JP2001265799A - Information retrieving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information retrieving method for automatically generating a user interface for utilizing an information service. SOLUTION: A client terminal 10 generates a user interface picture for retrieval condition input according to service access information 300 acquired from a repository 30 by running an information service support program 100. According to the parameter of retrieval conditions inputted by a user, a service request message M430 is generated and when an answer message M440 is received from a server 20-i, the retrieved result is displayed on the output picture generated according to the service access information 300.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information retrieval method, and more particularly, to an information retrieval method and system suitable for using various service information provided by distributed objects in a server / client system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a distributed environment, a plurality of objects are
As an architecture for supporting the creation of application programs that advance data processing in cooperation with each other while exchanging messages, for example, “Instant CORBA” (Robert
There is a CORBA that is introduced in the original book by Oafari / Dan Harkey / Jeri Edwards, Toshio Kimura / Yutaka Nagi / Hiroshi Sugiura / Katsutoshi Yasui.

[0003] An "object request broker (ORB)" which is the core of CORBA receives a request message from a requesting object and passes it to a request destination object. When the requested processing is completed, the processing result is received from the request destination object and passed to the request source object. Using the ORB, it is also possible to call a procedure for operating an object on another computer. Also, CO
The RBA architecture includes an interface repository. The interface repository is a distributed database in which the description of each object's interface, the methods supported by each object, and the metadata such as required parameters are registered. Each object dynamically accesses metadata information. These can be saved and updated.

[0004] CORBA supports both static and dynamic invocation in a client / server. Static invocation is an activation method that assumes that the requesting object already knows how to invoke when the requesting object invokes a method of another object,
Dynamic invocation is an activation method on the premise that, when invoking a method of another object, the requesting object acquires information necessary for invoking the method from the interface repository.

[0005] Nikkei Internet Technology, 199
“WWW” published in the June 2009 issue, pp. 170-171
(Common Gat) introduced in "How to link with server"
ewayInterface) and ASP (Active Server Pages)
This is for making the WWW server operate in cooperation with another server. The CGI is an HTT in which a WWW server indicates the location of a method application resource from a WWW browser of a client terminal by using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
A request for P (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is received, a program corresponding to the request is started, and the execution result of the program is described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Lap
nguage) is an interface for returning to the requesting WWW browser.

The ASP is a server-side script processing mechanism for a WWW server, and is operated by an ASP engine provided free of charge by Microsoft Corporation. WWW
Upon receiving an ASP start request by a URL from the WWW browser, the server starts the ASP engine. The ASP engine executes the script file (A
After reading the SP file) and running the script,
The HTML indicating the execution result is transmitted to the requesting WWW browser via the WWW server. By the above-mentioned CGI function, the program or ASP requested by the client
You can access other servers and databases when running the script in the file. That is, a user interface for using the information service and database of the existing server is provided in a WWW page format, and each client (WWW browser) can use another server or database in cooperation with the WWW server. it can.

[0007]

In the above CORBA,
By using dynamic invocation, even if the calling object does not know in advance how to invoke the method, at run time, it obtains the information necessary for invoking the method of the object from the interface repository, and dynamically executes the method. Can be started. However, the information registered in the above interface repository is
Only the information required to invoke the method, and the meaning of the method and parameters is unknown. Therefore, a user interface for using the method cannot be generated based on the information acquired from the interface repository.

Further, if the functions of the CGI and the ASP are used, a user interface for an information service provided by each server can be provided to each client terminal in the form of a WWW page. However, a procedure called by an ASP script or a CGI program can be provided. If a change is made and the calling method or the number of arguments is changed, or if a new server is created, it is necessary to rewrite the WWW page for the client or create a new WWW page.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate use of an information service by automatically generating a user interface screen required on a client terminal side to use various information services provided by a server. It is in. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information retrieval method that can use an information service without changing a client-side program even when a method of calling a service provided by a server is changed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a client terminal having a function of automatically generating a user interface screen for inputting conditions and an output screen of service information indicating search results in accordance with a service provided by a server. And a client-server system.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an information retrieval method according to the present invention comprises at least a server address and an input parameter serving as a retrieval condition corresponding to an information service name provided by a server. A service access information entry including defined input format definition information and output format definition information defining output parameters indicating a search result is prepared, and the client terminal performs a specific service access corresponding to the service specified by the user. A user interface screen for inputting search conditions is generated based on the input format definition information of the information entry, and a service request message including an information service name and a parameter value input by a user on the user interface screen is transmitted to the specific service access information. The server indicated by the entry Send to dress, and displaying the search result of the service information notified in the reply message from the server to the output screen generated based on the output format definition information of the specific service access information entry.

The specific service access information entry can be obtained, for example, from a repository in which a plurality of service access information entries are stored in advance. in this case,
The client terminal first obtains the information necessary for the menu screen for service selection from the repository, and at the stage specified by the user on the menu screen, the input format definition information and the output format definition information for the specific service. Is obtained, the memory capacity for storing the service access information can be saved.

A part of the service access information entry described above may be obtained from each server for the information service. That is, the information service server holds, for each information service provided, input format definition information defining input parameters serving as search conditions and output format definition information defining output parameters indicating search results. The client terminal obtains input format definition information and output format definition information corresponding to the specified service from a server executing a specific information service specified by a user, and obtains a search condition based on the input format definition information. A service request message including an information service name and a parameter value input by a user on the user interface screen is transmitted to a server address indicated by the specific service access information entry, and a response message from the server is generated. Notified by Results of the service information, may be displayed on the output screen generated based on the output format definition information.

The user interface screen and the output screen for inputting the search condition using the service access information described above may be collectively generated by a specific server and distributed in response to a request from each client device. . For example, a user interface screen for inputting search conditions generated based on the input format definition information of each service access information entry is stored in a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and a client terminal having a WWW browser function can store a request. In response, the WWW server transmits a user interface screen for inputting a search condition of the designated service to the client terminal, and the WWW server transmits the information service name, the parameter value, and the information service based on the search condition input data received from the client terminal. Is generated and transmitted to the server address indicated by the specific service access information entry corresponding to the specified service, and the WWW server is configured to output the message based on the output format definition information of the specific service access information entry. , Sir Alternatively, an output screen including the search result of the service information notified by the response message from the server may be generated and transmitted to the client terminal.

According to the present invention, the user is allowed to specify a plurality of services on the menu screen for selecting services, and when a plurality of services are specified, a plurality of services for inputting search conditions required by these services are provided. Can be displayed at the same time. In this case, when one parameter value is determined by allowing the user to specify the correspondence between any parameter serving as a search condition of the first service and any parameter serving as a search condition of the second service, The other parameter value in the correspondence can be automatically set.

Further, by specifying an execution order for a plurality of designated services and simultaneously displaying a search result output screen for one service and a user interface screen for inputting search conditions of the next service, the user can be provided with a previous service. It is also possible to specify the next search condition while referring to the search result. Also in this case, the parameter value of the first service is changed by specifying the correspondence between any parameter indicating the search result of the first service and any parameter serving as the search condition of the second service. It can be set automatically as a parameter value.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the client / server system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a general-purpose client terminal that calls an information service (object) in response to a request from a user, and presents the execution result of the request to the user.
0-i (i = 1 to n) are server computers (hereinafter simply referred to as servers) for providing an information service connected to the client terminal 10 via the communication network 1. Each server 20-i has a plurality of objects 21-ij that provide different information services, and stores service information 23-ij corresponding to each of the objects in a database 22-i. Reference numeral 30 denotes a repository for providing information (hereinafter, referred to as service access information) for accessing the objects 21 distributed to the respective servers 20-i (i = 1 to n). The service access information is a repository file. 31.

The client terminal 10 has a processor 1
1, a memory 12, a display device 13, an input device 14 including a mouse, and a communication interface 15. The memory 12 stores an OS for operating as a general-purpose client terminal, communication software, and various application programs. . The client terminal 10
Has an information service support program 100 described later as software unique to the present invention, and a user interface information definition table 200 as an information storage area referred to by the information service support program.
An access information table 220 is provided.

In this embodiment, the client terminal 10
Before acquiring the service information from the server 20 (20-1,..., 20-n), a service access information request message M410 is transmitted to the repository 30. When the service access information is obtained from the repository 30 by the response message M420, the client terminal 10 generates a user interface screen for service information search based on the service access information, and displays it on the display device 14. When the user inputs search conditions from the input device 14 in accordance with the above-mentioned user interface screen, the client terminal 10 generates a service request message M440 including the search conditions and transmits the generated service request message M440 to a specific server serving as a service provider, for example, the server 20. -1. The relationship between the service type (service name) and the address of the provider server is known from the reply message M420 from the repository 30. When receiving the answer message M440 including the search result from the server 20-1, the client terminal 10 displays the search result on the display device 1.
4 and waits for a response from the user.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show one of the service access information 300 stored in the repository file 31.
Here is an example. The repository file 31 includes (A) in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of access information entries 300 (300-1, 300-3) corresponding to the service information 23 (or the object 21) provided by the servers 20-1 to 20-n.
00-2,...) Are stored.

Each access information entry 300 includes a service name 301, a service display name 302 indicating a service name to be displayed on the user interface screen, and a search condition input in a record unit or a table unit including a plurality of records. An input type 303 indicating whether to perform
An input format pointer 30 pointing to an input format definition table defining input parameters serving as search conditions
4, an output type 305 indicating whether the search result is output in units of records or a table, an output format pointer 306 pointing to an output format definition table defining output parameters indicating the search results,
And the address 307 of the server providing the service.

FIG. 2B shows an access information entry 300-1 as an example of an input format definition table.
4 shows an input format definition table 310-1 for searching for flights linked to the input format pointer 304 of FIG. Input format definition table 31 for flight search
0-1 is a plurality of entries 3101-1 to 3101 equal to the number of input parameters required for the flight search service.
-4, each entry has a parameter name 311 and
It includes a parameter format 312, a display name 313 of the parameter in the user interface, and an annotation character string 314 indicating restrictions and explanations of possible values of the parameter.

In the flight search service exemplified here,
As search conditions, as indicated by the parameter name 311, the departure date (STARTDATE), departure place (STARTPLACE),
Designate four parameters: destination (DESTPLACE) and seat class (SEATCLASS). Each parameter is input as an integer value as specified by the parameter type 312. The year of the departure date is specified by a four-digit number (YYYY), and the month and day are specified by two-digit numbers (MM) and characters (DD).
The class of the seat is specified by the number defined in the respective annotation 314.

FIG. 2C shows an access information entry 300-1 as an example of an output format definition table.
10 shows an output format definition table 320-1 for flight search linked to the output format pointer 306 of FIG. Output format definition table 32 for flight search
0-1 is a plurality of entries 3201-1 to 320 corresponding to parameters serving as output data items of the flight search result.
Each entry includes a parameter name 321, a parameter format 322, a display name 323 of the parameter in the user interface, and restrictions and explanations of possible values of the parameter, similarly to the definition entry of the input parameter. And an annotation character string 324 shown in FIG.
Note that 324F is a flag for indicating an item for which annotation display is required on the search result output screen.

In the airmail search service exemplified here,
Each flight that matches the search conditions is a departure flight ID (FLIGHTID),
It is represented by a record consisting of five parameters: airline (AIRLINE), departure time (DEPTTIME), seat number (SEATID), and seat class (SEATCLASS). In the access information entry 300-1 for flight search, the output type 305 is "table", and when a plurality of flights are found by the search, a plurality of records indicating the search results are displayed in a table format. become.

FIG. 3 shows a format of a search request message M430 transmitted from the client terminal 10 to the server 20-1 for performing an airline search service. The communication between the client terminal 10 and the server 20 and the communication between the client terminal 10 and the repository 30 include, for example, an IP header 401 and an upper layer header 402.
And an IP packet including a data section 403. The IP address DA of the destination device and the IP address SA of the source device are set in the header portion 401 of each IP packet, and the content of the message is set in the data portion 403. Flight search service request message M430
Is a message type 431, a service name 432,
And a search condition 433. In the search condition 433, four parameter values 433A to 433D specified in the input format definition table 310-1 of the access information 300-1 for the flight search service are set.

FIG. 4 shows a search result reply message M44 returned from the server 20-1 to the client terminal 10.
0 indicates the format. The answer message M440 is
A message type 441, a service name 442, and a plurality of records 443 (443-1, 443-
2,...), And these records are separated by delimiter marks 444 (444-1, 444-2,...). Each record is an output format definition table 32 of the access information 300-1 for the flight search service.
Five parameter values 443A-44 specified by 0-1
3E. The response message M440 is, like the request message M430, the data part 403 of the IP packet.
And transmitted to the requesting client terminal via the communication network 1.

FIG. 5 shows an output format 450 in a table format for displaying the search result obtained by the answer message M440. Item display entry 450-0
In the columns 451 to 455, the parameter display names 323 defined in the output format definition table 320-1 for flight search are set in entry order, and the data entries 450-i (i = 1, 2,...) Each record 443-i (i =
1,,...) Are set.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a user interface screen output to the display device 14 of the client terminal in the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a user interface screen for a flight search service that is automatically generated from the input format definition table 310-1 for a flight search when the client terminal 10 executes the information service support program 100. (Search condition input screen) 500 is shown.

The input screen 500 includes a service name display area 501, a parameter display area 502, and an operation button display area 503.
OK button 503A and CANCEL button 50
3B is displayed, and in the service name display area 501, the service access information entry 300-1 for the flight search is displayed.
A character string obtained by adding "input" to the character string "airmail search" indicated by the service display name 302 defined in "1."

The parameter display area 502 has a plurality of sub-areas 502-i (i = 1 to 1) corresponding to the parameter names 311 included in the input format definition table 310-1.
4), and each of the sub-regions 502-i is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the parameter name display area 5 defined in advance
02A, a parameter value input area 502B, and an annotation display area 502C. In the parameter display area 502 illustrated in FIG. 6A, a display name 313 indicated by each entry 3101-i of the input format definition table 310-1 and an annotation character string 314 of the input data are set in the display areas 502A and 502B. It is formed by doing.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a search result output screen 510 obtained by the airline search service. The search result output screen 510 includes a service name display area 511, a search result display area 512, an annotation display area 513, and an operation button display area 514. The operation button display area 514 includes an OK button 514A and a cancel button 514A. (CANCE
L) button 514B is displayed, and in the service name display area 511, the character string "air search" indicated by the service display name 302 defined in the service access information entry 300-1 for air search is displayed as "result". Is displayed.

In the search result display area 512, an output format 450 in a table format showing the flight search results described with reference to FIG. 5 is displayed. In the annotation display area 513, the display flag (*) in the output format definition table 320-1 for airmail search shown in FIG.
The comment character string of the entry in which the (mark) 324F is set is displayed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the user interface definition table 200. The user interface definition table 200 includes a service name 201 and a plurality of entries 210 corresponding to parameters. The user interface definition table 200 illustrated here is for a flight search, and has four entries 210-corresponding to the number of parameters displayed on the input screen 500 shown in FIG.
1 to 210-4. Each entry is composed of a parameter name 202, an input area coordinate 203, and a parameter value 204.
The parameter name 311 defined in the input format definition table 300-1 is set as the parameter name 202. Also, input area coordinates 2
In 03, coordinate data for determining each parameter value input area (502B-1 to 502B-4) on the input screen 500 is set, and in the parameter value 204, the user inputs to each of the above parameter value input areas. The parameter value is stored.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the input screen 5
The parameter display area 502 of 00 is composed of a plurality of sub-areas 502-i corresponding to parameters, and the parameter value input area 502B is defined at a predetermined position in each sub-area. Within 500, they are arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y-axis direction. Therefore,
If each parameter value input area is defined by relative coordinates with respect to a representative position of the input screen (window), for example, the upper left corner of the service name display area 501, the input screen (window) By determining the position of each parameter value input area on the display device 14 from the representative position coordinates, it is possible to determine whether the cursor moving on the screen has specified any of the above parameter value input areas.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the information service support program 100 executed on the client terminal 10. Information service support program 100
Is activated, for example, when the user selects a specific icon displayed on the desktop screen of the client terminal 10. When the program 100 is executed, the client terminal requests the transmission of service access information using the previously provided address of the repository 30 as the destination address.
10 is generated, transmitted to the communication network 1 (step 101), and waits for a response message M420 from the repository 30 (102). In response to the message M410, the repository 30
The service access information stored in “0” is read and transmitted to the requesting client terminal 10 as a response message M420.

From the repository 30 to the client terminal 10
The service information is supplied to the access information entry 300-i (i = 1, 2,...) Stored in the repository file 31 by the response message M420.
3,...) May be transmitted, but in this embodiment, the transmission of the service access information is divided into two stages, and the answer message M420 contains information necessary for the user to select a service, for example, a service name. Only the specific item data such as the service name 301 and the service display name 302 are transmitted, and upon receiving a request for transmitting detailed information by designating the service name from the client terminal, the input format definition table 310 for the specified service is received. And all the item data of the access information entry including the output format definition table 320.

The client terminal 10 is connected to the repository 30
, The received service access information is stored in the access information table 200, and the access information entries 300-1, 300-
A menu screen for service selection listing the service display names 302 of 2,... Is output to the display device 14 (103),
Wait for the user to specify the service (104). The menu screen for selecting the service includes a service display name 302
The selection buttons are arranged in correspondence with the character strings defined in the sub-areas, and can be generated by repeating the display of the fixed-format sub-areas in the same manner as the search input screen described with reference to FIG.

When the user specifies a specific service on the menu screen, the client terminal 10 requests the repository 30 to transmit service access information on the specified service, and a user interface corresponding to the specified service, for example, FIG. Condition input screen 50 shown in
0 is generated and displayed on the display device 14 (105). As will be described later, at this point, a user interface definition table 200 corresponding to the condition input screen is formed, and preparations are made to store the parameter values input by the user on the condition input screen in association with each parameter name.

The client terminal 10 performs an operation according to a user's input operation on the condition input screen (10).
6). For example, when the user cancels (C
If the user clicks the (ANCEL) button 503B, the program ends. When the user performs a data input operation by clicking on the parameter value input area 502B, the cursor position is compared with the input area coordinates 203, so that the corresponding entry 210 in the user interface definition table 200 shown in FIG. -I is specified, and the input data is stored as the parameter value 204 of the specified entry 210-i (107).

An instruction by the user to complete data input, for example,
When the OK button 503A is clicked on the input screen 500, a service request message M430 is generated with the server address 307 defined in the access information entry of the specified service as a destination address, and transmitted to the communication network 1 (108 ). The service request message M430 includes the service name 201 stored in the user interface definition table 200 and the parameter values 204 of the entries 210-1, 210-2,.
Are arranged in the message format shown in FIG. 3, for example.

The client terminal 10 waits for an answer message from the server to be received (109), and upon receiving the answer message from the server, edits the service information (search result) included in the message, and for example, The service information output screen 510 shown in FIG. 7 is generated and output to the display device 14 (110). Waiting for the user's response input (111), if the OK button 514A is clicked, the information service support program is terminated,
If the cancel (CANCEL) button 514B is clicked, the process returns to step 105.

FIG. 10 shows a detailed flowchart of the user interface screen generation routine 105 in the information service support program 100. When the user specifies a specific service display name 302-j on the menu screen, the client terminal 10 specifies a service name 301-j of the specific service and generates a request message requesting transmission of detailed service access information. Is transmitted to the repository 30 (step 120). Waiting for a reply message from the repository 30 (121),
When the response message is received, the received service access information entry 300-j is stored in the access information table 22.
After storing the value in 0, a user interface screen, for example, the condition input screen 500 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in the following procedure.

First, "input" is added to the character string of the service display name 302 to generate a service name display area 501 indicating the user interface title (122). Next, the user interface definition table 2 shown in FIG.
After setting the service name 201 to 00 (123) and initializing the parameter i for the entry counter (124),
The parameter i is incremented (125).

Service access information entry 300-j
Focusing on the i-th entry 3101-i of the input format definition table 310-j attached to the i-th parameter, generates an i-th parameter input sub-region 502-i including the display name 313 of the i-th parameter and the annotation character string 314 ( 126).
Further, an i-th entry including the parameter name 311 of the i-th parameter and the coordinate value of the parameter value input area 502B-i in the i-th parameter input sub-area 502-i is added to the user interface definition table 200. (127).

Input format definition table 310-j
It is determined whether or not the i-th parameter is the final parameter from the number of entries (128).
Returning to step 125, generation of the next parameter input sub-area and addition of an entry to the user interface definition table are repeated. When the ith parameter is the last parameter, the operation button display area 503 shown in FIG.
Generate

FIG. 11 is a detailed flowchart of the service information output screen generation routine 110 in the information service support program 100. Upon receiving the answer message M440 indicating the search result from the server, the client terminal 10 acquires the service display name 302 from the service access information entry 300-j stored in the access information table 220 (step 131), and returns to FIG. After the service name display area 511 of the search result output screen 510 shown is generated (132), the output type 305 indicated by the service access information entry 300-j is determined (133).

When the output type is a table type, a table frame of the search result display area 512 shown in FIG.
In each cell in the first row, an output format definition table 320-j associated with the service access information entry
The parameter display names 323 read from the respective entries are sequentially displayed (134). The number of columns in the above table frame is
The number of rows matches the number of entries in the output format definition table 320-j, and the number of rows is a value obtained by adding the number of records included in the answer message M440 to one row for displaying the parameter name. Next, the parameter values 443A to 443E extracted from the records 443 included in the response message M440 are sequentially set in blank lines of the table frame (13).
5). Once the search results (parameter values) have been displayed,
An annotation display area 513 including the annotation character string 324 designated by the flag 324F in the output format definition table 320-j is generated (136), and finally, an operation button display area 514 including an OK button and a cancel (CANCEL) button. Generate.

When the output type is the record type, it is assumed that the search result received in the answer message M440 is one, and one parameter is displayed on each line in the search result display area 512. Therefore, after initializing the parameter i for entry count (141), the parameter i is incremented (142), and the i-th entry of the output format definition table 310-j is added to the i-th line of the search result display area 512. Parameter display name 323
And the i-th correspondingly extracted from the answer message
If the value of the parameter is displayed side by side, and if the comment string 324 specified by the flag 324F is present in the i-th entry of the output format definition table 310-j, this is displayed after the parameter value (143). . still,
The annotation character string 324 may be displayed for all entries regardless of the flag 324F. Further, after displaying the parameter display name and the parameter value, it may be displayed at a line feed position.

It is determined whether or not the i-th parameter is the last parameter (144). If the i-th parameter is not the last parameter, the flow returns to step 142 to repeat the above operation.
If the i-th parameter is the last parameter, an operation button display area 514 is generated in step 137. According to the present embodiment, each client terminal 10
0, a user interface for accessing any service distributed to a plurality of servers can be automatically generated based on service access information obtained from
Eliminates the need to pre-maintain a unique client application for each service.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the client / server system according to the present invention in which a plurality of services can be simultaneously used on one user interface screen. FIG. 12 shows a configuration of a client terminal 10 applied to the second embodiment. The client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment includes a correspondence parameter management table 230 and an execution service list 2 in addition to the components shown in FIG.
40. The execution service list 240 indicates a service execution order in a sequential execution mode in which a plurality of services are sequentially executed. In addition, the correspondence parameter management table 230 defines the correspondence between two parameters belonging to different services in advance, so that when one parameter value is determined,
This is for automatically determining the other parameter value corresponding to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
It includes a plurality of entries including a parameter definition field 231, a second parameter definition field 232, and a status flag 233.

The first and second parameter definition fields 231 and 232 contain service names 231A and 231A, respectively.
32A, parameter names 231B and 232B are set, and a status flag 133 is set with a flag bit indicating the validity of the entry. Note that by increasing the number of parameter definition fields in the corresponding parameter management table 230, it is possible to simultaneously define the correspondence between three or more parameters.

FIG. 14 shows a service menu screen 5 output to the display device 14 to allow the user to specify the type of service to be executed and the search mode in this embodiment.
30 shows an example. The service menu screen 530 includes a screen title display area 531 and a service selection area 532.
And a search mode designation area 533. In the screen title display area 531, for example, “service menu” is displayed.
Is displayed. The service selection area 532 includes a plurality of sub areas 532-1 and 532-corresponding to each entry of the service access information provided by the repository 30.
The selection button 532 and the service name 532B (the service display name 302 defined in each entry of the service access information) are displayed in each sub-region 532-i. By clicking the corresponding selection button, the service to be executed can be specified.

A search mode designation area 533 includes a designated service display window 534 for sequentially displaying the service names selected in the service selection area 532, and an OK button.
Button 533A and Cancel (CANCEL) Button 5
33B and a button 533 for designating a search mode
C, 533D. In this embodiment, there are two search modes: a simultaneous execution mode in which a plurality of selected services are simultaneously executed, and a sequential execution mode in which the selected services are sequentially executed.

FIG. 15 shows a user interface (search condition) displayed when the user specifies a plurality of (two in this example) services to be executed on the service menu screen 530 and selects the simultaneous execution mode 533C. Input screen) 540 is shown. The search condition input screen 540 is
The first service name display area 541-1 and the parameter display area 542 correspond to the service specified by the user.
First, a second service name display area 541-2 and a parameter display area 542-2 are provided. Following the second parameter display area 542-2, an operation button display area 543 is provided.
And a parameter correspondence list display area 544.

In each of the service name display areas 541-i, a character string obtained by adding "input" to the display name of the designated service is displayed. Further, each of the above parameter display areas 5
42-i is similar to the input screen 500 described in FIG.
It has a parameter name display area 502A, a parameter value input area 502B, and an annotation display area 502C, and includes a select (SEL) button 502D as a new element. The selection button 502D is used when specifying the correspondence between parameters, as described later.

The parameter list display area 544 is
A character string 454 indicating an area title, a parameter correspondence list 546, an association button 504A, and a delete button 504B are included. The above parameter correspondence list 546
Consists of a plurality of rows 546-1, 546-2,... Displaying the corresponding first and second parameters, respectively. In each row, the service display name and the parameter display name of the first and second parameters are displayed. You.

In the search condition input screen 540, the service name display area 541-i and the parameter display area 54
The number of generated 2-i is proportional to the number of service types specified by the user on the service menu screen 530. If the user designates only one service, the selection button 502D and the parameter correspondence list display area 544 become meaningless, and the function of the search condition input screen 540 is as shown in FIG.
Is substantially the same as the screen 500 shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a user interface (search condition input screen) 550 displayed when the user specifies a plurality of services to be executed on the service menu screen 530 and selects the sequential execution mode 533D. Is shown. In the sequential execution mode, a search condition for the next specified service is input while referring to a search result for one service specified by the user.

In FIG. 16, the service name display area 55
1, search result display area 552, and operation button display area 55
Reference numeral 3 denotes a display screen of a search result for the first designated service. The service name display area 561, the parameter display area 562, and the button display area 563 constitute a search condition input screen for the next designated service. The subsequent parameter correspondence list display area 544 is the same as that in the simultaneous execution mode shown in FIG.

In this example, the search result display area 552 is
The output type is a record type, and includes a plurality of sub-areas 552-1 to 552-6 corresponding to the output parameters 321 defined in the output format table 320. Each sub-area 552-i has a parameter display name 552.
A, parameter value 552B, and comment string 552C
And a selection button 552D are displayed. Display areas 561 and 5 serving as search condition input screens for the next designated service
62 and 563 are generated similarly to the user interface 500 of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the information service support program 600 for realizing the second embodiment described above. Information service support program 60
0, the client terminal 10 transmits a request message M410 requesting transmission of service access information to the repository 30 (step 60).
1). When the response message M420 including the service access information (service list information) is received (602), for example, the menu screen 5 for service selection shown in FIG.
30 is output to the display device 14 (603). The above procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the menu screen is different. In this state, the process waits for an input from the user (604), and performs a process according to the user input.

When the user clicks the cancel button 533B (605), the program ends. The user selects one of the selection buttons displayed in the service selection area 532, for example, the i-th selection button 532A-
When i is clicked (606), the service name 301 and the service display name 302 are read from the i-th service access information entry of the access information table 220 corresponding to the selection button, and the service name 301 is executed and the execution service list 240 is executed. And displays the service display name 302 in the designated service display window 534 of the menu screen 530 (616), and waits for the next user input.

When the user clicks the simultaneous execution button 533C (607), the execution mode is set to simultaneous execution (617). When the user clicks the sequential execution button 533D (608), the execution mode is set to sequential execution. (61
8) After that, wait for the next user input. If the user clicks the OK button 533A (609), the execution mode is determined (610). If the simultaneous mode is set, the simultaneous mode execution processing routine 620 is performed. If the sequential mode is set, the sequential mode is set. Execution processing routine 650
Execute

FIG. 18 is a detailed flowchart of the simultaneous mode execution processing routine 620 in FIG. In the simultaneous mode execution processing routine 620, the service specified by the user registered in the execution service list 240 is
The corresponding service access detailed information is obtained from the repository 30, and on the display screen, for example, a user interface screen (a service name display area 541 and a parameter display area 542 composed of a parameter display area 542) for each designated service shown in FIG. Screens) must be generated sequentially.

Therefore, first, the parameter i for entry count is initialized (step 621A), the value of the parameter i is incremented (621B), and the ith service name registered in the execution service list 240 is read out. (622), the i-th service name corresponding to the service name
A user interface screen generation process (623) is executed. In the display processing 623, steps 120 to 128 of the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

The above-described processing is repeated for all service names registered in the execution service list 240,
When the display processing of the user interface screen for the last designated service is completed (624), the operation button display area 543 and the parameter correspondence list display area 544 shown in FIG. 15 are generated (625). At this point, the parameter correspondence list 546 includes only table frames having no display data in each cell. By the above processing operation, a user interface screen 540 for simultaneously executing a plurality of services is displayed on the display device 14, and a plurality of user interface definition tables 200 corresponding to each designated service are stored in the memory of the client terminal.
-I is prepared. In this embodiment, a flag area for storing the state of the selection (SEL) button is provided in each entry of the user interface definition table 200-i.

Waiting for a user input operation on the user interface screen 540 (626), the parameter display area 54
When data (parameter value) is input to any of the parameter value input areas 502B of 2-i (627), the corresponding entry 21 in the user interface definition table 200-i is determined by the same determination processing as in the first embodiment.
0-k is specified, and the input parameter value is stored as the parameter value 204 of the specified entry 210-k (628). Thereafter, the parameter name 202 of the specific entry 210-i is stored in the corresponding parameter management table 230.
It is determined whether or not it has been registered as a valid entry in
9).

If the parameter name 202 matches the first parameter name 231B or the second parameter name 232B of any of the valid entries registered in the corresponding parameter management table 230, ie, the user interface screen 540 Parameter correspondence list 54
If the value matches any of the parameters displayed in 6, the same value as the parameter value 204 is set to the other parameter corresponding to the parameter (630), and then the next user operation is waited for.

The other parameter corresponding to the input parameter is managed in another user interface definition table 200-j indicated by the service name 231A or 232A in the corresponding parameter management table 230. The setting of the parameter value in the step 630 includes storing the parameter value 204 in the corresponding entry in the other user interface definition table 200-j, and setting the parameter display area 5 on the user interface screen.
42-j means that the parameter value is displayed in the input area 502B corresponding to the other parameter.

When any one of the selection (SEL) buttons 502-m in the parameter display area 542-i is clicked (631), the display state of the selection buttons is switched and the corresponding one of the user interface definition table 200-i is changed. At the entry 210-m, the selection button state flag is turned on. When the associating button 504A is clicked (632), two entries in which the selection button state flag is in the on state are found by referring to each user interface definition table 200, and the respective service names 201 and corresponding entries are found. The parameter name 202 of the entry is included in the first and second parameters 231 and 232,
The state flag 233 registers a new entry in the ON state in the corresponding parameter management table 230 (64
2).

At this time, the display name 3 of the service name 201 and the parameter name 202 is obtained from the access information table 220.
02, 313 and displays them in the parameter correspondence list 546 on the user interface display screen as the correspondence specified by the user. Also, one of the two entries in the user interface definition table already has a parameter value 2
04 is stored, as in step 630,
This value is set as the parameter value of the other entry in the corresponding relationship. When these processes are completed, the display state of the selection button is switched to the non-selection state, and the selection button state flag is switched to the off state in the corresponding entry of the user interface definition table 200-i.

When any of the entries displayed in the parameter correspondence list 546 on the user interface screen is selected (633), the status flag 233 of the corresponding entry on the corresponding parameter management table 230 is turned on (643). . If the release button 504B is clicked (634), the entry whose status flag 233 is ON in the corresponding parameter management table 230 is deleted, and the entry corresponding to the above-mentioned deleted entry is displayed from the parameter correspondence list 546 on the user interface screen. Is erased (644).

When the OK button 503A is clicked (635), the user interface definition table 20
The service request messages M430 generated one after another on the basis of 0-i are transmitted to each server corresponding to the service, and the search results received from these servers by the response message M440 are edited on the output screen and displayed on the display device 14 ( 645). Individual service request message M430
Is generated in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, the output screen of the search result is edited every time the answer message is received, in steps 131 to 1 of the display routine shown in FIG.
44 may be repeated, and the operation button display step 137 may be executed with the last answer message.

When the OK button 514A is clicked on the output screen of the search result (646), this routine is terminated and the cancel (CANCEL) button 51 is clicked.
If 4B is clicked, the process returns to the first step 620 to redisplay the user interface screen for inputting search conditions. If the cancel (CANCEL) button 503B is clicked on the user interface screen 540 (636), this routine ends, otherwise, the process returns to step 626 and waits for the next possible user.

FIG. 19 is a detailed flowchart of the sequential mode execution processing routine 650 in FIG. In the sequential mode execution processing routine 650, for each user-specified service registered in the execution service list 240, display of a user interface screen for inputting search conditions, output processing of search results according to the search conditions input by the user, and Is sequentially repeated.

First, an entry count parameter i
Is set to 1 (step 651), a user interface screen is generated for the i-th (first) designated service registered in the execution service list 240, and the user inputs a search condition (652). Thereafter, the request message M including the search condition of the i-th service
430-i, and the response message M4 from the server.
An output screen indicating the search result received by 40-i is output to the display device 14 (653). Generation of the i-th user interface screen and input of search conditions (652)
Is the same as steps 105 to 107 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 described in the first embodiment, and the processing (653) from the transmission of the request message M430-i to the display of the search result is performed in steps 108 to 110 in the above flowchart. Is the same as

In the search result output screen, button input is determined (654), and a cancel (CANCEL) button 514B
If is clicked, the flow returns to step 652 to display the user interface screen for inputting search conditions again. If the OK button 514A is clicked, it is determined whether or not the output screen is a search result for the last designated service (655). If the output screen is for the last designated service, this routine ends. .

If the output screen is not of the last designated service, the value of the parameter i is incremented (65).
6) A user interface screen (service name display area 56) for inputting search conditions for the i-th designated service (next designated service) registered in the execution service list 240
1. Parameter display area 562, operation button area 56
3) and a parameter correspondence list display area 544 are generated and displayed on the display screen in a form added to the search result of the immediately preceding designated service (657). The user interface screen for inputting the search condition includes an execution service list 240
10 can be generated based on the service name of the i-th designated service registered in the.

Waiting for a user input on the user interface screen (658), if data (parameter value) is input to any of the parameter value input areas 502B of the parameter display area 562 (659), the simultaneous mode execution processing is performed. In the user interface definition table 20 as in steps 628 to 630 in FIG.
It is stored as the parameter value 204 of the corresponding entry 210-k in 0-i (660), and the specific entry 21
It is determined whether or not the parameter name 202 of 0-i has been registered as a valid entry in the corresponding parameter management table 230 (661). If the parameter name has been registered, the parameter value is assigned to the other parameter corresponding to this. The same value as 204 is set (662).

When any of the selection (SEL) buttons in the parameter display area 562 is clicked (671),
The display state of the selection button is switched, and the selection button state flag is switched on in the corresponding entry of the user interface definition table 200-i (68).
1). When the associating button 504A is clicked (672), step 64 in the simultaneous mode execution processing is performed.
Similarly to 2, a new entry including two corresponding parameter names is registered in the corresponding parameter management table 230, displayed on the parameter correspondence list 546 on the user interface display screen, and one parameter value is in the corresponding relation. Set as the parameter value of the other entry,
The state of the selection button and the state of the selection button state flag in the corresponding entry of the user interface definition table 200-i are switched (682).

When any of the entries displayed in the parameter correspondence list 546 is selected (673),
The status flag 233 of the corresponding entry on the corresponding parameter management table 230 is switched to the ON state (683). When the release button 504B is clicked (674),
As in step 644 in the simultaneous mode execution processing,
Status flag 23 on the corresponding parameter management table 230
3 is deleted, and the corresponding entry is deleted from the parameter correspondence list 546 (68).
4).

When the OK button 503A is clicked (675), the currently displayed user interface for inputting search conditions of the i-th designated service is deleted (68).
5) After performing step 653,
A request message M430-i including the search condition of the i-th service is transmitted, and an output screen showing the search result received by the response message M440-i from the server is output to the display device 14. Cancel button 503B in the user interface for inputting search conditions
Is clicked (676), this routine is terminated; otherwise, the process returns to step 658 to wait for the next possible user.

According to the second embodiment, execution of a plurality of services designated by the user can be instructed simultaneously or sequentially. Also, by specifying the correspondence between parameters between different services, it is possible to use already input parameter values or parameter values indicated by search results as input parameters of other services, and to connect a plurality of types of service information to each other. It is possible to search in an associated form.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the client terminal 10 obtains all the service access information necessary for obtaining the service information from the server from the repository 30. However, a part of the service access information is obtained. For example, obtain the information required for generating a menu screen for service selection and server access from the repository, and
For example, the input format definition table 310 and the output format definition table 320 may be obtained from the service provider server 20-i.

Each server 20 that provides a service
In i, each object holds service-related access information, and the client terminal 10 transmits the service access information 300-j, the input format definition table 310-j, and the output format definition table 320-j from each object. You may make it acquire. In this case, the client terminal obtains only the correspondence between the service name (or object name) required on the service selection screen and the server from the repository as needed. According to this configuration, for example, when the access condition of the service information is changed, it is not necessary to update the contents of the repository file, so that the maintenance of the service information becomes easy. If the correspondence between the service name and the server is distributed from the management terminal connected to the communication network 1 or each server to the client terminal, access to the service information is possible even in an environment without the repository 30.

FIG. 20 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a user interface screen for inputting conditions generated from service access information is, for example,
A client terminal 10 having a WWW browser 18 is stored in a WWW server 40 in the form of a WWW page.
Are characterized by obtaining a user interface screen and an output screen by communicating with the WWW server 40. The WWW server 40 includes the processor 4
1, a memory 42, a program group 43 serving as a basic function of the WWW server, and a message generation / analysis routine 44.
, A WWW page generation routine 45, a WWW page memory 46, an access information table 47, and a communication interface 48.

The access information table 47 contains the service access information 300 and 31 obtained from the repository 30.
0 and 320 are stored. WWW page generation routine 4
5, a menu screen generation function for selecting a service shown in step 103 in FIG. 9, a user interface screen generation function 105 shown in FIG. 10, and an output screen generated based on a search result received from the server 20-i. The WWW page memory 46 includes a service selection menu screen generated from the service access information by the user interface screen generation function 105, and a service information output screen generation function 110 shown in FIG. A user interface screen for inputting each condition is stored in advance. The message generation / analysis routine 44 analyzes a message received from the WWW browser 18 and the information service server 20-i (i = 1 to n), and generates a message to be transmitted to these devices. And do.

In this embodiment, the user of the client terminal 10 communicates with the WWW server 40 through the WWW browser 18.
And accesses the information service server 20-i (i = 1 to n) via the WWW server 40. When the user of the client terminal 10 requests the service selection screen via the WWW browser 18, the WWW browser 1
8 transmits a menu screen transmission request message to the WWW server 40. The service selection menu screen read from the WWW page memory 46 is transmitted to the client terminal 10 in a page format and output to the display screen. Similarly, when the user specifies a service on the menu screen, a user interface screen 500 for inputting search conditions for the specified service is transmitted from the WWW server 40 to the client terminal 10 and output to the display screen.

The user enters the user interface screen 5
When the search condition is input at 00, the input data is transmitted to the WWW server 40, and the search request message M430 corresponding to the designated service generated by the message generation analysis routine 44 and corresponding to the specified service is sent to the information service server 20-i.
Sent to. WWW server 40 is the server 20-i
When the response message M40 is received from the client, an output screen 510 indicating the search result is generated by the WWW page generation routine 45 and transmitted to the client terminal 10. According to the present embodiment, since a user interface screen for inputting conditions necessary for using service information can be prepared in advance, each time a service is specified, the corresponding service access information is obtained and the user interface screen is obtained. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to edit the screen, and the user can be quickly provided with a screen for accessing service information.

[0090]

As is clear from the above description of the embodiment, according to the present invention, a unique service is provided for each service based on service access information prepared for an information service provided by a server. Since the user interface screen is generated and the output screen of the service information (search result) provided from the server is generated, each client terminal can add a new service or input an existing service on the server side. An information retrieval system capable of flexibly responding to changes in output conditions can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a client-server system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of service information 300 stored in a repository file 31.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a format of a search request message M430 transmitted from the client terminal 10 to the server 20.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a search result answer message M440 transmitted from the server 20 to the client terminal 10;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an output format in a table format for representing search results.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a user interface screen for inputting search conditions.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a search result output screen.

FIG. 8 shows a user interface definition table 200.
The figure which shows an example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the information service support program 100.

FIG. 10 shows the information service support program 100.
Routine 10 for Creating User Interface Screens
5 is a flowchart showing details of Step 5.

FIG. 11 shows the information service support program 100.
9 is a flowchart showing details of a service information output screen generation routine 110 in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a client terminal 10 applied to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a corresponding parameter management table 230 in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service menu screen according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of a user interface screen for inputting search conditions in a simultaneous execution mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen for inputting search conditions in a sequential execution mode.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an information service support program 600 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing details of a simultaneous mode execution processing routine 620 in the information service support program 600.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing details of a sequential mode execution processing routine 650 in the information service support program 600.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the client / server system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: client terminal, 11: processor, 12: memory, 13: display device, 14: input device, 100, 60
0: information service support program, 200: user interface definition table, 220: access information table, 230: corresponding parameter management table, 24
0: execution service list, 20: information service server, 21: object, 2: database, 30: repository, 31: repository file, 40: WWW server, 300: service access information entry, 31
0: input format definition table, 320: output format definition table, M430: search request message, M440: search result answer message, 450: table format output format, 500: user interface for condition input, 510: search result output Screen, 5
30: Service menu screen, 540: User interface screen in simultaneous execution mode, 550: User interface screen in sequential execution mode.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiya Chiba 1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi, Ltd.System Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Tetsuo Tanaka 1099 Ozenji Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. F term in system development laboratory (reference) 5B075 PP03 PP13 PQ02 5B085 BG07 CE01

Claims (5)

[Claims] At least a server address, input format definition information defining an input parameter serving as a search condition, and an output format definition defining an output parameter indicating a search result, corresponding to an information service name provided by a server. The client terminal generates a user interface screen for inputting search conditions based on the input format definition information of the specific service access information entry corresponding to the service specified by the user. A service request message including the information service name and the parameter value input by the user on the user interface screen is transmitted to the server address indicated by the specific service access information entry, and the service notified by the response message from the server is transmitted. Service information search method and displaying the search results of distribution, the output screen generated based on the output format definition information of the specific service access information entry. 2. The service information search method according to claim 1, wherein the client terminal acquires the specific service access information entry from a repository storing a plurality of service access information entries. 3. The client terminal acquires information necessary for a menu screen for service selection from the repository, and for a service specified by a user on the menu screen, input format definition information and output format definition information from the repository. The service information search method according to claim 2, wherein 4. An information service server holds, for each information service provided, input format definition information defining input parameters serving as search conditions and output format definition information defining output parameters indicating search results. The client terminal acquires input format definition information and output format definition information corresponding to the specified service from a server executing a specific information service designated by the user, and retrieves search conditions based on the input format definition information. A user interface screen for input is generated, a service request message including an information service name and a parameter value input by the user on the user interface screen is transmitted to a server address indicated by the specific service access information entry, and a Notified by answer message Service information search method and displaying the search result of the service information, the output screen generated based on the output format definition information. 5. Define at least a server address, input format definition information defining input parameters serving as search conditions, and output parameters indicating search results in correspondence with an information service name provided by an information service server. A service access information entry including the output format definition information obtained is prepared, and the WWW server stores a user interface screen for inputting search conditions generated based on the input format definition information of each of the service access information entries. In response to a request from a client terminal having a WWW browser function, a user interface screen for inputting search conditions for a designated service is transmitted from the WWW server to the client terminal, and the WWW server receives the request from the client terminal. Enter search conditions Based on the data, it generates a service request message including the information service names and parameter values,
This is transmitted to the server address indicated by the specific service access information entry corresponding to the specified service, and the WWW server notifies the response message from the server based on the output format definition information of the specific service access information entry. A service information search method, comprising: generating an output screen including a search result of the service information obtained by the search;