JP2001202257A - Operation processor linked with software and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform linked operation with respect to all the applications and to dispense with operations except for original operation of the applications. SOLUTION: This processor is provided with a message registering means 2 for grouping messages for detecting the starting timing of a series of operation and linking to be a linking object between plural applications and registering them as a message group, a message analyzing means 3 for comparing a message distributed from OS in operation of the applications with a message included in the message group registered in the means 2 to detect coincidence, and a message distribution means 4 registered in the message group including the message detected by the means 3 for distributing the residual messages except for this message.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a software-linked operation processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a software-linked operation processing apparatus and method when a plurality of applications are used simultaneously by one computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has become possible to use a plurality of applications on one computer at the same time due to an increase in processing speed of a computer and an increase in a memory mounting capacity. Operation system (OS)
Multiple application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications) by adopting a window system, etc.
Provides an environment for simultaneous use.

However, in the conventional usage method, even when a plurality of applications are used (operation) at the same time, it is almost always switched to any one of the applications and the interlocking operation between the applications is important. Not much. For example, even when using a word processing application and a spreadsheet application at the same time, operate the spreadsheet application first, switch to the word processing application after obtaining the results, and then import the results of the above spreadsheet application. It is common to perform an action.

[0004] However, recently, a plurality of applications having different properties from those of the related art have been simultaneously used, such as distributed processing for exchanging data between a plurality of computers. In such a situation, the frequency of switching between applications is increasing, and the need to perform a certain operation with multiple applications is increasing.
At present, there is a problem that a mechanism for that is not sufficiently provided.

[0005] As a means for solving this problem, it has been conventionally solved by an application having a method called macro processing.

Referring to FIG. 4, which shows a block diagram of a general conventional software-linked operation processing device for performing a macro process, the conventional software-linked operation processing device has the following features.
A control processing unit 100 that performs the entire process, a macro registration unit 200 that registers an instruction for performing a series of operations to be executed in a unique format, and an instruction to execute a macro registered in the macro registration unit 200 is received. And a macro execution unit 400 for interpreting and executing a macro specified by the macro execution reception unit 300 and registered in the macro registration unit 200.

The macro registration means 200 has a macro registration table 201 for managing registered macros.

The macro execution means 400 is a macro interpreter 401 for interpreting and executing a registered macro.
Having.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 showing an example of registration in the macro registration table 201, and FIG. 6 showing a flowchart of a conventional technique, the overall operation of the conventional software-linked operation processing apparatus will be described in detail. Then, first, the macro registration table 201 includes a macro 510 named macro-1 and a macro 5 named macro-2.
20 macros are registered.

The macro 510 includes the application 10
(Hereinafter referred to as APP-10), a macro language 511 indicating an operation of opening a window-10, and a macro language 512 indicating an operation of opening a window-20 (hereinafter, W-20) in an application 20 (hereinafter, APP-20). And application M (hereinafter APP)
-M), a macro language 513 indicating an operation of opening a window -M (hereinafter referred to as WM) is registered. The macro 520 includes a macro language 521 indicating an operation of selecting the window-10 in the APP-10, and a window-2 in the APP-20.
A macro language 522 indicating an operation of selecting 0, and an AP
A macro language 523 indicating an operation of selecting the window-M in PM is registered.

A macro language is usually described in a unique format,
When this macro is executed, the application itself needs to have a mechanism for receiving an execution instruction from this macro.

APP-10, APP-20 and APP-
In operating M simultaneously, it is assumed that W-10, W-20 and WM require a series of operations.

Referring to FIG. 6, an operation flow P1 is an operation flow of the macro execution accepting means 300 and the macro execution 400. Although the operation flow P1 does not particularly describe an end condition, the operation flow P1 can be ended by a generally known end method (for example, an end command executed in an application).

Here, it is assumed that the execution of the macro-1, ie, the macro 510, is instructed in the macro execution receiving means 300 (step P2). In response to the execution instruction of the macro 510, the registered contents of the macro 510 registered in the macro registration table 201 are sequentially executed in Step P3. That is, W-10 of APP-10 is opened by the macro language 511, and APP-10 is opened by the macro language 512.
20 W-20 is opened, A is executed by macro language 513
A series of operations for opening the WM of the PP-M are executed.

Further, assume that execution of macro-2 is instructed in macro execution receiving means 300 (step P
2). In step P3, the registered contents of the macro 520 registered in the macro registration table 201 are sequentially executed in response to the execution instruction of the macro-2. That is, a series of operations of selecting W-10 of APP-10 by the macro language 521, selecting W-20 of APP-20 by the macro language 522, and selecting WM of APP-M by the macro language 523 are executed. .

As a result, the current APP-20 is converted to the AP
When the application is switched to P-10, W-10 has already been selected, so that the operation of switching the application and further selecting W-10 can be omitted.

However, this prior art has the following problems.

The first problem is that interlocking operations cannot be realized for all applications. The reason is that in order to execute a series of actions, all applications operated by the macro need to have a mechanism to execute the same macro,
This is because it is impossible that all applications having different design ideas have the above-described mechanism.

A second problem is that when the registered macro is executed, an operation completely different from the operation of the original application is required. The reason is that the execution instruction of the macro must be given to the control processing means of the macro separately from the operation of the application originally used.

[0020]

The above-described conventional software-linked operation processing apparatus and method have a mechanism in which all applications operated by a macro execute the same macro in order to execute a series of operations. Since all applications with different design concepts cannot have the above mechanism,
There is a disadvantage that interlocking operations cannot be realized for all applications.

In addition, since the execution instruction of the macro must be given to the control processing means of the macro separately from the operation of the application which is originally used, when the registered macro is executed, the original execution is performed. There was a drawback that operation completely different from application operation was required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a software interlocking operation processing apparatus and a method thereof that enable interlocking operations for all applications and do not require operations other than the operation of the original application. .

[0023]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A software-linked operation processing apparatus according to the present invention has a function of simultaneously using a plurality of application programs on a single computer and frequently switching and operating between the application programs. In the processing device, a control processing means for performing overall processing, and a message registration for grouping messages for detecting a series of operations to be linked between the plurality of application programs and a start timing of the linkage and registering them as a message group Means for comparing the first message delivered from the operating system when the application program is operated with the second message included in the message group registered in the message registration means to detect a match. Message analyzing means, and a message delivering means for delivering remaining messages other than the first message registered in a message group including the first message detected by the message analyzing means. Have been.

The message registration means may have a message group registration table for grouping and managing the registered messages.

Further, the message analysis means includes a message acquisition means for acquiring the first message distributed from an operation system for operating an application program, and a message group registration of the acquired first message. A message comparing means for comparing with the table may be provided.

Further, the message group registration table includes a first message indicating an operation of opening a first window in the first application program and an operation of opening a second window in the second application program. Second meaning
And a third message group having an operation of opening a third window in the third application program, and selecting the first window in the first application program. A fourth message indicating an operation, a fifth message indicating an operation of selecting the second window in the second application program, and an operation of opening a third window in the third application program. And a second message group having a third message which means the following.

[0027] The software-linked operation processing method according to the present invention is characterized in that the software-linked operation processing method has a function of simultaneously using a plurality of application programs on a single computer and frequently switching and operating between the application programs. Each of a series of operations in each application program to be linked between application programs is defined as a message that is information for distribution from the operation system to each application program, and each of the messages is defined for each of the series of operations. Register as a message group and distribute the first
, And comparing the first message with the second message constituting the registered message group, and detecting the coincidence of the first and second messages to obtain the second message of the message group. In response to the delivery of a message other than the second message, each application program executes an operation corresponding to each of the registered messages of the message group.

A first step of detecting all the first messages distributed from the operation system by operating each of the plurality of application programs; and a step of detecting the detected first messages in the message group. A second step of comparing each of the messages to check if a registered second message has not been delivered; and if the first and second messages match in the second step, the message group And a third step of sequentially delivering messages other than the second message.

[0029]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The software-linked operation processing apparatus and method according to the present embodiment can be used in a situation where a plurality of application programs (hereinafter referred to as “applications”) are used simultaneously (operations) and frequent switching between the applications is required. Executing a pre-registered operation on a given application to execute a registered operation on another application, thereby executing the expected operation when switching to the next application. By providing the status, the operability when a plurality of applications are used simultaneously is improved. Moreover,
It is not necessary to incorporate a mechanism for interlocking with the application to be interlocked in advance, and no special operation other than the operation required for normal application operation is required when executing the interlocking operation. .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the software-linked operation processing apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3 detects the control processing unit 1 that performs the entire process and a series of operations to be linked between applications and the start timing of the linkage. Message registering means 2 for grouping messages for registration and a message group, and comparing a message delivered from an operation system (hereinafter referred to as OS) at the time of operating an application with a message included in the message group registered in message registering means 2. Message detecting means 3 for detecting a match with the message, and message delivery for delivering the remaining messages other than the detected messages registered in the message group including the message (detected message) detected by the message analyzing means 3 Means 4

The message registration means 2 has a message group registration table 21 for grouping and managing registered messages.

The message analysis means 3 includes a message acquisition means 31 for acquiring a message delivered from the OS for operating the application, and a message comparison means 32 for comparing the acquired message with the message group registration table 21. Prepare.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 showing an example of registration in the message group registration table 21, and FIG. 3 showing a flowchart of the process of the present embodiment. The message group registration table 21 registers two message groups, a message group 210 named group-1 and a message group 220 named group-2.

The message group 210 corresponds to the window-1 in the application 1 (hereinafter referred to as APP-1).
A message 211 indicating an operation of opening a window-2 (hereinafter W-2) in an application 2 (hereinafter referred to as APP-2);
(Hereinafter referred to as APP-N) and window-N (hereinafter referred to as W-
A message 213 indicating an operation of opening N) is registered. Also, the message group 220
A message 221 indicating an operation of selecting W-1 in APP-1, a message 222 indicating an operation of selecting W-2 in APP-2, and an operation of selecting W-N in APP-N. Message 223
And have registered.

Here, the message is information used by an OS that provides operations of a plurality of applications to distribute operations to each application obtained from an input device or the like managed by the OS to each application.
Each application executes a programmed operation based on the content of the delivered message.

In operating APP-1, APP-2 and APP-N simultaneously, it is assumed that W-1, W-2 and WN require a series of operations.

Referring to FIG. 3, the operation flows S20, S30 and S40 shown in FIG.
It is an operation | movement flow of P-1, APP-2, and APP-N. This indicates that a message is delivered from the OS in accordance with the operation of each application.

The operation flow S10 is an operation flow of the message analysis means 3 and the message distribution means 4.

In step S11, all the messages delivered from the OS by the operation of each application are detected, and the detected messages are compared with the message group registration table 21 to check whether the registered messages have not been delivered. (Step S12). If no matching message is detected, the same comparison is performed for the next message.

Operation Flows S10, S20, S30 and S
Although no specific termination condition is described in 40, it is assumed that the termination can be performed by a generally known termination method (for example, a termination command executed in an application).

Here, suppose that in APP-2, W-2
Is executed. By this operation, the message delivered from the OS is message 21
2 and the same message. Accordingly, the comparison result in step S11 detects a match with the message 212 registered in the message group 210. As a result, in step S13, messages 21 other than message 212 registered in message group 210
1 and the message 213 are sequentially delivered.

According to message 211, W of APP-1
-1 is open, and the message 213 opens W-N of APP-N. As a result, in connection with opening W-1 in APP-2, W-1 of APP-1
-1 and W-N of APP-N open in conjunction.

Further, suppose that in APP-2, W-2
Suppose that the operation of selecting is executed. This operation allows the OS
Is the same message as the message 222. Therefore, step S1
The comparison result at 1 detects a match with the message 222 registered in the message group 220. Thereby, the message group 22 is determined in step S13.
The message 221 and the message 223 other than the message 222 registered in “0” are sequentially delivered.

The message 221 indicates that the W
-1 is selected, and W-N of APP-N is selected by the message 223. As a result, in APP-2,
The W-1 of APP-1 and the W-N of APP-N are selected in conjunction with the selection of W-1. As a result, since W-1 has already been selected at the time of switching the application from the current APP-2 to APP-1,
After switching the application, the operation of further selecting W-1 can be omitted.

In this embodiment, since the control means 1, the message registration means 2, the message acquisition means 31, the message comparison means 32 and the message delivery means 4 are realized by known techniques, Omit the contents.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the message registration means 2, the operation of each application to be linked between the applications is defined as a group and registered in the form of a message used by the OS. The message is information for distributing the operation content for each application obtained from the input device or the like from the OS to each application, and each application executes a programmed operation based on the content of the distributed message. The number of messages registered in one group and the number of groups are arbitrary. At this time, the registered message is also used as a detection key for the timing of starting the interlocking. The message acquiring unit 31 acquires all the messages delivered from the OS for operating the application, and compares the message with the message registered by the message registering unit 2 by the message comparing unit 32. When the message comparison unit 32 detects that the registered message has been distributed from the OS, the message distribution unit 32 distributes the remaining registered messages of the group including the message. With this message, the operation of each application registered in the group by the message registration means 2 is executed in conjunction with the operation performed on any application in this group.

As described above, the operation that is frequently performed in conjunction with the application is registered, a part of the registered operation is detected, and the remaining registered operation is automatically executed. Since a state in which a previously expected operation is being executed is generated, operability when using a plurality of applications simultaneously is improved.

That is, the first effect of the present invention is that when a plurality of applications must be frequently switched and operated, the operability can be improved.

This is because the expected operation has already been completed at the time of switching the application by performing a predetermined operation in another application in conjunction with the execution of the operation for an arbitrary application. Can be performed immediately.

For example, as shown in this embodiment,
When a window is opened and selected for each of three applications, (1) window opening, (2) window selection, and (3) application switching are performed for one application.
Step operations are required, and a total of 9 steps are required to perform this operation in each application. However, by using the present invention, a three-step operation is required for the first application in the same manner as in the related art, but the windows are already opened and the windows are selected for the remaining applications. Therefore, only the step of switching the application is required. Therefore, in this case, the same operation can be realized only by the operation of five steps. in this way,
Each time one interlocking operation is executed (the number of interlocked applications minus one), the step operation can be omitted.

Note that the original operation of the target application performed after the window is selected is not related to the present invention, and is not added to the operation step.

The second effect is that, after the additional work for defining the operation to be linked is performed, no special operation for executing the linked operation between the applications other than the normal operation of the application is required. That is.

This is because, as described in this embodiment, since a message delivered from the OS by an operation of an application is detected, a special operation only for starting an interlocking operation is not required.

A third effect is that no change is required for existing applications as a ripple effect.

The reason is the same as that described for the second effect.

[0057]

As described above, the software interlocking operation processing apparatus and method of the present invention group a series of operations to be interlocked among a plurality of applications and a message for detecting the start timing of the interlocking. Message registration means for registering the message as a message group, and comparing the first message delivered from the OS when the application is operated with the second message included in the message group registered in the message registration means to detect a match. And a message distributing means for distributing the remaining messages other than the first message registered in the message group including the first message detected by the message analyzing means. So frequently cut multiple applications If you Ete must be operated,
By performing an operation scheduled in advance in another application in conjunction with execution of an operation for an arbitrary application, the expected operation has already been completed at the time of application switching, and the required operation is immediately performed. Therefore, the operability can be improved.

After the additional work for defining the operation to be linked is performed, O
Since the message delivered from S is detected, there is an effect that a special operation only for starting the interlocking operation is not required.

Further, as a ripple effect, there is an effect that no change is required for an existing application.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a software-linked operation processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of registration of a message group in the message group registration table of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the software-linked operation processing method according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional software-linked operation processing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of macro registration in the macro registration table of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation in a conventional software-linked operation processing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,100 control processing means 2 message registration means 3 message analysis means 4 message distribution means 21 message group registration table 31 message acquisition means 32 message comparison means 200 macro registration means 201 macro registration table 210, 220 message groups 211, 212, 213 221, 222, 223
Message 300 macro execution accepting means 400 macro executing means 401 macro interpreter 510,520 macro 511,512,513,521,522,523
Macro language

Claims (6)

[Claims] A plurality of application programs are stored in one
A software-linked operation processing device having a function of simultaneously using and frequently switching between application programs on two computers, a control processing means for performing the entire processing, and a linkage target between the plurality of application programs Message registration means for grouping messages for detecting the start timing of a series of operations and interlocking and registering them as a message group; first message delivered from an operation system when operating an application program; and registration in the message registration means Message analysis means for comparing a second message included in the message group to detect a match, and a message group including the first message detected by the message analysis means. Registered first
And a message distribution unit for distributing the remaining messages other than the above message. 2. The message registration means according to claim 1, wherein said message registration means has a message group registration table for grouping and managing the registered messages.
The software-linked operation processing device as described in the above. 3. The message analysis means, wherein the message analysis means obtains the first message delivered from an operation system for operating an application program, and the obtained first message is registered in a message group. 2. The software-linked operation processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a message comparison unit that compares the table with a table. 4. The message group registration table stores a first message indicating an operation of opening a first window in a first application program and an operation of opening a second window in a second application program. A second message meaning an operation for opening a third window in the third application program;
A first message group having the following message; a fourth message indicating an operation of selecting the first window in the first application program; and a second message in the second application program. Fifth meaning operation to select
4. The software according to claim 3, wherein a second message group having a first message and a second message group having a third message indicating an operation of opening a third window in the third application program are registered. Interlocking operation processing device. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of application programs are
In a software interlocking operation processing method having a function of simultaneously using and frequently switching between application programs on two computers, each of a series of operations in each application program to be interlocked among the plurality of application programs Is defined as a message that is information for distribution from the operating system to each application program, each of the messages is registered as a message group for each of the series of operations, and all of the first messages distributed from the operating system are defined. And comparing the first message with a second message constituting the registered message group,
And receiving a message other than the second message of the message group by detecting a match of the second message, and each application program executes an operation corresponding to each of the registered messages of the message group. Characteristic software interlocking operation processing method. 6. A first step of detecting all the first messages delivered from the operating system by an operation of each of the plurality of application programs, and transmitting the detected first messages to the message group. A second step of comparing each of the messages to check if a registered second message has not been delivered; and if the first and second messages match in the second step, the message group A third step of sequentially delivering messages other than the second message.