JP4066444B2 - Homepage automatic generation apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention, for example, automatically generates a homepage with a user's own image and transmits a guide mail specifying a due date based on an image captured by a digital still camera and captured on a computer or an image created on a computer. CanHomepage automatic generation apparatus and methodIt is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a method for automatically generating a home page and sending an e-mail is as shown in FIG. Image data 107a and 107b are prepared on the server 101, and the user creates a home page 105 based on an image selected from the image data 107a and 107b. Then, the user immediately transmits the e-mail 104 to the e-mail address of the other party to be notified of the generated URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the home page 105, and the work is completed. The URL is a place where the home page 105 is arranged on the server 101, as will be described in detail later.
[0003]
Specifically, this will be described with reference to FIG.
10 includes a server 101, a network 102 that connects the server 101 and the client computer 103, and a client computer 103. The server 101 in FIG. 10 includes an e-mail transmission unit 101a for processing the e-mail 104 and a hard disk 101b.
[0004]
The e-mail transmission unit 101a in FIG. 10 processes the e-mail 104 transmitted from the client computers 103 and 112 connected to the network 102.
The hard disk 101b in FIG. 10 stores a home page 105 and image data 107a and 107b. The home page 105 is data for retrieving information from the client computers 103 and 112. The image data 107 a and 107 b is image data to be incorporated in the home page 105.
[0005]
The network 102 in FIG. 10 is, for example, the Internet. The network 102 is a network connecting the server 101, the client computer 103, and the like. The network 102 is a communication medium for exchanging communication of electronic mail 104 and other data transmitted from the client computer 103 or the like.
[0006]
A WWW (World Wide Web) browser software 106 operates on the client computer 103 in FIG. 10, and includes a homepage generation unit 108 and a guide mail transmission unit 109. The homepage generation 108 and the guide mail transmission unit 109 in FIG. 10 appear to operate on the browser software 106 on the screen.
[0007]
10 selects image data 107a and 107b prepared in advance on the server 101, selects the design layout of the home page 105, and selects the title of the home page, etc. This is a processing unit that creates data in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format and transfers it to the server 101 by inputting the text information.
[0008]
The browser software 106 shown in FIG. 10 operates on the client computer 103 and is software for searching for information on the server 101 and transmitting an e-mail 104.
The guide mail transmission unit 109 in FIG. 10 sends an e-mail describing the home page information created and transferred to the server 101 to notify a specific user that the content of the home page 105 has been updated or created. It is a processing part which transmits to.
[0009]
Image data such as image data 107a and 107b is already prepared on the server 101 in FIG. Image data desired to be used on the home page 105 is selected from the browser software 106 operating on the client computer 103 from the image data 107a and 107b already prepared on the server 101, and a predetermined format ( HTML format) and a homepage page file in HTML format is transmitted to the server 101.
As a result, the home page 105 is completed and can be searched from the client computer 103.
[0010]
Further, in order to notify a specific user that the content of the home page 105 has been updated or generated, an e-mail is immediately transmitted. That is, the user who performs maintenance needs to perform work on the day of the due date to be notified.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this type of conventional apparatus cannot use a user-specific image for creating a home page. In addition, since an e-mail is transmitted immediately after the work is performed, there is a problem that the work must be performed on a date that the user wants to notify.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and when a user automatically generates a home page, an original image can be used for the home page, and the user wishes to update the home page on a designated date. It is an object of the present invention to provide a homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus that can transmit to an address, and a homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission method.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In the present invention, the above object is a device that has shared information for searching for information and transmits / receives data to / from a server connected by a network using a protocol for the network. Server information search means for selecting, selecting means for selecting predetermined image information captured in advance, image information checking means for determining whether the selected image information meets a predetermined condition, When the image information check means determines that the selected image information matches a predetermined condition, the image information sending means for sending the selected image information to the server searched by the server information search means; Sent to the server by text input means for inputting text, layout means for selecting the design layout of the home page, and image information sending means. A homepage generation format sending means for automatically generating a format for creating a homepage based on the image information, the text input by the text input means, and the design layout selected by the layout means; For the email address entered byThe userE-mail sending means for sending e-mail containing information indicating the position of the home page created based on the format placed on the server by the home page generation format sending means on the designated transmission date This is achieved by the featured homepage automatic generator.
[0014]
In the present invention, when a user automatically generates a homepage, the user uses the image information of the image information transfer unit, the text by the text input unit, and the design layout selected by the layout unit to make his / her favorite Since an image can be created and transferred to a server, a home page can be created using a user's own image.
Moreover, since the necessary information on the home page can be transmitted to the e-mail address of a specific user on the date when the information is designated, it is not necessary to perform maintenance work on the day when the e-mail is desired to be transmitted.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these forms.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network including a homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus according to the present invention.
In this description, regarding the relationship between the server and the client, the client requests information from the server, and the server is in a relationship of providing various information or services to the client.
The apparatus constituting the network of FIG. 1 includes a network 2, a server 1, a client computer 3, and the like.
The network 2 in FIG. 1 is, for example, the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide communication network that has grown into a huge network that covers the entire world as a result of, for example, universities, research institutes, or companies connecting server machines, also called WWW servers, to each other. .
The Internet is a network in which communication is performed using a specific communication protocol (communication protocol), for example, http, tcp / ip, or the like. Since the Internet has a server in which a large amount of information is accumulated, it has a high utility value depending on how information is used.
[0017]
A server 1 in FIG. 1 is, for example, a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and provides information to a client computer (client computer) 3 connected to a network 2. Many servers that provide such information are provided on the network 2, and client computers 3 around the world can retrieve information from the server 1.
[0018]
WWW (World Wide Web) is a general term for information retrieval systems used on the Internet. The WWW is composed of hypertext format data (HTML format data) in which characters and graphics are linked by keywords. Therefore, information on the server 1 can be searched from client computers 3 around the world.
[0019]
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is a language for generating a home page of the WWW, which is an information search system for the Internet. The HTML format can handle not only characters but also various data such as images and sounds. An identifier called a “tag” can be placed in the text, and information from another page or another server can be called from the identifier.
[0020]
The homepage 5 in FIG. 1 is a page for disclosing information for users such as universities, research institutes, companies, or individuals to refer to when disclosing information to third parties. The home page 5 is data in the HTML format, and information prepared on the server 1 can be searched by using software called a WWW browser operating on the client computer 3. As a search method, a search can be performed by inputting a URL indicating the location of the home page 5 on the server 1 from software called browser software (browser software 6).
[0021]
The home page 5 exists at a location of data on the server 1 called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). An example of the URL is // www. sony. co. jp / product / etc. The URL is composed of a server machine identifier called a domain name and a directory (location) where homepage data exists. Searching by this identifier, a third party can refer to information on the server.
[0022]
The WWW also has a system for sending and receiving e-mail 4 between the client computers 3 and 12. An electronic mail 4 can be transmitted from a certain network user to a specific user, and the transmitted electronic mail 4 can be received by a specific user.
[0023]
The client computer 3 in FIG. 1 is a device for searching for information on the server 1 and for sending and receiving e-mails. The client computer 3 is a computer such as a personal computer.
The client computer 3 operates browser software 6 (WWW browser) called a browser software for searching information on the server 1 on the network.
The browser software 6 can not only search for information provided on the server 1 but also can send an e-mail 4 to a specific e-mail address (specific user), and any other party. E-mail can be received more. In addition, the browser software 6 has a function of transferring data on the client computer 3 to the server 1.
[0024]
FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus 1000 of the present invention.
The homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus 1000 in FIG. 2 includes a server 1, a network 2, and a client computer 3. The server 1 and the client computer 3 are connected via a network 2 so that they can communicate with each other. In order to simplify the drawing, only a plurality of client computers 3 are shown as representatives of the client computers 3, and a plurality of client computers 3 may exist.
[0025]
The server 1 in FIG. 2 includes an e-mail transmission unit 1a and a hard disk 1b.
2 processes the email 4 transmitted from the client computer 3 and the client computer 12 connected to the network 2.
[0026]
The hard disk 1b in FIG. 2 is an information recording medium for providing information to the client computer 3 and the client computer 12. The hard disk 1b has HTML format data that is a format for generating the home page 5 and image data 7 used on the home page 5.
The network 2 in FIG. 2 is, for example, the Internet. As described above, the Internet 2 is a worldwide communication network to which a server group and client computers that provide various information are connected.
[0027]
The client computer 3 in FIG. 2 is a maintenance computer for creating the home page 5. The client computer 3 in FIG. 2 includes a display device 3b, a mouse 3c, a keyboard 3d, and a client computer main body 3a.
[0028]
The display device 3b in FIG. 2 is connected to the client computer main body 3a, and is a device that displays contents instructed by the client computer main body 3a. The display device 3b is, for example, a cathode ray tube display or a liquid crystal display.
The mouse 3c in FIG. 2 is connected to the client computer main body 3a, and is a device that issues instructions to the client computer main body 3c. A pointer called a mouse pointer is displayed on the screen of the display device 3b, and the client computer main body 3a is operated by operating the mouse pointer at a predetermined position on the screen. The user h in FIG. 2 gives an instruction to the client computer main body 3a by controlling the mouse icon on the screen displayed on the display device 3b.
The keyboard 3d in FIG. 2 is connected to the client computer main body 3a and performs input corresponding to the information displayed on the display device 3b.
[0029]
The client computer main body 3a in FIG. 2 includes a user registration unit 13, a guide mail transmission unit (email transmission unit) 10, an automatic homepage generation unit 15, and browser software 6 (server information search unit). Actually, from the user h, it seems that the guide mail transmitting unit 10 and the automatic homepage generating unit 15 are operating on the screen of the browser software 6.
[0030]
The user registration unit 13 in FIG. 2 first gives the user h his / her e-mail address and password in consideration of security when transferring the original image data of the user h from the client computer 3 to the server 1. input. Thereby, the permission of the user h who performs maintenance is given. At the same time as permission is granted, a directory (data storage location) dedicated to the user is created in the server 1. This directory is a creation location on the server 1 for the user h to create the home page 5.
[0031]
The guidance mail transmission unit 10 in FIG. 2 includes a transmission destination address and transmission date input unit 10a and an electronic mail transmission unit 10b.
In the transmission destination address and transmission date input unit 10a in FIG. 2, in order to notify the specific party to be notified of the update or creation of the contents of the home page 5, the user h and the transmission destination e-mail address Enter the date you want to send. As described above, the feature is that the user h can designate the date on which the electronic mail 4 is desired to be transmitted.
The e-mail transmission unit 10b in FIG. 2 transmits the e-mail 4 on the desired transmission date to the transmission destination address input by the user h in the transmission destination address and transmission date input unit 10a.
[0032]
2 includes an image data check unit 8a, an image data transmission unit (image information transmission unit) 8b, a text input unit (text input unit) 9a, and a home page design layout selection unit (layout unit). 9b and an HTML generation / transmission unit (HTML generation / transmission means) 9c.
[0033]
The image data check unit 8a in FIG. 2 checks the data type and data size of the image data 11 to be uploaded to the server 1. Here, the image data 11 is, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) data. The JPEG standard is a standard that defines a data compression / decompression method for compressing / decompressing a still image of a color image.
[0034]
The image data transmission unit 8b in FIG. 2 once captures, for example, image data captured by a user h with a digital still camera and captured by a computer or image data (image data 11) created on a computer. These captured image data are checked by the image data check unit 8a. The image data 11 is transferred from the client computer 3 to the server 1 via the network 2 in the image data transmission unit 8b.
As a data transfer method, for example, “ftp” (File Transport Protocol) is used. “ftp” is originally a name of a protocol (communication protocol) for exchanging files between computers connected to a network, and is a common name for a file transfer program using this protocol.
[0035]
The text input unit 9a (text input unit) in FIG. 2 is a processing unit for the user h to arbitrarily input the title, message, and the like of the home page 5 in a text format.
The homepage design layout selection unit 9b in FIG. 2 is a processing unit that allows the user h to arbitrarily select the design layout of the homepage 5. Examples of design layouts include layout, decoration, and background arrangement.
[0036]
The HTML generation / transmission unit 9c of FIG. 2 displays an image to be displayed on the home page 5 on the home page 5 based on the text input by the text input unit 9a and the layout data selected by the home page design layout selection unit 9b. After the HTML format data is generated, the HTML format data of the home page 5 is transferred to the server 5 via the browser software 6. An example of the transfer method is “ftp”.
[0037]
The client computer 12 of FIG. 2 is a counterpart client computer for receiving the e-mail 4 transmitted from the client computer 3.
[0038]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the home page automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus 1000 according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a screen transition diagram of the client computer 3 constituting the homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission apparatus 1000 of the present invention. The screens W1 to W9 in FIG. 4 are shown in FIGS.
5 to 9 show screens of the browser software 6 operating on the client computer.
[0039]
The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Step ST1: User registration process
In step ST1, the user h is registered to permit the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. The corresponding screen is the screen W1 in FIG.
In step ST1, in consideration of security when transferring image data to the server 1, first, the user h's own e-mail address and password in FIG. 2 are input to the locations AD1, NW1, and PW1. When the “Register” button BT1 in the screen of FIG. 5A is pressed, a directory dedicated to the user h (location of data on the server 1) is created in the server 1.
At the same time, the e-mail 4 is transmitted to the user h who registers as a user for information such as the URL of the home page 5 to be maintained. This may be done, for example, to give other users permission to perform maintenance. When the “redo” button BT2 in the screen of FIG. 5 is pressed, the input e-mail address and password are deleted and the input is re-entered.
[0040]
Step ST2: Receive confirmation email
In step ST2, reception of the e-mail 4 transmitted in step ST1 is confirmed by arbitrary browser software (browser software 6) (see screen W2 in FIG. 5B). The user h confirms information such as the URL described in the e-mail 4 by the browser software 6 and the like, and the user h inputs the URL information as the browser software 6 to connect to the server.
As a result, only the user having the permitted e-mail address can proceed to the procedure from step ST3 onward, and security is protected.
[0041]
Steps ST3 and ST5: Login process (initial process for starting work)
In step ST3, a screen W3 as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the browser software 6. The user h in FIG. 2 inputs the password PW2 and presses the “login” button BT3, thereby collating with the password input in step ST1. Only when the passwords match, the process proceeds to the image transfer process of step ST6. If they do not match, an error is displayed and the original screen W3 (FIG. 6 (a)) is displayed. (Step ST4)
[0042]
Step ST6: Start image transfer processing
If the passwords match in step ST3, a screen W4 in FIG. 6B is displayed on the browser software 6. Here, a process for transferring an image to be displayed (image data 11 in FIG. 2) to the server 1 on the home page 5 that the user h in FIG.
[0043]
Step ST7: Image file selection
Step ST7 is a process of inputting or selecting the image data 11 to be transferred after the image transfer process of step ST6 is started. A screen W4 in FIG. 6B shows a state in which ST7 is operating on the browser software 6. To specify the image data 11 of FIG. 2 to be transferred, the user h of FIG. 2 may input the “screen file to be transferred” FN1 from the keyboard 3d of FIG. You can also select using A method performed using the mouse 3c of FIG. 2 will be described.
[0044]
When the user h in FIG. 2 presses the “Browse” button BT5 on this screen W4, the directory structure of the client computer 3 and a list of files in the directory are displayed on the browser software 6. The user h selects the image data 11 of FIG. 2 captured in the client computer 3 from the files displayed here. By selecting, the file name of the image data 11 is transferred to the “image file name to be transferred” FN1. Here, it is assumed that the image data 11 in FIG. 2 is captured by the user h, for example, by the user h by using a digital still camera or the like.
[0045]
Steps ST8 and ST11: Image file check / transfer processing
When the user h in FIG. 2 presses the “transfer image” button BT6 on the screen W4 in FIG. 6B after selecting the image data 11, the image data check unit 8a in FIG. Check the type and file size. If the condition is met, it is transferred under the directory on the server 1 created for the user h, and the process proceeds to ST11.
The format of the image data 11 is, for example, JPEG format data, which is a data format obtained by compressing a still image. The size of the image data is, for example, 64 Kbytes or less.
If these conditions are not met, an error is displayed and the process ends (steps ST9 and ST10). As a means for transferring the image data 11 to the server 1, a file transfer function prepared by the browser software 6 is used. As the file transfer function, there is software such as ftp described above.
[0046]
Steps ST12 and ST13: Layout selection / HTML format file creation process
Step ST12 in FIG. 3 is a process for configuring the page layout of the home page 5 in FIG. A screen W5 in FIG. 7A shows a screen state operating on the browser software 6. Here, the title TT1, the message MS1, the layout LS1, the decoration DC1, the background BK1, and the like of the home page 5 are input or selected.
When the input or selection is completed, when the “Create page” button BT6 on the screen W5 is pressed, HTML including the image data 7 already transferred on the server 1 and displaying in accordance with the selected layout is displayed. A file described in the format is created, and a screen W6 in FIG. 7B is displayed. When the user h presses the “reset change” button BT8, the input is performed again.
[0047]
Steps ST14 and ST15 Finished page display processing
When the “create page” button BT6 on the screen W5 in FIG. 7A is pressed on the screen of the browser software 6 in steps ST12 and ST13, FIG. 7B is displayed. Here, it is a confirmation screen for the user h to confirm the design of the homepage 5 created by the user h. In the screen W6 of FIG. 7B, there are a “finish confirmation” button BT8, an “OK” button BT9, and a “modify” button BT10. When the “finish confirmation” button BT8 is pressed, a screen W7 in FIG. 8A is displayed. This screen W7 shows an example of the home page layout created earlier, and the user h confirms the home page layout on the display device 3b of FIG. When the “OK” button BT9 is pressed, the created HTML format file is transmitted, and the screen W8 in FIG. 8B is displayed. When the “correction” button BT10 in FIG. 7B is pressed, the screen W4 in FIG. 6B in step ST6 is displayed, and the processing from step ST6 is performed again.
[0048]
Step ST16: Guide destination e-mail address and transmission date input process
When the “OK” button BT9 is pressed in steps ST14 and ST15, a screen W8 in FIG. 8B is displayed. In this screen W8, the user h in FIG. 2 notifies the user (the e-mail address) of the other party who wants to refer to the home page 5 of information such as the URL of the home page 5 that has been maintained. Process to send an e-mail.
[0049]
In the screen W8 in FIG. 8B, for example, a mail address of 5 can be input so that an e-mail can be transmitted to, for example, a maximum of five partners at the same time. On the screen W8, the user name and e-mail address of the transmission destination are input. In addition, the user h can specify a date for sending the guidance electronic mail 4. As a result, the user h on the sending side can designate the date on which mail transmission is desired, so that the user h in FIG. 2 who performs maintenance works on the day on which he / she wants to send the e-mail 4 to the transmission destination. There is no need. An e-mail 4 having a screen W9 as shown in FIG. 9 is transmitted to the transmission destination, and the transmission destination user refers to the contents using the browser software 6 on the client computer 3.
[0050]
By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the network 2 is premised on the Internet, but may be in the form of an intranet that targets a certain organization.
As described above, according to the present invention, for example, an image captured by a digital still camera and captured on a computer or an image created on the computer is transferred to a WWW (World Wide Web) server via the Internet, and the image is acquired. The homepage is automatically created on the WWW server based on the text entered in the WWW browser software and the selected layout, and the URL (Uniform Resource) of the homepage is set to the e-mail address entered in the WWW browser software and the selected transmission date. By sending an e-mail notifying information such as “Locator” to the other party of the desired e-mail address, the user can automatically generate a homepage with an image and send a guide e-mail specifying a due date. .
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a user-specific image can be used when generating a homepage. Furthermore, the work of sending an e-mail to a specific user that the home page has been created or updated can be designated as a sending date, and therefore need not be performed on the sending date of the e-mail.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a general configuration diagram of a computer or the like constituting a network.
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram to which an embodiment according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a screen transition diagram of browser software operating on a client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a screen of browser software operating on a client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a screen of browser software operating on the client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a screen of browser software operating on a client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a screen of browser software operating on a client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 shows a screen of browser software operating on the client computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram showing a functional configuration of a conventional homepage automatic generation and e-mail transmission device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server (WWW server), 2 ... Network (Internet), 3 ... Client computer, 4 ... E-mail, 5 ... Homepage, 6 ... Browser software (server information search means ), 8b... Image information transmission unit (image information transmission unit), 9a... Text input unit (text input unit), 9b... Homepage design layout selection unit (layout unit), 9c. Sending part (homepage generation format sending means), 10a... Destination address and sending date input part (email sending means), 11... Image data (image information), 1000. Transmitter, h ... user, LO1 ... layout (design layout), HTML ... e Format for Mupeji create, TX1 ··· text

Claims (2)

A device that has shared information for searching for information and transmits / receives data with a server connected via a network using a protocol for the network,
Server information search means for searching server information;
A selection means for selecting predetermined image information captured in advance;
Image information checking means for determining whether or not the selected image information meets a predetermined condition;
Image information for sending the selected image information to the server searched by the server information search means when the image information check means determines that the selected image information meets the predetermined condition A delivery means;
Text input means for entering text;
Layout means for selecting the design layout of the homepage;
A format for automatically creating a home page is generated from the image information sent to the server by the image information sending means, the text inputted by the text input means, and the design layout selected by the layout means. , Homepage generation format sending means to be placed on the server,
An e-mail including information indicating the position of the home page created based on the format placed on the server by the home page generation format sending means on the transmission date designated by the user for the e-mail address input by the user An automatic homepage generation apparatus comprising: an e-mail transmission means for transmitting. When sharing data to search for information and sending / receiving data using a network protocol with a server connected via a network,
Search server information,
Select the predetermined image information that has been captured in advance,
Determining whether the selected image information meets a predetermined condition;
If it is determined that the selected image information matches the predetermined condition, the selected image information is sent to the searched server,
Enter text
Select the design layout of the homepage,
Based on the image information sent to the server, the text input by the text input means, and the design layout selected by the layout means, a format for automatically creating a homepage is generated and placed on the server.
Sending an email containing information indicating the location of a homepage created based on the format placed on the server to the email address entered by the user on the sending date designated by the user ;
The homepage automatic generation method characterized by.

Images