JPH11203154A - Event control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burden of an event processor and to provide universal handling of events that are coped with by various event drive type systems and the facilitation of an event delivery mechanism especially when a network intervenes. SOLUTION: An event filter 201 refers to an event filter table 202 which describes the existence of needed event processing and sends only an event to be processed to an event processing part 300. Further, because an event can appropriately be carried out by another controller through a communicating part 400 even when a self-machine can not execute, the burden of the part 300 can be reduced to a considerable extent. Also, because a filter updating part 203 appropriately updates the table 202, the reference of selection of an event can dynamically changed and the efficiency of the entire system is further improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an event-driven system such as a control system (including a control system including a node connected to a control network) and a window system. The present invention relates to an event control system that transmits and receives events via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to handle different types of events in an event-driven system, the applicant has filed a system in which the format of an event is once converted into a form that can be handled in common, and the converted event is handled. 9-129869. In this case, the system includes an event conversion device for converting an event and an event processing device for processing the converted event.

Conventionally, all events converted by the event converter are sent to the event processor, or only predetermined events are sent to the event processor.

[0004] Therefore, regardless of whether the event is actually processed by the event processing apparatus, all predetermined events are sent to the event processing apparatus, and there is a problem that the load on the event processing apparatus increases. Was.

[0005]

As described above, sending all events converted by the event conversion device to the event processing device regardless of whether or not the event is processed is a major factor that increases the load on the event processing device. There was a problem in the sense that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem in the prior art, and has as its object to provide an event control system that reduces the load on an event processing device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an event control system that reduces the load on the periphery of an event processing apparatus, particularly on a device, a network, and a computer on the receiving side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an event control system capable of controlling a control target such as a home electric appliance accurately and smoothly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an event control system capable of operating without contradiction even if another computer newly joins the network while the computer already exists on the network. It is in.

[0009]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for converting first information representing an event occurring to control an object into second information. Selecting means for selecting whether or not to process the second information by comparing the area with a first area for recording a guideline for processing the converted second information; and And a processing unit for performing a process for driving an event corresponding to the selected second information by collating the area with a second area for recording a guide regarding driving of the second information. It is characterized by.

[0010] According to the present invention, the first information representing an event generated for controlling an object that can be controlled by a plurality of control devices via a network is stored in a second memory.
Means for converting the second information into information, and a first area for recording a guideline for processing the converted second information, and selecting whether or not to process the second information by referring to the area. Processing means for performing a process for driving an event corresponding to the selected second information by collating such a region with a selection unit for performing the event, and a second area for recording a guideline for event driving. Means for transmitting predetermined information for executing an event corresponding to the selected second information to the control device based on a drive instruction from the processing means. I do. The present invention according to claim 3, means for receiving, from the control device, first information for executing an event that occurs to control an object that can be controlled by a plurality of control devices via a network; Means for extracting second information representing an event from the received first information; and a first area for recording a guideline for processing the extracted second information, and refers to such an area. Means for selecting whether or not to process the second information, means for converting the selected second information into third information, and a second area for recording a guideline for driving an event. And means for performing a process for driving an event corresponding to the third information by collating the area.

The present invention described in claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
3. The event control system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit can change the pointer in response to a change in the pointer recorded in the second area in the processing unit. I do. The “event” refers to information having significance for controlling a control target, and corresponds to, for example, information generated by input / output from a control device provided in a computer, key input from a keyboard, or the like.

[0012] The "selection means" means an event filter, in which received events other than specific events are discarded.

The "processing means" means an event processing device, and exchanges information with others in order to drive a process corresponding to a received event as appropriate.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the event conversion unit is provided with an event filter that sends only the event to be processed with reference to the table on the presence or absence of the event processing, which is stored in the storage device in advance, to the event processing unit. Therefore, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit can be considerably reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the event conversion unit is provided with an event filter for sending only an event to be processed with reference to a table on the presence or absence of event processing, which is stored in the storage device in advance, to the event processing unit. ,
Furthermore, even if it is impossible to execute the event on the own device, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit can be reduced considerably because the other control device can appropriately execute the event via the communication means. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the event restoring unit is provided with an event filter for sending only the event to be processed with reference to the table on the presence or absence of the event processing to the event processing unit, which is stored in the storage device in advance. Therefore, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit, mainly the device, can be considerably reduced.

According to the present invention, the criteria for selecting events can be dynamically changed in the event filter, and the efficiency of the entire system is further improved.

Therefore, according to the present invention, accurate and smooth event control becomes possible.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration example of an event drive system provided in a computer according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality (for example, two in FIG. 1) of computers A (00
2) and B (003) are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other to form a so-called distributed processing system. Computers # (002), B (0) connected to network 001
03) includes an event conversion unit 100, an event filter unit 20
0, an event processing unit 300, a communication unit 400, and an event restoring unit 500.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of each unit in FIG.

As shown in FIG.
Is an event input unit 10 for receiving events from inside and outside
1. Event conversion unit 10 that converts received events
2 and an event conversion table 103 that is referred to by the event conversion unit at the time of event conversion.

The event conversion section 100 receives various events generated in each section in a computer having the event conversion section by an event input section 101, and receives the received events by an event converter 102 to a predetermined storage provided in the computer. Referring to the event conversion table 103 stored in advance in the device, the received event format is converted into an event format that can be handled by the event processing unit 300 (for example, a format unified in advance in the system). Here, the event may be, for example, input / output of a control device provided in each of the computers # and B, key input from a keyboard, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the converted event format (structure of the event). The converted event in this example has an event identifier and variable-length data, but the identification is performed only by the event identifier, and the difference between the data is ignored. That is, in the example of FIG. 3, the structure of the event with the identifier “A” is defined as “DATA A” which is variable-length data, and the event with the identifier “B” is defined as having no variable-length data.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of the structure of the event conversion table 103. FIG. FIG. 4 shows a case in which an event before conversion is identified by an event identifier similarly to the event after conversion, and only the identifier is associated. That is, according to the figure, the event identifier “a” is changed to “A” and the event identifier “b” is changed.
Is converted to “B”, respectively. FIG.
In the case where the event before conversion is identified by the input / output port of the computer, the number of the input / output port is associated with the event identifier. That is, according to the figure, the event identified by the input port number “100” is converted into the event identifier “P”, and the event identified by the input port number “101” is converted into the event identifier “Q”. Is shown.

The event filter unit 200 includes an event filter 201 for selecting only an event to be passed to the event processing unit 300, an event filter table 202 referred to by the event filter 201, and a filter updating unit 203 for updating the event filter table 202 as appropriate. Consists of

In the event filter unit 200, the event converted by the event conversion unit 100 is passed to the event filter 201, and the event after the conversion is stored in a predetermined storage device provided in the computer in advance. With reference to the event filter table 202, it is checked whether or not the passed event is processed, and only the processed event is processed by the event processing unit 300.
Pass to FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the event filter table 202. In this example, the event identifier is associated with whether or not to process the event, the event identified by the event identifier “A” is processed, the event identified by the event identifier “B” is not processed, The event identified by the event identifier “C” is to be processed.

The event processing unit 300 includes a processing event input unit 301 for receiving the converted event, an event handler search / call unit 302 for searching for the received event, and an event handler referenced by the event handler search / call unit 302. A table 303, an event handler group 34 for describing specific processing of an event, an event processing management unit 350 for managing registration of an event, and an event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 referred to at that time
And a communication unit management table 352. The event processing unit 300 receives the converted event passed from the event conversion unit 100 and the communication unit 400 at the processing event input unit 301, and stores it in a predetermined storage device provided in the computer in the event handler search / call unit 302 in advance. Event handler table 3 stored
With reference to 03, one or more event handler groups 34 corresponding to the received event are searched. Next, the received event is passed to all the retrieved one or more event handler groups 34. Event handler group 34
Is passed to an event processing unit, for example, the communication unit 400.
The processing, such as internal processing, passing to the event restoring unit 500, and the like are described, and are registered in the event handler table 303 together with the correspondence with the event.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of the event handler table 303. In this example, the event identifier is associated with the event handler of the event. That is, according to the figure, the event with the identifier “A” is “HANDLE”.
In the event handler of R A1, HANDLER2,..., The event with the identifier “B” is “HANDLER.
B1 "indicates that the event handler should be passed.

The communication section 400 includes a message generation section 401 for generating a message at the time of transmission, a transmission section 402, a reception section 403, and an event extraction section 404 for extracting only event information from received data.

The communication unit 400 includes a message generation unit 401
A predetermined communication message for transmitting via the network by adding necessary information, for example, address information of the event occurrence source, the type of the event, etc., to the event passed from the event processing unit 300 is generated and transmitted. Part 402
Sends an event to another computer via the network. The communication message transmitted by the transmitting unit 402 is received by the receiving unit 403 via the network, an event is extracted by the event extracting unit 404, and the event is passed to the event processing unit 300.

When the communication unit 400 transmits a communication message to a plurality of computers connected to a network, the communication message may be transmitted using a protocol such as broadcast communication or multicast communication. A plurality of communication units 400 having different communication protocols and communication destinations may exist on the same computer. In this case, to which communication unit 400 the event is passed is described in the event handler group 34.

The event restoring section 500 receives the event from the event processing section 300 and converts the event
01, an event restoring unit 502 for restoring a received event by a predetermined method, an event restoration table 503 referred to at that time, and an event output unit 504 for outputting the restored event to a predetermined place.

The event restoring section 500 receives the event passed from the event processing section 300 at the converted event input section 501, and stores the received event in a predetermined storage device provided in the computer by the event restoring section 502 in advance. The format of the received event is restored (or converted) with reference to the event restoration table 503 that has been set.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the structure of the event restoration table 503. In this example, the event identifier before restoration is associated with the event identifier after restoration. That is, in the example shown in the drawing, the event identifier “A” is converted to “a”, and the event identifier “B” is converted to “b”.

It should be noted that, for one event processing unit 300, the event conversion unit 100 and the event restoration unit 500
And one or a plurality of communication units 400. These managements are performed by the event processing unit 300. A registration request is sent to the event processing unit 300 before using the event conversion unit 100, the event restoration unit 500, and the communication unit 400 to be used. The event processing management unit 350 receives the registration request, and the registration of the event conversion unit 100 and the event restoration unit 500 is registered in the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 previously stored in a predetermined storage device provided in the computer. The registration of the communication unit 400 is registered in the communication unit management table 352 stored in advance in a predetermined storage device provided in the computer. Event conversion unit 100 and event restoration unit 500
When the use of the communication unit 400 is stopped, a deletion request is sent to the event processing unit 300. As in the case of registration, the event processing management unit 350 accepts the deletion request, and changes the event conversion unit 100, the event restoration unit 500, or the communication unit 400 that has issued the deletion request to the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 or the communication unit management table 352.
Remove from.

Also, a registration request is issued to the event processing unit 300 for the event handler group 34 before use. The event processing management unit 350 receives the registration request, and stores the event handler group 34 and information about which event the event handler group 34 corresponds to in the event handler table 303.
Register with. As described above, a plurality of event handler groups 34 for a certain event may exist. If this registration is for an event that does not have the event handler group 34, the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 is referred to, and processing of a new event is started for all registered event conversion units 100. Send request. In the event conversion unit 100, the filter update unit 203 receives the transmitted processing start request, and updates the event filter table 202 so as to process a new event. When the event handler group 304 is deleted, a deletion request is issued to the event processing unit 300. The event processing management unit 350 receives this deletion request, and deletes the event handler group 34 from the event handler table 303. As a result, when all the event handler groups 34 for a certain event are lost, the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 is referred to, and for all the registered event conversion units 100, the event handler group 34 is deleted. Send a request to stop processing. In the event conversion unit 100, the filter update unit 203 receives the processing stop request sent thereto, and sets the event filter table 2 so as not to process the event.
Update 02.

Next, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 9, FIG.
A series of processing procedures for processing an event when an event occurs in each section in the computer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 12, 13, and 14. FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of FIG.

For example, it is assumed that an event "event a" has occurred in a certain functional unit in the computer # 1 in FIG. This “event a” is first received by the event input unit 101 (step S1001 in FIG. 9), and the event input unit 101 refers to the event conversion table 103 stored in a predetermined memory in advance to generate an event. “Event a” is set to the corresponding event “EV
ENT # "(step S1002) and passed to the event filter 201. The event filter 201 refers to an event filter table 202 stored in a predetermined memory in advance (step S100).
3).

The event filter table 202 stores "process" or "not process" for a certain event. Based on this stored information, the event "EVE" is stored.
NTΑ ”is determined. If the information for the event "EVENT $" is not stored, it is determined that "the process is not performed" (step S100).
4). If it is determined that the processing is to be performed in the above-described determination, the event “EV {T}” is sent to the event processing unit 30.
0 (step S1005). If it is determined that the processing is not performed in the above determination, the event “EV @ T
Α ”is discarded, and no further processing is performed (step S1006).

In the event processing section 300, the event "EVENT $" is acquired by the processing event input section 301,
The event handler is passed to the event handler search / call unit 302 (step S2001). The event handler search / call unit 302 refers to the event handoff table 303 stored in a predetermined memory in advance, and acquires the acquired “{V}
One or more event handler groups 34 corresponding to "A" are acquired (step S2002). When referring to the event handler table 303, "EV @ T
If no event handler 304 corresponding to "A" is found, the processing for "EVENT A" is ended here (step S2003). If the event handler 304 is found, “EVENT A” is passed to all the acquired event handler groups 34 (step S2004).

Each event handler 304 to which "EVENT A" has been passed performs a predetermined process (step S2005). For example, in the event handler 304 that sends the passed event to the network, "EV
ENT A ”to the communication unit 400. In the event handler 304 for restoring the passed event, “EVE
NT $ "to the event restoring unit 500.

In the communication section 400, the event handler group 3
“EVENT A” is obtained from the server 4 (step S300)
1) In the message generation unit 401, “EVENT A”
A communication message is generated by adding the address information of the generation source of the message (step S3002), and the communication message is transmitted.
Is transmitted via the network (step S300).
3).

In the communication section 400 on the computer that receives the communication message, the receiving section 403 receives the communication message via the network (step S4001). The event extraction unit 404 removes the information added by the message generation unit 401 from the received communication message, and
VE {T} ”is extracted (step S4002) and passed to the event processing unit 300 (step S400).
3).

The event restoring unit 500 acquires “EVENT $” passed from the event handler group 34 by the converted event input unit 501 (step S5001).
With reference to the event restoration table 503 stored in a predetermined memory in advance, the event “EVENT
"" Is restored to the corresponding event "event a" (step Sl002). The restored event "e
“vent a” is output from the event output unit 504 into the computer B (step S5003).

The flow of the event is as described above. Next, dynamic control of the operation of the event filter unit 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

In the system shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of event conversion units 100
There is a communication unit 400 and an event handler 304, all of which are managed by the event processing unit 300. That is, the event conversion unit 100 to be used and the communication unit 40
0, all the event handlers 304 are registered in the event processing unit 300 before use, and are deleted from the event processing unit 300 when use is stopped. These management requests to the event processing unit 300 are all received by the event processing management unit 350 (step S6001 in FIG. 14). First, the event handler 30 for the event having the content of the management request
4 (step S6002), the event handler group 304 for the specified event is registered in the event handler table 303 (step S6).
003). If it is already another event handler 30
If the event has been registered for an event having a value of four, that is, if the number of event handlers 304 for the specified event has become two or more as a result of the registration, the process ends (step S6004). Otherwise, that is, when the event handler 304 is registered for a new event, the event conversion / restoration unit management table 35
All event conversion units 10 registered with reference to
0 (step S6005), and issues a request for adding an event to be processed to the filter updating units 203 of all the acquired event conversion units 100 (step S600).
6).

When the content of the management request is to delete the event handler 304 for an event (step S
6007), the event handler 304 for the specified event is deleted from the event handler table 303 (step S6008). As a result of this deletion, the number of event handlers 304 for the specified event becomes 1
If there are more than one, the process ends (step S600)
9). In other cases, that is, when there is no event handler 304 for the specified event, all the registered event conversion units 100 are acquired with reference to the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 (step S6005). ). A request to delete the event to be processed is issued to the filter update units 203 of all the acquired event conversion units 100 (step S6006).

If the content of the management request is an update request to the filter update unit 203 (step S6010), the event conversion unit 100 acquires all the registered event conversion units 100 by referring to the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351. (Step S6005), all acquired event conversion units 100
The specified update request is issued to the filter update unit 203 (step S6006).

If the content of the management request is registration / deletion of the event conversion unit 100 and the event restoration unit 500 (step S6011), the event conversion / recovery is performed in response to the request.
The restoration unit management table 351 is updated (step S60).
12).

If the content of the management request is registration / deletion of the communication unit 400 (step S6013), the event conversion / restoration unit management table 351 is updated in response to the request (step S6014).

If the content of the management request does not correspond to any of the above, a predetermined exception process is executed (step S6015).

In the filter updating unit 203 of the event filter unit 200, the event processing management unit 350
(Step S700 in FIG. 15)
1) Update the event filter table 202 according to the content of the update request (step S7002). That is, if the request is to add an event to be processed, the information for the specified event in the event filter table 202 is changed to “process”, and if the request is to delete the event to be processed, the event filter table 2 is changed.
The information for the designated event 02 is changed to “not process”.

As described above, the event processing unit 30
Event filter table 2 of the event filter unit 200 according to registration / deletion of the event handler 304 to 0
By updating 02, the event converted by the event conversion unit 100 is sent to the event processing unit 300 only for the event that can be processed at that time, so that the load on the event processing unit 300 can be reduced. .

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the event control system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which the event filter unit 200 in the case of FIG. Therefore, in FIG. 16, the same portions as those shown in FIG.
The operation will be described.

The various events received are first passed to the event filter unit 200, and only the events to be processed are converted by the event converter 102,
Pass to 00. The pre-conversion filter updating unit 213 of the event filter unit 200 includes an event processing management unit 350
From the event conversion table 10
3, the specified event is converted to a pre-conversion event, and the information of the pre-conversion event filter table 212 relating to the event is updated.

As described above, also in the case of this embodiment,
Only the events that can be processed by the event filter unit 200 at that time are sent to the event processing unit 300, so that the load on the event processing unit 300 can be reduced.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a system for remotely monitoring and controlling home appliances in a home from the outside will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device, and FIG. 18 is a chart showing the operation of the present system.

As shown in FIG. 17, the configuration of the equipment is as follows. First, in the home, a control target device, a computer A for controlling the target device connected to the device, and the outside of the house connected to the computer A A (for example, a modem in the case of a public telephone line) for performing communication with a computer B, a computer B for performing control from outside the house, and a device B for performing communication connected to the computer B Consists of This event control system is introduced in each of the computer A and the computer B.

Here, the control target device is a music CD player which is connected to the computer A and can be monitored and controlled. Computer A
From within the operating system (basic software),
By sending a command according to a predetermined procedure, the CD player can be monitored, that is, the state of the CD player can be read, and control can be performed, that is, reproduction, stop, removal, and the like can be performed.

The events handled by computer A internally include:
There are the following: An event "status notification" that notifies the current status as an event for monitoring. This event occurs whenever a state change such as “stop” to “playback” occurs, and periodically during “playback”. The control events include "play", "stop", "pause", and "eject", and upon receiving this, the CD player shifts to that state.

The computer B1 has a display device for displaying a state and an input device for control. The display device displays, for example, the states of “play”, “stop”, “pause”, and “take out”, the total number of songs, the number of songs played, and the elapsed time. Input devices are "play", "stop", "-stop",
Buttons are provided for each "Retrieve", and when this button is pressed, the event "BUTTO"
N-PLAY "," BUTTON-STOP "," BU
TTON-PAUSE "," BUTTON-EJEC
T "occurs. When communication with the outside is established by the communication device, a “LOCAL-HELLO” event for notifying the presence of the user and confirming the presence of the partner is generated.

First, the present system in the computer B will be described with reference to FIG. In the event converter,
The “LOCAL-HELLO” event is converted to a common format “H
"ELLO" event. Similarly, "BUTTON-PLAY" generated by pressing the button,
"BUTTON-STOP", "BUTTON-PAU"
SE ”and“ BUTTON-EJECT ”events are“ PLAY ”,“ STOP ”,“ PAUSE ”,
Convert to "EJECT". Note that this event conversion unit includes an event filter unit.

In the event processing unit, an event handler for transmitting the received event to the communication unit is registered as an event handler for the “HELLO” event when the computer is initialized. Also, as an event handler for the "STATUS" event sent from the computer in the house, the information is read from the "STATUS" event and the display device is controlled, and the "PLAY", "STO"
If handlers for “P”, “PAUSE”, and “EJECT” are not registered, an event handler for registering an event handler that sends the received event to the communication unit is registered. In this case, there is no event restoration unit.

Next, the present system provided in a computer in the house will be described.

The event converter receives the “status notification” event, converts it into a common “STATUS” event,
Send to event processing section. The event conversion unit includes an event filter unit.

At the time of initialization of the computer, the event processing unit looks at the event handler table as the event handler A1 for the “HELLO” event, and reads “ST
Event handler A that sends an "ATUS" event to the communication unit
2 has not been registered yet, an event handler is registered that registers this event handler for the "STATUS" event. "PLA
Y ”,“ STOP ”,“ PAUSE ”,“ EJECT ”
Event handler A3 that sends the received event to the event restoration unit as an event handler for the event
Is registered. In the event restoration unit, "PLAY",
“STOP”, “PAUSE”, and “EJECT” are “play”, “stop”, “temporary pause”, and “remove”, respectively.
To the event for the control of.

The flow of processing in this embodiment is as follows.

When computer A in the house is initialized, CD
A “state notification” event is periodically generated from the player control device. However, at this point, the converted event “S
Since the event handler corresponding to "TATUS" is not registered in the event processing unit, it is discarded by the event processing unit.

Here, when the external computer B is initialized and connected to the communication network, a "HELLO" event is sent from this computer.

The "HELLO" event is received by the computer A and passed from the event processing unit to the event handler A1. Here, the event handler A1 registers the event handler A2. Since the event handler A2 is the first event handler for the event "STATUS", the event filter is updated, the "status notification" event is converted to a "STATUS" event, and is passed to the event processing unit.

This "STATUS" event is sent to the communication unit by the event handler A2 and sent out over the communication line.

The transmitted "STATUS" event is received by the computer B, sent to the event processing unit, and passed to the event handler B1. Since the event handler B1 is the first "STATUS" event, the event is displayed on the display device and the event handler B2 is registered in the event processing unit. Event handler B2 is “PLAY”,
Since this is the first event handler for “STOP”, “PAUSE”, and “EJECT”, the event filter is updated, and “BUTON-PLA” from the input device is updated.
Y ”,“ BUTTON-STOP ”,“ BUTTON-
PAUSE ”and“ BUTTON-EJECT ”are“ PLAY ”,“ STOP ”,“ PAUSE ”, and“ E ”respectively.
It is converted to "JECT" and passed to the event processing unit. In this state, when an operation is performed from the input device of the computer B, the event is converted into a common event, transmitted to the computer A, and the CD player of the computer A is controlled. Further, the state of the CD player of the computer A is transmitted to the computer B and displayed on the display device of the computer B.

As described above, the event that is not processed by the event processing unit, the communication unit, and the network is not sent from the computer A in a state where the computer B is not present, and is necessary for the connection of the computer B. Events will be sent. Even in the computer B, even if the input device is operated, no event is transmitted until the computer B is connected to the computer Α. Since the filter is controlled by the presence / absence of a handler for the event, computer A,
Even if a computer B2 having the same function as the computer B is newly added to the communication line in a state where B already exists, it operates without contradiction.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to handle events handled by various event-driven systems in a unified manner, especially if an event delivery mechanism can be easily constructed when a network is interposed. Instead, such a function can be realized while making it possible to reduce the load on the event processing apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, as the burden on the event processing device is reduced, the periphery of the event processing device, particularly,
The load on the device, the network, and the computer on the receiving side can also be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to control a controlled object such as a home electric appliance accurately and smoothly.

Further, according to the present invention, even if another computer newly joins the network while the computer already exists on the network, it is possible to operate without contradiction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the event filter unit 200 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 16 has been described as an example. However, the event filter unit 200 may be arranged at another position.

For example, there is a form in which the event filter unit 200 is placed before the message generation unit 401. The method of updating the event filter table 202 in this case is the same as in the first embodiment.

Similarly, for example, the event filter unit 20
0 may be placed after the event extraction unit 404. The method of updating the event filter table 202 in this case is the same as in the first embodiment.

Similarly, for example, the event filter unit 20
There is also a form in which 0 is placed before the event restorer 502. The updating method of the event filter table 202 in this case is as follows.
This is the same as the first embodiment.

Similarly, for example, the event filter unit 20
In some cases, 0 is placed after the event restorer 502. The updating method of the event filter table 202 in this case is as follows.
In the second embodiment, the event conversion table 103
Is the same except that the event restoration table 503 is reversed instead of the reverse.

[0086]

As described above in detail, in the present invention according to the first aspect, only the events to be processed with reference to the table on the presence or absence of the event processing stored in the storage device are sent to the event processing unit. Since the event converter is provided with the event filter, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit can be considerably reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the event conversion unit is provided with an event filter which sends only the events to be processed with reference to the table on the presence or absence of the event processing stored in the storage device in advance to the event processing unit. ,
Furthermore, even if it is impossible to execute the event on the own device, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit can be reduced considerably because the other control device can appropriately execute the event via the communication means. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the event restoring unit is provided with an event filter for sending only the event to be processed with reference to the table on the presence or absence of the event processing stored in the storage device in advance to the event processing unit. Therefore, the event can be appropriately selected and the load on the event processing unit, mainly the device, can be considerably reduced.

According to the present invention, the criteria for selecting an event can be dynamically changed in the event filter, and the efficiency of the entire system is further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, unified handling of events handled by various event-driven systems becomes possible. In particular, not only an event delivery mechanism when a network is interposed can be easily constructed, but also such a function can be realized. Can be realized while making it possible to reduce the load on the event processing apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, as the load on the event processing device is reduced, the periphery of the event processing device, in particular,
The load on the device, the network, and the computer on the receiving side can also be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to control a controlled object such as a home electric appliance accurately and smoothly.

Further, according to the present invention, even if another computer newly joins the network while the computer already exists on the network, it is possible to operate without contradiction.

Therefore, according to the present invention, accurate and smooth event control becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the entire configuration of a distributed processing system to which an event control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of an entire configuration of a distributed processing system to which an event control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of an event after conversion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structural example 1 of an event conversion table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structural example 2 of an event conversion table according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an event filter table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an event handler table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an event restoration table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event conversion unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of transmission of a communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of reception of a communication unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event restoration unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event processing management unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a filter updating unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the event control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a chart for explaining the operation of the event control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 event conversion unit 101 event input unit 102 event converter 103 event conversion table 200 event filter unit 201 event filter 202 event filter table 203 filter update unit 211 pre-conversion event filter 212 pre-conversion event filter table 213 pre-conversion filter update unit 300 event Processing unit 301 Processing event input unit 302 Event handler search / call unit, 303 Event handler table 304 Event handler 350 Event processing management unit 351 Event conversion / restoration unit management table 352 Communication unit management table 400 Communication unit 401 Message generation unit 402 Sending unit 403 Receiving unit 404 Event extracting unit 500 Event restoring unit 501 Converted event input unit 502 Event restoring Vessel 503 Event recovery table 604 event output unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Haruhiko Toyama 70, Yanagicho, Kochi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Yanagicho Plant Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshifumi Seki 70 Yanagicho, Yukicho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Yanagicho Plant Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for converting first information representing an event occurring for controlling an object into second information, and a first means for recording a guideline for processing the converted second information. Selecting means for selecting whether or not to process the second information by collating the area, and a second area for recording a guideline for driving the event. Processing means for performing a process for driving an event corresponding to the selected second information. 2. A means for converting first information representing an event occurring to control an object which can be controlled by a plurality of control devices via a network into second information, and Selecting means for selecting whether or not to process the second information by referring to the area, and recording a guideline for driving an event. A processing unit that has a second area, and performs processing for driving an event corresponding to the selected second information by collating the area, based on a driving instruction from the processing unit, Means for transmitting predetermined information for executing an event corresponding to the selected second information to the control device. 3. means for receiving, from the control device, first information for executing an event that occurs to control an object that can be controlled by a plurality of control devices via a network; Means for extracting second information representing an event from the first information; and a first area for recording a guideline for processing of the extracted second information, wherein the first area is recorded by referring to the area. A selection unit for selecting whether to process the second information, a unit for converting the selected second information into the third information, and a second area for recording a guideline for driving the event. Means for performing a process for driving an event corresponding to the third information by collating such an area. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means can change the pointer recorded in said second area by said processing means in response to a change. An event control system according to the section.