JP2012022373A - Information processing method, program, information processor and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing method, a program, an information processor and an information processing system which improve the work efficiency of a computer by discriminating between an unnecessary process and necessary process of the computer and terminating the unnecessary process.SOLUTION: A computer system 10 capable of running a plurality of processes executes an information processing method comprises: (A) a step of identifying a visible process among the plurality of processes being run; (B) a step of acquiring operational status information of each of the visible process; (C) a step of determining a process unnecessary for running among the visible process as a termination candidate process, based on the operational status information; and (D) a step of presenting termination confirmation information which is information for confirming whether to terminate the termination candidate process to a user of the computer system 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing method, a program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system according to a computer system.

  In recent years, a computer system such as a personal computer that can freely start a plurality of applications has been spreading. However, when working using the computer system, the work efficiency of the worker may be reduced. This reduction in work efficiency can be classified into a case where the worker consciously interrupts the work and a case where the worker unconsciously reduces the operating speed of the computer system.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a computer monitoring system that monitors computer operations other than work to be performed by an operator by acquiring the number and timing of sound output of the computer system. This computer monitoring system stores the number of times and timing of sound output in the required work, and information on the form of sound output related to the required work and the number and timing of sound output when using the computer. By comparing with the information, it is determined whether or not a computer operation other than the work to be performed by the worker is performed.

Japanese Patent No. 4155332

  In the computer monitoring system of Patent Document 1 described above, it is possible to detect the use of a computer system that should not be performed by an operator with sound output, such as using game software. However, in this computer monitoring system, when the operator unintentionally increases unnecessary computer processes, for example, when the browser that has been browsed is forgotten to be closed, the hardware resources of the computer are depleted. It has not been able to cope with the situation where work efficiency decreases due to efficient use.

  Therefore, in order to improve the work efficiency in the computer system, it is determined whether there is an unnecessary process in the running process, and the unnecessary process continues to start by terminating the process. There is a need for a technique that prevents wasteful consumption of hardware resources.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by identifying an unnecessary process from processes running on the computer and terminating the unnecessary process, the efficiency of the hardware resources of the computer is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing method, program, information processing apparatus, and information processing system that promote efficient use and improve work efficiency in a computer.

  An information processing method according to a first aspect of the present invention is an information processing method in an information processing apparatus having a display screen and capable of starting a plurality of processes, wherein (A) the plurality of processes started A step of identifying one or more visible processes which are processes displayed on the display screen as a visible window, and (B) operational status information which is information on the operational status of each of the one or more visible processes. (C) determining based on the operation status information that a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes is an end candidate process; and (D) the end candidate. A step of presenting end confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether or not to end the process, to a user of the information processing apparatus.

  According to the information processing method according to the first aspect, in step (A), the visible process displayed on the display screen as a visible window is specified from among the processes in which the information processing apparatus is activated. Next, in step (B), operation status information regarding the visible process is acquired. Next, in step (C), based on the operating status of each visible process, a process that does not need to be activated in the visible process is determined as an end candidate process. In step (D), end confirmation information for confirming whether or not to end the end candidate process is presented to the user of the information processing apparatus. Therefore, by presenting to the user, the user can know that a process that is considered unnecessary to be activated is activated on the information processing apparatus. Further, when the user replies to confirming whether or not to terminate the candidate process, the information processing apparatus can perform processing such as terminating the process, so that unnecessary process termination processing is performed. For example, it is possible to promote efficient use of hardware resources of the information processing apparatus and improve work efficiency in the information processing apparatus.

  In the information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention, in particular in the information processing method according to the first aspect, in step (C), the condition that the frequency selected as the operation target is less than a predetermined value, the operation A visible process that satisfies at least one of the condition that the time selected as the target is less than a predetermined value and the condition that the related file editing frequency is less than a predetermined value is the termination candidate process. It is determined.

  According to the information processing method according to the second aspect, the condition that the operating status information of the visible process is selected as the operation target is less than a predetermined value, and the time selected as the operation target is less than the predetermined value. If at least one of the conditions of existence and the condition that the editing frequency of the related file is less than a predetermined value is satisfied, the operation status of the visible process is considered to be low, and the termination candidate process It can be determined that Therefore, a visible process in which the frequency or time selected by the user of the information processing apparatus is low and the user is not operating or a visible process in which the related file is not edited is determined as an end candidate process. be able to. Therefore, in the presentation of termination confirmation information, for processes that are operated by the user or editing related files, termination confirmation is not performed, so the processes used by the user are terminated. It is possible to prevent a process having a problem in using the information processing apparatus from being processed. On the other hand, according to these conditions, it is possible to appropriately present confirmation as to whether or not the process not used by the user is terminated by the termination confirmation information.

  The information processing method according to the third aspect of the present invention is the information processing method according to the first or second aspect, in particular, (E) receiving a response to the end confirmation information; and (F) the step ( E) is executed when the response received in step (E) is a response to end the end candidate process, and (G) the response received in step (E) is the step of ending the end candidate process. It is executed when it is a reply that the termination candidate process is not terminated, and further includes a step of setting the termination candidate process as a process excluded from the determination target in the step (C).

  According to the information processing method according to the third aspect, when the user responds to the end confirmation information that the presented end candidate process is unnecessary, the end candidate process is On the other hand, if the user responds to the end confirmation information that the end candidate process is necessary and does not end, the determination of step (C) is made to the end candidate process. Settings can be made so that they are not eligible. Therefore, since the user can terminate unnecessary processes, it is possible to prevent the hardware resources of the information processing apparatus from being wasted. Further, the process that the user requires is not presented as an end candidate process, and is not terminated, so that the information processing apparatus can be used smoothly.

  The information processing method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processing method according to any one of the first to third aspects, in particular, the number of the plurality of activated processes or the one or more visible processes. The step (C) is performed when the value of the information processing apparatus exceeds a predetermined value or when the processing load of the information processing apparatus exceeds a predetermined value.

  According to the information processing method according to the fourth aspect, when the number of processes activated in the information processing apparatus or the number of visible processes is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or the processing load of the information processing apparatus is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In this case, if there is an unnecessary process among the activated processes, the process can be determined as an end candidate process. Therefore, when the processing load on the information processing apparatus becomes high, the hardware resources of the information processing apparatus are efficiently used by reducing the processing load on the information processing apparatus by, for example, terminating the termination candidate process. Can be done. In addition, if the process is not started more than necessary and the processing load of the information processing device is not increased, the end confirmation information is not presented as the hardware resources of the information processing device are efficiently used. The user can smoothly use the information processing apparatus.

  The information processing method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the information processing method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in particular, (H) information on the determination result in step (C), and / or Alternatively, information on the result of correspondence regarding whether or not the user who has received the presentation in step (D) has taken action to finish the termination candidate process is transmitted to another device that communicates with the information processing device The method further comprises the step of:

  According to the information processing method according to the fifth aspect, the user who received the information regarding the end candidate process acquired in step (C) and / or the end confirmation information in step (D) ends the end candidate process. The information on the result of the correspondence regarding whether or not the correspondence has been performed is transmitted to another device that communicates with the information processing device. Therefore, the other apparatus can acquire information on the termination candidate process and information on whether or not the user has terminated the process. Therefore, the other apparatus can grasp whether or not an unnecessary process is operating in the information processing apparatus and an operation status of the unnecessary process. Then, the other apparatus appropriately manages the work efficiency of the information processing apparatus such as the presence / absence of a user who continues to start the unnecessary process even if the presentation prompting the unnecessary process to end is present. Information can be obtained.

  A program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention has a display screen and is (A) visible to a computer used in an information processing apparatus capable of starting a plurality of processes. Identifying one or more visible processes that are processes displayed on the display screen as a window; and (B) obtaining operating status information that is information relating to the operating status of each of the one or more visible processes; (C) determining based on the operation status information that a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes is an end candidate process; and (D) ending the end candidate process. And a step of presenting end confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether or not, to a user of the information processing apparatus.

  According to the program according to the sixth aspect, by causing a computer used in the information processing apparatus to execute the computer, in step (A), the computer displays a visible window from among the processes in which the information processing apparatus is activated. Identify the visible process displayed on the display screen. Next, in step (B), operation status information regarding the visible process is acquired. Next, in step (C), based on the operating status of each visible process, a process that does not need to be activated in the visible process is determined as an end candidate process. In step (D), end confirmation information for confirming whether or not to end the process determined to be the end candidate process is presented to the user of the information processing apparatus. Therefore, the posting to the user can know that a process that is considered unnecessary to be activated is activated on the information processing apparatus. Further, when the user replies to confirming whether or not to terminate the candidate process, the information processing apparatus can perform processing such as terminating the process, so that unnecessary process termination processing is performed. For example, it is possible to promote efficient use of hardware resources of the information processing apparatus and improve work efficiency in the information processing apparatus.

  An information processing device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an information processing device having a display screen and capable of starting a plurality of processes, wherein the information processing device is a visible window among the plurality of processes being started. Identifying means for identifying one or more visible processes that are processes displayed on the display screen, acquisition means for obtaining operating status information that is information relating to the operating status of each of the one or more visible processes, and the operating status Based on the information, determination means for determining that a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes is an end candidate process, and information for confirming whether or not to end the end candidate process And presenting means for presenting the end confirmation information to the user of the information processing apparatus.

  According to the information processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the specifying means specifies the visible process displayed on the display screen as a visible window from among the processes activated by the information processing apparatus. Get operational status information about the visible process. The determination unit determines that a process that does not need to be started in the visible process is an end candidate process based on the operating status of each visible process. Then, the presenting unit presents the end confirmation information for confirming whether or not to end the process that is the end candidate process to the user of the information processing apparatus. Therefore, the posting to the user can know that a process that is considered unnecessary to be activated is activated on the information processing apparatus. Further, when the user replies to confirming whether or not to terminate the candidate process, the information processing apparatus can perform processing such as terminating the process, so that unnecessary process termination processing is performed. For example, it is possible to promote efficient use of hardware resources of the information processing apparatus and improve work efficiency in the information processing apparatus.

  An information processing system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a server and a client terminal capable of starting a plurality of processes, and the client terminal is started up with a display screen Among the plurality of processes, a specifying means for specifying one or more visible processes that are processes displayed on the display screen as a visible window, and an operation that is information on an operation status of each of the one or more visible processes. An acquisition means for acquiring status information, a transmission means for transmitting the operating status information to the server, and a process end confirmation command received from the server to confirm whether or not to end the process Presenting end confirmation information that is information to the user of the client terminal, and the server, Based on the operation status information received from the client terminal, a determination unit that determines that a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes is an end candidate process, and whether to end the end candidate process And a command means for transmitting an end confirmation command for confirming whether or not to the client terminal.

  According to the information processing system according to the eighth aspect, the specifying means of the client terminal specifies the visible process displayed on the display screen as a visible window from the running processes, and the acquiring means Get operational status information about visible processes. And the transmission means of a client terminal transmits the said operating condition information with respect to a server. Based on the operation status information received from the client terminal, the server determination means determines that a process that does not need to be activated in the visible process is an end candidate process. Further, the command means of the server transmits an end confirmation command for instructing confirmation to end the end candidate process to the client terminal. The presenting means of the client terminal presents termination confirmation information for confirming whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process to the user of the client terminal based on the termination confirmation command. Therefore, the posting to the user allows the user to know that the termination candidate process is activated on the client terminal. Further, when the user responds to confirm whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process, the client terminal can perform processing such as termination of the termination candidate process. This facilitates efficient use of the hardware resources of the client terminal, thereby improving the work efficiency of the client terminal. In addition, since the server can obtain the operating status information of the visible process operating in the client terminal, it is possible to manage the work efficiency of the client terminal based on the operating status information.

  According to the present invention, an unnecessary process is discriminated from processes running on the computer, and the unnecessary process is terminated, thereby promoting efficient use of computer hardware resources. Can be improved.

It is the figure which showed the computer system and its display screen typically. It is the figure which showed roughly the structure of the computer system which performs the information processing method which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the functional structure of the computer system roughly. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the process monitoring process. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the unnecessary process completion | finish process. It is an example of a required process table. It is an example of the input screen for confirming whether an end candidate process is complete | finished. It is an example of an end log table. It is the figure which showed schematically the function structure of the network system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed schematically the structure of the network system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed schematically the structure of the server which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed schematically the function structure of the client terminal which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the element which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in different drawing shall show the same or corresponding element.

<First Embodiment>
A computer system 10, which is an information processing apparatus represented by a personal computer or the like, includes a computer 11, a display device 13 such as a display having a display screen 130, and an input device 12 such as a pointing device. The operating system used in the computer system 10 has a window system function for displaying a screen area called a window on the display screen 130.

  With this window system function, a plurality of processes such as application software can be started simultaneously to form a window by multi-process operation. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the computer system 10 and its display screen 130. The computer system 10 can display a plurality of active windows 131 using the display device 13. In the first embodiment of the present invention, a window allocated as a screen area necessary for the operation of a process such as application software on the display device 13 is called a visible window (the visible window includes an operating system). Depending on the function of the system, so-called “minimization” or the like, including a process in which the window is operating but the window is hidden from the display screen). A process operating as a visible window is called a visible process.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the computer system 10 that executes the information processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A computer 11 included in the computer system 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20 and a memory 30. The memory 30 stores a program 31 for causing the computer 11 to execute the information processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The computer 11 functions as an information processing apparatus that executes the information processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention by executing the program 31 read from the memory 30 by the CPU 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of the computer system 10. The computer system 10 includes, as functional blocks realized by the program 31, a specifying unit 201 that is a specifying unit, an acquiring unit 202 that is an acquiring unit, a determination unit 203 that is a determining unit, a presentation unit 204 that is a presentation unit, a selection unit 205, A setting unit 206 and a process end unit 207 are included.

  The CPU 20 of the computer 11 executes not only the program 31 but also other programs necessary for operating the computer 11 such as an operating system. Thereby, the computer 11 can also perform the function as a general computer. In FIG. 3, various functions realized by the computer 11 executing another program such as an operating system are illustrated as an operating system function unit 200. Various functions realized by the program 31 being executed by the CPU 20 may operate as a software agent (particularly an agent called “monitoring agent” for monitoring the operation of the computer) on the computer. . In this case, the program 31 operates on the operating system of the computer 11 and has an intermediary function between the operating system and software such as other application software.

  Furthermore, the connection relationship of each component of the computer system 10 will be described. The output of the operating system function unit 200 is connected to the inputs of the specifying unit 201 and the acquisition unit 202. The output of the specifying unit 201 is connected to the inputs of the operating system function unit 200, the acquisition unit 202, and the determination unit 203. The output of the acquisition unit 202 is connected to the inputs of the operating system function unit 200 and the determination unit 203. The output of the determination unit 203 is connected to the inputs of the presentation unit 204 and the selection unit 205. The output of the presentation unit 204 is connected to the input of the display device 13. The output of the selection unit 205 is connected to the inputs of the setting unit 206 and the process end unit 207. The output of the setting unit 206 is connected to the input of the memory 30. The output of the process end unit 207 is connected to the input of the operating system function unit 200. The output of the input device 12 is connected to the input of the selection unit 205. The output of the memory 30 is connected to the input of the determination unit 203.

  When a user uses the computer system 10, the window system function of the operating system of the computer 11 is often used to perform multi-process work. In such a case, if a process that is not used by the user is activated, the hardware resources of the computer 11 are wasted and the work efficiency of the computer 11 may be reduced. In order to prevent such a process that is not being used by a user from being continuously started, the computer system 10 performs a process monitoring process and an unnecessary process termination process, which are information processing methods according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process procedure of the process monitoring process. A process monitoring process performed by the computer system 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step SP100, the identifying unit 201 identifies a visible process from among processes currently running on the computer 11. Specifically, the specifying unit 201 performs monitoring regarding the state of a process in which the computer 11 is running (this monitoring may be performed as an operation by a software agent). At the time of the monitoring, the specifying unit 201 includes information listing the currently activated processes, information indicating whether the currently activated process is a visible window, and which of the visible windows is an active window. Information on the state of the process including the information and the time information at which these pieces of information are acquired is received from the operating system function unit 200 as a signal S6. Here, “active” means a state in which use of the window is selected by the user, and a window selected to be used by the user is called an “active window”. Shall.

  Further, the specifying unit 201 specifies, as a visible process, a process that is a visible window among processes currently activated by the computer 11 based on the input process state information. The identifying unit 201 outputs the identified visible process state information as signals S7 and S8 toward the obtaining unit 202 and the determining unit 203, respectively.

  For example, when the operating system of the computer system 10 is a WINDOWS (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) type operating system, the operation of the specifying unit 201 in step SP100 is performed as a software agent, EnumWindows, IsWindowsVisible, and GetForegroundWindows. It may be performed using an instruction function such as In this case, the specifying unit 201 can receive process state information from the operating system function unit 200 using these instruction functions.

  Next, in step SP110, the acquisition unit 202 acquires operating status information for each visible process. Specifically, the acquisition unit 202 performs operation monitoring of a process in which the computer 11 is activated (this operation monitoring may be performed as an operation by a software agent). When performing the operation monitoring, the acquisition unit 202 outputs operation monitoring information regarding the operation of each process, such as whether the currently activated process changes a file, whether the process is in a task standby state, and the like. In step S10, an input is received from the operating system function unit 200. In step SP110, the acquisition unit 202 determines the operating status of each visible process based on the input process status information and the operation monitoring information of each process, and obtains operating status information for each visible process. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 202 outputs the operating status information of the visible process toward the determination unit 203 as a signal S11.

  For example, when the operating system of the computer system 10 is a WINDOWS (registered trademark) operating system, the operation of the acquisition unit 202 in step SP110 is performed as a software agent, and an API (Application Program Interface) instruction function May be used. In this case, the acquisition unit 202 can receive process operation monitoring information from the operating system function unit 200 using command functions such as FindFirstChangeNotification, FindNextChangeNotification, FindCloseChangeNotification, and WaitForSingleObject.

  Here, the operating status information of the visible process acquired in step SP110 will be described. The acquisition unit 202 calculates operation status information based on the process state information and the operation monitoring information input by the signals S7 and S10. The acquisition unit 202 obtains, for each visible process that is currently activated, a value obtained by subtracting the time when the visible process was activated from the time when the state of the visible process was last confirmed (that is, the visible process (Startup time), a value obtained by taking the difference between the time when the visible process became an active window from the time when the visible process was last confirmed as an active window (may be the time when the determination is performed) That is, the time during which the visible process is active, and the time during which the visible process is active may be calculated each time the visible process becomes an active window, and an average value thereof may be used) A value obtained by subtracting the current time from the time when the file was last edited (that is, the visible process is To calculate the have not time) to perform. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 202 calculates, for each visible process that is currently activated, a value obtained by dividing the activation time of the visible process from the number of activations of the visible process (that is, the frequency with which the visible process is used). The acquisition unit 202 acquires the values obtained by these calculations as each operation status information based on the operation status of each visible process.

  Next, in step SP120, the identifying unit 201 determines whether or not the computer system 10 satisfies a condition for confirming the process state. Specifically, when the number of processes in which the computer 11 is activated is greater than or equal to a predetermined number based on the process state information and the visible process operation status information acquired in step SP100 and step SP110 (for example, When there are four or more of the same processes as active processes) or when the number of visible processes is a predetermined number or more (for example, when there are four or more visible processes), the specifying unit 201 In the determination at step SP120, it may be determined that the condition for confirming the process state is satisfied. As for the number of processes, there is a possibility that a user may start a number of windows simultaneously, such as a process related to a predetermined specific application software (for example, a process related to a Web application or a process related to word processing software). It is also possible to determine whether or not the number of processes having a high value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. That is, the number of processes that can know the operating efficiency of the computer 11 may be counted.

  Further, whether or not the condition for confirming the process state in step SP120 is satisfied may be determined based on whether or not the processing load of the computer 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Specifically, the specifying unit 201 inquires of the operating system function unit 200 about the processing load of the main storage device (which may include the memory 30) of the CPU 20 or the computer 11, and the processing load is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. (For example, when the usage rate of the physical memory of the computer 11 is 70% or more), the specifying unit 201 may determine that the condition for confirming the process state is satisfied in the determination of step SP120. .

  When the computer 11 satisfies the condition for confirming the process state (that is, when the determination result in step SP120 is “YES”), the computer system 10 performs the operation of step SP130 described later. On the other hand, when the computer 11 does not satisfy the condition for confirming the process state (that is, when the determination result in step SP120 is “NO”), the computer system 10 ends the process monitoring process.

  If “YES” is determined in the determination in step SP120, the computer system 10 performs an unnecessary process end process described later in step SP130.

  The process monitoring process shown in step SP100 to step SP130 is performed by the computer system 10 periodically (every predetermined interval of about 0.1 to several seconds, and is suitable for monitoring a process running on the computer 11. At every interval). Therefore, the computer system 10 can acquire information such as process state information and visible process operation status information at any time.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of unnecessary process termination processing. Hereinafter, the unnecessary process termination processing performed by the computer system 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step SP200, the determination unit 203 determines whether there is an end candidate process among the processes activated on the computer 11. Specifically, first, the determination unit 203 determines whether each visible process that is currently activated is an end candidate process based on the operational status information of each visible process acquired in the process monitoring process.

  In the determination in step SP200, the determination unit 203 ends the visible process when the frequency of use of each visible process is less than a predetermined value (for example, when the frequency of use of the visible process is less than twice / hour). It is determined that it is a candidate process. Further, when the time during which each visible process is active is less than a predetermined value (for example, when the time during which the visible process is active is less than 3 seconds), the determination unit 203 determines that the visible process is an end candidate process. Determine. Further, when the file editing time of each visible process is not less than a predetermined value (that is, when the frequency of file editing in the visible process is less than a predetermined value, for example, the time when file editing is not performed) If it is 30 minutes or more), the visible process is determined as an end candidate process. Even if there is a process in which these determination conditions overlap, the process is set as an end candidate process.

  For example, if the time during which file editing has not been performed for a certain visible process is less than a predetermined value, it is a process that is determined to be an end candidate process when determined under other conditions such as usage frequency. Alternatively, it may be excluded from the termination candidate process. In other words, priorities may be given to the conditions to be determined, and it may be added or not added to the end candidate process if a specific condition is met.

  Further, the determination unit 203 reads information of the necessary process table 32 stored in the memory 30. FIG. 6 is an example of the necessary process table 32. The necessary process table 32 stores information on visible processes necessary for the user. In determining whether or not each visible process is an end candidate process, the determination unit 203 excludes processes whose information is stored in the necessary process table 32 from the end candidate processes. The necessary process table 32 may store the time registered in the necessary process table 32 for each stored process. In this case, for example, processes within 24 hours from the time registered in the necessary process table 32 are excluded from the end candidate processes, and processes exceeding 24 hours from the registered time are deleted from the necessary process table 32. Processing based on the registered time may be performed.

  Then, referring to FIG. 5, when there is a visible process determined as an end candidate process in the determination of whether or not each of the currently activated visible processes performed in step SP200 is an end candidate process ( That is, when the determination result in step SP200 is “YES”), the determination unit 203 outputs the information of the visible process determined as the end candidate process as the signal S12 and the signal S13 toward the presentation unit 204 and the selection unit 205. To do. Then, the computer system 10 performs an operation of step SP210 described later. On the other hand, when there is no visible process determined as an end candidate process in determining whether each of the currently visible processes is an end candidate process (that is, the determination result in step SP200 is “NO”). In the case where there is no process to be terminated, the computer system 10 terminates the unnecessary process termination process.

  If “YES” is determined in the determination in step SP200, in step SP210, the presentation unit 204 determines whether or not to end the end candidate process based on the information about the end candidate process input in signal S12. End confirmation information for confirming the above to the user of the computer system 10 is output to the display device 13 as a signal S4. Then, the display device 13 displays the completion confirmation information on the display screen 130 based on the signal S4, thereby confirming to the user whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process. FIG. 7 is an example of an input screen for confirming whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process. In FIG. 7, “inbox” of mail software, “Web page” of Web browser, “computer” of application software, and “game software A” are displayed as end candidate processes, and whether or not to end each process. Has been confirmed. At this time, when the “browse white list” button shown in FIG. 7 is pressed, a process of displaying a list of processes registered in the necessary process table 32 on the display screen 130 may be performed. .

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, in step SP220, the selection unit 205 receives a response from the user in response to the presentation of the end confirmation information to the user performed in step SP210. For example, in the case where the input screen shown in FIG. 7 is used for presentation to the user, the user selects a visible process that is considered unnecessary by using the input device 12 and selects “selected” If the “Close window” button is pressed, it is considered that the selected visible process should be terminated. Then, the selection unit 205 outputs the information of the visible process for which a response indicating that the user should be terminated is output to the process termination unit 207 as a signal S15. Although FIG. 7 illustrates the case where the visible process to be terminated is selected using the check box, in the present invention, the method for receiving the response to the termination confirmation information is not limited to the checkbox, and the user terminates. Any method that can appropriately select and input a process to be performed may be used.

  Next, referring to FIG. 5, in step SP230, the process end unit 207 outputs an instruction signal S16 for ending the process based on the information on the process to be ended input in the signal S15 to the operating system. Output to the system function unit 200. Then, the operating system function unit 200 to which the instruction signal S16 is input performs an end process on the process instructed to end.

  Next, in step SP240, the setting unit 206 determines whether there is a necessary process among the visible processes determined as the end candidate processes. Specifically, the selection unit 205 outputs information on the end candidate process and information on the process considered unnecessary by the user selected in step SP220 to the setting unit 206. Then, the setting unit 206 to which the information is input determines whether all the visible processes determined as the end candidate processes have been selected as processes to be ended. When all the visible processes determined as the end candidate processes are selected as processes to be ended, and there is no necessary process among the end candidate processes (that is, when the determination in step SP240 is “NO”) All the end candidate processes are terminated, and the computer system 10 terminates the unnecessary process termination process. On the other hand, when there is a process that is not selected as a process to be terminated and is necessary among the visible processes determined as termination candidate processes (that is, when the determination in step SP240 is “YES”). The setting unit 206 performs an operation of step SP250 described later.

  If “YES” is determined in the determination in step SP240, in step SP250, the setting unit 206 selects a process that has not been selected by the user from among the end candidate processes (that is, does not end. Is stored in the necessary process table 32 of the memory 30 using the signal S2. Therefore, in the necessary process table 32, information on a process that is determined to be a necessary process by the user is set and registered (the setting and registration is performed) while the visible process is an operation state in which it is determined as a termination candidate process. The information may include information such as the time when the process is registered in addition to the information of each process).

  As described above, the computer system 10 performs unnecessary process termination processing by the operations from step SP200 to step SP250. Since the computer system 10 repeatedly performs the process monitoring process at an appropriate interval for monitoring the process, when the processing load on the computer 11 exceeds a predetermined value, the computer system 10 immediately performs an unnecessary process termination process. It can be performed.

  In addition, although the example which performs the unnecessary process completion | finish process was shown when the conditions which should confirm the process state of the computer system 10 are satisfy | filled (when determination in step SP120 of process monitoring process is "YES"), In the present invention, the unnecessary process termination process is not limited to the process that is performed only when the condition for confirming the process state is satisfied, but is performed periodically (for example, once per hour) or at an arbitrary timing. Also good.

  Therefore, according to the computer system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, each visible process is based on the operating status information of each process obtained by monitoring the state of the visible process running on the computer 11. It is possible to determine whether or not is an end candidate process. Then, end confirmation information for confirming whether or not to terminate the visible process determined as the end candidate process is presented to the user, and the user responds to the presentation, thereby eliminating unnecessary processes. Can be terminated. Therefore, when the processing load of the computer 11 increases, or at regular or arbitrary timing, it is urged to reduce the load and efficiently use the hardware resources of the computer 11 and improve the work efficiency in the computer system 10. It is possible to make it.

  In determining whether each visible process is an end candidate process based on the operation status information of each process, the time and frequency with which the user of the computer system 10 selects the process as an operation target, and the process Since the determination is made based on whether or not the file is to be edited, a necessary process that is operated or edited by the user is not terminated. Then, an unnecessary process that is not used by the user can be a target for confirmation whether or not the process is properly terminated by the termination confirmation information.

  Further, among the visible processes that have been identified as the end candidate process by the user, processes necessary for the user are set and registered in the necessary process table 32 stored in the memory 30. Since the process registered in the necessary process table 32 is not determined to be an end candidate process and is not terminated, a process necessary for using the computer system 10 is not terminated. . Therefore, even if the process is terminated by the unnecessary process termination process, the operation of the computer system 10 is not hindered, and the user can use the computer system 10 smoothly.

  Further, as a condition for confirming the process state in the process monitoring process, a condition that the number of processes running on the computer 11 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, or a condition that the processing load on the computer 11 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value is used. Therefore, when the computer 11 starts many processes at once or the processing load increases, an unnecessary process can be set as an end candidate process. Accordingly, the processing load on the computer 11 is reduced by terminating the termination candidate process, so that the work efficiency in the computer system 10 can be improved. On the other hand, if the process is not activated more than necessary and the processing load of the computer 11 is not increased, the end confirmation information is presented, assuming that the hardware resources of the computer system 10 are efficiently used. Absent. Therefore, the user can use the computer system 10 smoothly.

  Note that the memory 30 of the computer system 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may store an end log table 33 in addition to the necessary process table 32. When this end log table 33 is used, in step SP220, the selection unit 205 outputs information on a process selected as a process to be ended by the user to the setting unit 206 as a signal S14. Then, the setting unit 206 sets and registers the information of the process to be ended in the end log table 33 stored in the memory 30 (the registration information may include registered time information). Therefore, the termination log table 33 stores information on processes to be terminated in the unnecessary process termination processing. FIG. 8 is an example of the end log table 33. The determination unit 203 may perform determination using information stored in the end log table 33 in determining whether the visible process performed in step SP200 is an end candidate process (for example, within 24 hours). For example, it is determined that the process that should be terminated is a candidate for termination regardless of the operation status of the process).

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the case where a WINDOWS (registered trademark) operating system is used as the operating system of the computer system 10 is exemplified. However, in the present invention, the types of operating systems are limited. However, any operating system capable of managing the processes started on the computer 11 may be used. In FIG. 1, a mouse-type pointing device is schematically shown as the input device 12. However, in the present invention, the input device 12 is not limited to the pointing device, and input processing is performed on the computer system 10. Anything can be used.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of the network system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The network system 1 includes a server 40, a network 50, and a client terminal 60. In addition to the computer 11 shown in FIG. 3, the client terminal 60 includes a computer 14 having a communication unit 208 serving as a transmission unit that transmits information to the outside in addition to the configuration of the computer 11.

  In the network system 1, the client terminal 60 is used as a computer system, and the visible process activated on the computer 14 is performed by performing the process monitoring process and the unnecessary process termination process described in the first embodiment of the present invention. Monitoring. Therefore, the client terminal 60 can accumulate information on the process to be terminated and the necessary process in the client terminal 60 in the necessary process table 32 and the termination log table 33 stored in the memory 30.

The communication unit 208 included in the client terminal 60 transmits information stored in the necessary process table 32 or the termination log table 33 and information on the process terminated by the process termination unit 207 to the server 40 via the network 50. . Therefore, the server 40 can obtain information on the usage status of the client terminal 60 connected via the network 50 (whether an unnecessary process is activated or which process is determined to be unnecessary). Therefore, based on such information, the server 40 informs the user of the client terminal 60 of the usage status of the client terminal 60 such as warning about the usage status of the client terminal 60 and advice on how to use the client terminal 60. Management of the network system 1 can be performed.
<Third Embodiment>

  FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the network system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The network system 2 includes a server 41, a network 51, and a client terminal 61.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the server 41. The server 41 includes a communication unit 42, a memory 43, and a determination unit 44. An output of the communication unit 42 is connected to inputs of the memory 43 and the determination unit 44. The output of the memory 43 is connected to the inputs of the communication unit 42 and the determination unit 44. The output of the determination unit 44 is connected to the input of the communication unit 42. The memory 43 stores a necessary process table 32 and an end log table 33. The communication unit 42 has a function of communicating with the client terminal 61 via the network 51.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of the client terminal 61. The client terminal 61 includes an input device 12, a display device 13, and a computer 15. The computer 15 includes an operating system function unit 200, a specification unit 201, an acquisition unit 202, a presentation unit 204, a selection unit 205, a setting unit 206, a process end unit 207, and a communication unit 209 as functional configurations. Yes. The output of the operating system function unit 200 is connected to the inputs of the specifying unit 201 and the acquisition unit 202. The output of the specifying unit 201 is connected to the inputs of the operating system function unit 200, the acquisition unit 202, and the communication unit 209. The output of the acquisition unit 202 is connected to the inputs of the operating system function unit 200 and the communication unit 209. The output of the presentation unit 204 is connected to the input of the display device 13. The output of the selection unit 205 is connected to the inputs of the setting unit 206 and the process end unit 207. The output of the setting unit 206 is connected to the input of the communication unit 209. The output of the process end unit 207 is connected to the input of the operating system function unit 200. The output of the communication unit 209 is connected to the input of the presentation unit 204 and the selection unit 205. The output of the input device 12 is connected to the input of the selection unit 205. Further, the communication unit 209 has a function of communicating with the server 41 via the network 51.

  The network system 2 can perform process monitoring processing and unnecessary process monitoring processing on processes running on the computer 15. However, with reference to FIG. 4, the status information of the visible process and the operating status information of the visible process obtained in step SP100 and step SP110 of the process monitoring process are input to the communication unit 209. The communication unit 209 transmits a signal including the state information and the operation status information to the server 41 via the network 51.

  Then, in step SP120, when the identifying unit 201 determines that the client terminal 61 satisfies the state in which the process state should be confirmed, a signal indicating that the server 41 is requested to execute unnecessary process termination processing. Is output to the communication unit 209. The communication unit 209 transmits a signal requesting execution of the unnecessary process termination process to the server 41 via the network 51. Then, the server 41 that has received the signal requesting execution of the unnecessary process termination process starts the unnecessary process termination process.

  First, referring to FIG. 5, in step SP <b> 200 of the unnecessary process termination process, the determination unit 44 of the server 41 stores the status information of the visible process received from the client terminal 61, the operating status information of the visible process, and the memory 43. Based on the information such as the necessary process table 32 and the termination log table 33, it is determined whether or not there is a termination candidate process in the visible process activated on the computer 15.

  When there is an end candidate process, the determination unit 44 outputs to the communication unit 42 an end confirmation command that instructs the client terminal 61 to confirm the end of the end candidate process. The communication unit 42 transmits a signal including the end confirmation command to the client terminal 61 via the network 51. The communication unit 209 of the client terminal 61 that has received the signal including the termination confirmation command outputs information on the termination candidate process included in the termination confirmation command to the presentation unit 204 and the selection unit 205. Using the information on the termination candidate process, the client terminal 61 performs the operations from step SP210 to step SP240 in the unnecessary process termination process.

  In step SP240, if there is a necessary process among the end candidate processes, in step SP250, the setting unit 206 includes information on the necessary process (including information on a process determined as an unnecessary process). Is output to the communication unit 209. The communication unit 209 transmits information regarding the necessary process to the server 41 via the network 51. The communication unit 42 of the server 41 that has received the information regarding the necessary process outputs the information to the memory 43. Then, the memory 43 updates the information stored in the necessary process table 32 and the end log table 33 based on the information.

  Therefore, according to the network system 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, among the processes activated on the computer 15, processes that do not need to be activated are defined as termination candidate processes, and Thus, it is possible to confirm whether or not to end the termination candidate process. This confirmation allows the user to know that a process that does not need to be activated is activated on the computer 15. Furthermore, when the user responds to the confirmation as to whether or not to terminate the candidate process for termination, the process can be terminated, so that the efficient use of the hardware resources of the computer 15 is promoted, and the computer The work efficiency in 15 can be improved. Further, the server 41 can obtain operating status information of a visible process operating in the computer 15. Then, based on the operation status information and the information in the necessary process table 32 and the end log table 33, information on unnecessary processes that have been started up in the client terminal 61 can be acquired. Therefore, the network system 2 can prompt the user to improve the usage method of the client terminal 61, for example, by giving the user of the client terminal 61 advice on how to use the client terminal 61 based on the information. Become.

  In FIG. 10, one client terminal 61 is shown. However, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the number of client terminals 61 is not limited to one, and the network system 2 includes a plurality of client terminals 61. May be provided. When the network system 2 includes a plurality of client terminals 61, the determination in the unnecessary process termination process performed by each client terminal 61 is performed by the determination unit 44 of the server 41. Therefore, the determination result of the termination candidate process in each client terminal 61 is shared. can do. Further, the information of the necessary process table 32 and the termination log table 33 stored in the memory 43 of the server 41 is updated by the unnecessary process termination processing performed at each client terminal 61, so that the single client terminal 61 As a result, the amount of information increases as compared with the case where information is updated alone, so that it is possible to accurately determine an end candidate process in an unnecessary process end process.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

1, 2 Network system 10 Computer system 11, 14, 15 Computer 12 Input device 13 Display device 20 CPU
30, 43 Memory 31 Program 40, 41 Server 50, 51 Network 60, 61 Client terminal 201 Identification unit 202 Acquisition unit 203, 44 Determination unit 204 Presentation unit 205 Selection unit 206 Setting unit 207 Process end unit 208, 209, 42 Communication unit

Claims (8)

An information processing method in an information processing apparatus having a display screen and capable of starting a plurality of processes,
(A) identifying one or more visible processes that are displayed on the display screen as a visible window among the plurality of activated processes;
(B) obtaining operational status information that is information relating to the operational status of each of the one or more visible processes;
(C) determining a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes based on the operation status information as an end candidate process;
(D) presenting completion confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process, to a user of the information processing apparatus;
An information processing method comprising: In step (C),
The condition that the frequency selected as the operation target is less than a predetermined value,
The condition that the time selected as the operation target is less than a predetermined value, and
The condition that the frequency of editing related files is less than the specified value,
The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein a visible process that satisfies at least one of the conditions is determined as the termination candidate process. (E) receiving a response to the end confirmation information;
(F) executed when the response received in step (E) is a response to end the end candidate process, and ending the end candidate process;
(G) A process executed when the response received in step (E) is a response indicating that the termination candidate process is not terminated, and excluding the termination candidate process from the determination target in step (C) Step to set as
The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the number of the activated processes or the one or more visible processes is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, or when the processing load of the information processing apparatus is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the process of step (C) The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:   (H) Information on the result of the determination in step (C) and / or information on the result of correspondence on whether or not the user who received the presentation in step (D) has taken action to end the end candidate process 5. The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting the information to another device that communicates with the information processing device. A computer having a display screen and used for an information processing apparatus capable of starting a plurality of processes,
(A) identifying one or more visible processes that are displayed on the display screen as a visible window among the plurality of activated processes;
(B) obtaining operational status information that is information relating to the operational status of each of the one or more visible processes;
(C) determining a process that does not need to be activated among the one or more visible processes based on the operation status information as an end candidate process;
(D) presenting completion confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process, to a user of the information processing apparatus;
A program for running An information processing apparatus having a display screen and capable of starting a plurality of processes,
A specifying unit that specifies one or more visible processes that are displayed on the display screen as a visible window among the plurality of processes that are activated;
Obtaining means for obtaining operational status information that is information relating to the operational status of each of the one or more visible processes;
A determination unit that determines, based on the operation status information, a process that does not need to be started among the one or more visible processes as an end candidate process;
Presenting means for presenting end confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether to end the end candidate process, to a user of the information processing apparatus;
An information processing apparatus comprising: An information processing system comprising a server and a client terminal capable of starting a plurality of processes,
The client terminal is
A display screen;
A specifying unit that specifies one or more visible processes that are displayed on the display screen as a visible window among the plurality of processes that are activated;
Obtaining means for obtaining operational status information that is information relating to the operational status of each of the one or more visible processes;
Transmitting means for transmitting the operating status information to the server;
Presenting means for presenting to the user of the client terminal end confirmation information, which is information for confirming whether or not to terminate the process, when receiving a process end confirmation command from the server;
Have
The server
Based on the operation status information received from the client terminal, a determination unit that determines that a process that does not need to be started in the one or more visible processes is an end candidate process;
A command means for transmitting to the client terminal a termination confirmation command for confirming whether or not to terminate the termination candidate process;
An information processing system.

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