JP2002164951A - Client device, data transmission reception system and program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transmission system that takes a case of disabled data transmission with a specific protocol due to setting of a firewall into account. SOLUTION: A client for an applicator discriminates whether or not data transmission is available to a travel expense server 103 by one or plural protocols prepared in advance, based on whether or not a connection error takes place in the firewall (steps S109, S112). When the transmission is available, the client immediately transmits received data with a transmission available protocol (steps S110, S113), and when the transmission is disabled, an internal storage section stores the received data (step S114).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a client apparatus for transmitting data over a firewall on a network and a data transmission / reception system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of network technology and the Internet in recent years, a receiving server is installed on a network (so-called intranet) within a specific organization (for example, a company) and further connected to the Internet via a firewall. are doing.

[0003] A transmitting client that transmits data to a receiving server can transmit data from the Internet to a receiving server on an intranet via a firewall. For example, if the sending client is a portable personal computer and there is an environment that can be connected to the Internet from a telephone line or the like,
Data transmission is possible at any place.

[0004] An example of a system having the above configuration is a travel expense settlement system. This trip travel expense settlement system includes a transmission client that sends travel trip expense data and a receiving server that receives trip travel expense data. Using such a travel expense settlement system, it is also possible to carry a transmission client (portable personal computer) during a business trip, enter travel expenses at a business trip destination, transmit the travel expense to a reception server, and perform a settlement process. It is. In particular, recently, a configuration in which a WWW browser is installed in a transmission client, a function of a WWW server is provided in a reception server, and data is transmitted to the server by an HTTP protocol is becoming common.

[0005]

By the way, when data is transmitted via the Internet in such a system, it usually passes through a firewall installed for security. The firewall configuration depends on the policy of the administrator of the intranet, but certain protocols (for example, Post Office Protocol)
Pass, but other protocols (such as Hyper Text Trans
fer Protocol) can be set to not pass.

Therefore, in the data transmission / reception system of the prior art, there is a problem that even if a transmission client transmits data, the data does not pass through a firewall and may not be received by a reception server. In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a client device, a data transmission / reception system, a data transmission method, and a program recording medium that more reliably transmit data to a reception server even if there is a firewall on the path from the transmission client to the reception server. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

To solve the above-mentioned problems, a client device of the present invention verifies whether data can be transmitted to a server device according to a designated protocol, and verifies that transmission is possible. And transmitting means for transmitting data to the server device in accordance with the protocol, and control means for designating another protocol as the verification means when it is verified that transmission is not possible.

Here, the client device is a portable computer connectable to different networks,
The verification means may be configured to perform the verification by determining whether or not a connection error has occurred by a firewall provided on a network path from the client device to the server device. Further, when it is verified by the verification unit that none of the plurality of protocols can be transmitted, a storage unit for storing data to be transmitted may be provided.

A data transmission / reception system according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned client device and a server device for receiving data according to a plurality of protocols.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Structure> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a business trip expense settlement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the travel expense settlement system comprises applicant clients 100a, 100b, 100c, firewalls 102a, 102b, travel expense application server 1
03, a management section client 108 and an application manager client 107. These are an intra-organization network (hereinafter referred to as an intranet) 103a, an intranet 103b of another organization (hereinafter referred to as a related organization),
They are interconnected via the Internet 101.
The server holding organization in the intranet 103a is, for example, a specific company, and the related organization in the intranet 103b is, for example, the related company or business partner.

[0011] Applicant clients 100a, 100
b and 100c are portable computers (notebooks and mobile Ps) connected to the Internet 101, the intranet 103a, and the intranet 103b, respectively.
C), and transmits the travel expense data to the travel expense application server 103. Applicant Clients 100a-100c
Is a client device in which a data transmission program is installed, and transmits the travel expense application data input by the applicant to the travel expense application server 103. A portable personal computer (so-called mobile PC) is used. By executing the data transmission program, the applicant client 100
a to 100c verify whether data can be transmitted to the travel expense application server 103 by a plurality of protocols (for example, HTTP and FTP), and when it is verified that the data can be transmitted, transmit data to the server device using the protocol; If it is verified that transmission is not possible for any of the protocols, the data is stored in an internal storage unit as a transmission hold state. In addition, the following client 100a-1 for applicants
When 00c is not particularly distinguished, it is simply abbreviated as “applicant client 100”.

Each of the firewalls 102a and 102b is a computer used to prevent unauthorized access from the outside via a network. Packets to be passed are set so as not to pass packets of a specific protocol. . Firewall 10
2a does not pass a packet by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), but passes a packet by FTP.
The firewall 102b does not pass the packet by the HTTP or the packet by the FTP protocol, and
(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) packets are set to pass.

The travel expense application server 103 includes a data receiving server unit 104, a database server unit 105, and an application database 106, and receives travel expense data from an applicant client. Data receiving server unit 104
Are multiple types of protocols (eg, HTTP, FTP,
The data transmitted from the client for the applicant by any one of
05 is converted into a usable data format and transferred to the database server unit 105. Therefore, when the applicant client 100c transmits the travel expense data, the data does not pass through the firewall 102a and thus reaches the data receiving server unit 104, and when the applicant clients 100a and 100b transmit the travel expense data, Is
Since the data passes through the firewall 102a, the data does not reach the data receiving server unit 104 according to HTTP, but reaches the data according to FTP.

The database server unit 105 registers or updates the data transferred from the data receiving server unit 104 in the application database 106. The client for application manager 107 is a terminal that refers to the travel expense data registered in the travel expense application server 103 and checks and approves (checks) the content of the application in accordance with the application manager. Similarly, a personal computer is used. .

The management section client 108 is a terminal by which the management section checks the contents of the application data stored in the application database and the approval (seal) status, and also uses a personal computer. <Input Processing and Transmission Processing> FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the input processing and transmission processing of travel expense data in the client 100 for applicants.

Since the following three types of networks are available for the applicant client to connect by moving, the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described in three cases. The first case is a case where communication is made with the travel expense application server 103 via the Internet 101 like the client 100a for the applicant. In the second case, an intranet 103b of another organization (hereinafter, referred to as a related organization), a firewall 102b of the other organization, a direct line (dedicated line) 10 like the client 100b for the applicant.
9. The travel expense application server 10 via the firewall 102a of the organization having the travel expense application server (hereinafter referred to as server holding organization) and the intranet 103a of the server ownership organization
This is a case where three communications are performed. The third case is a case where communication is made with the travel expense application server 103 directly via the intranet 103a of the server holding organization like the client 100c for applicants. <First Case> It is assumed that an operator (applicant) connects the applicant client 100a to the Internet and desires input and transmission of travel expense data.

First, the operator operates the client 1 for the applicant.
At 00a, a data transmission program is started.
Then, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the client 100a for the applicant.
Is displayed (step S101). In FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a button for instructing the creation of new data for a data transmission program when the operator clicks (hereinafter simply referred to as "click") with a pointing device such as a mouse. Reference numeral 201 denotes a button for instructing the data transmission program to call stored data when the operator clicks the button.

The applicant client 100a determines which of the buttons 200 and 201 has been clicked, and when the operator desiring to input new data clicks the new data creation button 200 (step S10).
In 2), the data input form shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen (step S104). In FIG. 5, reference numeral 300 denotes a business trip application input unit which receives input of a business trip destination, purpose, and the like by an operator. Reference numeral 301 denotes a travel expense input unit for receiving an operator's input of a transportation system used for a business trip and a fare thereof. Reference numeral 302 denotes a transmission button for instructing transmission of input data when the operator clicks the button.

When the operator completes the data input (step S105), the screen changes to the state shown in FIG. 6, for example.
Further, when the operator clicks the transmission button 302 to instruct transmission (step S106), transmission processing is performed as follows. The client for application 100a first makes a connection request to the data receiving server 104 by HTTP (step S108), and checks whether a connection error is detected for the connection request (step S10).
9). In this case, the firewall 102a located on the network route from the client 100a for the applicant to the travel expense application server 103 does not pass the HTTP, so that a connection error occurs.

When this connection error is detected, the applicant client 100a further makes a connection request by FTP (step S111), and similarly checks whether or not a connection error is detected (step S112). In this case, since the firewall 102b passes the data based on the FTP, no connection error is detected. Since no connection error is detected, the applicant client 100a transmits the input data by FTP (step S11).
3), end the process (step S115).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the applicant client 100 when transmission is completed. In the figure, reference numeral 303 denotes a transmission completion display unit for displaying that transmission of input data has been completed. in this way,
Even if the data cannot be transmitted by one protocol, the client 100 for the applicant verifies whether or not the data can be transmitted by another protocol. Therefore, it is possible to make the data arrive at the travel expense application server 103 more reliably when a firewall is interposed. it can. <Second case> The operator is the client 100 for the applicant.
A process in a case where data is newly input and transmission is desired using b will be described.

In this case, the data input processing in steps S101 to S106 is the same as in the first case. In addition, the operator instructs transmission (step S107), the client 100b for the applicant makes a connection request by HTTP (step S108), and the process until the connection error is detected is the same as in the first case, so the description is omitted. I do. Second
In the case, even if a connection request is made by the FTP protocol (step S111), a connection error is detected (step S112), so the applicant client 100b
Stores the input data in an internal storage unit (such as a hard disk) and ends the transmission process (step S11).
5).

FIG. 8 shows a screen displayed on the client 100 for the applicant when the input data cannot be transmitted by any of the prepared protocols and is stored in the client 100 for the applicant. FIG. Reference numeral 304 denotes a data storage display unit that indicates that the input data has been stored. As described above, the client 100 for the applicant uses the data receiving server 104
If data cannot be transmitted by any of the protocols prepared by the settings of the firewall interposed between the server and the server, the data is stored, so that the data is not lost. <Third case> The operator is the applicant client 100
A description will be given of a process in which data is newly input or transmission of stored data is desired using c.

When the operator newly inputs data,
The data input process and the transmission instruction in steps S101 to S108 are the same as those in the first case, and thus description thereof will be omitted. When the operator transmits the stored data, the stored data call button 201 is clicked on the screen shown in FIG. 4 (step 103), and the stored data is stored in the storage unit inside the client 100c for applicant. The data is read out and displayed as in the screen shown in FIG.
The client for application 100c is confirmed or modified by the operator (step S106), and receives a transmission instruction by clicking the transmission button 303 (step S106).
107).

The client 1 for the applicant who received the transmission instruction
00c indicates that a connection request is made by HTTP (step S
108), since no connection error is detected because no firewall is interposed (step S109),
The data is transmitted by HTTP (step S110),
The process ends. Thus, the client 1 for the applicant
00 is connected to the intranet, the stored data is called, and the data can be transmitted by transmitting.

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, even if data cannot be transmitted by one protocol due to the setting of the firewall existing on the data transmission path, data is transmitted by another prepared protocol. When possible, data transmission can be completed by the other protocol. Furthermore, even when data communication is not possible by any of the prepared protocols, data is temporarily stored in the client side, and transmission processing is performed when the terminal is moved to a position on the network where data communication is possible, so that data can be input again. Can achieve the goal without the need.

In the above embodiment, the client 100 for the applicant uses HT as the protocol for verifying the connection.
Although two types, TP and FTP, are exemplified, a configuration in which three or more protocols are sequentially verified may be adopted. In that case, the client 100 for the applicant stores a plurality of protocol types in advance, verifies whether transmission is possible with a certain protocol, transmits data if possible, and switches the protocol sequentially if not possible, If all protocols cannot be transmitted, data may be stored.

The travel expense application server 103 also serves as a mail transmission server or a mail reception server,
It may be configured to receive data by OP (Post Office Protocol). Although the client device has been described as an example of a portable computer, the client device may be a mobile phone connectable to the Internet.

Further, in the above embodiment, the object to be verified as to whether transmission is possible may be any protocol such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc., which is a higher layer than the TCP / IP layer. In addition, a plurality of protocols over a plurality of layers may be verified so as to switch between a route including the firewall and a route not including the firewall, which is a network route from the client 100 for the applicant to the travel expense application server 103. For example, the travel expense application server 103 may also serve as a dial-up server, and the client for applicant 100c may make a PPP connection by dial-up connection via a telephone line.

[0030]

According to the present invention, a client device verifies whether or not data can be transmitted to a server device according to a specified protocol, and, if the transmission is verified, transmits data to the server device according to the protocol. The transmitting means includes a transmitting means for transmitting, and a control means for designating another protocol as the verifying means when it is verified that transmission is not possible.

According to this configuration, even if data according to one protocol does not reach from the client device to the server device, the data can be reached using another protocol, so that the data can be more reliably transmitted to the receiving server. This has the effect. Here, the client device is a portable computer connectable to a different network, and the verification unit determines whether a connection error has occurred due to a firewall provided on a network path from the client device to the server device. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the above-mentioned verification is performed by judging whether or not the above-mentioned condition is satisfied.

According to this configuration, when a firewall is provided on the path from the network to which the client device has moved to the server device, it is verified whether data of a plurality of protocols pass through the firewall. Therefore, there is an effect that data can be more reliably transmitted to the receiving server. Here, the client device may further include a storage unit for storing data to be transmitted when the verification unit verifies that any of the plurality of protocols cannot be transmitted.

According to this configuration, if the transmission data does not pass through the firewall by any protocol, it is stored in the storage means, so that it is verified whether transmission is possible when moving to another network. Transmission can be performed more reliably. Further, when the client device transmits the travel expense data, the client device finally returns to the workplace and connects to the intranet to which the server device is connected. The data can finally be transmitted to the server device.

The same effects as described above can be obtained by the data transmission / reception system, data transmission method, and program recording medium of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a business trip expense settlement system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an input process and a transmission process of travel expense data in the client for applicant 100;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an input process and a transmission process of travel expense data in the client for applicant 100;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screen for receiving a selection input for creating new data and calling stored data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data input screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data input screen in a state where data input is completed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displaying that transmission of input data is completed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a screen displaying that input data has been accumulated because transmission is impossible.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100a-100c Client for Applicant 101 Internet 102a, 102b Firewall 103 Travel Expense Application Server 104 Data Receiving Server 105 Database Server 106 Application Database 107 Client for Application Manager 108 Client for Management Department 109 Dedicated Line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akihiro Takeno 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Soft Research Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B089 GA04 HB05 JA21 KA17 5K030 GA15 HA08 HC01 JT02 JT09 LD20 5K034 BB06 HH63

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A client device for transmitting data to a server device via a network, comprising: a verification unit for verifying whether data can be transmitted to the server device according to a specified protocol; A transmission unit for transmitting data to the server device by the protocol, and a control unit for designating another protocol as the verification unit when the transmission is verified to be impossible. 2. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the client device is a portable computer connectable to a different network, and the verification unit detects a connection error due to a firewall provided on a network path from the client device to the server device. 2. The client device according to claim 1, wherein the verification is performed by determining whether or not the client device determines whether or not the client device is the client device. 3. The client device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store data to be transmitted when the verification unit verifies that any of the plurality of protocols cannot be transmitted. 3. The client device according to 2. 4. A data transmitting / receiving system comprising: the client device according to claim 2; and a server device that receives data according to a plurality of protocols. 5. A data transmission method in a client device for transmitting data to a server device via a network, comprising: a verification step of verifying whether data can be transmitted to the server device by a designated protocol; A transmission step of transmitting data to the server device by the protocol when the verification is performed, and a control step of specifying another protocol and executing the verification step again when the transmission is verified to be impossible. Characteristic data transmission method. 6. A recording medium storing a program for transmitting data to a client device that transmits data to a server device via a network, and verifies whether data can be transmitted to the server device according to a specified protocol. A verification step, a transmission step of transmitting data to the server device according to the protocol when it is verified that transmission is possible, and, when it is verified that transmission is not possible, designating another protocol and executing the verification step again A computer-readable program recording medium for causing a client device to execute the control step.