JP2007034573A - Application server, network application system, automated support information updating program, and recording medium recording this program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly and automatically update support information such as helps and manuals in sequence as such support information is updated, even in the case of an application whose portion executing the support information is integrally developed. <P>SOLUTION: A Web application server connects to the help update Web service of a help/manual update check site and checks to see whether or not helps or manuals have been updated (S1, S2). When it is determined that updates have been made, the Web application server obtains help/manual update list information (S3). An update information list file is first browsed from the information obtained, and updated files whose changes are described are obtained via the help update Web service (S4). The original files are overwritten with the update files obtained (S5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an application server having support information such as help and manual, a network application system, a support information automatic update program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  Conventionally, in a network application system that allows a user to use an application via a network, support information such as help and an operation manual when the user uses an application function or the like is implemented.

  In addition, as a conventional technique, by providing means for acquiring update information of an operation manual via a network, a reference guide installed on a PC from a CD-ROM can be used to appropriately input a Web by inputting from a user. Some refer to update information for help information on a server (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Further, in the prior art filed earlier by the present applicant, when the image output apparatus needs desired help data, there is one that can read the necessary help data from another device on the network. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP-A-11-316636 JP 2004-355128 A

However, in general, with application servers, the development of support information such as help and manuals other than the engine as an application is developed with the versatility that can be used in other systems. It is advantageous to consider the relationship between
For this reason, development is not generally performed by dividing only support information such as help and manual, and support information such as help and manual is often developed and operated together with an application.
Therefore, even when the help system is corrected, it is necessary to update the entire application system.

  In addition, since the user who uses the application server uses it online, it is desired that the support information such as help and manual is updated in real time to be the latest version.

Here, in the thing of the patent document 1 mentioned above, since update information is referred by the input from a user, about support information, such as a help and a manual, updating automatically rapidly sequentially. It was not considered until.
Further, it has not been considered to be applied to the application server as described above.

  Further, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it has not been taken into consideration that the automatic update is performed quickly and rapidly as the support information such as help and manual is updated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even if an application is developed in which an execution part of support information such as help and manual is also developed, support is provided as such support information is updated. It is an object of the present invention to provide an application server, a network application system, a support information automatic update program, and a recording medium on which the program can be recorded, in which information can be automatically and quickly updated.

  In order to achieve such an object, an application server as a first aspect of the present invention is an application server used by being connected to an update source server that holds the latest support information of an application, and the support information of the application is An update check unit that communicates with the update source server to inquire whether it has been updated, an acquisition unit that acquires an update file when it is determined that the update check unit has updated, and an update acquired by the acquisition unit Update means for overwriting the corresponding part with a file.

  List acquisition means for acquiring update file list information from the update source server, update history holding means for holding update history information by the update means, list information and update history holding means acquired by the list acquisition means Non-update specifying means for specifying an unupdated portion by comparing the update history information held in the update history information, and the acquisition means described above updates only the update file specified by the non-update specifying means. Is preferably obtained from

  It is preferable that the update check means includes a time setting means for setting a time for making an inquiry to the update source server.

  Timing setting means for setting the timing of making an inquiry to the update source server by the update check means described above according to the operation content, and the update check means described above is an operation set by the timing setting means for making an inquiry to the update source server. It is preferably performed when

  It is preferable that a target type setting unit that sets a type of an acquisition target acquired by the acquisition unit described above is provided, and the acquisition unit described above acquires an update file of a type set by the target type setting unit.

  The update check unit described above preferably inquires whether the support information of the application has been updated for the type set by the target type setting unit.

  The network application system according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the application server according to the first aspect of the present invention and an update source server are connected to each other.

  A support information automatic update program according to a third aspect of the present invention is an application server support information automatic update program that is connected to and used by an update source server that holds the latest application support information. , And functioning as means described in the application server as the first aspect of the present invention.

  The support information automatic update program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a support information automatic update program for a network application system configured by connecting an update source server that holds the latest support information of an application and an application server. Then, the computer is caused to function as the means described in the application server as the first aspect of the present invention.

  A recording medium on which a support information automatic update program according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is recorded is characterized in that the support information automatic update program according to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention is recorded.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the support information execution part such as help and manual is developed as an integrated part, the support information is sequentially and rapidly updated as the support information is updated. It can be updated automatically.

  Next, an application server, a network application system, a support information automatic update program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to Web application system help and a manual automatic update method will be described with reference to the drawings. The details will be described.

First, a configuration common to each embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the Web application system as an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a Web browser 3 that is an application client is connected to a Web application server 2 via a network, and support information such as help and manuals is displayed. A help update Web service (update source server) 1 that holds the latest information is also connected via a network.

The Web application server 2 has a configuration as illustrated in FIG.
The CPU 21 performs processing based on a program.
The display device 22 displays various information such as the read image.
The storage device 23 stores various information such as contents and attribute information such as programs and registered documents, and a large-capacity hard magnetic storage device or the like is used.
The system memory 24 loads programs and the like.
The image memory 25 stores image data and the like.

The input device 26 is used for input to the Web application server 2 and may be a keyboard including a pointing device.
The web application control unit 27 controls all application functions.
The help control unit 28 controls help update processing.
The communication unit 29 performs communication with other connected devices.

  With the configuration as described above, the Web application server 2 implements an application that is also developed with the support information execution part such as help and manual, and uses the application via a network to a client equipped with a Web browser. It has a function that makes it possible.

<First Embodiment>
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This first embodiment holds help update control for checking whether help or manual is updated in an application system using the Web, and this help update control unit is a help update Web service prepared in the update source server. If it has been updated, an update file is acquired according to the update list, and the corresponding file of the Web application system is replaced.

In a conventional application system using the Web, for example, help (HTML format) and an operation manual when a user uses an application function or the like are implemented, but there is an erroneous description in the help or the operation manual, Even if there was a lack of description, it was necessary to recreate the entire application system.
That is, even when only the help system needs to be corrected, it is usually necessary to make a correction such as upgrading the entire application system. In this case, the usability as an application system is not good, and there is a possibility that it takes time until the correct information can be reflected on the user who uses the application system.

In contrast, the Web application system as the first embodiment of the present invention operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the web application system is activated, the web application server 2 connects to the help update web service 1 on the help / manual update check site (see FIG. 4), and checks whether the help or manual has been updated. (Step S1).

  When it is determined that the update has been performed (step S2; Yes), the web application server 2 acquires help / manual update list information (see FIG. 5) (step S3). Whether there is an update is determined by, for example, a method in which the Web application server 2 determines whether or not an update flag is set for each file by the help update Web service 1 or an update from the help update Web service 1 Various methods such as a method of receiving presence / absence transmission may be used.

Since the file structure on the help update Web service 1 side is as shown in FIG. 6, the update information list file is first browsed from the acquired information, and the update file described in the change is acquired via the help update Web service. (Step S4).
The acquired update file is overwritten on the corresponding file (step S5), and the file update process is terminated.

  Further, in the operation example of the present embodiment described above, it has been described that the presence / absence of the update is checked at the time of starting the Web application system. A connection for checking presence / absence may be made.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, since these files are updated in real time in accordance with the update of support information such as help and manual used in the Web application system, the user is quickly updated. Application system that incorporates help and manual information. In addition, normal programs may require a restart of the application server, but support information such as help and manual does not require a server restart even if file replacement occurs. Even if is implemented, there will be no operational problems. Furthermore, since the update check is performed via the Web service, the processing can be simplified.

  In this way, even for the application of the application server 2 that has been developed with integrated support information such as help and manual, the support information is automatically and sequentially updated as the support information is updated. Can continue.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the second embodiment, in the first embodiment described above, the update history information in the current server is held in the help update control for checking whether help or manual is updated, and the obtained update information list Compared with (update list information), only information that does not exist in the update history is updated.

  In other words, for example, if only uniform update information can be acquired when acquiring update information, already updated files will be included in the update information, and the same file may be acquired or network traffic increases. It will be useless. This is to prevent such a problem from occurring.

The operation of the Web application system as the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the Web application system is activated in the same manner as the operation in the first embodiment described above, the Web application server 2 connects to the help update Web service 1 for help / manual update check, and updates in help and manual are performed. It is checked whether it has been done (step S11).

If updating has been performed (step S12; Yes), the Web application server 2 acquires help / manual update list information (see FIG. 5) (step S13).
Then, the help / manual update history (see FIG. 8) managed in the storage device 23 of the own server is read and referred to, and compared with the acquired update information list file (step S14). Only files that do not exist in the update history are regarded as unupdated files by this comparison, and are acquired via the Web service (see FIG. 9) (step S15).
The acquired update file is overwritten on the corresponding file (step S16), the update information list file acquired this time is stored in the storage device 23 and reflected in the update history (see FIG. 10), and the file update process is terminated.

  Further, in the operation example of the present embodiment described above, it has been described that the presence / absence of the update is checked at the time of starting the Web application system. A connection for checking presence / absence may be made.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment described above, the update list information and the update history information are compared, so that the update that has not been updated. Since only the file is acquired and updated, it is possible to prevent unnecessary network traffic such as acquiring an already updated file, and to shorten the update time.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the third embodiment, in the first and second embodiments described above, it is possible to set the time when the update is checked on the user interface in the help update control for checking whether the help or the manual is updated. It is a thing.

  That is, for example, if it is not known when the update is to be performed, the person using the Web application system cannot determine the maintenance timing, so that there is a possibility that an announcement to the user cannot be made appropriately. This is to prevent such a problem from occurring.

The operation of the Web application system as the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the system is started, the Web application server 2 acquires help / manual update check schedule information held in the system (see FIG. 12) (step S21). The schedule information may be various types as long as the time for periodically checking the update information is determined in advance.

  Based on the acquired schedule information, the help / manual update time is set as a timer. When the set time comes (step S22), an update file is acquired via the help update Web service by the same operation as that in the first embodiment described above (steps S23 to S26), and the acquired update file is the corresponding file. Is overwritten (step S27), and the file update process is terminated.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment described above, the update time can be set by the user interface. It is possible for the administrator of the system to grasp whether this is the case and to make it possible to accurately announce maintenance.
In addition, by making the operations in steps S23 to S26 described above the same as those in the second embodiment described above, the same effects as in the second embodiment described above can also be obtained.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the fourth embodiment, in the above-described third embodiment, in the help update control for checking whether the help or the manual is updated, it is possible to set at which operation the update is checked. .

  That is, for example, it may be better not only to set when to check for help / manual updates, but also to check for updates when certain operations are performed. It is designed to meet these demands.

The operation of the Web application system as the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the system is activated, the Web application server 2 acquires an operation information file that links the help / manual update check held in the system (see FIG. 14) (step S31). This linked operation information file is set from those that can set operations defined in advance in the system (see FIG. 15).
This setting is performed by selecting the operation content by the user and inputting the operation from the input device 26, and is set as a timing for starting the help / manual update check operation.

  The Web application server 2 sets the operation information to be linked acquired from the system in a fast-access medium such as a registry, and acquires the previously set linked operation information when performing the function of those operations. If it is set to operate in conjunction with this, a help / manual update process similar to the operation example in the first embodiment described above is performed (step S32), and the file update process is terminated.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment described above, an update check is performed at the timing when a specific operation is executed. As a result, maintainability can be improved.
In addition, when the set operation is performed in step S32 described above, the same processing as in the second embodiment is performed instead of performing the same processing as in the first embodiment as described above. By doing so, the same effect as the second embodiment described above can be obtained.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the fifth embodiment, update check destination information is provided in the help update control for checking whether help or manual is updated in the first to fourth embodiments described above, and connected to the help update Web service. In this case, the update check destination parameter can be freely set.

  That is, for example, when there is a difference in type such as the domestic version and the overseas version, it can be considered that not only the help and the manual are changed in common, but also the correction only in the domestic version. If the location where the help and manuals are checked for updates (where update information is available) is uniform, the update check will be performed with the same parameters for the help update Web service even in such a case. New update information is obtained.

The operation of the Web application system as the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Here, for example, a description will be given of an operation example in a case where the system is configured in advance as a domestic version and a foreign version as a system, and the help file needs to be updated only in the domestic version.

First, when the system is activated, the Web application server 2 acquires help / manual update check destination information registered in advance in the storage device 23 (see FIG. 17) (step S41).
If this help / manual update check destination information is one in which the type of update file for checking whether or not the update source server has been updated is registered in advance, the registration method is, for example, the input device 26 by the user. Various methods, such as setting input from, may be used.

  The Web application server 2 specifies the update check destination information (acquisition target type) acquired in this way as a parameter, connects to the help update Web service 1, and performs a help / manual update check (step S42). The subsequent file update processing is performed in the range of the designated update file type as in the operation example in any of the first to fourth embodiments described above (steps S43 to S46).

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effects obtained in any of the first to fourth embodiments described above, it is set in advance, for example, when it is desired to manage by destination. If you use the update file type specified for the help update Web service as a parameter, you can acquire more appropriate update information limited to the specified type, and useless network traffic. Can be prevented from occurring, and the update time can be shortened.

Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, the web application control unit 27 and the help control unit 28 are described as being provided separately from the CPU 21 and the storage device 23. However, when the CPU 21 executes an application stored in the storage device 23, the web application control unit 27 or A configuration in which the help control unit 28 is realized may be employed.

  In addition, although it has been explained that both help and manual are updated, it is not limited to this as long as support information such as help and manual is automatically updated. For example, only help and only manual are updated. It may be a thing.

Further, by recording the processing procedure for realizing the Web application system and Web application server as the above-described embodiments as a program on the recording medium, the above-described functions according to the embodiments of the present invention are recorded on the recording medium. Can be realized by causing a CPU of a computer constituting the system to perform processing.
In this case, the present invention can be applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from the above recording medium or from an external recording medium via a network.
That is, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code and the signal read from the recording medium constitute the present invention. It will be.
As this recording medium, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like may be used.

  According to the program according to the present invention, each function in the Web application system and the Web application server as the above-described embodiments according to the present invention can be realized in a computer or a computer system controlled by the program.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure around the web application system common to each embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the web application server common to each embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the file update process by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of URL of the help update Web service. It is a figure which shows the example of help manual update list information. It is a figure which shows the file structural example of the help update Web service 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the file update process by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of update log information. It is a figure which shows the example of the update list information to acquire. It is a figure which shows the example of the update history information updated. It is a flowchart which shows the file update process by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of update check schedule information. It is a flowchart which shows the file update process by the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the operation information file made into the update check start timing. It is a figure which shows the example of the operation content definition in this operation information file. It is a flowchart which shows the file update process by the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a kind of update check destination information.

Explanation of symbols

1 Help update Web service (example of update source server)
2 Web application server (an example of an application server)
3 Web browser (example of client)
23 storage device 25 image memory 26 input device (an example of input means)
27 Web application control unit 28 Help control unit 29 Communication unit

Claims (10)

An application server that is used by being connected to the update source server that holds the latest support information of the application,
An update check means for communicating with the update source server to inquire whether the application support information has been updated,
An acquisition means for acquiring an update file when it is determined that the update check means has been updated;
An application server comprising: update means for overwriting a corresponding part with an update file acquired by the acquisition means. List acquisition means for acquiring update file list information from the update source server;
Update history holding means for holding update history information by the update means;
Non-update specifying means for specifying an unupdated part by comparing the list information acquired by the list acquisition means and the update history information held in the update history holding means,
The application server according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires only the update file specified by the non-update specification unit from the update source server.   3. The application server according to claim 1, further comprising time setting means for setting a time at which the update check means makes an inquiry to the update source server. Timing setting means for setting the timing of making an inquiry to the update source server by the update check means according to the operation content;
4. The application server according to claim 1, wherein the update check unit makes an inquiry to the update source server when an operation set by the timing setting unit is performed. . A target type setting means for setting the type of acquisition target acquired by the acquisition means;
The application server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires an update file of a type set by the target type setting unit.   6. The application server according to claim 5, wherein the update check unit inquires whether application support information has been updated for the type set by the target type setting unit.   7. A network application system comprising the application server according to claim 1 and the update source server connected to each other. An application server support information automatic update program used by connecting to an update source server that holds the latest application support information,
An automatic support information update program for causing a computer to function as the means according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A support information automatic update program for a network application system configured by connecting an update source server that holds the latest support information of an application and an application server,
An automatic support information update program for causing a computer to function as the means according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   10. A recording medium on which the support information automatic update program according to claim 8 is recorded.

Images