JP2009205353A - User interface providing method, and device and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user interface capable of easily customizing an application program within a predetermined constraint by a user himself or herself. <P>SOLUTION: When a user performs the change operation of a user interface, a screen generation/input processing part 14 detects this, and notifies a setting information management part 11 of this through a customization part 13, and the setting information management part 11 checks whether or not changed content is inconsistent with the setting information in the storage device configured by storing the setting information preliminarily describing the configurations of the user interface, and when they are not inconsistent to each other, rewriting the setting information in the storage device, and notifies a system cooperation part 12 and a screen generation/input processing part 14 of the rewritten content. Thus, it is possible to provide the user interface on which the above change operation is reflected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a user interface (input operation screen) for an application program such as a business system, in particular, a user interface that can be easily customized by a user within a range of predetermined restrictions.

(1) User interface of business system Conventionally, business related to various processes, such as preparation of quotations, inventory confirmation, delivery date notification, etc. for matters such as orders from customers, internal approvals, orders from other companies Application to create and define a business process that expresses how to proceed with two or more processes to be performed for the relevant project, and to support the execution of each process using a computer, etc. A business system that is a program is built and used.

  Various types of data handled in the business are input, referenced, and edited via the user interface provided in the business system. The user interface of the conventional business system is designed by the developer when developing the system. It was fixed. For this reason, it has not been possible to respond to the detailed requests of users that occur after the introduction of the system and to quickly respond to changes in the situation.

(2) Conventional Customizable User Interface A conventional programming environment (application program for creating a program) has a function for supporting user interface development. Using these existing programming environments, you can create user interfaces graphically and intuitively. Specifically, by arranging the prepared parts and associating the instruction codes with them, a desired application program can be created from simple to complex (see Non-Patent Document 1). If such a programming environment is used, a user interface can be created flexibly.

  In addition, many types of application programs have a user interface customization function. For example, there is document creation software that can customize a menu and a toolbar (see Non-Patent Document 2). However, these functions are such that buttons, input items can be added, deleted, or rearranged in a predetermined place such as the same screen.

(3) Management function The application program having the above-described user interface customization function is mainly stand-alone type software, and the user interface setting information is completed in each user terminal, and the setting information is intensively displayed. I didn't have the ability to manage.

(4) User Interface Integrated System There is a system that links a plurality of application programs called “user interface integrated system” (hereinafter referred to as UMS). In this system, by wrapping the user interface of a target program, a plurality of different types of application programs can be linked and integratedly operated without modifying the target program.
“Microsoft Visual Studio Smart Client Developer Center Part 2: Efficient development of desktop applications with rich UI”, [online], Microsoft Corporation, [Search February 7, 2008], Internet <URL: http: / /www.microsoft.com/japan/msdn/smartclient/richui/pt2#mouse.mspx> "Word2002 Step-by-Step Guide Menu and Toolbar Customization", Microsoft Corporation, [Search February 7, 2008], Internet <URL: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/word2002/customizing # overview.mspx>

(1) User interface of business system Even if the same business system is used for the same business, the usage of the user interface (necessary items, input order, required functions, etc.) depends on the difference in region, branch, user, business object, and time. ) Will change, so the optimal user interface will also change. In fact, various user interface changes have been requested from users. With the conventional fixed user interface, it is not possible to respond to such change requests, so that the efficiency of the work is reduced due to the user's ingenuity or work using an exceptional method. Was invited. An exceptional method is a usage method that is not assumed at the time of development, such as using an input item that is no longer used as a memo.

  These issues are already widely recognized, and the main coping method was that the system developer investigated the user's situation and designed an optimal interface screen. In this coping method, it was necessary to deal with the greatest common divisor, and since it was impossible to make a detailed design for each situation, it was not possible to respond to various change requests from users. Moreover, since it took time from the survey to the actual reflection, it was not possible to respond quickly to changes.

(2) Conventional customizable user interface When a programming environment capable of creating a user interface is used, it is possible to flexibly configure the interface according to each situation. However, they can create user interfaces freely, but they require technical skills and great effort. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to easily create or change the user interface. Further, since the original work and the user interface creation work are separated, it is difficult to reflect on the spot what was noticed during the original work.

  In addition, in an application program having a user interface customization function, the work efficiency of the user is improved by making it actually customizable. However, these functions are limited, and can only respond to requests from users in a limited way. Although it is not technically difficult to make the user interface fully customizable, it has not been realized mainly because of the management problems described below.

(3) Management function It is not difficult to provide a customization function in the user interface as it already exists. However, there are essential problems from the viewpoint of business systems. If the user freely changes the user interface, the user interface structure (UI structure) that is meaningful in the business is also changed, so that the quality of the business tends to vary. This becomes a problem when the input order is important or there is a strong relationship between items. There is no problem if the user understands the meaning of the UI structure and changes it. However, this increases the burden on the user, and the system has to deal with this problem. In a business system, it is necessary to set restrictions on the user interface according to the situation and limit the degree of freedom appropriately. It is also required to manage those constraints flexibly and easily.

(4) User interface integration system There are many types of user interfaces to be linked with UMS, and there are also various ways to link them. In addition, since renewal of the application program to be linked is assumed, it is very inefficient for UMS to have a fixed user interface. Therefore, it can be said that UMS is a system that is particularly effective in customizing the user interface.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a function of generating a user interface based on setting information representing a configuration of the user interface, and a function of customizing the user interface by detecting a change operation of the user interface and changing the setting information It is characterized by comprising. In addition, the setting information is described using a UI description language, and the setting information is hierarchized and managed collectively.

  This makes it possible for the user to easily customize the user interface even during work, and to reflect what he / she has noticed on the spot, and to obtain an optimal user interface efficiently. , Detailed management of user interface and flexible and easy operation.

  According to the present invention, the user himself / herself can change the user interface as necessary, so that work efficiency can be improved. In addition, since it has a user interface management function, an appropriate structure can be maintained even if the user makes changes without fully understanding the meaning of the structure of the user interface. Since the setting information of the user interface is hierarchized and collectively managed, it is possible to manage fine setting information according to the structure of the organization. In addition, flexible operation is possible by adapting to changes in application programs such as business systems and inconsistencies in setting information. In addition, since the setting information can be managed collectively, it is possible to easily perform a trend survey on the user interface. This is particularly effective when user interface frequent changes such as UMS occur.

  FIG. 1 shows the positioning of a user interface providing device of the present invention in a computer system. Here, a user terminal 1 and a user interface (UI) information management server 2 connected to the user terminal 1 via a communication network are shown. The position of the user interface providing device 10 of the present invention in the system is shown. In this example, the apparatus 10 cooperates with the user interface of the target application program that operates on the user terminal 1 through UMS. The device 10 and the UMS cooperate to provide a user with a user interface that allows flexible changes.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of an embodiment of a user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention. The user interface providing apparatus 10 is a storage device that stores setting information describing the configuration of a user interface for an application program. Then, together with a storage device (not shown) installed on the UI information management server 2, a setting information management unit (means) 11, a system linkage unit (means) 12, a customization unit (provided on the user terminal 1) Means) 13 and a screen generation / input processing unit (means) 14. The reason why the storage device for storing the setting information is installed on the UI information management server 2 is to manage the setting information together with the setting information in other user terminals (not shown). Needless to say, it may be stored individually in the storage device.

  The setting information management unit 11 reads the setting information from the storage device and notifies the system cooperation unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 of the setting information, and the change contents of the user interface notified from the customization unit 13 are the settings in the storage device. When there is no contradiction to the information, if there is no contradiction, the setting information in the storage device is rewritten and the setting information after rewriting is notified to the system linkage unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 and there is a contradiction. Notifies the customization unit 13 that the change cannot be made.

  The system cooperation unit 12 should store information on the status of the program notified from the application program (here, UMS) and the setting information notified from the setting information management unit 11 and output them to the user interface based on these. Information is determined and notified to the screen generation / input processing unit 14.

  The customization unit 13 notifies the setting information management unit 11 of the change contents of the user interface notified from the screen generation / input processing unit 14, and generates a screen when the setting information management unit 11 notifies that the change cannot be made. Notify the input processing unit 14

  The screen generation / input processing unit 14 stores the setting information notified from the setting information management unit 11 and the information to be output to the user interface notified from the system cooperation unit 12, and generates a user interface based on them. Output to the display device of the user terminal, and the change operation to the user interface screen via the input device of the user terminal is detected and the content is notified to the customization unit 13. In this case, the user interface screen changed is restored and an error message is displayed.

  The setting information described above is, for example, Kenichi Nishikawa, Yoshihiro Nakamura, Tetsuya Yamamura “Examination of a user interface system that enables flexible changes after the introduction of a business system” Information Processing Society of Japan Research Report, Human Interface Research Group Report, Vol. 2006, no. 123, November 21, 2006, pp. 199. 1-8 (reference 1), Kenichi Nishikawa, Tetsuya Yamamura “Examination of flexible description method of user interface of business system” 2007 IEICE General Conference Proceedings (Communication 2), B-14-6, p. This is described using the UI description language described in 335 (reference document 2). Since the present invention essentially does not depend on the notation method of the UI description language, it can be used as a UI description language by extending a language that can express the structure of the UI. Here, it is assumed that the customization unit 13 notifies the setting information management unit 11 after converting the user interface change notified from the screen generation / input processing unit 14 into the UI description language.

  The setting information is usually composed of a plurality of setting information (elements) for each user interface, but each setting information (element) in units of one user interface is divided into two or more sets having different priorities. Included and layered. Here, when the setting information management unit 11 reads the setting information from the storage device, the setting information management unit 11 checks whether there is a contradiction between the setting information (elements) included in two or more sets having different priorities, and a contradiction is found. In such a case, countermeasures such as invalidating the setting information (elements) of the lower priority set are performed (or an error may be reported to stop). In addition to the method described in Reference Document 2 described above, the method for inspecting and integrating setting information (constraint) contradictions is disclosed in JP 2006-4156 (Kenichi Tayama, Shiro Ogasawara “Cause Identification Method and its The method etc. which are shown by the apparatus ") can be utilized.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation when the setting information management unit reads the setting information. Each element of the setting information 1 divided into a plurality of hierarchies (priority: hierarchy 1> hierarchy 2> hierarchy 3) related to a certain user interface is all read into the setting information management unit 11 to check whether there is any contradiction between the elements. Among the conflicting elements, the low-priority elements are invalidated (deleted) to generate integrated setting information.

  Note that the example of FIG. 3 is a very simplified example. In practice, inspection and integration are performed in consideration of more complicated relationships. For example, if there is no contradiction between element A and element B, but there is a contradiction between element A and element B due to the addition of element C, then if priority is element A> element B> element C, element Invalidate C. In addition, values, relational expressions, or relationships between parts may be included as elements of setting information. In such a case, since invalidity / validity alone cannot deal with, inspection and integration are performed through calculation of values.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 3, the upper setting information elements are always given priority. However, a strong element (forced element) and a weak element (recommended element) can be used in one setting information. A strong element is an element that is always desired to be protected. Therefore, a strong element of higher setting information is given higher priority. On the other hand, a weak element is an element that is not forcibly required but is recommended. Therefore, a weak element of lower setting information close to the user is given higher priority. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the priority order between elements of such setting information. Note that three or more levels of strength setting may be made in one setting information.

  This makes it possible to narrow down the settings according to the organization structure, such as settings that apply nationwide, settings that apply within the prefecture, settings that apply to branch offices, settings that apply to departments, and settings that apply to individuals. . Since the setting information integration function of the setting information management unit 11 has no problem even if there is a contradiction, the user interface can be used without rewriting the lower setting even if there is a conflict with the lower setting due to the change of the upper setting. I can do it. In addition, since the setting can be divided for each interface part, there is an effect that the setting can be easily managed.

  Furthermore, the setting information is centrally managed by the UI information management server (one computer) as shown in FIG. 1, so that the setting change can be instantly applied to each user terminal (a plurality of computers). I can do it. Also, even if you change the physical terminal, you can use a familiar interface by calling up your settings, and you can improve work efficiency. In addition, since setting information for each user is collectively managed, a standard user interface can be easily designed by using such information. In addition, even when it is desired to provide restrictions between input items by internal control, it is not necessary for each user interface providing device to deal with it, and it can be dealt with by simply rewriting the setting information of the upper layer on the server.

  In the user interface providing device of the present invention, first, when the setting information management unit 11 reads the setting information from the storage device and notifies the system cooperation unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14, the system cooperation unit 12 is notified from the UMS. The information to be output to the user interface is determined based on the information on the status of the application program and the setting information notified from the setting information management unit 11, and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 notifies from the setting information management unit 11. A user interface is generated based on the set information and the information to be output to the user interface notified from the system cooperation unit 12, and is output to the display device of the user terminal 1.

  Here, when the screen generation / input processing unit 14 detects a change operation on the user interface screen via the input device of the user terminal, the detected change of the user interface is transmitted to the setting information management unit 11 via the customization unit 13. The setting information management unit 11 checks whether the changed content is consistent with the setting information in the storage device. If there is no conflict, the setting information in the storage device is rewritten, and the rewritten content is linked to the system. To the unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of detailed processing when the user interface is changed.

  When the screen generation / input processing unit 14 detects a change operation on the user interface screen by the user via the input device (s1), the change content is notified to the customization unit 13 (s2). The customization unit 13 converts the changed contents into a UI description language (s3), and notifies the setting information management unit 11 (s4). The setting information management unit 11 checks whether the change content described in the UI description language is consistent with the setting information in the storage device (s5), and if there is no conflict (s6: No), the setting information management unit 11 Rewrites the setting information in the storage device (s7), and notifies the system cooperation unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 of the rewritten setting information (s8). The system cooperation unit 12 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 store the rewritten setting information (s9).

  On the other hand, when there is a contradiction (s6: Yes), the setting information management unit 11 notifies the customization unit 13 and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 that the change cannot be made (s10, s11), and the screen generation / input that received the notification The processing unit 14 restores the user interface and displays an error message (s12).

  As a means for the user to change the user interface, there is a method of directly rewriting the UI description language in addition to a method using GUI (operation on the user interface screen).

  It can be considered that the user interface program of the conventional application program is constructed only by the system cooperation unit and the screen generation / input processing unit.

<Use Example 1>
Consider a case where a user customizes a user interface that does not have a function for managing conventional setting information, and the user customizes to construct a user interface. This state corresponds to a case where the setting information is not hierarchized and no restrictions are imposed in the present apparatus, and similarly, UI parts used in the system can be arranged in any place as desired.

  For example, when the UI for inputting customer information is to be rearranged, UI components of “zip code”, “address”, “telephone number”, “name”, and “name reading” are rearranged. In the conventional software, it is conceivable that the user places them on separate pages without noticing the relevance. If the “zip code” and the “address” are separated, the user interface becomes very difficult to use. Although it is possible for the user to notice this problem later and correct it, if this is present on a plurality of screens, it takes a lot of trouble to correct it. In the case of this apparatus, it can be solved by performing a setting that “zip code”, “address”, “telephone number”, “name”, and “name reading” must be installed adjacent to each other as upper setting information.

  However, since grouping can be implemented with hard coding even with conventional software, the above problem can be solved by regarding the combination of "zip code", "address", "phone number", "name", and "name reading" as one UI component. it can. However, in the department where the situation has changed, if you want to enter "Name" and "Name reading" on the page before the page where you enter "Zip code" "Address" "Phone number" hard coding If you do not do it again, you can not cope.

  For this device, the setting information related to the department must be set so that “zip code”, “address”, and “phone number” must be installed next to each other, and “name” and “name reading” installed next to each other. It can be dealt with by rewriting the setting that must be done. As described above, this apparatus can flexibly cope with a change in the situation by managing the function of rearranging the UI parts of the system on a favorite page by using the hierarchical setting information.

<Usage example 2>
As a business system for mail order sales, consider a business system having a user interface page as shown in FIG. Assume that there are pages (screens) for “order management 1 to 4” for managing orders and a screen for inventory management. In this example, the order management and inventory management functions are assumed to be in the same system, but even if they are separate systems, they can be regarded as virtually the same system by linking them with UMS. When there is no restriction at all, all UI parts can be moved to a desired position.

  In this example, it is assumed that the setting information is hierarchized in two stages. The user interface components in the standard screen cannot be placed in separate screens as the upper setting information. Since the user interface components in the standard screen of this example are strongly related, it is not preferable to arrange them on separate screens.

  FIG. 7 shows a user interface screen in the case where the person in charge creates a necessary screen within the upper constraints in this mail order system. Even if the user tries to arrange the user interface components in the standard screen on the disjoint screen, there is upper setting information, so that the user interface component can only be as shown in FIG.

  Such simple grouping is possible with conventional customizable software. However, there are cases where it is desired to divide and use UI parts in a limited manner. For example, the payment is made with a credit card, and the person in charge of payment confirms that the orderer information “name” (kanji / hiragana) matches the payment information “name” (romaji). This is a case where the user wants to use the UI component “name”. In this case, conventional software cannot easily handle this, but with this device, the orderer information can be ungrouped only for the person in charge of payment with the higher settings, and the UI component of “name” can be used alone. Because it is possible to forgive, it can respond. At this time, since it is not desirable to change the user information on the payment screen, if the UI component “name” is used at the same time, an uncorrectable attribute is given to the UI component so that the information cannot be corrected. It is good to set to.

  Next, since payments are mostly made with credit cards, it is considered that orders and payments are processed alone. As shown in FIG. 7, the screens for the person in charge of order and the person in charge of settlement may be associated by transition. If no setting is made, the transition order of the two screens may be either. However, considering the business flow, it is not appropriate to perform the settlement process without confirming the order or confirming the orderer. For this reason, this problem can be solved by performing higher-level settings so that a set of UI parts for order information and orderer information appears on a screen that is the same as or earlier than the set of UI parts related to payment information. FIG. 8 shows a state customized in this way. Thus, there are many types of settings required for the UI description language.

  In the embodiment described above, the user interface providing apparatus 10 is realized by providing the setting information management unit 11, the system cooperation unit 12, the customization unit 13, and the screen generation / input processing unit 14 as hardware on the user terminal. Although an example has been shown, it can also be realized by installing a program for realizing the functions shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 2 via a recording medium or a communication line in a user terminal (a well-known computer).

The block diagram which shows the position of the user interface provision apparatus of this invention in a computer system The block diagram which shows an example of embodiment of the user interface provision apparatus of this invention Schematic diagram of operation when setting information is read in the setting information management unit Explanatory diagram of the priority between the elements of the setting information Detailed processing flowchart when changing the user interface Illustration showing an example of a standard user interface screen Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the user interface screen after customization Explanatory drawing showing another example of user interface screen after customization

Explanation of symbols

  1: user terminal, 2: UI information management server, 10: user interface providing device, 11: setting information management unit (means), 12: system cooperation unit (means), 13: customization unit (means), 14: screen generation Input processing unit (means).

Claims (9)

A method of providing a user interface for an application program running on a computer to the computer,
Using a storage device that stores setting information describing the configuration of the user interface for the application program,
The computer is
Reading setting information from the storage device and determining information to be output to the user interface together with information on the state of the program notified from the application program;
Generating a user interface based on setting information in the storage device and information to be output to the determined user interface and outputting the generated user interface to a display device;
Detecting a user interface change operation;
Inspecting whether the detected change of the user interface is consistent with the setting information in the storage device;
And rewriting the setting information in the storage device only when there is no contradiction. Setting information describing the configuration of the user interface is described in the UI description language,
2. The user interface providing method according to claim 1, wherein the detected contents of the user interface change are converted into a UI description language, and the setting information in the storage device is checked for inconsistency. 3. Each setting information describing the configuration of the user interface is included in two or more sets having different priorities,
3. The setting information of a lower priority set is invalidated when there is a contradiction between setting information included in two or more sets having different priorities read from a storage device. User interface provision method. Provided on one computer connected to a plurality of computers via a communication network, and stores a plurality of setting information respectively describing a configuration of a user interface for an application program operating on each of the plurality of computers. The user interface providing method according to claim 1, wherein a storage device is used. An apparatus for providing a user interface for an application program running on a computer to the computer,
Along with a storage device that stores setting information describing the configuration of the user interface for the application program,
It comprises the following means provided on the computer, that is, setting information management means, system linkage means, customization means, and screen generation / input processing means,
The setting information management means reads the setting information from the storage device and notifies the system cooperation means and the screen generation / input processing means, and the change contents of the user interface notified from the customization means correspond to the setting information in the storage device. Check for contradiction, and if there is no contradiction, rewrite the setting information in the storage device and notify the setting information after rewriting to the system linkage unit and the screen generation / input processing unit,
The system cooperation means determines information to be output to the user interface based on the information on the status of the program notified from the application program and the setting information notified from the setting information management means, and notifies the screen generation / input processing means And
The customizing means notifies the setting information managing means of the change contents of the user interface notified from the screen generation / input processing means,
The screen generation / input processing unit generates a user interface based on the setting information notified from the setting information management unit and the information to be output to the user interface notified from the system cooperation unit, and outputs the user interface to the display device. An apparatus for providing a user interface, characterized in that a change operation is detected and the contents are notified to a customization means. Setting information describing the configuration of the user interface is described in the UI description language,
6. The user interface providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the customization means converts the change contents of the user interface notified from the screen generation / input processing means into a UI description language and then notifies the setting information management means. . Each setting information describing the configuration of the user interface is included in two or more sets having different priorities,
The setting information management means invalidates the setting information of the lower priority set when there is a contradiction between the setting information included in the two or more sets having different priorities read from the storage device. Item 7. The user interface providing device according to Item 5 or 6. On a single computer connected to a plurality of computers via a communication network, a storage device storing a plurality of setting information respectively describing a configuration of a user interface for an application program operating on each of the plurality of computers The user interface providing device according to claim 5, wherein the user interface providing device is provided.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the user interface provision apparatus in any one of Claims 5 thru | or 8.

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