified of the processing result and the storage location from the processing server, depending on whether or not the client is online A program comprising a process of notifying the processing result by an instant message or an e-mail message including information indicating the storage location.   The process includes a process of notifying with an instant message when the client is online, and a process of notifying with an instant message when the client is online after a certain period of time when the client is not online. 12. The program according to claim 11, further comprising a process of notifying by an e-mail message.

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