JP2001075787A - Application launcher - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit applications which can be used after the setting and state of communication environment are confirmed by showing a menu of the applications which are usable in the use environment on a screen and starting the desirable application after predetermined communication environment parameters are set in a PC once a choice of the menu is made. SOLUTION: This launcher displays icons showing use environment. The icons are displayed by referring to items 41 of a use menu in a management table. For example, when a company whose the communication environment is a LAN is selected, icons of a word processor, a spread sheet, and local mail are displayed as the items 42 of the application menu of the management table. When a user selects the local mail, parameter values of device parameter items 44 of the management table 40 such as an IP address and a DNS address are set as communication environment settings in the PC. Then a mail application program is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application launcher.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As PCs have become smaller and lighter, the number of users who carry them in bags, such as notebook PCs, has increased. These users store and move all necessary information in their PCs, and start up and use necessary applications in places where the PCs are used. A PC usually stores a plurality of application programs, and the user selects and starts the application program as needed. However, the communication environment required by the application often differs depending on the location where the application is used. Needs to set the parameters of the communication environment in the PC. In such a case,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-265386 provides a launcher that determines an extension designating a communication means attached to a file and starts a corresponding communication program.
No. 2979 has provided a launcher for displaying an application menu limited for each user.

[0003]

However, according to these prior arts, it is not possible to limit the applications that can be used after confirming the setting and status of the communication environment.

[0004]

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a launcher for starting a PC application, which has a table in which a use environment menu, an application menu, and communication environment parameters are associated with each other. , A plurality of menus (icons) representing the usage environment are presented, and one of the menus (icons) is selected (clicked). Then, an application menu available in the usage environment is displayed on the screen, and the menu is further selected. Then, after setting predetermined communication environment parameters in the PC, an application launcher for starting a desired application is provided.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS When a PC is turned on, a script program generally called a starter 11 is started. The application launcher (launcher 12) is activated by the starter 11. When the launcher starts, it searches for a communication device available on the PC. Communication devices are wired MODEM 13 and LAN card 14
In general, the mounting state of the hardware is detected by the OS 15, and the input / output file from the launcher 12 is
You can read its existence. However, even if the implementation state can be detected, it cannot be known whether or not it can be actually used unless it is actually accessed to judge whether there is a response.
The launcher 12 refers to the item 43 of the communication device in the management table 40 and makes a temporary access to confirm.

The launcher 12 displays a plurality of icons indicating the use environment as shown in FIG. The icon is displayed with reference to the item 41 of the use menu of the management table. For example, “company” 21, “house” 22, or the like that is expected to limit the user's application use conditions as a general rule is used. .

[0007] For example, "company" 2 whose communication environment is LAN
If 1 is selected and the applications used in the company are word processing, spreadsheets, and in-house mails, these are the items 42 in the application menu of the management table.
As in the example of FIG. 3, "word processor" 31, "spreadsheet"
32, the icon "in-house mail" 33 is displayed, but other programs such as the game 17 and the browser 20 prepared in the PC for the purpose of using at home are not displayed on the screen. Also, if OS15 is used in a company as a communication environment, L
If the AN device 14 cannot be detected, the “in-house mail” 33 is not displayed on the application menu screen.

When the user selects "in-house mail" 33, the parameter values of the device parameter item 44 of the management table 40, such as the IP address, DNS (domain name server) address, and in-house mail server address, are transmitted to the PC. Set as settings. After that, the mail application program 19 is started.

FIG. 1 shows a software structure of a PC including the launcher. PC is MODEM based on OS15
13 and the operation and implementation of a plurality of communication devices such as the LAN 14. The launcher 12 operates under the control of the OS 15 like other application programs, the starter 11, the word processor 16, the game 17, the spreadsheet 18, the mail 19, the browser 20, and the like. The OS 15 includes a display device 21, an operation device 22, and a storage device 2.
3 is managed under the subordinate and used by an application program or the like. The launcher 12 has a management table 40 in the storage device 23.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, the management table shown in FIG. 4 can be rearranged to select the application menu first. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the communication device to be selected changes according to the use menu. However, the icon can be erased by monitoring whether or not the device can be used.

[0011]

Conventionally, a user has been required to memorize a communication environment used by an application program and to completely update the settings for each device every time his or her use environment is changed. In addition, although there is an application that helps with this environment setting, unlike other information processing applications, it involves modifying the environment setting of the PC itself, and it is difficult to use it unless you have expert knowledge. , Which also hindered PC mobility. However, the daily behavior pattern of the main PC user is often determined, and once the management table is set once using the launcher of this patent, the usage environment can be easily changed no matter where the PC is moved. Can be matched. Being able to carry a PC without any specialty and to easily adapt to the use environment anywhere has the effect of expanding the PC user base and increasing the use opportunities.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a PC software structure.

FIG. 2 is an example of a use menu screen

FIG. 3 is an example of an application screen

FIG. 4 shows an example of a management table.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a management table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 starter 12 launcher 13, 14 communication device 16 word processor 17 game 18 spreadsheet 19 mail 20 browser

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ryuhei Fujiwara 5-7-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term in NEC Corporation (Reference) 5B076 AA03 AB17

Claims (5)

[Claims] A launcher for activating a PC application has a table in which a use environment menu, an application menu, and communication environment parameters are associated with each other, and presents a plurality of menus (icons) representative of the use environment according to the table. By selecting (clicking) one, an application menu available in the next use environment is displayed on the screen, and when the menu is further selected, a predetermined communication environment parameter is set to P.
An application launcher characterized by launching a desired application after setting to C. 2. A means for having a use environment table for associating an application program with a communication environment, setting only a menu of application programs that can be used in accordance with an available communication environment, and allowing a user to select the use environment (location). An application launcher comprising an activation unit. 3. The communication environment is detected physically or automatically through protocol processing.
Application launcher described. 4. The application launcher according to claim 2, wherein a representative name is given to the use environment and displayed as a menu. 5. A use environment table for associating an application program with a communication environment, a use environment (location) usable according to a communication environment usable for the application program, a means for selection, and a means for activating the application program. An application launcher characterized by: