JP2004029993A - Software activating method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the activation of software from function information with optional software as an object and to activate the software by utilizing two or more pieces of the function information, displaying a target function list from the keyword of a function name and selecting a target function from it. <P>SOLUTION: At the time of installing the software or the like, the keyword of the function information of the software is registered to a function management table 1 together with a software name. When a user feeds the keyword of work that he/she wants to perform, by retrieving the function management table 1, displaying the list of target software and activating the software selected by the user from it, the user easily activates the target software. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a software starting method and a program for registering a function of arbitrarily installed software and starting a target software by a user inputting a keyword.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional software activation method, there is a technique described in JP-A-2000-347838 or JP-A-9-1114650, in addition to a method of selecting and activating a software name.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-347838 discloses a program calling method by designating a function in integrated software. This is to call a function by designating the function in software that provides various functions in an integrated manner. Specifically, the function information to be registered is stored in advance in the software to be installed, the information is registered at the time of installation, and a list of function information is displayed when the user uses it. Activate the function selected from.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-114650 discloses a program calling method using a function hierarchy. In this method, when the range of functions such as business processing is clear, those functions are expressed in a hierarchy to make it easier to find a target program.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above prior art relates to a software selection method when the range of functions is clear, such as within the range of integrated software or within the scope of business processing, and is intended to display function information for any software. It was not done. For this reason, there is a problem that any software having no function information to be registered in advance cannot display the function information and cannot start the software based on the function information. That is, the range in which the software can be activated based on the function information is limited.
[0006]
Further, in the above-described conventional technology, since only functions (programs) are displayed in a list, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to find a target function.
[0007]
Further, when a general user searches for software stored in a PC (personal computer) or the like, the entire functional system is not known. There is a problem that the user only knows the work to be performed, and it is difficult to find the target software from the hierarchically expressed tree.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to enable software to be started from function information for arbitrary software, and furthermore, by using a plurality of pieces of function information, a target function list can be obtained from a keyword of a function name. It is an object of the present invention to be able to display and to select a desired function from among the displayed functions to activate the software.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a software starting method for selecting and starting one of a plurality of software on a computer, wherein the functions of the plurality of software Storing information and software names in association with each other, searching for the function information based on the input keyword, and displaying a list of software names corresponding to the function information including the keyword; Starting the software having the software name designated by the user from the displayed information.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the software activation method according to the first aspect, the step of displaying the list of software names includes a software name corresponding to the function information including the input keyword and at least one of the function information. Displaying a part of the displayed function information and displaying a full text of the function information by designating a part of the displayed function information.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the software activation method according to the first aspect, the step of storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other includes the step of installing the function information of the software when the software is installed. And stores the function information and the software name in association with each other.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 4 is the software activation method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of adding, registering, and editing function information and software name of the software.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the software activation method according to the first aspect, the function information of the software is information downloaded using the Internet.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 6 is a software activation program that selects and activates one of a plurality of software on a computer, and stores function information and software names of the plurality of software in association with each other. Setting, searching for the function information based on the input keyword, and displaying a list of software names corresponding to the function information including the keyword, and displaying the software name specified by the user from the list. Starting the software.
[0015]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the software activation program according to the sixth aspect, the step of displaying the list of software names includes at least one of the function information and the software name corresponding to the function information including the input keyword. Displaying a part of the displayed function information and displaying a full text of the function information by designating a part of the displayed function information.
[0016]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the software activation program according to the sixth aspect, the step of storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other includes the step of installing the function information of the software when the software is installed. And stores the function information and the software name in association with each other.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a software starting device using a keyword according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a function management table 1 for storing a plurality of pieces of function information of software and a software name in correspondence with each other, and a function information acquisition unit 2 for acquiring function information of the software when the software is installed and storing the information in the function management table 1 Function information editing means 3 for the user to add and edit function information to the function management table 1; and search the function management table 1 based on the keyword of the function name input by the user, And a keyword activating means 4 for displaying and activating the keyword. This apparatus is actually realized by a PC or the like executing a program that plays a role of each of the units 2 to 4. The function management table 1 is stored on some storage means (such as a hard disk or a memory).
[0019]
The function management table 1 is a table that stores function information 11, software names 12, and execution files 13 in association with each other. The execution file 13 is a field for storing a location (for example, a path name) where the execution file of the software exists. The function management table 1 holds various function information in a field of function information 11 for all software used by the user. These pieces of function information include various keywords used by the user when searching. The function management table 1 can be updated by a user.
[0020]
The function information acquisition unit 2 includes a function information acquisition processing unit 21 and a function information storage processing unit 22. The function information acquisition processing unit 21 is called by an installer which is a basic function of an operating system (OS) when installing software. The function information acquisition processing unit 21 retrieves an input medium or the like of the software to be installed and acquires function information. The function information storage processing unit 22 adds the keyword of the function information obtained by the function information acquisition processing unit 21 to the function management table 1.
[0021]
The function information editing means 3 allows a user to arbitrarily add, register, and edit software names and keywords of function information. This is because, with software that does not perform the installation processing, the function information cannot be obtained by the function information obtaining unit 2, and the user sometimes wants to edit the automatically obtained function information.
[0022]
The keyword activation unit 4 includes a keyword input processing unit 41, a function information search processing unit 42, a target software display processing unit 43, and a designated software activation processing unit 44. The keyword input processing unit 41 displays a keyword input screen on the screen, and acquires the keyword of the work input by the user. The function information search processing unit 42 searches the function management table 1 based on the keyword input on the keyword input screen, and extracts a record having function information including the keyword. When such a record is found, the target software display processing unit 43 displays the software name in the function management table 1 and its description (function information) on the target software list screen. When the user clicks on a software name suitable for the work purpose from the displayed on the target software list screen, the designated software activation processing unit 44 activates the designated software.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a procedure of processing for storing function information in the function management table 1 at the time of software installation.
[0024]
First, in step 201, a user requests installation of software. In step 202, the OS installer receives the installation request from the user and calls the function information acquisition unit 2. In step 203, the function information acquisition processing unit 21 of the function information acquisition unit 2 reads the Readme. An explanation file related to the software, such as an explanation file such as txt or a HELP file, is read. The present invention is applicable not only to a case where software stored in a predetermined input medium is installed, but also to a case where software downloaded from a predetermined Web site 7 via the Internet 6 is installed. In this case, the description of the software to be installed is downloaded via the Internet 6.
[0025]
In step 204, the function description storage unit 22 of the function information acquisition unit 2 writes the read explanation text into the function information 11 of the function management table 1 as it is. At the same time, the software name 12 is also written. In step 205, a screen for requesting detailed information such as a storage destination (installation destination) of the software is displayed. When the user designates a storage destination in step 206, an installation process is executed in step 207. This installation process is the same as the conventional one. In step 208, the function information acquisition means 2 is called again. In step 209, the function information acquisition unit 2 writes the folder of the execution file and the execution file name (namely, path name) in the execution file 13 of the function management table 1. In step 210, an end message is displayed, and the process ends.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows a procedure for starting software by a keyword.
[0027]
First, in step 301, the user selects "keyword box" from the start button on the screen. When the keyword BOX, which is a keyword input screen, is displayed in step 302, in step 303, the user inputs a keyword of an operation to be performed. Here, it is assumed that the user wants to check the position of a certain address on the map, and inputs “address” as a keyword, for example. In step 304, the function information search processing unit 42 searches the function information 11 of the function management table 1 based on the input keyword. In step 305, a record that matches the condition is extracted. For example, when the function information 11 of the function management table 1 is searched using the “address” input in step 303 as a keyword, the keyword “address” is included in the function information of “BBB” and “CCC”. Records are retrieved.
[0028]
In step 306, a list of the extracted software name and a part of the description (for example, only the leading part) is displayed on the program start box screen. Step 307 shows an example of the displayed program activation BOX screen. In step 308, when the user clicks any description, for example, the description of “CCC” in the list display of the program startup BOX screen, in step 309, the description of “CCC” is obtained from the retrieved record information. Display the full text of. Step 310 shows the display of the full text of the description of “CCC”. In step 311, when the user clicks the software name portion, for example, "CCC", in step 312, the designated software activation processing unit 44 acquires the path name of the execution file of "CCC" from the extracted record information. Activate the software that exists there. Step 313 shows where the target software “CCC” has been activated.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for any software used by a user, even if the software name is unclear, the target software can be started by inputting the keyword of the function name. As a result, when managing a large amount of software, the time for searching for the target software can be greatly reduced. Also, by setting the information of the target software in the function management table at the time of shipment for the software that was pre-installed when the hardware was shipped, the pre-installed software can be used effectively by the user, Will be more valuable.
[0030]
Also, by providing a function for extracting a function keyword at the time of installation and registering the function keyword in the function management table for a general program, it is possible to call a program other than the preinstalled program by the keyword. By being able to call additional programs by keywords, not only beginners but also advanced users who manage a large number of programs can easily manage programs (make it easier to find the target program).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a software activation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of processing for storing function information in a function management table at the time of software installation.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure for starting software by a keyword.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Function management table, 2 ... Function information acquisition means, 3 ... Function information editing means, 4 ... Keyword activation means, 5 ... Input medium of software to be installed, 6 ... Internet, 7 ... Install Web site where software is present, 11 ... function information, 12 ... software name, 13 ... execution file, 21 ... function information acquisition processing section, 22 ... function information storage processing section, 31 ... function information editing processing Unit, 41: keyword input processing unit, 42: function information search processing unit, 43: target software display processing unit, 44: designated software activation processing unit

Claims (8)

A software activation method for selecting and starting one of a plurality of software on a computer,
Storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other;
Searching for the function information based on the input keyword, and displaying a list of software names corresponding to the function information including the keyword;
Activating software having a software name designated by the user from the list display. The software activation method according to claim 1,
The step of displaying a list of the software names is to display at least a part of the function information together with a software name corresponding to the function information including the input keyword,
A software activation method further comprising the step of designating a part of the displayed function information to display the entire text of the function information. The software activation method according to claim 1,
The step of storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other acquires the function information of the software at the time of installing the software, and stores the function information and the software name in association with each other. A method for starting software, the method comprising: The software activation method according to claim 1,
A software activation method, further comprising a step of adding, registering, and editing software function information and software name. The software activation method according to claim 1,
A software activation method, wherein the function information of the software is information downloaded using the Internet. A software start-up program that selects one of a plurality of software programs on a computer and starts the software.
Storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other;
Searching for the function information based on the input keyword, and displaying a list of software names corresponding to the function information including the keyword;
Activating software having a software name designated by the user from the list display. The software activation program according to claim 6,
The step of displaying a list of the software names is to display at least a part of the function information together with a software name corresponding to the function information including the input keyword,
A software activation program further comprising the step of designating a part of the displayed function information to display the entire text of the function information. The software activation program according to claim 6,
The step of storing the function information of the plurality of software and the software name in association with each other acquires the function information of the software at the time of installing the software, and stores the function information and the software name in association with each other. A software startup program characterized by the following.

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