JP2670123B2 - Information sharing device in network - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial application field Conventional technology Problems to be solved by the invention Means to solve the problem Action Embodiment Terminal device of the first embodiment (FIG. 3) "Communication mode" processing of the first embodiment (Fig. 4) Terminal device of the second embodiment (Fig. 5) "Communication mode" processing of the second embodiment (Figs. 6 and 7) Effect [Overview] Through two or more terminal devices through a network,
With regard to information sharing devices in networks that display the same screen and update data, multiple users can use existing PCs, etc., while consulting in real time via the network to create and modify programs and documents. In the “normal mode”, the signal input from the input means is output to the information processing means of the terminal device itself, and in the “communication mode”, the input means is used. The input signal is output from the communication means to the other terminal device via the network, and at the same time, is output to the information processing means of the own terminal device. On the other hand, the signal is sent from the other terminal device to the communication means via the network. Is input, the signal is output to the information processing means of the terminal device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information sharing device in a network that displays the same screen and updates data in two or more terminal devices through the network.

For example, one software may be jointly developed by a plurality of persons, or an input document may be proofread by a plurality of persons jointly. In such a case, if a plurality of people gather in front of one terminal device and operate one keyboard, the work efficiency is poor. There is also a batch processing means for collectively transferring the created program or document files to other users via the network, and for the other users to make corrections and send back. However, in this case, it is not possible to make corrections while consulting with each other in real time, which is inconvenient.

Therefore, it is desired to be able to create and modify programs, documents, etc. at a remote place via a network while consulting in real time.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as such an information common system in a network, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, as shown in FIG. The file 53 of the above is displayed on each display 54, and the programs and documents in the file 53 are corrected while consulting.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a general multi-user system, exclusive control is performed for access to the same file. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the exclusive control processing system so that multiple users can access the same file in real time. Therefore, it is necessary to individually develop a system such as a software development system or a document creation system. Providing the center function as described above imposes a large burden on expenses for a small-scale system. Therefore, it has been desired to realize a system capable of more easily sharing information between terminal devices by utilizing a general personal computer (personal computer).

The present invention has been made to solve such a demand, and a plurality of users can use an existing personal computer or the like while consulting in real time through a network with regard to creation and modification of programs and documents. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information sharing device in a network that can be performed easily and easily.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an information sharing apparatus in a network of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal apparatuses connected to each other via a network 1 as shown in FIG. 2, input means 3 for inputting a signal, information processing means 4 for processing information in accordance with the input signal, the network 1, the input means 3 and the information processing means 4
A communication means 5 for inputting and outputting a signal to and from and a mode switching means 6 for switching between a "normal mode" and a "communication mode".
In the “normal mode”, the input means 3
From the information processing means 4 of the terminal device 2
In the “normal mode”, the signal input from the input unit 3 is output from the communication unit 5 to the other terminal device 2 via the network 1, and at the same time, the information processing unit of the own terminal device 2 is output. 4, on the other hand, when a signal is input from another terminal device 2 to the communication means 5 via the network 1, the signal is output to the information processing means 4 of the own terminal device 2. Characterize.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the priority of the communication order is provided to each of the terminal devices 2 and a signal from the input means 3 of one terminal device 2 is input in the “communication mode” state. When the information processing means 4 of the terminal device 2 having the first priority is not processing other information, the signal is sent to the first terminal device 2 via the network 1 and the signal is further transmitted. From the terminal device 2 of the lower priority order, and when the information processing means 4 of the terminal device 2 of the first priority order is processing other information, the signal is input in the terminal device 2 to which the signal is input. The communication sequence control means 7 may be provided for sending the signal to the terminal device 2 having the first priority again after waiting for a certain time.

[Operation] When a signal is input from the input means 3 of one terminal device 2, the signal is input in the "normal mode".
Is output to the information processing means 4 and processed there.

However, in the "communication mode", the signal input from the input means is output from the communication means 5 to another terminal device 2 via the network 1, and at the same time, the terminal device 2 itself.
Is output to the information processing means 4. Then, in the terminal device 2 that has received a signal from another terminal device 2 via the network 1, the received signal is output from the communication means 5 to the information processing means 4. Therefore, the same information processing is performed in a plurality of terminal devices 2 by the input from one terminal device 2, and the user of each terminal device 2 can share the same information simultaneously.

Further, when the communication order control means 7 is further provided, the signals input from the respective terminal devices 2 are sent to the terminal devices 2 in the order of priority, and when there is simultaneous input, etc., the terminal device input first. Until the processing of the signal from the terminal is completed, the processing of the signal from the other terminal device is waited, and the signal processing of the priority order is protected.

Example An example will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Terminal Device of First Embodiment (FIG. 3)] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the terminal device 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a host personal computer of the terminal device 2, and a display, a disk file, etc., which are not shown, are connected to the host personal computer 10, and the information processing means 4 is formed by these.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a keyboard device connected to the host personal computer 10. This keyboard device is completed simply by replacing the keyboard device used in a general personal computer with the keyboard device 20.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an end of a network that connects with another terminal device 2 not shown, and a communication circuit such as ISDN (hereinafter referred to as "communication line 1") is used.

The keyboard device 20 is provided with a full keyboard switch 21 for key input.
The pressed state of 21 is encoded as a normal key code by a key encoder 22 composed of a one-chip microcomputer, for example. The output end of the key encoder 22 is connected to the selector 23 and the key code buffer 27, and the output end of the selector 23 is connected to the serial interface 24 connected to the host personal computer 10.

25 is a microprocessor unit (MPU),
Mode control of "normal mode" and "communication mode" and communication control for communicating with a keyboard device of another terminal device are performed. The mode switching is performed, for example, by operating a mode switching switch 26 which is a key switch for function expansion. The control signal output terminal of the MPU 25 is connected to the selector 23, the key code buffer 27, the communication line interface 28, and, for example, a hands-free communication device 29. The communication line interface 28 is connected to the communication line 1, and is also connected to the key code buffer 27 and the calling device 29.

When the mode changeover switch 26 is operated to the "normal mode" by such a mechanism, the select 23 outputs the output content of the key encoder 22 to the serial interface 24 by the control signal from the MPU 25. Therefore,
In accordance with an input signal from the keyboard switch 21, the host personal computer 10 of the terminal device 2 operates to control a display and a disk file (not shown).

["Communication Mode" Processing of First Embodiment (FIG. 4)] When the mode changeover switch 26 is switched to the "communication mode", as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG.
By the output signal from U25, the key code buffer 27
After buffering the output code of the key encoder 22 once, it is sent to the communication line 1. Then, when a confirmation signal (ACK) from the partner terminal device is received at the transmission destination from the communication line interface 28 via the communication line 1, the same key code is output from the key code buffer 27 to the serial interface 24 via the selector 23, Output to the host personal computer 10 of the own terminal device.

On the other hand, the key code from the partner terminal device is input via the communication line interface 28 and buffered in the key code buffer 27. Then, a control signal (ACK) is sent back to the other terminal device via the communication line interface 28 under the control of the MPU 25, the key code input from the communication line 1 is output to the serial interface 24 via the selector 23, and the host personal computer. Output to 10.

The communication line interface 28 realizes a physical interface with the communication line 1, for example, and has a function of multiplexing / separating a voice signal and key code data. For example, it has the function of transmitting voice at 56 Kbit / s and data at 8 Kbit / s. The audio signal is encoded to 8 bits in a PCM-CODEC 29a included in the hands-free communication device 29,
In the communication line interface 28, the least significant bit is replaced with a data bit for key code transmission and transmitted to the partner terminal. After extracting the least significant bit of the voice / data signal from the partner terminal, the least significant bit is replaced with 0,
It is input to the calling device 29 as a bit code and the PCM-CODE
C) Decoded at 29a. The key code data can be communicated with the partner terminal in, for example, a start-stop synchronization (speed: 8 kHz) method.

[Second Embodiment and Terminal Device (FIG. 5)] FIG. 5 shows a terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the above-described first embodiment, when there is simultaneous input from a plurality of terminal devices, the same keyboard row is not input in each terminal device, and the identity of the screen or file of each terminal device is not guaranteed. There is. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, such a problem is also solved.

The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, buffers are provided separately for the transmission buffer 35 and the reception buffer 36, and the key encoder 22
Is connected to the communication line interface 39 via the transmission buffer 35. The output end of the communication line interface 39 is connected to the selector 23 via the reception buffer 36. The output end of the MPU 37 is connected to the selector 23, the reception buffer 36 and the communication line interface 39, and the communication control interface 38 for inputting the condition setting command for the communication control function from the host personal computer 10 is input to the MPU 37. Connected to the end. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, the host personal computer 10 presets the priority order of the communication order in the terminal device of each user via the communication control interface 38.

[The "communication mode" process of the second embodiment (FIGS. 6 and 7)
Figure)] From the host PC 10, the communication control interface 38
When a “normal mode” command is input via the device, the device enters the “normal mode” state as in the first embodiment described above, and when a “communication mode” command is input, the device changes to the first embodiment. And are in different "communication mode" states.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are processing flowcharts of the "communication mode" in this embodiment. s indicates a step.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of the “communication mode” in the terminal device 2 having the highest priority.

Here, first in s1, it is determined whether or not a key code is input from the key encoder 22 to the transmission buffer 35, that is, whether or not there is an input from the keyboard switch 21 of the own terminal device, and when there is an input, in s2, It is determined whether the use flag is in a cleared state (that is, 0).
The use flag is for determining whether the terminal device having the highest priority is processing information, and sets the use flag to the set state (that is, 1) during information processing.

If there is no input from the keyboard switch 21 of the own terminal device in s1, it is determined in s3 whether the key code is input from the communication line interface 39 to the receiving buffer 36, that is, input from another terminal device via the communication line 1. It is determined whether or not there is, and if there is an input, the process proceeds to s2 as in the case of the input from the own terminal device.

Then, when the use flag is 0 in s2, that is, when the terminal device with the first priority can process the newly input key code, the use flag is set to 1 in s4, and at the same time, the input is The address of the executed terminal device (including the own terminal device having the first priority) is set. Then, the inputted key code is transmitted from the interface 39 through the communication line 1 to the terminal device having the second highest priority, the timer included in the MPU 37 is started, and the process returns to s1. A predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) is set in this timer. Then, during that time, the use flag is set to 1, and when the timer is in a time-out state, a timer interrupt is performed.

When the usage flag is not 0 in s2, that is, when the usage flag is set to 1, it is determined in s5 whether the input terminal device matches the set address. When the addresses match, that is, when the input is a continuous input from the same terminal device, in s6,
The terminal device (excluding the own terminal device having the first priority) is notified of the reception confirmation via the communication line 1, and at the same time, the terminal device having the second priority receives the communication line 1. The key code is transmitted via, the timer included in the MPU 37 is restarted, and the process returns to s1. That is, at this time, information transfer is performed continuously.

If the address does not match in s5, that is, if there is a communication input from a terminal device that is different from the terminal device that sent the key code being processed, it returns to s1 as it is, but the new input is the own terminal with the first priority. When it is from the keyboard switch 21 of the device, the input key code is stored in the transmission buffer 35 in s7, and then the process returns to s1.

When there is no input in s1 and s3, it is determined in s8 whether there is a timer interrupt. If there is no timer interrupt, s1
Return to

When there is a timer interrupt in s8, it is determined in s9 whether the transmission buffer 35 is empty. If the transmission buffer 35 is empty, the usage flag is cleared to 0 in s10 and the process returns to s1. s
At 9, when the send buffer 35 is not empty, that is, when the key code is entered in the send buffer 35, s1
At 1, the used terminal address is set in the own terminal device having the first priority, and at the same time, the key code in the transmission buffer 35 is transmitted to the terminal device having the second priority, the timer is started, and the process returns to s1.

FIG. 7 shows the terminal device 2 having the second or lower priority.
It is a processing flow figure of a "communication mode."

Here, first, in s21, it is determined whether or not a key code is input from the key encoder 22 to the transmission buffer 35, that is, whether or not there is an input from the keyboard switch 21 of the own terminal device. When there is such input, in s22, the input key code is stored in the transmission buffer 35, and at the same time, the key code is transmitted from the communication line interface 39 via the communication line 1 to the terminal device having the first priority. , MP
Start the timer included in U37 and return to s21.

This timer times out when a predetermined time (for example, one second) elapses. If a confirmation of reception acceptance is not notified from the terminal device having the highest priority during that time, a timer interrupt is performed. That is, the keyboard switch 21
If there is no input from, then in s23, it is determined whether there is a communication input from the communication line 30 to the communication line interface 39. If there is no communication input, it is determined in s24 whether a timer interrupt has occurred. If there is no timer interrupt, the process returns to s21.
Go to 25.

In s25, if the timer interrupt is due to the processing in s22, that is, if the confirmation of the reception acceptance is not notified even though the key code is transmitted to the terminal device with the first priority, the key code is set. A timer (for example, 5 seconds) for retransmission is started. If the timer interrupt is due to the timeout of the timer for the retransmission processing, the key code stored in the transmission buffer 35 is transmitted to the terminal device having the priority 1 and the timer of, for example, 1 second is set as in s22. Start and return to s21.

When there is a communication input from the communication line 1 through the communication line interface 39 in s23, it is determined in s26 whether or not the input is a key code. Then, if a key code is received from the other terminal device, that is, the terminal device whose priority is one, in the reception buffer 36, in s27,
The key code is transmitted from the communication line interface 39 via the communication line 1 to the terminal device having a lower priority. At the same time, the key code received in the reception buffer 36 is transmitted from the selector 23 to the serial interface.
The information is passed to the host computer 10 via the information processing unit 24.

If it is determined in s26 that the key code is not received, it is determined in s28 whether or not it is a confirmation signal of reception acceptance from the terminal device having the first priority. Then, if the communication input is a confirmation signal of reception acceptance, the timer is stopped, the key code is deleted from the transmission buffer 35, and the process returns to s21. Also, in s28, if the communication input is not a reception acceptance confirmation signal, it is assumed that a communication error has occurred,
Perform error display and other communication error handling in s30, and return to s21.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the information sharing device in the network of the present invention, it is possible for a plurality of users to create and modify documents, programs, etc. through a network while consulting in real time. Just by replacing the existing keyboard device such as a personal computer with the device of the present invention,
It can be performed simply and at low cost by using existing word processors, editor software, and the like.

Further, by providing the communication order control means, even if there are simultaneous inputs from a plurality of terminal devices, it is possible to ensure the identity of information in all the terminal devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the key code of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a “communication mode” process of a terminal device having the highest priority. FIG. 7 is a priority diagram. The "communication mode" processing flow chart of the second or lower terminal devices, and FIG. 8 are configuration diagrams of a conventional information common system in a network. In the figure, 1 ... Network, 2 ... Terminal device, 3 ... Input means, 4 ... Information processing means, 5 ... Communication means, 6 ... Mode switching means, 7 ... Communication sequence control means.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihisa Mizuno 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP 62-72047 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of terminal devices (2) connected to each other via a network (1) are provided with a priority order of communication order, and a signal is input to each of the terminal devices (2). Means (3); information processing means (4) for processing information in accordance with the input signal; signal input between said network (1) and said input means (3) and information processing means (4). Communication means (5) for outputting, mode switching means (6) for switching between "normal mode" and "communication mode", and input means (3) for one terminal device (2) in the "communication mode" state When a signal is input to the terminal, the information processing means (4) of the terminal device (2) having the first priority is not processing other information, and the signal is transmitted via the network (1) to the first terminal. And sends the signal to Terminal of sequential lower priority therefrom al (2)
When the information processing means (4) of the terminal device (2) having the first priority is processing other information, the output of the signal is fixed in the terminal device (2) to which the signal is input. After waiting for time, a communication sequence control means (7) for sending the signal to the terminal device (2) having the first priority is provided again. In the "normal mode", the signal input from the input means (3) is sent. Information processing means (4) of own terminal device (2)
In the “communication mode”, the signal input from the input means (3) is determined by the communication order control means (7) from the communication means (5) via the network (1). At the same time as outputting to the other terminal device (2) in accordance with the assigned priority order, it also outputs to the information processing means (4) of the own terminal device (2), while the other terminal device (2) is connected via the network (1). ), When a signal is input to the communication means (5), the signal is output to the information processing means (4) of the own terminal device (2).