JP2002329082A - Software supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user friendly software supply system capable of being retrieved arbitrarily when necessary and solving problems or making advices. SOLUTION: This system is constituted of a client device 100, a network 4 which is constituted of an Internet, a LAN, a WAN and the like, and a server device 200. The server device 200 is constituted of a requested data receiving part 6 receiving data from the client device 100 via an internal bus 5, a software component retrieving part 7 retrieving a software component, a software component database part 8 having sequence information to be used for building a plurality of software components and software components, an external storage device 9 storing built software and the like, a build part building up software, an execution part 11 confirming operations in advance of delivery of software to users after building, and a software delivery part for delivery of software to users.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a software supply system, and more particularly, to deliver a CD-R / RW writer software or the like that meets the needs of an end user as a semi-customized solution via the Internet. It is related to the service to be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are many prior arts as systems for integrating software components, but these are mainly aimed at improving the efficiency of software development. Therefore, it is suitable for an individualized business that acquires the requirements of users who actually use the integrated software, and actually supplies the users with the software that has built the software that meets the requirements as products or trial products. It was not such a system. In recent years, IT-related hardware and software technologies have rapidly advanced, and services for distributing software or content to information processing devices such as personal computers using the Internet have become widespread. Optical discs, especially write-once / rewritable CD devices,
In recent years, it has spread rapidly. Furthermore, write-once / rewrite-type D
VD devices are already on the market. When these CD and DVD devices are used, dedicated recording / reproducing software is required, but the types of these software are very diversified. The reason for this is that the uses of CDs and DVDs themselves are various, for music, video, and data. Although this is useful and convenient for users, it is also true that there are the following problems. For example, for beginners who use the above-mentioned CD and DVD devices for the first time,
In some cases, it is difficult to determine which function of the VD recording / playback software is to be used. Also, due to the background described above, CDs, DVDs, etc.
A device package often includes a plurality of software having many functions. This means that for a user who simply wants to use a CD or DVD device for one specific purpose, a function other than the purpose or software other than the purpose is unnecessary and complicated. Or simply raising the price of a product package can be annoying.

[0003]

The prior art described above has the following problems. 1) Unlike other optical discs such as MOs, the CD-R / RW has a feature that it has a wide variety of functions.
-The R / RW drive package bundled a plurality of software. This means that CD-R / RW
Drive package price increase, and
A situation has arisen in which software necessary for the user and software not required are bundled. 2) When you want to reacquire the software, the component software posted on the system has been updated due to problem countermeasures or additional functions, and the same product may not be able to be built or supplied. 3) User information at the time of initial distribution (user proficiency, environment)
Changes over time, but if you try to acquire software again using this system, it is inefficient for the system side to start with new user information acquisition It is redundant. 4) In a system in which software suitable for the user's proficiency can be obtained, there is a problem that when the user's proficiency is improved, the usability is relatively reduced. 5) The writing software for the external storage device such as the CD-R / RW does not require the user's operation during writing, so that information such as the progress of the writing operation is provided. In the case of a large-capacity storage device, the time during which a user does not perform an operation is long, resulting in a decrease in usability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and a part or all of the build information and user information is stored on a server side and a client side, and is arbitrarily taken out as needed to solve the problem. Or can give advice,
It is an object to provide a user-friendly software supply system.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a software supply system for supplying software based on a user's request. Request transmitting means for transmitting, a client device having software receiving means for receiving the built software, request data receiving means for receiving from the request transmitting means the items to be performed by the user, and a device for realizing the items to be performed Software search means for searching for component software;
A software supply system comprising: a build unit configured to build the component software searched by the software search unit into one piece of software; and a server device including a supply unit that supplies the software built by the build unit to the user. The build information from the build means, the usage environment of the client device, the information on the items to be performed by the user from the request transmitting means, and part or all of the user's operation proficiency, by the server device or the client device. And a storage means for storing the data in the storage means. If a user seeks technical or business support while using the software provided by the system, the software is tailor-made for the user's wishes and, If the user forgets the items to be implemented or the parts to be used given by the user, there is no guarantee that the same software can be specified at the time of the support. According to the invention, since part or all of the build information and user information is stored in the system or on the user side and arbitrarily taken out as necessary, problem solving or problem solving is performed based on accurate information at the time of support. Advice is possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the component software before update stored in an external storage medium of the server device before updating is re-provided to the client device based on the build information. Is an effective means. When you want to reacquire software, the component software installed in the system has been updated due to problem countermeasures or additional functions, and the same product may not be able to be built or supplied.
According to such technical means, since the same information as before the update is provided again based on the build information, the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. The invention according to claim 3 is an effective means of the present invention in which the use of the software is held separately from the user's operation skill level and use environment. User information (user proficiency, environment) at the time of initial distribution changes with the passage of time. At this time, if the user tries to acquire software using this system again, the user information must be newly acquired. Is
This is inefficient for the system side and is redundant for the user. According to such technical means, since the use of the software is stored separately from the user's proficiency and the environment, it is possible to easily supply the software in response to the user's proficiency and the change in the environment. . Claim 4
The invention of the present invention is also effective in that the usage of the software before updating based on the build information is rebuilt into software corresponding to the current user's operation proficiency and usage environment and supplied to the client device. Means. According to such technical means, a new level of software corresponding to the current user's proficiency and environment based on the build information is newly built and resupplied. This can be omitted, and the operation can be simplified.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the software is supplied, an ID number representing an identification number of a supply destination, a supply date when the software was supplied, and component software used for building are provided. It is also an effective means of the present invention that the data is stored on the server device side or the client device side. According to this technical means, when supplying the software, the ID representing the supply destination
Since the number, supply date, and component software used for building are stored, it is easy to grasp the situation, and at the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information. . Further, the invention according to claim 6, wherein, for software supplied by the user in the past, the ID number and supply date information given when the software is supplied to the server device side or the client device side. Communicating is also an effective means of the present invention. According to such technical means, since the user has means for transmitting the ID number and supply date information given at the time of supply to the software supplied in the past, both the server side and the user side can grasp the situation. It is easy, and at the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the server apparatus side or the client apparatus side receives an ID number and supply date information given when software is supplied to the user in the past by the user. This is also an effective means of the present invention. According to this technical means, since the user has means for receiving the ID number and supply date information given when the software is supplied in the past, it is easy to grasp the situation on both the server side and the user side. At the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information. Claim 8
The invention is characterized in that the user specifies software to be rebuilt based on ID number and supply date information given when the user supplied software in the past, and the software Having a rebuild means for building is also an effective means of the present invention. According to such technical means, the ID number given at the time of supply, the means for specifying the software to be built based on the supply date information, and the means for building, it is possible to actually build the software at the time of support, Problems can be reproduced and resupplied, so that problems can be solved or information can be promptly provided based on accurate information.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, storing the built software on the server device side is also an effective means of the present invention. According to such technical means, the built software can be stored on the server side, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. Further, the invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the user has storage request means for requesting the server device to store the built software, and the server device provides the built software, Storing the built software in response to a storage request from the storage request unit is also an effective means of the present invention. According to this technical means, the built software is stored on the server side at the request of the user, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss.
An invention according to claim 11 is a software supply system that supplies software based on a user's request, wherein a request transmission unit that conveys a matter that the user wants to implement,
A client device having software receiving means for receiving the built software; request data receiving means for receiving the item desired by the user from the request transmitting means; and software for searching component software for realizing the desired item A search unit; a build unit configured to build the component software searched by the software search unit into one piece of software; and a server device including a supply unit that supplies the software built by the build unit to the user. The software supply system is characterized in that it is possible to change the user interface and release restrictions on functions that have been restricted in advance, according to the number of times of activation or the total activation time of the built software. In a system where software suitable for the user's proficiency can be obtained, there is a problem that when the user's proficiency is improved, the usability is relatively reduced. According to this invention, the user interface is changed and the restriction of the function restricted in advance is released according to the number of times of activation of the software or the total activation time, so that the interface and the function grow according to the use state of the user. Therefore, the operational feeling can be improved.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a software supply system for supplying software based on a user's request, wherein a request transmission unit for transmitting an item desired by the user, and a software reception unit for receiving the built software. A client device having a means, a request data receiving means for receiving an item to be performed by the user from the request transmitting means, a software searching means for searching for component software for realizing the item to be performed, and the software searching means. In a software supply system, comprising: a build unit configured to build the searched component software into one piece of software; and a server device having a supply unit that supplies the software built by the build unit to the user, Software The while writing to the external storage device, by operation of the user, characterized in that it possible to screen other than the write operation. Since software for writing to an external storage device such as a CD-R / RW does not require user operation during writing, information such as the progress of the writing operation is provided. In the case of a large-capacity storage device, the time during which a user does not perform an operation is long, resulting in a decrease in usability. According to this invention, a function involving a change in screen display other than a writing operation due to a user's intentional operation during writing to an external storage device such as a CD-R / RW is provided. It is possible to improve the feeling of using the writing software because operation is avoided.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are not merely intended to limit the scope of the present invention but are merely illustrative examples unless otherwise specified. . FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the software supply system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The software supply system according to this configuration includes a display 1 as a display unit such as a liquid crystal screen or a cathode ray tube screen, an input unit 3 including a keyboard and a mouse, and controls these components.
A client device 100 (request transmitting means) having a personal computer (PC) 2 that manages a memory and communication control (not shown), a network 4 composed of the Internet, a LAN, a WAN, and the like, and a client device 100 via an internal bus 5 Request data receiving unit 6 (request data receiving means) for receiving data from a PC, and a software component search unit 7 (software component searching means) for searching for a software component for configuring software that satisfies a user request item from the data ), A software component database unit 8 having order information and software components for building a plurality of software components, an external storage device 9 (external storage medium) for storing built software and the like, and satisfying user requirements. Software components and A build unit 10 (build means) for building software based on the build procedure information, an execution unit 11 for checking the operation after the build and before delivering the software to the user, and a software distribution unit for delivering the software to the user 12 (supply means). The client device 100 and the server device 200 are connected by the network 4.

Next, the operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the user selects an item (see FIG. 2) that the user wants to implement by himself using the input unit 3 of the client device 100. As will be described in detail later, when the user checks an item desired, the data is transmitted to the server device 200 via the network 4. Next, the data transmitted from the client device 100 is transmitted to the server device 2.
The request data is received by the request data receiving unit 6 in the area "00". Here, data processing is performed for a search operation in the next step.
Next, the processed data is stored in the software component search unit 7.
, And the parts search section 7 starts the operation of searching for the software parts from the software parts database section 8 based on the data. Here, it is determined whether there is a software component that satisfies the user request, and a plurality of corresponding software components are searched. If present, the software component search unit 7 obtains application software (APL), a user interface (UI), a runtime module,
Based on the software components constituting the engine and the build order information, build procedure information is created and sent to the build unit 10. Next, a plurality of acquired software components are built from the data from the software component search unit 7 based on the build order information. Next, when the build is completed, the software is sent to the execution unit 11 for confirming the operation before distributing the software to the user. Next, the execution unit 11 executes the software sent from the build unit 10 to check the operation of the software, and continues until the operation check ends. Here, an external peripheral device (not shown) may be used for operation confirmation. When the confirmation operation is completed, the software distribution unit 12
Distributes the software to the client device 100 in order to actually confirm whether the software is desired by the user. Here, the client device 100
Executes the received software and checks whether the software is actually the desired software. If there is no problem, the client device 1 is required to distribute this software.
From 00, a software distribution request is requested to the server device 200, and the software distribution unit 12 of the server device 200 distributes the software to the client device 100 and ends.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a user request item input section, which is designed so that a user can select a desired item. Specifically, the user can freely select from 11 items 1) to 11). Then, if the user clicks an MMP button (not shown) after selection, software that meets the user's request is selected. The contents are: 1) I want to save the contents of the hard disk to a CD. It records data, images, files, and the like on the hard disk on a CD, and functions as a backup for the hard disk and as a portable memory. 2) I want to make a copy of a CD. This is only a backup and copy of the CD. 3) I want to make music a CD. In this method, music information downloaded from a network is recorded on a CD and used as music media. 4) I want to show my photos as CDs. This records image information from a scanner or a digital camera on a CD and serves as a portable memory. 5) I want to show the video on a CD. This is because, since moving image information such as a video image has a large amount of data, transmitting it from the network increases the occupation time of the network and also increases the memory capacity for downloading the information. So if you record on a CD,
It can be viewed at any time by batch repair and is portable. 6) Save regularly. 7) No particular decision. This is to determine whether to save the contents of the memory in a certain period of time or to save the information based on the user's intention in the information storage mode.

8) I do not want the finished CD to be seen by others. This is a function of maintaining confidentiality. In particular, an unspecified number of clients are operating on a network. In addition, since the terminal can be freely viewed by another person, a request for concealing information that the other person does not want to see naturally appears. Therefore, a password or the like is provided so that it cannot be seen by others. 9) Mainly used media is cheap CD-R. 10) No particular decision. This is because a CD-R in which data can be written only once has restrictions on the writing, but it is sufficient if the recorded content is hardly changed because the price is low. 11) Mainly used media is CD-RW that can be used repeatedly. This is used for records intended for temporary or short-term storage, as opposed to 9). For example, it is unnecessary information if the contents are confirmed or printed. From these contents, when the user selects an interactive form with the server apparatus 200 (a plurality of items can be selected) and transmits it to the server apparatus 200, the software parts desired by the user are selected and built, and the client apparatus 100 performs the above-described procedure. Delivered in. The above is a description of a series of basic operations of the present invention. Since the contents to be distributed or the operations of the server device 200 are controlled by software, it is needless to say that the contents can be arbitrarily changed. Next, each application operation according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with FIG.

According to the first aspect, the server device 200 stores user information such as a user request and use environment conditions,
Build information of the software built in the above, the user's usage purpose, and I individually assigned to make them identifiable
D, the supply date, and the built software itself can be stored in the external storage device 9 separately from the software component database 8. These pieces of information can be transmitted to the client device 100 via the network 4 or the like. In addition, as for the built software, the software stored in the external storage device 9 can be supplied again as needed. Therefore, when the information and software held by the user need to be maintained or inquired of the server, or when the stored information is destroyed for some reason, the user can quickly build the information and software. Since the situation can be reproduced, the cause can be specified, the problem can be solved, or the software can be supplied again. In claim 2, when it is desired to reacquire the past software, the component software stored in the software component database 8 has been updated due to a problem countermeasure or a function addition, and the same product may not be able to be built or supplied. In such a case, since the same software as the past software can be provided again based on the build information generated by the software search unit 7, the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. According to claim 3, the user information (user proficiency, environment) at the time of the initial distribution changes with the passage of time. Starting from information acquisition is inefficient for the system side, and it is redundant for the user. Therefore, if the usage of the software is stored in the external storage device 9 separately from the user's proficiency and the environment, the software can be easily supplied in response to the user's proficiency and the change of the environment. In claim 4, the build information is stored in the external storage device 9. Based on this, software that is compatible with the current user's proficiency level and environment is newly built and re-supplied, so part of the information input can be omitted compared to building a new one. It can be simplified.
According to the fifth aspect, the software is transferred to the client device 100.
In the case of supply to the external storage device 9, the ID number indicating the supply destination, the supply date, and the component software used for building are stored in the external storage device 9. It is easy, and at the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information.

According to the sixth aspect, a user is provided with a software provided at the time of supply for software supplied in the past.
Since the software distribution unit 12 for retrieving the D number and supply date information from the external storage device 9 and distributing it to the client device 100 is provided, it is easy to grasp the situation on both the server side and the user side. It is possible to solve problems or provide information quickly based on accurate information. In claim 7, the user is provided with an ID number given to the software supplied in the past when the software was supplied,
Since the supply date information is received and stored in a memory (not shown) of the client device 100, it is easy to grasp the situation on both the server side and the user side, and at the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information. is there. According to claim 8, since the ID number and supply date information given at the time of supply are stored in the external storage device 9, at the time of support, the software to be built can be specified from the information. You can actually rebuild the software. According to the ninth aspect, the built software can be stored in the external storage device 9 of the server device 200, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. According to the tenth aspect, the built software is stored in the external storage device 9 of the server device 200 when requested by the user, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss.

In the eleventh aspect, in FIG. 3, a general writable file format for music is a general W format.
There are AV, WMA and MP3 whose capacity is reduced by compression, and ATRAC3 having a copyright protection function. When using software (up to 10 software starts)
In this case, only WAV can be written due to functional restrictions, but when the number of activations reaches a certain number, writing of WMA, MP3 or ATRAC3 format files can be performed. As users become more proficient as the number of times of writing increases, the number of file formats that can be written will increase, so writing can be performed uniquely even without specialized knowledge such as file format from the beginning. Thus, knowledge can be naturally acquired according to the number of times of use. As a result, the user's satisfaction with the writing is improved. This operation is an operation unique to the client side, and every time software distributed from the server device is activated, an internal counter is incremented and the number of activations is counted. Also,
The file limit for each activation count is determined by the server. In the twelfth aspect, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, after the writing file is specified (step S1), the writing device executes writing (step S2). It is determined whether there is a user operation other than the writing operation during the writing (step S3). If not, the process ends, and if there is, the display changes to the screen display of FIG. 5 (step S4). This adds a purpose other than writing to the writing action, and as a result, the user is satisfied with the writing.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, claim 1 has means for storing part or all of the build information and user information in the system or on the user side and optionally extracting the information as needed. Therefore, at the time of support, it is possible to solve a problem or give advice based on accurate information. According to the second aspect, the same information is provided again based on the build information, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. According to the third aspect, since the use purpose of the software is stored separately from the user's proficiency and the environment, the software can be supplied easily in response to the user's proficiency and the change of the environment. Claim 4 newly builds and resupplies software corresponding to the current user's proficiency and environment based on the build information. Therefore, a part of information input is omitted as compared with newly building. It is possible to simplify the operation. According to the fifth aspect, since the ID number indicating the supply destination when supplying the software, the supply date, and the component software used for the build are stored, it is easy to grasp the situation, and it is accurate when supporting. It is possible to solve problems or provide information quickly based on important information. Since the user has means for transmitting the ID number and supply date information provided when the software is supplied to the software supplied in the past, it is easy to grasp the situation on both the server side and the user side. Yes, at the time of support, it is possible to quickly solve a problem or provide information based on accurate information. The seventh aspect has the same operation and effect as the sixth aspect.

[0018] Claim 8 provides the I given when supplied.
It has a means to identify the software to be built based on the D number and supply date information and a means to build it. Therefore, when supporting, the software can be actually built, and the problem can be reproduced and re-supplied. The problem can be solved or information can be promptly provided. According to the ninth aspect, the built software can be stored on the system side, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss. According to the tenth aspect, the built software is stored on the system side at the request of the user, so that the user can use the software without fear of destruction or loss.
According to the eleventh aspect, the user interface is changed and the restriction of the function restricted in advance is released in accordance with the number of times of activation of the software or the total activation time, so that the interface and the function grow in accordance with the use state of the user. Therefore, the operational feeling can be improved. Claim 12 is a CD
-While writing to an external storage device such as R / RW, a function involving a change in screen display other than the writing operation due to a user's intentional operation is provided, so that the user does not perform any operation for a long time. Therefore, the usability of the writing software can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a software supply system according to a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user request item input unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the number of times software is activated and restrictions on file writing according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a file writing operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change in screen display according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 display 2 personal computer (PC) 3 input unit 4 network 5 internal bus 6 request data receiving unit 7 software component search unit 8 software component database 9 external storage device 10 build unit 11 execution unit 12 software distribution unit 100 client device 200 server device

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A software supply system for supplying software based on a user's request, comprising: a request transmitting unit for transmitting a user's request to be implemented; and a client device having a software receiving unit for receiving built software. Request data receiving means for receiving the item that the user wants to implement from the request transmitting means, software searching means for searching for component software for realizing the item to be implemented, and component software searched by the software searching means; And a server device having a supply unit for supplying the software built by the build unit to the user, wherein the build information from the build unit and the client device are provided. Use environment, information from the request transmission unit of the information that the user wants to implement, and a storage device for storing a part or all of the user's operation proficiency in the server device or the client device, from the storage device A software supply system characterized in that it can be taken out arbitrarily. 2. The software according to claim 1, wherein the component software before update stored in an external storage medium of the server device before update is re-provided to the client device based on the build information. Feeding system. 3. The software supply system according to claim 1, wherein a use purpose of the software is stored separately from a user's operation skill level and a use environment. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the usage of the software before the update is rebuilt into software corresponding to a current user's operation skill and usage environment based on the build information and supplied to the client device. The software supply system according to claim 1. 5. When the software is supplied, an ID number indicating a recognition number of a supply destination, a supply date when the software is supplied, and component software used for building are stored in the server device or the server. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is held by the client device.
The described software supply system. 6. The server according to claim 1, wherein the user transmits, to the server device or the client device, an ID number and supply date information given when the software is supplied, for the software supplied in the past. The software supply system according to claim 5, wherein 7. The server device side or the client device side receives an ID number and supply date information given when the user supplies software that was supplied in the past. 7. The software supply system according to item 6. 8. Software specifying means for specifying software to be rebuilt based on ID number and supply date information given when the user supplied software in the past, and the software 8. The software supply system according to claim 7, further comprising a rebuilding unit for building the software. 9. The software supply system according to claim 1, wherein the built software is stored on the server device side. 10. The user has storage request means for requesting the server device to store the built software, and the server device provides the storage request device when providing the built software. 10. The software supply system according to claim 9, wherein the built software is stored in response to a storage request from the software. 11. A software supply system for supplying software based on a user's request, wherein the client device includes a request transmitting unit for transmitting a user's desired item to be implemented, and a software receiving unit for receiving the built software. Request data receiving means for receiving from the request transmission means the items the user wants to implement,
Software search means for searching for component software for realizing the item to be implemented, build means for constructing the component software searched by the software search means into one piece of software, and software built by the build means A server device having a supply unit for supplying to a user, wherein the user interface is changed according to the number of startups or the total startup time of the built software, and a function restricted in advance. A software supply system characterized in that the restriction can be released. 12. A software supply system for supplying software based on a user's request, comprising: a request transmitting unit for transmitting a user's desired item to be implemented; a client device having software receiving unit for receiving built software; Request data receiving means for receiving from the request transmission means the items the user wants to implement,
Software search means for searching for component software for realizing the item to be implemented, build means for constructing the component software searched by the software search means into one piece of software, and software built by the build means A server device having supply means for supplying to the user, wherein during the writing of the built software to the external storage device, a screen display other than the writing operation is enabled by the operation of the user. A software supply system, characterized in that: