JP3674988B2 - Client / server system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a client / server system which automatically starts an end user program provided on a client side and executes various processes due to update processing of data on the server side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In data processing using a computer, an end user program (or customized program) created in a macro language may be set in order to prepare an environment that is easy for the user to use or to perform special data processing.
For example, in a document processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-195458, an end user who generates data to be input for a special item portion in a document is generated in a document processing apparatus that creates a document with input character symbols. When a program is provided and a request is input by the user from the keyboard, the end user program is executed based on the request, and data to be input such as date is generated and stored in a special item portion in the document. I have to.
[0003]
Such an end user program is also used in a client / server system. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-68046 describes a client / server system using an end user program for constructing an application system.
This client / server system is a system in which an end user program is provided in a server, the end user program of the server executes a predetermined process in response to a request from the client, and the result is returned to the client. And the server are linked.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the past, even if the client and the server are linked, the end user program executes a predetermined process in response to a request from the user or the client. Based on the data processing result of the server, the client side The end user program cannot automatically execute a predetermined process.
[0005]
For example, the dynamic data exchange (DDE) supported by Windows (trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) has an inter-process communication function called hot link. In this hot link, the result of data update processing performed by the server is the client. Will be automatically notified as appropriate. The data notified in this way is stored in the client by overwriting the memory. For example, when it is necessary to leave an update history of the data, the end user program that saves the updated data as separate files. Should be provided to the client.
[0006]
However, since the end user program could not be automatically executed as described above, the user inputs a request every time there is an update notification from the server in order to keep an update history. The end user program had to be started and update data saved.
The same situation applies when an end-user program that performs aggregation and storage processing is provided on the client, and the results of data update processing at the server are aggregated on the client side and saved as separate files each time. However, true cooperation using an end user program has not been realized between the client and the server.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize true linkage processing that does not require user intervention for activation of an end user program in a client / server system.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a client / server system according to claim 1 includes a server that performs data processing, and a client that executes predetermined processing based on data processed by the server, in response to a request from the client. In a client / server system that establishes a link for exchanging messages between a server and a client based on the server, the server includes communication means for transmitting and receiving messages via the link, storage means for storing data to be processed, and storage Processing means for performing update processing on the data stored in the means, and the client is a communication means for transmitting and receiving messages via a link, an end user program for performing predetermined processing on the data, and update processing from the server Starting means for starting an end-user program based on the notification message; Characterized by comprising a.
[0009]
The client / server system according to claim 2 is the client / server system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of data identified by the item is stored in the storage means of the server, and the client activation means Is characterized in that the end user program corresponding to the item is started based on the update processing notification message.
[0010]
The client / server system according to claim 3 is the client / server system according to claim 2, wherein the link is established based on a link establishment request message specifying an item from the client, and the server is designated. A link establishment response message specifying the link for transmitting the item data message is transmitted to the client, and the update processing notification message is transmitted including the identifier of the link, and the client uses the management means based on the link establishment response message. The link identifier corresponding to the specified item and the end user program that performs predetermined processing on the data of the item are managed in association with each other, and the management unit specifies the item based on the link identifier included in the update processing notification message End-user program corresponding to It was allowed to start activation means, and characterized by applying the update notification predetermined processing on the included data in the message.
[0011]
[Action]
In the client / server system according to the first aspect, an interprocess communication link such as a hot link is established between the client and the server, and messages are exchanged between the client and the server. In this message exchange, when the client receives an update processing notification message from the server, the client activation means activates the end user program based on this notification. As a result, the end user program is automatically activated from the server based on the update process notification message, and executes a predetermined process described in the macro language.
[0012]
In the client / server system according to claim 2, when there are a plurality of data to be updated by the server, these are distinguished by items, respectively, and the activation means responds to the items based on the update processing notification message from the server. Automatically start the end user program.
In the client / server system according to claim 3, a link is established for each item designated by the client, and the client management means uses the link identifier to execute an end user program corresponding to the item updated by the server. Then, the end user program is activated by the activation means, and predetermined processing such as update history saving processing is executed.
[0013]
The present invention is not limited to a client / server system configured by a client application program and a server application program installed on the same machine such as a personal computer, but also a client in which separate machines such as workstations are connected via a network. The present invention can also be applied to a client / server system composed of a machine and a server machine.
[0014]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an example of implementation of the client / server system according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an example implemented on the same machine, and inter-process communication is performed by establishing a hot link HL between a client application and a server application.
In other words, the user inputs the link type, such as hot link, server-side application name, server-side data item, client-side object name, end-user program name to be started on the client side, and the client application and server. A hot link HL is established with the application.
[0015]
When the server application program updates the data object SD (for example, table data) of the specified item, this update notification is notified to the client application via the hot link HL, and the client side specified by the user Objects (for example, table data) are reflected in the CD. On the client side, the end-user program designated by the user is automatically started based on the update notification, and update history saving processing is executed.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows an example implemented on separate machines connected by a network. A hot link HL is established between a client machine and a server machine via a network NT to perform inter-process communication.
In this aspect, the user inputs each item described above together with the server machine name from the client machine, and establishes a hot link HL between the client machine and the server machine.
When the server machine performs update processing on the data object SD of the designated item, this update notification is notified to the client machine via the hot link HL and reflected on the client-side object CD designated by the user. . On the client side, the end-user program designated by the user is automatically started based on the update notification, and update history saving processing is executed.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a client / server system composed of a client machine C and a server machine S connected by a network NT.
In the client C, a communication means 1 for exchanging messages via the network NT, a memory 2 for storing received messages and client-side objects, and predetermined processing procedures such as history saving processing are described in a macro language. A plurality of end user programs 3, an activation means 4 for activating the end user program 3, a program management means 5 for specifying the end user program 3 to be activated, and each function means of the client C such as message exchange and message storage And control means 6 for controlling and controlling the processing.
The program management means 5 has a table 7 in which a link identifier (link ID) and an end user program name are described in association with each other, and specifies an end user program 3 to be started based on the description of the table 7 To do.
[0018]
The server S includes a communication means 11 for exchanging messages via the network NT and establishing a hot link HL on the network NT, a memory 12 for storing a data object SD to be processed, and data stored in the memory 12 A processing unit 13 that performs an update process such as editing on the object SD and a notification unit 14 that creates a message for notifying the client C of the update process by the processing unit 13 are provided.
Each data object SD is given a unique item, and each data object SD is designated by these items.
[0019]
The communication means 1, 11, start-up means 4, program management means 5, control means 6, processing means 13, and notification means 14 are composed of programs that control the respective functions and hardware such as CPU and RAM, and are used by end users. The program 3 executes designated processing described in a macro language using these hardware. Further, the memories 2 and 12 are constituted by storage means such as RAM which can be read and written, and have means for reading and writing data.
[0020]
The operation of the client / server system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 shows a processing procedure on the client C side, FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure on the server S side when a link is established, and FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure on the server S side when updating data.
[0021]
First, when the hot link HL is established between the client C and the server S, the server name (server ID) of the other party that establishes the hot link and the link name are entered from the input means such as a keyboard provided in the client C. The user inputs a link establishment request together with the type of hot link, the item of data SD on the server side, the name of the end user program that performs predetermined processing on the data SD of the item, and the like. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, a link establishment request message including a client ID indicating a transmission source, a server ID indicating a transmission destination, an item ID indicating a specified item, a link type indicating a hot link, and the like. Is transmitted from the communication means 1 to the communication means 11 of the server via the network NT (step S1).
[0022]
On the server S side, link establishment processing is performed in response to the link establishment request message as will be described later. When a hot link is established, as shown in FIG. 4B, the server ID indicating the transmission source, the transmission destination A link establishment response message including the client ID indicating the item ID, the item ID indicating the designated item, the link ID indicating the established hot link HL, and the like is returned from the communication unit 11 to the client C via the network NT. The client C monitors the reception of the link establishment response message (step S2), and if it cannot receive the link establishment response message within a predetermined time after transmitting the link establishment request message (step S3), the hot link Is not established, error processing is performed and the processing is terminated (step S4).
[0023]
On the other hand, if a link establishment response message is received within a predetermined time, this message is received by the communication means (step S5), and the program management means 5 associates it with the end user program name designated and input by the user. The link ID included in this message is written in the table 7 (step S6).
Here, since the hot link HL is established for each item, in the table 7, the end user program corresponding to the designated item is associated with the established hot link ID.
[0024]
When the server processing means 13 performs update processing on the data SD of the designated item, an update notification message is transmitted to the client C as will be described later. As shown in FIG. 4C, the update notification message includes a server ID indicating a transmission source, a client ID indicating a transmission destination, a link ID for a specified item, updated data SD, and the like. The data is transmitted from the communication unit 11 to the client C via the hot link HL.
The client C monitors the reception of this update notification message (step S7), and if it cannot receive the update notification message within a predetermined time set in advance (step S8), it is assumed that some trouble has occurred and error processing is performed. To end the process (step S4).
[0025]
On the other hand, if an update notification message is received within a predetermined time, this message is stored in the memory 2, and the program management means 5 searches the table 7 by the link ID included in this message (step S9).
If the end user program name corresponding to the link ID does not exist in the table 7, normal processing is performed without starting the program described later, whereas if the corresponding end user program name exists (step S10). Then, the activation means 4 activates the end user program 3 specified by the program name (step S11).
[0026]
As a result, the end user program 3 executes a predetermined process and ends the process (step S12). If the end user program 3 cannot finish the process within a predetermined time set in advance, it is assumed that some trouble has occurred and an error process is performed to end the process (step S4).
Therefore, based on the update notification message transmitted from the server S, the corresponding end user program 3 is automatically activated, and the history of the updated data SD included in the update notification message and stored in the memory 2 is recorded. The end user program 3 executes a predetermined process such as saving.
[0027]
In the above-described link establishment process on the server S side, the server S monitors whether a link establishment request message is received (step S21), and when this message is received, the item ID contained in the message is stored in the memory 12. The processing means 13 searches whether the data SD of the corresponding item is stored (step S22).
As a result, when the data SD of the corresponding item is not stored (step S23), the error processing is performed and the process is terminated (step S24), while the data SD of the corresponding item is stored. The communication means 11 establishes the hot link HL for the data SD of the item via the network NT (step S25).
[0028]
If this link establishment process fails, an error process is performed and the process is terminated (steps S26 and S24). If the link establishment process is successful, a link establishment response message is sent to the client C via the hot link HL. To end the processing (steps S26 and S27).
That is, a hot link HL for each designated item is established on the network NT, and process communication between the client C and the server S is performed via the hot link HL.
[0029]
Then, when the processing means 13 of the server performs update processing such as editing on the data SD stored in the memory 12, the data SD of the item for which the hot link HL is established is updated in this update processing (step S31). ), The notification means 14 creates an update notification message and delivers this message to the communication means 11, which is transmitted from the communication means 11 of the server to the client C via the hot link HL of the corresponding link ID, and the processing is terminated ( Step S32).
[0030]
In the above embodiment, a hot link has been described as an example. However, if the link has a function of notifying the client side of the result of update processing performed on the server side regardless of the name of the link, this link is used. The invention can be applied.
In the above embodiment, the correspondence between the specified item and the end user program is associated with the link ID. However, if the correspondence between the item and the link is managed on the server side, the update notification message and the table 7 are associated. The item ID can be associated with the end user program.
[0031]
In the above embodiment, since a plurality of end user programs and data objects are set, it is necessary to manage the association by the program management means. However, as a simple system configuration, a single end user program or data object is used. In some cases, such management can be omitted.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the client / server system of the present invention, the activation means automatically activates the client-side end user program in response to the update processing notification from the server. It is possible to execute cooperative processing, such as saving an update history for updated data, on the client side without intervening.
Therefore, when a system in which data is updated every moment in the server is controlled by an end user program, a predetermined process corresponding to the data change is executed without requiring a user operation or special monitoring means. It is possible to build a flexible system according to the purpose and application.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented on the same machine.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented by a pair of machines.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4A and 4B are diagrams showing the contents of a message, where FIG. 4A is a link establishment request message, FIG. 4B is a link establishment response message, and FIG. 4C is an update notification message.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the client side.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the server side when a link is established.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the server side when data is updated.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 11 ... communication means, 3 ... end user program,
4 ... start-up means, 5 ... program management means,
13 ... Processing means, C ... Client, S ... Server,
HL ... hot link, SD ... data object,

Claims (5)

A client that includes a server that performs data processing and a client that executes predetermined processing based on data processed by the server, and that establishes a link for exchanging messages between the server and the client based on a request from the client In the server system,
The server includes first communication means for transmitting and receiving messages via a link, storage means for storing data to be processed, and processing means for performing update processing on the data stored in the storage means,
Client starts second means for transmitting / receiving message via link, end user program for executing predetermined data processing, and start means for starting corresponding end user program based on update processing notification message from server And a client / server system. The client / server system according to claim 1,
The storage means of the server stores a plurality of data identified by items,
A client / server system characterized in that a client activation unit activates an end user program corresponding to an item based on an update processing notification message. The client / server system according to claim 2,
The link is established based on the link establishment request message specifying the item from the client,
The server sends a link establishment response message specifying the link for sending the data message of the specified item to the client, and sends the update processing notification message including the identifier of the link,
The client manages the link identifier corresponding to the item specified based on the link establishment response message by the management means in association with the end user program for performing predetermined processing on the data of the item, and the management means updates the update processing notification message. A client server characterized in that an end user program corresponding to an item designated based on a link identifier included in the server is activated by an activation unit, and predetermined processing is performed on data included in the update processing notification message system. In a data processing method performed by a server that performs data processing and a client that executes predetermined processing based on data processed by the server,
  The client and server establish a link for exchanging messages between the server and the client based on the request from the client,
  The server performs an update process on the data, sends the update process notification message to the client via the link,
  A data processing method, wherein a client automatically starts a corresponding end user program for executing predetermined data processing based on an update processing notification message from a server. A client that executes a corresponding process based on a data update process notification message received via a link established with a server,
  Communication means for receiving a message via a link, an end user program for executing predetermined data processing, and an activation means for starting a corresponding end user program based on an update processing notification message from a server Featuring clients.

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