JP2001318996A - System and method for providing task application through network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a task application providing system and method through a network capable of using a task application as necessary even when any application is not present in the computer of a user, and paying a rental fee according as the application is used. SOLUTION: A user terminal 2 is provided with a browser equipped with a Java (R) virtual machine, and allowed to perform access through the Internet to an application server 1. A customer's terminal 3 is constituted as a portable terminal having an Internet connecting service. Then, the user terminal logs in the application server with its ID and password, and down-loads software components for inputting data, and inputs the data, and transmits the data to the application server. The application server processes the data by a task application, and the user terminal receives the processed data. The application server performs the charging processing of a fee for the data processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and a method for providing a business application via a network for providing business application services for small businesses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been a demand for a computer to process a task which has been performed by a person in response to a request for increasing the efficiency of the task and speeding up the processing. Such computerization required a large investment such as creation of computer hardware and software for systematization.

On the other hand, in recent years, a SOHO (Small Office Home Office) that uses a network such as the Internet to work at home or a small office has been receiving attention. Particularly for sole proprietors and venture entrepreneurs, there is an advantage that the business can be conducted with a small budget. Even in such a small business, computers and computers used for business
The applications of the system have traditionally been used for sale or lease.

[0004]

However, for sole proprietors and venture entrepreneurs,
Providing services using computer systems was an obstacle to initial capital investment. Also, you have to install and maintain the application on your machine,
There was a problem that the burden increased.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a computer system for providing a business application service to a customer without each business owner having its own business service system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a business application providing system and method via a network for each business owner as a user, which can provide a service equivalent to having the same.

Further, a mechanism is provided in which each user can use a business application at a necessary time when necessary. Furthermore, the price is not an application price, but an object of providing a service at a low price by charging a fee for use.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a server connected to a network,
A user terminal capable of accessing the server via the network, wherein the user terminal downloads, from the server, a login component for logging in to the server with a predetermined ID, and a software component for inputting and processing data. Data processing means for inputting and processing data in the software component, transmitting the data to the server, and receiving result data processed in the server, wherein the server has an ID from the user terminal. And an application processing means for receiving input data from the user terminal, processing the received data by the business application, and outputting result data. And

[0008] With the above configuration, even if an application does not exist on the user's computer, data input and the data can be processed by the business application.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a customer & reservation system to which the present invention is applied. The user terminal 2 used by the small business is connected to the application server 1 via the Internet. The customer terminal 3 used by the customer of the user (small business) can access the application server 1 via the Internet.
Although only one user terminal 2 and one customer terminal 3 are shown for simplicity of description, the present system is applicable to a plurality of user terminals 2 and customer terminals 3.

The application server 1 is a UNI
X (registered trademark) machine or the like, which is equipped with a reservation program for providing a business application service to a user. The reservation program manages customer data for each user and the reservation data. The customer data and the reservation data from the customer are managed separately for each user, and the data corresponding to each user is associated with each other for each type of business and each district, and can be searched by the customer.
The application server 1 stores a software component for inputting and processing data, and uploads the software component in response to a request from the user terminal 2.

The user terminal 2 is a personal computer or a game terminal, and is a Netscape Communicator, M
An application server 1 with a browser with a Java virtual machine such as icrosoft Internet Explorer
And have access to other servers. The customer terminal 3
It is a personal computer or the like on which a browser operates, or a mobile terminal having an Internet connection service such as a mobile phone i-mode (a trademark of NTT DOCOMO). In the i-mode, it connects to the Internet via a gateway server in the NTT DOCOMO packet network.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the hardware of the application server 1. System bus 11
Is connected to a CPU 12, a ROM 13, and a RAM 14.
Further, a magnetic disk device 15 is connected via an input / output interface 15a. The CPU 12 has a reduced instruction set RISC (reduced instruction set)
computer) that executes instructions and performs arithmetic processing. The BIOS (basic input / output) is stored in the ROM 13.
system) are stored as firmware. R
The AM 14 is a main memory, and stores programs and data read from the magnetic disk device 15. The magnetic disk device 15 stores an operating system, application programs, and the like, and also stores software components, a reservation program, and the like according to the present invention. Further, user data and customer data for each user created by the business application are stored as a database.

The system bus 11 is connected to input devices such as a keyboard 16 and a mouse 16b via an input interface 16a, a display 17 via a display interface 17a, and a printer 18 via an output interface 18a. . Further, the system bus 11 is connected to a network 20 via a communication interface 19, and is connected to a TCP / IP (transmission control).
l / internet protocol) to transmit / receive data to / from the user terminal 2, the customer terminal 3, etc. It also has a firewall to protect data from unauthorized access.

Next, the basic processing procedure of the above system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this system, the format of the data display item is determined for each type of business of the user, and the type of business is registered at the time of contract. First, the user terminal 2 logs in to the application server 1 with a browser using an ID and a password separately contracted (step 1). In the menu of the browser of the user terminal 2, HTM
Data input application (software component) using L file or Java applet
Is downloaded from the application server, and data is input using an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse (step 2). The data input-processed by the application on the browser from the user terminal 2 is transmitted to the application server 1 (step 3). The application server 1 processes the received data by a reservation program (business application), and adds a fee for the processing according to the data input / processing amount or usage time (step 4). The user terminal 2 receives and outputs the processed data from the application server 1 through a browser menu (step 5). The user terminal 2 logs off the application server 1 using a browser. However, the input data is retained during the contract period on the application server 1 side (step 6). The application server 1 performs a charging process for a fee for data processing during a predetermined period (step 7). The billing information is transferred to a billing server (not shown) together with the user ID, and further transferred to a server of a financial institution, for example, to debit the user's bank account.

In the above customer & reservation system, a user registers a customer and its reservation data in a database on an application server, and the data can be arbitrarily searched. Also, if the user
A customer can easily and arbitrarily search for a reservation status from a browser or i-mode via the Internet on a reservation table in a predetermined format created on a server. In the reservation registration, the telephone number of the customer is displayed on the screen of the user, and the user can immediately respond while viewing the reservation table.
In the access from the i-mode, a call back by automatic dialing is enabled by using a telephone number notification function. For a reservation from a customer by telephone or the like other than the Internet, the user inputs directly to the reservation table. In addition, a temporary reservation is made outside business hours or during a time period when it is impossible to respond. This system is most suitable for reservation management of beauty salons, restaurants (family restaurants), private clinics, golf courses, and the like.

Next, a specific example of the processing on the customer side in the above system will be described with reference to a reservation registration screen of a driving range shown in FIG. 4 as an example.

The customer brings up the main menu of the customer & reservation system from the browser or i-mode screen at the customer terminal. This first screen is mandatory and a paid banner is displayed. The banner refers to an advertisement form on a homepage, and when clicked, moves to the content of the provision destination. This is a source of income for those who provide homepages. If the target trader is not determined here, a search can be made for each type of business and district. (The companies to be searched form a community with this system, the user is free, and the other companies are charged.) Next, the basic authentication screen is displayed, and the member code /
Enter a password (in the case of i-mode, a telephone number is acceptable, in which case automatic authentication is also possible). If you are not a member, enter your guest, name your visitor,
After entering the contact information, issue a temporary member code. Thereafter, the customer can see the reservation table screen of the company (user) who wants to make a reservation (FIG. 4). The reservation table screen changes the reservation table to be disclosed depending on whether it is a member or a visitor. Also, information such as the last visit date can be added as customer data, and a paid banner can be displayed.

On the reservation table screen, information on calendar, reservation possible date (hour), reservation impossible date (hour), cancellation waiting date (hour), business hours, and holidays can be confirmed on the screen.
The customer checks the desired date and time from the reservation date and time.
If the schedule is uncertain and the reservation date and time cannot be determined, the first to third requests are checked, and the member adds a nomination in charge, reservation conditions, and the like, and makes a reservation. If no reservation is made, the operator returns to the original state, searches for another company, and can repeat the reservation registration work again. Normally, the number of registered customers is one, and members can enter up to the maximum number of reservations.

When the reservation is completed by clicking "Register", a screen indicating that a call is being made is displayed during business hours, a telephone call for confirmation is made by the reservation destination company, and final confirmation of the reservation is made.
If the business hours are not open or the reception is canceled, a screen for provisional reservation is displayed, and a call for confirmation is made later by the trader to confirm the reservation. In addition, additional information such as the number of people and the clerk nomination can be optionally specified.

Since the reservation is changed after the reservation is deleted, it does not exist. For reservation deletion, a list of currently reserved data is displayed based on the reservation deletion member code. The reservation detail data is displayed by selecting from the reservation data list. Then, the user confirms the reservation details data and confirms the deletion. Deletion of reservations and unused services after reservations are managed in a log,
A reservation limit is set for bad customers.

Next, a specific example of the processing on the user side will be described with reference to the reservation management screen of the driving range shown in FIG.

The user turns on the power of the user terminal, starts a browser (or software provided with a Java virtual machine), and calls an industry-specific main menu of the customer & reservation system. This first screen is indispensable, and a paid banner of a supplier valid for the type of business is displayed. User I
When the user enters the password D and sees the menu screen for each user, a banner is also displayed here. If you use this system for free, a banner will always be displayed on each screen.

Call the reservation table from the menu (FIG. 5),
Know the current reservation status. This screen is multi-frame and contains the necessary customer data (current reservation status,
Customer profile from a customer terminal) can be viewed at a time. Also, provisional reservation data accessed by the customer outside the business hours of the user is automatically distributed and can be confirmed. By setting up a reservation table, if a customer accesses a reservation via the Internet, the reservation program automatically responds to the reservation access by referring to the reservation availability information and accesses the user terminal to the user terminal. Notify in real time. That is, as described above, the reservation free information is displayed on the screen of the customer terminal, the reservation registration is displayed in accordance with the specification of the customer, and the fact that a confirmation call is received from the trader (user) is displayed. At that time, the application
The server notifies the user terminal of the ID and the like of the customer terminal accessed using the cookie (Cookie). The callback clicks the "phone" to confirm with the customer and changes the appointment table if there is any change. The provisional reservation is determined when the callback is made.

The customer is divided into a member and a visitor. In the case of a visitor, the user inputs customer data (name, telephone number, etc.). Also, when the inquiry from the customer is a telephone call, the user inputs a reservation and notifies the user by telephone. If the member fails to make a reservation, is canceled, etc., the log is referred to and the next action is taken to improve customer service. Also, since a log using the i-mode telephone number notification function is left for the visitor, customer data can be known. The customer data can be arbitrarily updated, and the customer data items are optimized according to the type of business as described above.

If the customer actually visits the reservation, the user attaches a visit flag. This process is optional. When the reservation data (business days, business hours, number of seats, etc.) is changed, maintenance is performed.

In the statistical management, statistical data effective for business is output from customer data and reservation data. In this case, information corresponding to the accuracy of the data (proportional to the number and accuracy of customer data input items) is provided. Data can be output to a local printer. It is not necessary for the user to back up the data.

The usage fee is charged according to the number of reservations (added when the reservation is completed, and is not deducted even if the cancellation is made after the reservation is completed). The reservation service provider provides a billing agency (credit company, etc.) on a monthly basis. Billed through. The contract is from the initial introduction month, and if payment is delayed for a certain period (for example, three months), a data is deleted after warning. During the suspension of service, data will be stored at an additional cost.

Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a golf driving range reservation screen as an example, a beauty salon, a restaurant (family restaurant), a private clinic, and the like may use a display screen optimized for each type of business. Can register and manage data.

In this embodiment, the user terminal accesses the application server via the Internet. However, the user terminal may access the application server via a local network such as an intranet.

As described above, the customer and reservation system according to the present embodiment downloads the data input application for inputting data from the application server and performs the reservation registration processing using the reservation program of the application server. Even if the application does not exist on the user's computer, the user can operate and manage the reservation data from the customer for each user. One more
One database can manage systems for multiple users. Further, the customer can make a reservation using the i-mode Web search. Therefore, services can be provided to both users and customers using the Internet.

In the present embodiment, a reservation program is described as an example of a business application. However, the present invention can be applied to all business processing applications such as salesman schedule management, transportation truck delivery management, and business inquiry processing.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the software component for inputting and processing data is downloaded from the server, the input data is processed by the business application of the server, and the fee is charged according to the processing. Even if the application does not exist on the user's computer, the user can use the business application only when necessary, and can pay the usage fee according to the usage. In addition, by using a WWW browser for the user terminal, there is no need to install a data input application on the user's machine, and there is no need for maintenance by the user.

Further, the business application receives the access from the customer, automatically responds to the access of the customer, and notifies the user terminal of the access from the customer. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the customer, the business application directly receives the business application. It feels like you're getting the services you need and can improve your customer service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a customer & reservation system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of hardware of an application server.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic processing procedure of the customer & reservation system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation registration screen on the customer terminal side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation management screen on the user terminal side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 application server 2 user terminal 3 customer terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 530 G06F 9/06 660A

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A server connected to a network, and a user terminal capable of accessing the server via the network, the user terminal logging in to the server with a predetermined ID, A software component for input processing from the server;
A data processing means for inputting and processing data, transmitting the data to the server, and receiving result data processed by the server, wherein the server authenticates an ID from the user terminal; A network comprising: an ID authentication unit that permits use of a business application; and an application processing unit that receives input data from the user terminal, processes the data by the business application, and outputs result data. Business application providing system through. 2. The business application providing system via a network according to claim 1, further comprising a charging unit for generating a predetermined amount of charging in accordance with the processing of the business application. 3. The business application providing system via a network according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said user terminals can access said server via said network. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said network is an Internet or an intranet.
A business application providing system via the network according to any one of the above. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said software component is an HT.
5. The business application providing system according to claim 1, wherein the data processing means is a browser provided with a Java virtual machine, which is an ML file or a Java applet. 6. The business application according to claim 1, wherein the business application performs a process of registering customer data and a process of registering a reservation in response to an access from the registered customer. Business application providing system via the network described in 1. 7. The business application according to claim 1, wherein the business application receives an access from the customer, automatically responds to the access of the customer, and notifies the user terminal of the access from the customer. A business application providing system via the network according to any one of the above. 8. A server connected to a network and storing a business application, comprising: ID authentication means for authenticating the ID in response to access from a user terminal via the network; and software for inputting data. A network comprising: an upload unit that uploads a component to the user terminal; and an application processing unit that receives input data from the user terminal, processes the business application, and outputs result data. Business application providing server through. 9. The business application providing server via a network according to claim 8, further comprising a charging unit for generating a predetermined amount of charging in accordance with the processing of the business application. 10. The business application providing server via a network according to claim 8, wherein processing can be performed in response to access from the plurality of user terminals via the network. 11. The business application according to claim 8, wherein the business application performs a process of registering customer data and a process of registering a reservation in response to an access from the registered customer. A business application providing server via the network described in 1. 12. The business application according to claim 8, wherein the business application receives an access from the customer, automatically responds to the access from the customer, and notifies the user terminal of the access from the customer. A business application providing server via the network according to any of the above. 13. A server connected to a network,
A method for providing a business application by a user terminal capable of accessing the server via the network, wherein the user terminal logs in to the server with a predetermined ID, and wherein the server Authenticating an ID and permitting use of a business application; and a step in which the user terminal downloads a software component for inputting and processing data from the server; and Input processing data and transmitting the data to the server, the server processes input data from the user terminal by the business application and outputs result data, and the user terminal transmits the data to the server. hand Business application providing method through a network, comprising the steps of: receiving a management has been the result data. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said server has a step of generating a predetermined charge according to the processing of said business application. 15. The business application providing method via a network according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of the user terminals can access the server via the network. 16. The business application according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of registering customer data; and a step of registering a reservation in response to an access from the registered customer.
A business application providing method via a network according to any one of Items 3 to 15. 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the business application receives an access from the customer and automatically responds to the access of the customer, and notifies the user terminal of the access from the customer. A business application providing method via a network according to any one of claims 13 to 16.