JP2005267481A - Ordering and order receiving system for package software - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for ordering and receiving orders of software, which automatically determines the necessity for customization of software products, software products needed to be customized and the customization method, when a software provider inputs request information of a software purchaser to the system for ordering and receiving the order of the software and which orders and receives the orders of software parts in a form suitable for the customization method. <P>SOLUTION: In regard to a software product provided beforehand by an order receiver, correlating to the function of the software product, a storage means stores a plurality of variations of software parts constituting the software product and having different provision forms; application range information on functions capable of being realized by customizing the provision forms of each of the software parts; and a file name indicating the contents of each of the provision forms of the software parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for receiving and ordering software products that require individual customization on a computer network in response to a customer's request, and in particular, providing software for customizing software products and delivering the software to customers. The present invention relates to a system that performs an ordering process between a user and a software product developer.

  With the recent development and spread of computer network technology represented by the Internet and Intranet, not only transactions between companies and companies, but also transactions between individual customers and companies and transactions between individuals and individuals. A sales order system that can carry out sales contracts and payment processing of computers through computers, and a sales system that deals not only with sales contracts and payment processing but also directly in electronic form, such as music distribution, have already been put into practical use. Yes.

  On the other hand, in the case of software products, particularly enterprise information systems, it is common for a purchaser of a software product to customize and use a part of the product independently. In this type of usage, if a purchaser does not have deep knowledge of software products and software development technology even if he / she purchases software products via the Internet, he / she will not be able to achieve the desired customization, and a lot of new development will occur. In some cases, it may be necessary to perform the above, or the desired function or performance may not be realized.

  In order to improve business efficiency and improve competitiveness not only for large enterprises that own software development technology but also for small and medium-sized enterprises that do not have software development technology. Introducing and utilizing software products.

  For this reason, it is necessary for a developer of a software product to investigate the operations of individual customers, summarize the requests, customize the software product as necessary, and deliver the software product to the customer.

  In a situation where the number of customers is small, the software product developer directly investigates the customer's business, summarizes the requests, and customizes the software product. However, as the number of customers increases over time, software products are purchased from software product developers, and the software products are customized and delivered according to customer requirements. Software providers who get the price have come to appear. In other words, in software product transactions that require customization for each customer, the customer purchases the software product between the customer who purchases the software product and the developer of the software product, and customizes it according to the purchaser's request. Transactions have been carried out among three software product providers who receive a price by applying to a software product and delivering it to a purchaser.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-312172 Tetsuo Takizawa “How the Internet Exchange Works” Asuka Publishing 2000

  Here, the software provider should sort out the requests of the software purchaser, and determine exactly how much customization is necessary for which part of the software product and the specific method when customizing it. Is required. If you make this mistake, you can customize components that do n’t need to be customized (referred to as software parts here) or customize them in an inefficient way, In the worst case, the performance of the software product as a whole may be degraded or defects may be created.

  As a result, software providers need deep knowledge of software products, knowledge of customer operations to organize customer requests, and software development technology to ensure customization that satisfies buyers' requirements. There are currently few software providers that can be realized, and it has been difficult to provide software products to many customers at the same time.

  The present invention is proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and the software provider inputs the request information of the software purchaser to the software ordering system so that the necessity of customization of the software product and the customization can be determined. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for automatically ordering software components in a form suitable for a customization method by automatically determining necessary software components and a customization method.

  The present invention is intended to solve such problems.

The invention of claim 1 is a software ordering / ordering system that includes an input means, an output means, a storage means, and an arithmetic means, and is accessible from the orderer and the ordering party via the network, and is provided from the ordering party in advance. For software products, in association with the functions that the software product has, multiple variations of software components that make up the software product that differ in the form of provision, and application of functions that can be realized by customizing the form of provision of each software component By storing range information and a file name indicating the contents of each provision form of software parts in the storage means,
Upon receiving a request for the customer's software product from the orderer's terminal from the input means, the calculation means is based on the function application range information stored in the previous term storage means in advance from the received request. The software parts that can satisfy the customer's request and the form of providing them are specified, and the file name is extracted and controlled to be output to the output means. The extracted information is extracted to the terminal of the orderer via the communication line. A list of software components indicated by the file name is output.

  The software ordering / ordering system of the present invention automatically determines where to customize and the customization method in order to realize the customer's request, and based on this result, it is possible to customize the parts requiring customization. Software components in the form can be provided. As a result, the software provider as the orderer can prevent an error in determining the location and size of the customization to be performed on the software product in order to realize the request of the software purchaser as the customer.

  In addition, since software system developers can simultaneously handle orders from many or a wide range of customers at the same time, this system has been unable to respond even if the customer wants to purchase. The case that was lost will be solved, and it will be possible to acquire more sales.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described here does not limit the present invention at all, and merely illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The software ordering / ordering system 100 includes a WWW server 1, and the WWW server 1 is connected to an internal bus 3 via a firewall 2. An application server 4 and a database server 5 are connected to the internal bus 3.

  The WWW server 1 is connected to the Internet 31. The WWW server 1 opens a menu page for collecting software product purchase cases. A software provider who wishes to purchase a software product accesses the menu page via the Internet from the terminal 32 which is an input means and an output means, confirms the configuration and form of provision of the software product based on customer requirements, and places an order. You can apply at any time. In the present specification, the term “person” is used, but the term “person” is defined as a concept including both natural persons and corporations.

  The menu page serves as a window for a person who has already been recognized as an order candidate to perform various procedures related to the purchase of software products.

  The firewall 2 prevents the application server 4 that is a calculation means and the database server 5 that is a storage means from entering illegally via the Internet 31.

The application server 4 controls the entire software ordering system 100.
The application server 4 stores and executes a program that controls the operation of the software ordering system 100. As described above, access to the database server 5 is restricted by the firewall 2. Further, access to the database server 5 from outside the software ordering system 100 is performed only by a program executed by the application server 4. Thus, a person who operates the software ordering system 100 and is not a person who intends to purchase a software product (hereinafter referred to as “software provider”) is prevented from freely accessing the database server 5.

  The database server 5 includes a product storage database 6, a software product definition database 7, an order information database 8, a provision form definition database 9, and a provision state determination condition database 10.

  The product repository database 6 is referenced when the software product developer registers the elements (referred to as software parts here) that constitute the software product (not only the executable file but also the source file and customization). All the files that may be provided when customization is required, such as specifications and parameter setting files.

  The software product definition database 7 holds a series of information related to the function of the software product when the developer of the software product registers the classification of the function of the software product.

  The order information database 8 holds list information (order number, ordering company name, price, etc.) related to the order of the software product when the provider of the software product has applied for the order of the software product.

  The provision form definition database 9 is registered when a software developer registers variations (execution files, source files, specifications to be referred to during customization, parameter setting files, etc.) with different provision forms of software components constituting the software product. In addition, a series of information related to variations of software components (name of provision form, type of provision form (execution file, source file, etc.), file name of provision form, etc.) is held.

  The provision form determination condition database 10 is a series of information (a function ID and a question sentence for selecting a provision form) regarding software component selection conditions when a software product developer registers a software part constituting the software product. (For example, “100 or more people access at the same time”, “I want to display information that is not on the standard screen”, etc.), ID of the form to be provided when the answer to the question text is “YES”, etc.) .

  In the present embodiment, the software ordering system 100 describes an embodiment in which one product is ordered and received. However, as another embodiment, there may be an embodiment that handles a plurality of products.

  FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the user of this embodiment and the related person.

  Here, an embodiment will be described in which the parties involved in the present invention are classified into three types of roles. First, there is a purchaser 20 of software products. The purchaser 20 of the software product is a user who actually uses the software product. In a software product such as an enterprise information system, the software product is usually customized and used so as to satisfy a purchaser's request. Here, it is the provider 21 of the software product that collects the requests of the purchaser 20 of the software product, customizes the software product, and delivers the product, thereby obtaining a price from the purchaser. The software provider 21 purchases a software product from the software developer 22. Here, the software product developer 22 refers to a person who develops and sells software products. The software developer 22 sells software products to the software provider 21 and obtains the price.

  The software ordering / ordering system proposed in the present invention is a system for supporting transactions between a software developer 22 and a software provider 21.

  FIG. 3 shows an implementation example of the menu screen of the software ordering system.

  The menu screen includes an icon 31 for the software product provider 21 and icons 32 to 33 for the software product developer 22.

  Next, a process in which the software product provider 21 orders software products using the software ordering system 100 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a list of software components constituting the software product and a form of providing the software product provider 21 by inputting a function desired to be realized by the software product to the software ordering / order receiving system 100 based on the customer's request. Confirm and show the process of purchasing software products.

  Here, the software component is a component for realizing each function of the software product, and indicates a specific execution file or a set thereof. Moreover, the provision form of a software component represents the form at the time of providing the above-mentioned software component to a provider. For example, the form of an executable file that cannot be customized at all, the form of an execution module that can customize the function by some setting file, the form of an executable file that exposes the interface part, or completely customizable The form of the source code is shown here.

  When the software provider 21 accesses the menu page from the terminal 32 via the Internet and clicks the button 31 on the menu page, a question regarding how to use the software product registered in advance in the provision form determination database 10 is displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen on which a provider inputs a purchaser's request. FIG. 5 includes a product configuration determination button 51 and a menu return button 52.

  The provider inputs whether or not the usage of the software product on the customer request registration screen displayed on the terminal 32 matches the customer's request (step S41). The software ordering / order receiving system 100 determines the provision form of necessary software components for each function of the software product based on the provision form determination condition database 10, the provision form definition information database 9, and the software product definition database 7. Here, the detailed flow of the determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The software ordering / order receiving system 100 displays the provision form of each function of the software product on the provider's terminal 32 via the Internet 31.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen on which the provider inquires the determination result of the software product provision form. FIG. 6 includes an order button 61 and a menu return button 62.

  The provider confirms the provision form of the software product displayed on the terminal 32 and orders the software product of the displayed provision form, whereby the software provider and the provision form are registered in the order information database 8, and the software An ordering request is transmitted to the product developer (step S42).

  The developer confirms the order information from the order information database 8 by clicking the 32 button on the menu page.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen on which the developer inquires the order information of the received software product. FIG. 7 includes a detailed list button 71 for providing list, an order confirmation / shipment button 72, and a return button 73 in the menu.

  When the developer confirms the order information and executes the shipping process, the developer extracts the software part file from the product storage database 6 and transmits it to the provider terminal 32 (step S43).

  FIG. 8 shows a processing flow for determining the application form of the software component in response to the input of the customer request.

  First, the menu information screen shown in FIG. When the customer request registration button 31 is clicked on this screen, the customer request registration screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the terminal (step S81).

  Next, on the customer request registration screen shown in FIG. 5, when the provider inputs an answer to a question regarding the customer request (step S82) and the product configuration determination button 51 is clicked (step S83), the provision form Perform the determination process. First, the function ID related to the question ID is specified with reference to the provision form determination condition database 10. Next, in the case of a question having the same function ID, when there is an answer “Yes (YES)”, the provision form determination condition database 10 is referred to and “providing form ID applicable at the time of YES” is referred to. Are all extracted (step S84).

  At this time, if the number of “provided form IDs applicable when YES” is 0 (step S85), it means that customization is not required. Are extracted, and “software component provision form ID” having the same type and “executable file” is extracted as a determination result (step S86).

  Next, when the number of “provided form IDs applicable when YES” is greater than 1 (step S87), it means that complicated customization is required, so refer to the provided form definition information database 9. Then, “software component provision form ID” having the same function ID and the type “source file” is extracted as a determination result (step S87).

  Finally, if the number of “provided form IDs applicable when YES” is 1, it means that customization is possible depending on the specific provided form. Therefore, “provided form IDs applicable when YES” "Is extracted as a determination result (step S88).

  After the processes from step S84 to step 89 are repeated for the number of function IDs defined in the software product definition database 7, the provision form determination result shown in FIG.

1 shows a configuration of a software ordering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The relevant person of this invention is shown. A menu screen is shown. The process by which a provider orders a software product is shown. The customer request registration screen is shown. The product provision form judgment result screen is shown. The order processing screen is shown. The processing flow of the program which determines a provision form is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Software ordering system, 1 ... WWW server, 2 ... Firewall, 3 ... Internal bus, 4 ... Application server, 5 ... Database server, 6 ... Product storage database, 7 ... Software product definition database, 8 ... Order information database , 9 ... Provision form definition database, 10 ... Provision state determination condition database, 31 ... Internet, 32 ... terminal.

Claims (3)

A software ordering system that includes an input means, an output means, a storage means, and a computing means, and is accessible to the orderer and the contractor via the network,
For software products provided by the contractor in advance, in correspondence with the functions of the software product, a plurality of variations of the software components constituting the software product and different provision forms, and the provision form of each software component are customized By storing the application range information of the functions that can be realized by the above and the file name indicating the contents of each provision form of the software component in the storage means,
When the request for the software product is received from the input unit from the orderer's terminal, the calculation unit receives the request from the received request based on the application range information of the function previously stored in the previous storage unit. A list of software components specified by the extracted file name is specified by identifying a satisfactory software component and its form of provision, extracting a file name, controlling the output means, and a terminal of the orderer via a communication line Software ordering system, characterized in that A software ordering system that includes an input means, an output means, a storage means, and a computing means, and is accessible to the orderer and the contractor via the network,
For software products provided by the contractor in advance, in correspondence with the functions of the software product, a plurality of variations of the software components constituting the software product and different provision forms, and the provision form of each software component are customized By storing the application range information of the functions that can be realized by the above and the file name indicating the contents of each provision form of the software component in the storage means,
Upon receiving a request for the customer's software product from the orderer's terminal from the input means, the calculation means is based on the function application range information stored in the previous term storage means in advance from the received request. Identify the software parts that can satisfy the customer's request and its provision form, extract the file name, control to output to the output means, to the terminal that the contractor has via the communication line, as order information, A software ordering system that outputs a list of software components indicated by the extracted file name. A software ordering system that includes an input means, an output means, a storage means, and a computing means, and is accessible to the orderer and the contractor via the network,
For software products provided by the contractor in advance, in correspondence with the functions of the software product, a plurality of variations of the software components constituting the software product and different provision forms, and the provision form of each software component are customized By storing the application range information of the functions that can be realized by this, the file name indicating the contents of each provision form of the software component, and the file entity in the storage means,
Upon receiving a request for the customer's software product from the orderer's terminal from the input means, the calculation means is based on the function application range information stored in the previous term storage means in advance from the received request. Identify the software parts that can satisfy the customer's request and the form of providing them, extract the file name, control the output means, and the extracted file name points to the terminal of the orderer via the communication line Software ordering system characterized by outputting software parts.

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