SE500673C2 - Procedure and arrangement for establishing a simplified dialogue between a central computer unit and at least one user unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and to a computer system arrangement for producing a dialogue between a central computer unit (C) and at least one user unit (Ai). The user unit (Ai) includes at least one display means (1) and a memory means (4) and can be connected to the central computer unit (C). The central computer unit (C) includes a central memory means (6) in which there is stored a software part, called the dialogue part (DD), which is intended for data processing requested by the user unit (A1). Information concerning text and/or picture for presentation on the display means (1) is pre-stored in the user unit memory means (4) and separate user units (A1, A2) may be of different types. The information transmitted from the central computer unit (C) to the user unit (Ai) during a dialogue session includes at least one first identifier which corresponds to a message to be transmitted, wherein the first identifier points out a presentation object which corresponds to the message in the user unit memory means (4). The presentation object presents the message in different forms, according to the type of user unit concerned.

Description

10 15 20 25 30 (fl CD ï O\ \ ,,] LN 2 comprises a central computer and a plurality thereof connected terminals, traditionally have everything necessary information for an application, which involves collaboration between a terminal and the central unit, transmitted, via the connection between the central computer and the terminal in question, without any information amount-reducing measures have been taken.

In decentralized computer systems, ie systems there the user units consist of personal computers or workstations instead of terminals, have a division of an application for collaboration with a central unit normally not happened. In cases where a division has been made, eg for database-based applications there database information has been transferred from the database to the user unit for temporary individual processing at user device, some attempts have been made to reduce it the amount of information transferred, eg by compression and decompression of the 'data set, however, remains the problem of the applications that are divided into several parts, which are stored on different physical devices, that large amounts of information must be transferred to the communication link between the devices.

The technical problem which it is desired to solve with the invention, is to bring about a faster dialogue between one user unit and a dialog section with significantly less Transferred amount of information than has previously been the case plain.

Objects of the present invention The main object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred to and from one important then the communication system to and from the user unit is user unit. This is special slowly. 10 15 20 25 30 35 500 675 3 Another object of the present invention is to make it is possible for a user to get texts in the application presented on the screen. in their own language, ie do computer system arrangement language independent. If, for example, one central computer is located in a French area and a German users want to establish a long-distance contact with one special application stored on the central computer with dialogue between users and the central computer, it is likely that the German user wants to conduct the dialogue on German, not French or English.

A further object of the present invention is to enable the use of different brands and types of user units without having to change in the dialog part of the application, ie do computer system arrangement make and type independent. If for example, a user unit is a simple terminal screenshots are presented in the form of text, a personal computer with greater processing ability and with graphic screen presents the same screenshots in the form of text and graphics workstation can achieve and an advanced screenshots with high-resolution color graphics, sound and animations.

The main purpose is achieved with an arrangement of the kind, which stated in the characterizing part of claim 1. further developments of Additional features and the arrangement according to the invention is stated in the others patent claims.

In a computer system where the user applications are divided into at least two parts, which can be stored separately one that provides the user interface to and a dialog part, which computer, the application, the interface part, provides the real dialogue with the user, it can amount of information that needs to be transferred to and from the user unit is significantly reduced, if the user unit has 10 15 20 25 30 500 673 4 standardized information elements stored.

Brief description of the drawings In order that the present invention may be readily understood and performed it will by means examples and with reference to the attached described the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic picture. of one. computer system, which comprises a plurality of communicating units, shows one Figure 2 block diagram of "one computer system arrangements, according to the present invention, seen from a communication point of view, Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a dialogue between two devices in a computer system arrangement of the type shown in Figure 2.

Description of exemplary embodiment According to the invention, one application can be divided into two physical and logical parts. The application can, for example, be one ticket booking information system, whereby according to the invention handles an interface part of the user the ticket booker's screen layout and takes care of the input data and a dialog part, which may be stored centrally at a head office, handles various calculations, checks and database updates. An embodiment on such computer system arrangements are shown in Figure 1. information systems included in one The computer system arrangement comprises a central unit C, which can be connected to at least one other device. intended to user unit A1, .., An and is provided with a dialog part DD The central unit C is to serve at least one 10 15 20 25 30 35 500 673 5 for this purpose. The dialog part is stored in the central unit memory 6, hereinafter referred to as the central memory 6. The central unit C can further be equipped with monitor C1 and keyboard C2.

When a user starts the application, ie the application which includes the dialog and interface parts, can a part of the central memory 6 in the central unit C is reserved for in order to the application. Any other user is assigned one this user executes the dialog part DD of another part of the central memory 6 to execute the dialog part DD. In a multi-user system, it is advantageous to store the DD dialog section as a shared resource, allowing multiple users can execute the dialog section simultaneously without each need a full copy.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the central unit is C connected to a number (s) of user units A1-An, of which two are displayed. In the embodiment shown, each comprises user unit in the usual way a presentation means 1 which consists of a monitor 1, a keyboard 2 and a memory unit 3, which in accordance with the invention has a interface part GD1 resp. The DG working as image interpreter with image library BB1 resp. BBn.

The memory unit 3 comprises a memory 4 with application software for this and also has memory areas for storing pixels for presentation on monitor 1. It also includes communication hardware and communication socket 5 for communication with central unit C.

The units shown can be placed on geographically different places in the world. The user unit A1 can e.g. be geographically located in the United States and the user unit An in Germany. Central unit C may be located in France.

In accordance with the invention, each application is for one 10 15 20 25 30 35 SÛÛ 673 6 users divided into a first part, which is physical and programmatically located in the user unit of the user, and a second part, which is physical and programmatic located in the central unit C.

When transferring information between different user units one or more so-called identifiers can be included. One identifiers are used to designate information in the memory of the user unit or the central unit. Since The computer system may include user devices in several different ways countries and / or users who use different human language (mother tongue) when using the user devices is identifier to great advantage in communication between the devices. Furthermore, it means a significant reduction of the amount of information that must be transmitted, because only one or two identifiers are sent between the devices instead of sending whole questions and answers.

According to an embodiment of the invention is utilized the computer system arrangement for booking airline tickets. The the embodiment is illustrated in Figure 1. A central unit C is located in a central for all flight bookings within one and several travel agents of several nationalities. Then a big one airline users of the system are number of ready-made question and answer options are stored in different language versions can, for example, the administrator at the central unit chooses to ask the user at user unit A1 for additional information regarding a certain flight booking. The administrator selects question 2 on his French menu and on the user unit A1, question 2 comes up in the English language. The user at A1 selects e.g. English answer menu, and corresponding back to the central unit. It is also possible to put it together completely answer option 5 on its identifier is sent new answers by combining a number of answer options.

These compatible answer options include a number sentences, single sentences or single words, as well as 10 15 20 25 30 35- 500 673 7 pictures and figures.

The interface part The part placed with the user is called the user interface part GDi, where i is a number between 1 and n, or shorter interface part, and handles the user's interface, ie what the user sees of the application, such as menus, error messages, etc.

The user unit's memory 4 may be of different types dependent on the make and type of the user unit A1, An, which for example can be a personal computer or a workstation. user devices Note that A1, An may be off between different brands and / or types.

The memory areas with pixels in the interface part GD1 respectively the GDs are arranged in the memory 4 as one or several image libraries BB1 and BBn respectively. Includes the image libraries the screenshots the user should be allowed to view user device screen 1. These images are often graphical very nicely designed in high resolution graphics and can thereby occupying a relatively large memory space. A big advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that these images do not need to be transferred between the different in the arrangement of the units each time they are to be displayed at a user but can be stored at the user in the interface part GDi in the user unit Ai, where i is one numbers between 1 and n.

The image libraries and the image interpreter and their parts will be described in more detail below. However, should Note that each image library can have captions on one language that suits the user, making the text that displayed to the user may be in his native language. In it the working example contains shown in Figure 1 the image library BB1 English text while the image library BBn 10 15 20 25 30 35 contains German text.

The dialogue part The second part is called the dialogue part DD and is the actual one the application, ie it includes everything except user interface part. possibility to database searches, The dialog section DD may include calculations of various kinds, processing of information etc.

The dialog part DD of an application can be stored in one central memory 6 in the central unit C. This central memory 6 can be of different type depending on the make and type of the central unit, which may for example be a VAX 750 from Digital Equipment, and IBM 390 mainframe, and SUN workstation, a personal computer, etc.

Grading of user permissions The dialog part DD can have a larger capacity and comprise more than what is expressed on the user unit's display 1, via the application interface part GDi. This causes you do not need to change when grading user permissions in the dialog part DD, but only in the interface part GDi. IN wanted this one adds screenshots, which, in grades, include different subsets of all of them pixels included in it at a given time "maximally expanded" image.

The communication links or communication networks KL1, ... KLn, which connects the user units A1 resp. An various WAN (Wide network) Area Network) etc. The arrows on the links indicate that data with the central unit C can be of type, e.g. telephone lines, LAN (Local Area Network), goes in both directions.

When the dialog part DD needs input from the user, one is created dialog session and an identifier ID, are transferred to 10 15 20 25 30 35 500 673 9 user unit A1, where it is received by the interface part GD1. Thus can the interface part GD1. Another way to express this is it is said that the dialogue part DD operates that the dialog part DD is a customer and the interface part GD1 service to client / service relationship performs a customer, ie they stand in one used by the interface part GD1 to beat in its image library BB1 up the screen that the identifier idl represents, in to eachother. Identifier id, this case: "User name: ....". Ie a screenshot reference hm points to a physical address in the user unit's memory 4, at which address the screen is stored. The image interpreter screen. On the screen prompts the user to provide some type of shows it stored at this address information, e.g. its name, which the user enters its keyboard 2.

The image interpreter interprets the operations performed by the user.

It is usually the case that a user has to make a choice between given options. According to the invention the choice of an identifier, which represents the choice, and which interface part GD1 to dialog section DD. Data provided by the user in response to transferred from a question on screen 1 is transmitted along with the identifier. That is, only user-dependent information and identifiers are transmitted on the communication link KL between the two entities concerned.

Language independence is achieved by the majority library is used locally, preferably one library per language. To change the language of the dialog with the user carried on, only the current library needs to be changed, by a which is a local operation in user unit A - central unit C is not affected.

Referring to Figure 2, a computer system arrangements according to the invention are described more 10 15 20 25 30 35 500 673 10 detailed. To the right of Figure 2 is shown a central unit C, which may resemble, or be the same as, the central unit C in figure 1. The dialog part DD, which is dashed in squares, includes an "actual" application EA and dialogue sessions DS. By actual application EA it is meant part of the application that performs the actual calculations and the processing, during it that the dialogue sessions DS handles the exchange of information with the user.

A data exchange showed embodiment, first between the dialogue session DS and a takes place, according to that in Fig. 2 communications agent KC. Agent KC can be considered as one interface and converts data into a format suitable for transfer to the current user unit Ai via a communication system KS. The communication system KS includes communication software KMC and hardware KHC on or one communication network KL and communication hardware KHA as well central unit page, a communication link KMA software on the user device page.

Data is received by the communication hardware and software KHA, KMA hos communication agent KA to user unit A, is converted by a appropriate format for sends to The interface part GDi comprises an image interpreter BI and one or more BB image libraries. The image interpreter BI communicates with a presentation logic PL, which e.g. the interface part GDi and this. can be OS / 2 PresentationManager, Windows 3, HP Newwave, Macintosh Toolbox etc, to be able to through this present images on a presentation hardware PH, such as tex Nokia Alfaskop, Maclntosh, AST 386SX / 20 etc. The presentation hardware PH and logic PL is Sun Workstation, thus commercially available and well known devices.

The communication agents KA, KC translate protocol requests for local calls and vice versa. 10 15 20 25 30 500 675 11 Communications agent KA. keeps the communication contact with the communications agent KC.

The elements, other than presentation hardware and logic, that shown in Figure 2 can be fitted into the OSI (Open Systems model) Interconnection). The OSI model describes a model over one also as data communication architecture and serves - starting point for different communication standards. Hereby the communication system KS can be said to relate to the the six lowest layers of the seven layers specified by the OSI model, layer, link layer, transport layer, session layer and presentation layer. For ie physical network layer, each layer applies to the distribution between hardware KHA, KHC and software KMA, KMC arranged to accomplish the functionality specified by the OSI model may be different for different communication system designs. Not all of these layers, or all parts of these layers, need to be realized in a communication system KS, according to the OSI model.

The communication agents KA, KC are said to touch the lower one part of the application layer. They dashed the parts, ie the dialog part DD and the interface part GDi, belongs to the application layer. What The OSI model and its various layers are referred to in the book applies "Data and computer communications", William Stallings, 1988, s37s-399. Then the present invention does not depend on which communication system KS used it will not be Macmillan Publishing Company, sort of described in more detail.

Image library The interface part GDi of the total application comprises, as described above, one or more library: a) Display panel and menu library, whereby each panel resp. menu may include: -the current static screen (text, layout) inrutade 10 15 20 25 30 35 500 675 12 -the actions that can be performed (menus, buttons) frames with lists of selectable objects -what to transfer to the communications agent KA, when the user has selected an object or action associations to related help texts. b) Help text library.

- The GDi interface component may also include: c) A panel, menu and command interpreter, ie the image interpreter BI, which interprets it the user enters via selection or as input from something such as a keyboard and to communications agent KA. The interpreter also interprets feeding means, which transmits submitted input data help panels and / or help menus.

A dialogue session Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a dialogue session DS between two devices in a computer system arrangement thereof types shown in Figure '1 and. 2. With reference to the flow chart in Figure 3 should now be a procedure described, which provides a dialogue session between a user unit A and a central unit C.

An example of dialogue session DS, in a C-like programming languages are as follows: { create dialog; infoVector -> put (...), dialog.send (UserView1, infovector); dialog.recieve (... switch ...); delete dialog }, whereby the dialogue creates information (create dialog;), is filled in (infovector -> _.) and a local call is made (dialog.send ...) with an identifier (Userviewl) as 10 15 20 25 30 35 13 represents the screen to be displayed. Input / selection as the user enters received (dialog.recieve ...) and the dialog delete dialog. 31 i is initiated the user dialog from the actual application EA, In step, the flow chart in Figure 3 which in step 32a through an identifier indicates which hereinafter referred to as the screenshot, to be displayed at user unit A and which input data text and / or image information, needed. In step 32b, a dialog session DS is created to manage communication with the user.

In step 33, a local call is made from the DS dialogue session to display the screen designated by the identifier.

That a local call is made is due to the actual one the application EA and the dialogue sessions DS like this creates are designed regardless of how and the communication with the user is accomplished, as this is Choice' the GDi of the interface part. The actual application EA only indicates the desired ygg, ie which screen should is displayed and the desired input data. A big advantage with this that the image information user unit the presentation of completely ie the interface part GDi can arrangements are on independent dialogue parts DD, can happen be different for different user devices. Each interface part GDi can utilize the underlying presentation hardware optimally. For example, a simple terminal, which has small processing capacity, present screenshots in shape of text, a personal computer with greater processing power and with graphic screen can present the same screen image in the form of text and graphics and create the screen image with high-resolution color graphics, sound an advanced workstation can and animations, ie with the help of multimedia technology.

In step 34, the local call is converted to one non-local call by the communications agent KC. In step 35 takes care of the communication system KS the physical 10 15 20 25 30 14 the transmission of the non-local call, which includes identifier to the screen. The non-local call transformed by the communications agent KA into a local This local which calls in step 36. calls are made the image interpreter BI, by means of it enclosed corresponding screen in the image library BB. In step 37, the screen is displayed by the identifier looks up the image interpreter BI calls the presentation logic PL, the picture presentation hardware PH, which presents and its pixels on which for example can be one personal computer.

In step 38, the user enters a selection or other input, via eg a keyboard 2 or a pointing tool (so-called mouse), to the presentation hardware PH, which via the presentation logic PL reaches the image interpreter BI. In step 39 the image interpreter BI an answer, ie the user's input data returns and / or dialing, on the original local call. The answer taken care of by the communications agent KA, where it is converted and is transmitted via the communication system KS from user unit A to central unit C. The answer can transferred from the user unit to the central unit C i form of identifier references to finished answer options. In step 40, the answer is sent to where it is transformed into one format that matches the format of the dialog session the communications agent KC, DS indicates.

The initial local call made in step 33 can is considered a function call, which is then the function executed produces an answer, the answer in this cases are the input data and / or choices specified by the user. About more information needs to be exchanged between the user and it actual application EA, which may depend on which input / selection submitted by the user, can via step 41, the procedure is repeated from step 33, i.e. with a new local Call. If, in step 41, the information exchange with the user 10 15 20 'use 500 673 15 is completed, this leads, via the NO branch, to the user dialog session ends.

Only identifiers for panels and menus and needed data is transferred from the central unit C to the user unit A, not the static texts. This technology reduces the amount data that needs to be transferred and also makes it possible to different languages, in the panels and menus, at central unit C, ie the central facility, compared with at the user units, ie the local facilities.

It is also possible to use different languages at one and same facility.

The same technology is used when input data and / or selections are to be transferred from user unit A to central unit C.

The present invention is particularly advantageous in that respect underlying communication system KS is slow, which is often the case with long-distance communication, via e.g. telephone lines.

Claims (14)

'10 15 20 25 30 u: c: cv o \ -: | o 1 16 Patent claims A method for effecting a simplified dialogue between a central computer unit (C) and at least one user unit (Ai) in a computer system arrangement, the user unit comprising a presentation means (1) and a memory (4) and is connectable to the central computer unit (C). ), and wherein the central computer unit (C) comprises a central memory (6), in which is stored a software part, called the dialogue part (DD), arranged for data processing requested from the user unit (Ai), wherein information regarding text and / or image for presentation on the presentation means (1) is stored in advance in the memory of the user unit (4); know that different user units (A1, A2) can be of different types; that the data transmitted in dialogue from the central computer unit (C) to the user unit (Ai) comprises at least a first identifier corresponding to the information to be presented; that the first identifier points out a screen image corresponding to the presentation information in the user unit's memory (4): to present the screen image in different ways depending on the type of user unit. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of screen images are stored in the form of an image library (BBi) in the memory of the user unit (4), where each screen image is addressed with an individual identifier. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the identifier transferred from the central computer unit (C) to the user unit (Ai) is indicated by the dialog part (DD) of the central computer unit (C), the identifier is interpreted in an interface part (GDi) of 10 '15 20 25 30 35 35 1, sno 673 user unit (Ai), the interface part (GDi) uses the identifier to designate the corresponding screen image in the user unit memory (4) and present the corresponding information to the user unit display means (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first local call comprising the identifier is made in the central computer unit (C), which call has the task of providing a presentation of text and / or image information on a presentation means (1). , that the first local call is converted into a non-local call in the central computer unit (C), that the non-local call is converted into a second local call of the user unit, that an image interpreter (BI) in the user unit by means of that in the second local the caller identifying the caller identifies the corresponding text and / or image information in the user unit's memory unit (3), that this text and / or image information is presented on a presentation means belonging to the user unit (1), that a user at the user unit enters one or more response data, that response data is transferred from the user unit (Ai) to the central computer unit (C), which receives this that the central computer unit converts the answer data into a format that can be interpreted as an answer to the first local call. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that response data is transmitted from the user unit (Ai) to the central computer unit (C) in the form of identifier references to ready-made response alternatives. 10 '15 20 25 30 35 CUT! GG 673 18 Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the answer to the first local call initiates a repetition of the method. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that if the answer to the first local call means that the user unit (Ai) requests more information from the central computer unit (C), another first local call is made and the procedure is repeated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mother tongue, in which image and / or text information is presented in the presentation means (1) belonging to the user unit (Ai), is individually selectable for each user unit. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that a user at a user unit enters one or more response data in a selected mother tongue, and the answer in the central computer unit (C) is interpreted in a mother tongue, which is independent of the selected one. Computer system arrangement for effecting a dialogue between a central computer unit (C) and at least one user unit (Ai), wherein the user unit (Ai) comprises at least one presentation means (1) and a memory (4) and is connectable to the central computer unit (C ), and wherein the central computer unit (C) comprises a central memory (6) in which is stored a software part, called the dialogue part (DD), arranged for data processing requested from the user unit (A1), whereby information regarding text and / or image for presentation on the display means (1) is stored in advance in the memory of the user unit (4); characterized in that an interface part (GDi) in the user unit (Ai) is arranged for communication with the user unit's memory and presentation means and with the central computer unit (C), and that different user units (A1, A2) may be of different types, 10 ' And that the dialog part (DD) of the central computer unit (C) is arranged to indicate which text and / or image information is to be presented on the user unit's presentation means (1) with to the interface part (GDi) of the user unit (Ai). ) transmitted identifier, which designates a screen image corresponding to text and / or image information in the memory of the user unit (4), that the user unit, depending on the type, is arranged to present the screen image in different ways. Computer system arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the user unit (Ai) further comprises an input means (2), via which the user can enter input data and selections in response to the text and / or image information presented on the user unit's presentation means (1). , and that the interface part (GDi) is arranged to transmit the input data and the choices specified by the user to the dialog part (DD) of the central computer unit (c). Computer system arrangement according to any one of claims 10 to 11, characterized in that a plurality of screen images are stored in an image library (BBi) in the memory of the user unit, and that the interface part (GDi) further comprises an image interpreter (BI) cooperating with the image library (BBi). , which presents the screen image designated by the dialogue part (DD) on the presentation means (1) and which interprets the operations performed by the user to return to the dialogue part (DD) data corresponding to the choice specified by the user. Computer system arrangement according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of image libraries (BB1-BBn) are arranged in the memory of the user unit, which image libraries each contain screens with the same information but in different mother tongues, and that the desired image library is selectable from the user unit. SÛÛ 673 20 Computer system arrangement according to any one of claims 10 - 13, characterized in that the screen image is presentable at the user unit (A) depending on what properties the user unit has in terms of processing capacity, graphics and sound.