JP2004086697A - Connection management technique in network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a client computer easily connectable to a proper server and suppliable proper services for each specified condition. <P>SOLUTION: A server accepting the request for the supply of position information detected by the GPS receiver of the client computer and the services (S100) and providing the services to the client computer based on the accepted position information is selected (S110). The connection to the selected service providing server is instructed to the client computer (S120). As a result, the client computer can be easily connected to the proper server, and can provide the proper services for each specified condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection management device in a network, a management method thereof, a program used therefor, and a service providing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a client computer receives a service provided by a server (for example, a Web page distribution service provided by a Web server), the client computer connects to a server that provides the service and receives a desired service. When specifying a server to be connected, a server that provides a desired service is searched using a search engine or the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a server that provides such a service may be provided with a plurality of servers to provide different services depending on predetermined conditions (for example, a geographical area or a language area) even for the same kind of service. In such a case, the client computer receiving the service must select an appropriate server from among the plurality of installed servers and connect to the client computer, which is complicated. Furthermore, if a large number of servers providing the same kind of service are installed, it is difficult to search for and select an appropriate server, so that an appropriate service may not be received.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a connection management apparatus, a management method thereof, and a service providing system in a network in which a client computer can easily connect to an appropriate server. It is another object of the present invention to provide a connection management apparatus, a management method thereof, and a service providing system in a network for providing an appropriate service for each predetermined condition.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The connection management apparatus, the management method thereof, and the service providing system in the network according to the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.
[0006]
The connection management device of the present invention includes:
A connection management device for managing a connection between a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network with different providing conditions and a connection with the client computer,
Provision condition storage means for storing provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers,
Request receiving means for receiving a request for providing the predetermined service with condition specifying information capable of specifying a providing condition from a client computer;
Server selecting means for selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information associated with the received request and the providing condition stored in the providing condition storing means;
Connection provision instructing means for connecting the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request and instructing the client computer to provide a predetermined service from the service providing server;
The gist is to provide
[0007]
In the connection management device of the present invention, a service providing server to be connected to the client computer is selected based on the providing condition specified from the condition specifying information received from the client computer, and the selected service providing server sends a predetermined message to the client computer. To be provided. Therefore, a more appropriate service providing server can be selected based on the condition specifying information received from the client computer. As a result, an appropriate service can be provided to the client computer for each predetermined condition. Note that the “predetermined service” includes a service for distributing a Web page related to the purchase of consumables of a peripheral device connectable to the client computer.
[0008]
In such a connection management device of the present invention, the provision condition storage means is means for storing a geographical area where the predetermined service is provided by the plurality of service provision servers as the provision condition, and the request reception means is The means for receiving the request for the predetermined service may include information on the geographical position of the client computer according to the request as the condition specifying information. In this case, the service providing server can be selected based on the information on the geographical area where the service providing server provides the service and the geographical position of the client computer. In the connection management device according to the aspect of the present invention, the request receiving unit may use information of a geographical position of the client computer detected by a position detecting unit included in the client computer as the request as the condition specifying information. It may be a means for receiving the request for the service. The "position detecting means" includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver which can know the position (longitude, latitude, etc.) of the receiver on the earth by receiving radio waves from artificial satellites. included.
[0009]
Further, in the connection management device of the present invention, the provision condition storage means is means for storing a language at the time of providing the predetermined service in the plurality of service providing servers as the provision condition, and the request receiving means is Alternatively, the language may be a means for receiving a request for the predetermined service using a language used by the client computer related to the request as the condition specifying information. In this case, the service providing server can be selected based on the language at the time of providing the service in the service providing server and the language used by the client computer.
[0010]
The program for a connection management device according to the present invention provides the computer with the connection management device according to any one of the above-described embodiments, that is, basically, provides a client computer with a predetermined service via a network under different provision conditions. A connection management device that manages connections between a plurality of service providing servers that can be provided and the client computer, a providing condition storage unit that stores providing conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service providing servers, and a client computer Request accepting means for accepting a request to provide the predetermined service with condition specifying information capable of specifying a providing condition from the server; and condition specifying information associated with the received request and the providing condition stored in the providing condition storing means. The server to be connected to the client computer Server selecting means for selecting a service providing server, a connection for connecting the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request, and instructing the client computer to provide a predetermined service from the service providing server. And a provision instructing unit.
[0011]
In the program for the connection management device according to the present invention, since the computer is caused to function as the connection management device according to any one of the above-described embodiments, the effects of the connection management device according to the present invention, for example, the conditions received from the client computer, An effect that a more appropriate service providing server can be selected based on specific information, an effect that an appropriate service can be provided to a client computer for each predetermined condition, and the like can be obtained.
[0012]
The connection management method of the present invention includes:
A connection management method for managing a connection between a client computer and a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network under different providing conditions,
(A) storing provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers,
(B) receiving a request for providing the predetermined service from the client computer together with condition specifying information capable of specifying the providing condition;
(C) selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information associated with the received request and the providing condition stored in the providing condition storage means;
(D) The gist is that the selected service providing server and the client computer related to the request are connected, and the service providing server instructs the client computer to provide a predetermined service.
[0013]
In the connection management method according to the present invention, a service providing server to be connected to the client computer is selected based on the providing condition specified from the condition specifying information received from the client computer, and the selected service providing server sends a predetermined information to the client computer. To be provided. Therefore, a more appropriate service providing server can be selected based on the condition specifying information received from the client computer. As a result, an appropriate service can be provided to the client computer for each predetermined condition.
[0014]
The service providing system of the present invention includes:
A service providing system comprising: a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network; and a connection management device that manages a connection between the client computer and the plurality of service providing servers.
The service providing server is a server that can provide the predetermined service under different providing conditions,
The connection management device includes: a provision condition storage unit configured to store provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers; and provision of the predetermined service with condition identification information capable of specifying a provision condition from a client computer. Selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request, based on request receiving means for receiving the request, and condition providing information associated with the received request and providing conditions stored in the providing condition storing means. And a connection providing instruction means for connecting the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request and instructing the client computer to provide a predetermined service from the service providing server. The point is to prepare.
[0015]
In the service providing system of the present invention, a service providing server to be connected to the client computer is selected based on the providing condition specified from the condition specifying information received from the client computer, and the selected service providing server sends a predetermined message to the client computer. To be provided. Therefore, a more appropriate service providing server can be selected based on the condition specifying information received from the client computer. As a result, an appropriate service can be provided to the client computer for each predetermined condition.
[0016]
In the service providing system according to the present invention, the connection management device includes an information transmitting unit that transmits the condition specifying information to the service providing server selected by the server selecting unit, and the service providing server includes the information transmitting unit. May be a server that provides the predetermined service to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information transmitted by the client. In this case, a predetermined service can be provided based on the condition specifying information received from the client computer.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a service providing system 10 including a connection management server 20 functioning as a connection management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the service providing system 10 includes a connection management server 20 and a service providing server group 25 according to the embodiment. The service provides online sales of consumables of peripheral devices such as printers via a Web page. Is provided to the client computer 40.
[0018]
The connection management server 20 is connected to the client computer 40 and the service providing server group 25 via the Internet 30, receives a request for providing a service from the client computer 40, and provides a service that provides the client computer 40 and the service. The connection with the providing server group 25 is managed. Further, the connection management server 20 is configured as a Web server that can distribute a Web page to the client computer 40 via the Internet 30.
[0019]
The service providing server group 25 is composed of a plurality of service providing servers 25a to 25N installed in major stores that sell and deliver consumables. Each of the service providing servers 25a to 25N is configured as a Web server capable of delivering a Web page to the client computer 40 via the Internet 30.
[0020]
The client computer 40 is configured as a general computer mainly including a CPU, a memory, a hard disk, and an input / output device (not shown). As shown in the figure, a browser 44 capable of displaying a Web page is installed in the client computer 40, and can display a Web page distributed from the connection management server 20 or the service providing servers 25a to 25N. . Further, the client computer 40 includes a general GPS receiver 48, and can acquire position information (such as longitude and latitude) of the client computer 40. Note that the method of acquiring position information by GPS does not form a core of the present invention, and thus a further detailed description will be omitted.
[0021]
Next, an operation of the connection management server 20 of the embodiment configured as described above, particularly a process of managing a connection between the client computer 40 and the service providing server group 25 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection management process executed by the connection management server 20 according to the embodiment when a request for providing a service is issued from the client computer 40.
[0022]
In the connection management process, first, a request for providing a service is received together with the position information of the client computer detected by the GPS receiver (step S100). In the embodiment, when the client computer 40 accesses the connection management server 20, the connection management server 20 receives the request as providing a service, and transmits the position information of the client computer 40 detected by the GPS receiver 48 to the client computer 40. It is assumed that the transmission of the position information is received in response to the request from the client 40. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page distributed to the client computer 40 when there is access from the client computer 40. In the embodiment, while the illustrated Web page is displayed on the monitor of the client computer 40, the transmission of the position information from the client computer 40 is received.
[0023]
Next, a server providing a service to the client computer is selected based on the received position information (step S110). In the embodiment, the selection of the service providing server is determined in advance by setting a geographical area where the service is provided for each service providing server constituting the service providing server group 25 (that is, for each major store) as a providing condition. When registered in the connection management server 20 and the position information of the client computer 40 is received, the service providing server corresponding to the geographical region specified from the position information is selected as the server that provides the service. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the provision condition setting table of the service provision servers 25a to 25N registered in the connection management server 20. As shown in the figure, a geographical area such as "Kanto", "Tokai", or "Kansai" is set for each service providing server. For example, the location information received from the client computer 40 indicates a point in Tokyo. In the case shown, since the specified area is "Kanto", the service providing server 25a installed in the Tokyo store is selected as the server providing the service.
[0024]
When the service providing server is selected in this way, the client computer is instructed to connect to the selected service providing server (step S120), and the connection management process ends. In the embodiment, by transmitting a connection instruction to the service providing server to the client computer 40 together with the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the selected service providing server, the client computer 40 that has received the transmission automatically transmits the instruction to the service providing server. To be connected to FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a Web page distributed from the connected service providing server to the client computer 40. As shown in the figure, a Web page distributed from a service providing server whose area is “Kanto” as a provision condition includes information on the Kanto region (for example, information on a store located in the Kanto region or information on an event held in the Kanto region). Information) is displayed. In the embodiment, the location information of the client computer 40 received by the connection management server 20 is transmitted to the selected service providing server, and the content of the Web page to be distributed is changed based on the transmitted location information. did. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the content of “Recommended products by store” is information of a store (for example, a store in Tokyo) near a point specified from the position information of the client computer 40 among stores in the Kanto region. Is displayed preferentially.
[0025]
According to the connection management server 20 of the embodiment described above, a service providing server is selected based on the position information received from the client computer 40, and a service is provided to the client computer 40 from the selected service providing server. So that the connection can be managed. As a result, an appropriate service can be provided for each predetermined condition.
[0026]
Although the connection management server 20 according to the embodiment receives the position information of the client computer 40 obtained by the GPS receiver 48, the position information of the client computer 40 receives information obtained by another method. It may be something. For example, position information (for example, region, country, address, etc.) managed by an OS (Operating System) of the client computer 40 is accepted, or position information input via a Web page distributed to the client computer 40 is received. It may be accepted.
[0027]
In the connection management server 20 of the embodiment, the service providing server is selected based on the geographical area specified from the received position information of the client computer 40. The service providing server may be selected based on the language used. In this case, the provision condition setting table illustrated in FIG. 6 may be registered in the connection management server 20, and a service provision server whose provision condition is a language corresponding to the accepted language of the client computer 40 may be selected. Further, the information received from the client computer 40 is not limited to the geographical information and the information related to the language, but may be a type of receiving other information and selecting a service providing server.
[0028]
In the connection management server 20 of the embodiment, the client computer 40 is instructed to connect to the selected service providing server. However, it is sufficient that the client computer 40 and the selected service providing server are connected. Alternatively, the service providing server may be instructed to connect to the client computer 40. In this case, information necessary for connecting to the computer 40, such as the IP address and port number of the client computer 40, may be transmitted to the service providing server. Further, the position information of the client computer 40 received by the connection management server 20 is transmitted to the selected service providing server. However, the position information may not be transmitted to the service providing server.
[0029]
In the connection management server 20 according to the embodiment, the service providing server group 25 is configured by a plurality of service providing servers 25a to 25N installed in major stores that sell and deliver consumables. The physical installation location of a plurality of servers does not matter. That is, it may be installed at the location of each store or may be installed at a predetermined location.
[0030]
In the connection management server 20 according to the embodiment, the service providing system 10 provides the client computer 40 with a service of online sales of consumables of peripheral devices such as a printer via a Web page. Of course, it may be provided. Further, the service providing servers 25a to 25N are configured as Web servers that distribute Web pages, but may be other servers, for example, FTP servers that provide a file transfer service. Absent.
[0031]
In the embodiment, the connection management server 20 that receives the request for providing the service from the client computer 40 and manages the connection between the client computer 40 and the service providing server group 25 that provides the service has been described. In the form of a connection management method for managing the connection between the computer 40 and the service providing server group 25 that provides the service, in the form of a program that causes the computer to function as the connection management server 20 in the embodiment, the same client computer 40 The connection management method for managing the connection with the service providing server group 25 that provides the service may be in the form of a program for performing the connection using a computer. In the case of a program form, each step of the connection management process illustrated in FIG. 2 may be programmed using an appropriate programming language.
[0032]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described using the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Obviously you can get it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a service providing system including a connection management server functioning as a connection management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a connection management process.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page delivered to a client computer 40 when an access is made from the client computer 40;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a provision condition setting table of a service provision server.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a Web page distributed from a selected service providing server to a client computer 40.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a provision condition setting table of a service provision server according to a modified example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 service providing system, 20 connection management server, 25 service providing server group, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25N service providing server, 30 Internet, 40 client computer, 44 browser, 48 GPS receiver.

Claims (9)

A connection management device for managing a connection between a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network with different providing conditions and a connection with the client computer,
Provision condition storage means for storing provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers,
Request receiving means for receiving a request for providing the predetermined service with condition specifying information capable of specifying a providing condition from a client computer;
Server selecting means for selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information associated with the received request and the providing condition stored in the providing condition storing means;
Connection provision instructing means for connecting the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request and instructing the client computer to provide a predetermined service from the service providing server;
A connection management device comprising: The connection management device according to claim 1, wherein
The provision condition storage means is means for storing a geographical area where the predetermined service is provided by the plurality of service provision servers as the provision condition,
The connection management device, wherein the request receiving unit is a unit that receives a request for the predetermined service using information on a geographical position of the client computer related to the request as the condition specifying information. The request receiving means is means for receiving a request for the predetermined service as information on a geographical position of the client computer detected by a position detecting means provided in the client computer according to the request as the condition specifying information. 2. The connection management device according to 2. The connection management device according to claim 1, wherein
The provision condition storage means is means for storing a language at the time of providing the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers as the provision condition,
The connection management device, wherein the request receiving unit is a unit that receives a request for the predetermined service using a language of a client computer related to the request as the condition specifying information. The connection management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined service is a service that distributes a Web page related to purchase of consumables of a peripheral device connectable to a client computer. A program for causing a computer to function as the connection management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A connection management method for managing a connection between a client computer and a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network under different providing conditions,
(A) storing provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers,
(B) receiving a request for providing the predetermined service from a client computer together with condition specifying information capable of specifying a providing condition;
(C) selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information associated with the received request and the providing condition stored in the providing condition storage means;
(D) A connection management method in which the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request are connected, and the service providing server instructs the client computer to provide a predetermined service. A service providing system comprising: a plurality of service providing servers capable of providing a predetermined service to a client computer via a network; and a connection management device that manages a connection between the client computer and the plurality of service providing servers.
The service providing server is a server that can provide the predetermined service under different providing conditions,
The connection management device includes: a provision condition storage unit configured to store provision conditions of the predetermined service in the plurality of service provision servers; and provision of the predetermined service with condition identification information capable of specifying a provision condition from a client computer. Selecting a service providing server to be connected to the client computer according to the request, based on request receiving means for receiving the request, and condition specifying information associated with the received request and provision conditions stored in the provision condition storage means. And a connection providing instruction unit for connecting the selected service providing server and the client computer according to the request, and instructing the client computer to provide a predetermined service from the service providing server. Service providing system. 9. The service providing system according to claim 8, wherein
The connection management device includes an information transmitting unit that transmits the condition specifying information to the service providing server selected by the server selecting unit,
The service providing system, wherein the service providing server is a server that provides the predetermined service to the client computer according to the request based on the condition specifying information transmitted by the information transmitting unit.

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