JP2004021532A - Information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system capable of improving operability and convenience. <P>SOLUTION: The schedule information of a user is managed by a plurality of document management devices 1a, 1b, to 1n. At receiving an instruction to display schedule information from the user, a control part 21 of a client device 2 acquires the schedule information from each document managing device 1, and displays the whole schedule information at one calendar, and presents it to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information providing system for managing and providing schedule information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of network technology, a document management device that collectively manages documents to be shared by users has been developed. Some document management apparatuses manage not only general documents but also, for example, schedule information, which is a user's schedule, as documents in response to a desire to manage various documents. The schedule information includes date and time and period information and information on the content of the schedule. Usually, the document management apparatus manages each document by attaching a unique identifier to each document.
[0003]
The user can register and share the schedule information with the document management device, and can provide his / her schedule information to other employees in the company, for example. The schedule information is displayed in a predetermined form on a monthly calendar or a weekly calendar by a device on the client side.
[0004]
Specifically, according to a combination of Exchange Server (registered trademark) of Microsoft (registered trademark) and Outlook (registered trademark) as a client device, schedule information is displayed in a mode including a monthly calendar. Is done.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a device that manages schedule information, such as a document management device, is not always provided alone. For example, there is a demand that business schedule information and private schedule information be distinguished and managed by different document management devices. Further, in a network environment having a plurality of document management apparatuses, there is also a demand for registering schedule information without being aware of which document management apparatus is being accessed.
[0006]
Here, if the schedule information is freely registered in each of the plurality of document management devices, for example, the schedule from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on March 20, 2002 is registered in the first document management device. However, if the user forgets this and checks the schedule on March 20, 2002 in the second document management device, the schedule registered in the first document management device is not displayed. Incorrectly registering the schedule from 2:30 pm on March 20th, so to speak, a double-booking state is likely to occur, and the operability is low.
[0007]
In order to prevent such a double-booking situation, it is necessary to take steps such as accessing each document management device and confirming each document management, which reduces convenience.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an information providing system capable of improving operability and convenience.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for solving the problem of the above-mentioned conventional example is an information providing system, wherein a plurality of schedule information management devices that respectively manage schedule information of a user are connected to the schedule information management device. A client device, wherein the client device acquires, from the plurality of schedule information management devices, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device; and the acquired schedule information. Means for generating simultaneous display calendar information, which is displayed simultaneously in one calendar, and presenting the generated simultaneous display calendar information to the user.
[0010]
The present invention for solving the problem of the above-mentioned conventional example is a schedule display device connected to a plurality of schedule information management devices, each managing schedule information of a user, wherein the plurality of schedule information From the management device, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is displayed in one calendar at a time. Simultaneous display calendar information is generated, and the simultaneous display is performed. It is characterized in that calendar information is presented to the user side.
[0011]
Here, when there is a plurality of pieces of schedule information that are the same user and include the same time zone on the simultaneous display calendar information, it is also preferable that at least one of the pieces of schedule information is highlighted. . In addition, each piece of schedule information included in the simultaneous display calendar information is associated with information for identifying the schedule information management device from which the schedule information was obtained, and the schedule information is specified by a user's instruction. It is also preferable that the information specifying the management device is provided for a predetermined process.
[0012]
Further, in the simultaneous display calendar information, an instruction regarding a change or deletion operation of the schedule information is received from the user side, and in response to the instruction, the schedule information management apparatus which is the acquisition source of the designated schedule information is transmitted to the schedule information management apparatus. It is also preferable to transmit the information of the change or deletion. Further, in the simultaneous display calendar information, when an instruction regarding the addition operation of the schedule information is received from the user side, the schedule information instructed to be added is managed in the schedule display device according to the instruction. Is also preferred.
[0013]
According to an aspect of the present invention, in the server device, each of the schedule information is managed by the plurality of schedule information management devices with respect to a client device connected to the plurality of schedule information management devices. The schedule information managed by the management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar, and a program for generating and presenting simultaneous display calendar information is distributed.
[0014]
Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing method using a plurality of schedule information management devices, each of which manages schedule information of a user. The schedule information managed by the management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar to generate simultaneous display calendar information, and the simultaneous display calendar information is provided to the user side. I will present it.
[0015]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing program, which manages schedule information of a user, the computer being connected to a plurality of schedule information management devices in response to a request from the user side. From the plurality of schedule information management devices, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar. Is generated, and the simultaneous display calendar information is presented to the user side.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of document management devices 1a, 1b,..., 1n as a plurality of schedule information management devices, and a client device 2 as a schedule display device. And these are connected to each other via a network. The client device 2 is a general computer, and includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a hard disk 23, a network control unit 24, a display unit 25, and an operation unit 26, as shown in FIG. Contains.
[0017]
The document management device 1 registers and holds documents and schedule information as documents in response to requests from the client device 2 side. In the document management device 1, each document can be specified by associating each document with a unique identifier. Further, the document management device 1 provides the held documents and schedule information in response to a request from the client device 2 side. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the document management device 1 includes date and time information (D), a user's schedule (E) registered at the date and time, and a user associated with the schedule. (U) are held in association with each other.
[0018]
The control unit 21 of the client device 2 operates according to the program stored in the hard disk 23, and executes a process of requesting the document management device 1 to register, change, and delete schedule information, and a process of displaying schedule information. ing. These processes of the control unit 21 will be described later in detail.
[0019]
The storage unit 22 operates as a work memory of the control unit 21. The hard disk 23 holds a program executed by the control unit 21. The hard disk 23 also registers calendar template data. Here, the template data is used for acquiring schedule information and extracting information such as date and time information (D), schedule (E), user (U), and identifier (ID) of the schedule information in the acquired schedule information. It describes necessary information. The network control unit 24 transmits various data, such as a request, via a network according to an instruction input from the control unit 21. Further, the network control unit 24 receives data arriving via the network and outputs the data to the control unit 21. The display unit 25 is a display or the like, and displays information according to an instruction input from the control unit 21. The operation unit 26 is a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, and receives a user operation and outputs the content of the operation to the control unit 21.
[0020]
Here, the specific processing content of the control unit 21 will be described. First, a process for requesting registration, change, and deletion of schedule information will be described. The control unit 21 operates the operation unit 26 by the user to specify the schedule information to be registered together with information (for example, address information on a network) for specifying the document management apparatus 1 for which schedule information is to be registered. In response to the specified document management device 1, data requesting registration of the specified schedule information is transmitted via the network control unit 24.
[0021]
Further, the control unit 21 receives input of information (for example, an identifier of the schedule information) for specifying the schedule information to be changed and information for specifying the document management device 1 holding the schedule information, In response to the specification of the changed schedule information, the specified document management device transmits, via the network control unit 24, data for requesting to change the specified schedule information to the changed schedule information and to register the changed data. Send to 1.
[0022]
Further, the control unit 21 receives information (for example, an identifier of the schedule information) for specifying the schedule information to be deleted and information for specifying the document management apparatus 1 holding the schedule information, Via the network control unit 24, data for requesting deletion of the specified schedule information is transmitted to the specified document management apparatus 1.
[0023]
Next, the display process of the schedule information by the control unit 21 will be described. The control unit 21 reads template data from the hard disk 23 in response to an input of an instruction to display schedule information from the user by operating the operation unit 26. Then, according to the template data, the schedule information is acquired from the document management device 1 specified in advance, and the information for specifying the document management device 1 from which the schedule information was acquired is compared with the acquired schedule information (the schedule information of the schedule information). An identifier (including an identifier of the acquisition source document management apparatus 1) is stored in the storage unit 22 as scheduled attribute information. As a result, for example, the schedule information acquired from each document management device 1 is stored in the storage unit 22 in a state as shown in FIG.
[0024]
The control unit 21 publishes the stored schedule information in one calendar at a time to generate simultaneous display calendar information. At this time, when a plurality of schedule information including a common time zone at the same date and time is found (that is, when double booking is detected), at least one of the schedule information is highlighted and displayed, for example, Specify to change colors or blink. Then, the simultaneous display calendar information is displayed on the display unit 25.
[0025]
Here, the destination to which the schedule information acquisition request is transmitted, that is, information (for example, address information on a network) for specifying the document management apparatus 1 from which the schedule information is acquired is stored in the storage unit 22 in advance. Shall be Also, the generated simultaneous display calendar shows, for example, the date and time (D) and the schedule (E) of the date and time for each user, as shown in FIG. The simultaneous display calendar may display a schedule for each user as a weekly calendar, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, or a daily calendar as shown in FIG. 5B. The information may be displayed in such a manner as to indicate in which time zone the event is scheduled to be performed.
[0026]
The control unit 21 may receive the request for registration, change, and deletion of schedule information by using the simultaneously displayed calendar information displayed in this manner as a user interface. That is, when the user selects the schedule information (for example, double-clicks with a mouse) on the simultaneous display calendar information, the control unit 21 refers to the schedule attribute information and obtains the document management device 1 from which the schedule information is obtained. Is specified, and a calendar including only the schedule information acquired from the specified document management apparatus 1 is displayed. This makes it possible to determine what kind of schedule information has been registered in the document management apparatus 1.
[0027]
Further, upon receiving the instruction to delete the schedule information on the simultaneous display calendar information, the control unit 21 refers to the schedule attribute information, and obtains the document management device 1 from which the schedule information was obtained, and the identifier of the schedule information. And requests the identified document management device 1 to delete the schedule information. Thus, the schedule information can be deleted from the acquisition source document management apparatus 1 only by giving a deletion instruction on the simultaneous display calendar information.
[0028]
Similarly, upon receiving an instruction to change the schedule information on the simultaneous display calendar information, the control unit 21 refers to the schedule attribute information, and determines the document management apparatus 1 from which the schedule information was acquired and the schedule management information of the schedule information. An identifier is specified, and the specified document management device 1 is requested to change the schedule information to the change content specified by the user.
[0029]
Further, when receiving a request to register new schedule information on the simultaneous display calendar information, the control unit 21 selects one of the document management apparatuses 1 registered in advance as a schedule information acquisition source, and selects the same. Request the registered document management device 1 to register new schedule information. Further, the client device 2 may store the schedule information requested to be newly registered in the hard disk 23. In this case, when generating the simultaneous display calendar information, the control unit 21 refers to the schedule information stored in the hard disk 23 and also includes the schedule information in the simultaneous display calendar information.
[0030]
Further, the user may want to transfer schedule information registered in one document management device 1a to another document management device 1b and register it. For example, when the document management apparatus 1a is inside the firewall and cannot be accessed from outside, while the document management apparatus 1b can be accessed from outside, when the user wants to refer to schedule information from a business trip (outside) Etc. correspond to this. In this case, the user specifies the schedule information to be transferred on the simultaneous display calendar information, and further specifies the document management device 1b to which the user wants to transfer (for example, the document management device 1b is registered in advance as the acquisition source of the schedule information) This specification can be performed by selecting one of the document management apparatuses 1), and schedule information having the same content as the specified schedule information is registered in the document management apparatus 1b specified as the transfer destination. A request is made to the document management device 1a currently managing the specified schedule information to delete the specified schedule information.
[0031]
Here, the description has been given assuming that the schedule information of a certain user managed by each document management device 1 is also open to other users. It is also preferable that the document management device 1 does not provide schedule information of another user to which the private attribute is set.
[0032]
Further, in the information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, a PDA, a mobile phone, or the like can be used as the client device. In this case, for example, in the case of a mobile phone, if a JAVA (registered trademark) applet can be executed, a server device for distributing an information providing program is provided on the network side, and the information providing program is downloaded from the server device. It may be executed.
[0033]
Further, it is preferable that the simultaneous display calendar information is displayed as a part of an interface prepared for each user. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, together with at least one mode of simultaneous display calendar information (FIG. 6 shows an example in which the two modes are displayed together), for example, memo information registered in advance by the user, On the document management apparatus 1 side, information such as "bulletin board information" shared as contact information is also displayed. Such a method of generating and providing an interface prepared for each user is widely known in, for example, Web-based groupware or the like, and thus a detailed description is omitted.
[0034]
According to the present embodiment, even if the schedule information is registered in a distributed manner in a plurality of document management devices 1, the schedule information is aggregated and displayed all at once. There is no need to access to, and operability and convenience can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of schedule information managed on a document management device side.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a holding state of acquired schedule information in a client device.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of simultaneous display calendar information.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a display mode of simultaneous display calendar information.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of a display mode of simultaneous display calendar information.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Document Management Device, 2 Client Device, 21 Control Unit, 22 Storage Unit, 23 Hard Disk, 24 Network Control Unit, 25 Display Unit, 26
Operation unit.

Claims (9)

A plurality of schedule information management devices for managing user schedule information, respectively;
And a client device connected to the schedule information management device,
The client device,
Means for acquiring the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device from the plurality of schedule information management devices,
The acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar, means for generating simultaneously displayed calendar information,
And an information providing system for presenting the generated simultaneous display calendar information to a user. A schedule display device connected to a plurality of schedule information management devices, each of which manages schedule information of a user,
From the plurality of schedule information management devices, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar to generate simultaneous display calendar information. A schedule display device for presenting the simultaneous display calendar information to a user. The schedule display device according to claim 2,
On the simultaneous display calendar information, when there are a plurality of pieces of schedule information that are the same user's schedule information and include the same time zone, at least one of the schedule information is highlighted. Display device. The schedule display device according to claim 2 or 3,
Each piece of schedule information included in the simultaneous display calendar information is associated with information for identifying the schedule information management device from which the schedule information was acquired, and the schedule information management device is designated by the user's instruction. A schedule display device wherein information to be specified is provided for a predetermined process. The schedule display device according to claim 4,
In the simultaneous display calendar information, an instruction regarding a change or deletion operation of the schedule information is received from the user side, and in response to the instruction, the schedule information management device from which the instructed schedule information is acquired is transmitted to the schedule information management device. A schedule display device for transmitting information of change or deletion. The schedule display device according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
In the simultaneous display calendar information, when an instruction regarding addition operation of schedule information is received from the user side, the schedule information instructed to be added is managed in the schedule display device according to the instruction. Schedule display device. For client devices connected to a plurality of schedule information management devices that respectively manage user schedule information,
From the plurality of schedule information management devices, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar to generate simultaneous display calendar information. A server device for distributing a program to be presented. Using a plurality of schedule information management devices that respectively manage the user's schedule information,
From the plurality of schedule information management devices, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is acquired, and the acquired schedule information is simultaneously displayed in one calendar to generate simultaneous display calendar information. And presenting the simultaneous display calendar information to the user side. A computer connected to a plurality of schedule information management devices, each managing user's schedule information,
In response to a request from the user, the schedule information managed by each schedule information management device is obtained from the plurality of schedule information management devices, and the obtained schedule information is simultaneously stored in one calendar. An information providing program for generating the simultaneous display calendar information displayed on the display device, and presenting the simultaneous display calendar information to the user side.

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