JP4180138B2 - Search device and search method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a search apparatus and a search method for searching a database for an item designated by a client and notifying display data to the client based on a search result on the client side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a WWW server system or the like as information providing means on the Internet, when a server name (URL: uniform resource location) designated by a browser incorporated on a client-side personal computer is designated, the designated server is designated. Connect and display the information transferred from the server on the browser. An HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document, which is information transferred from the server, is displayed on a browser on the client if a file name is specified from the client side. In addition, it is also possible to notify the server of information input from the browser and return the processing result corresponding to the input content to the browser for display. The external program that performs processing such as retrieval called on the server side is called a gateway, and the activated gateway receives and processes the input content from the client browser via the CGI (Common Gateway interface) interface from the server. The resulting file is returned to the server side (hereinafter, the gateway external program is referred to as a CGI application program). The server that performs processing notifies the client of the processing result file notified from the gateway as an HTML document, and the browser on the client displays it on the screen. When a search condition is input from a browser and the search result is displayed, the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is used. The configuration of FIG. 8 will be briefly described below.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.
In FIG. 8, a browser 31 is incorporated in a client such as a personal computer, specifies a connection destination on a WWW server, accesses it, captures various information, and displays it on a screen. In this example, a search key input screen 32 for inputting a search key transferred after accessing a database search server is displayed, and a search result list screen 33 for displaying a list of search results by the input search key is displayed. ing.
[0004]
The WWW server 41 includes a CGI application program 42 that performs various processes in response to access from the browser 31.
Here, the CGI application program 42 includes a screen generation unit 43, an input / output data processing and branch processing unit 44, an output unit 45 for external data, and the like.
[0005]
In response to access from the browser 31, the screen generation unit 43 generates an HTML document that is a screen for inputting search conditions or displaying search results.
[0006]
The input / output data processing and branch processing unit 44 processes input / output data, controls branching between a plurality of screens displayed on the browser, and the like.
The external data extraction unit 45 retrieves data from an external database for a condition designated by the browser and displays the data on the browser.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Under the configuration of FIG. 8 described above, the browser 31 accesses the WWW server 41, takes in the search key input screen generated by the screen generation unit 43, inputs and notifies the search key, and processes the input data. The data processed by the branch processing unit 44 is displayed on the search result list screen, the external data (database) is searched by the output unit 45 for external data, and the list is displayed on the search result list screen. Etc., there were the following problems.
[0008]
(1) Due to the specification of the CGI interface, the CGI application program 42 includes a screen generation unit 43 for displaying a screen on the browser 31, an input / output data processing and branch processing unit 44 for controlling the CGI, and external data. On the other hand, the three procedures of the extraction unit 45 must be developed as one program for each screen displayed on the browser 31.
[0009]
(2) When developing the system of Fig. 8 by each vendor, considering the productivity aspect, there are tools that are easy to develop, but there is no compatibility between the tools, and the vendor-specific development There was a problem of doing in the procedure.
[0010]
(3) Since this is a vendor-specific development asset, there is a problem that the configuration of a product of a WWW server or a target external data (such as a database) is limited.
In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a definition body that gives an operating environment, a template for each screen, and a data access library for modularization, and various screens are constructed only by the definition of the definition body and the template. The purpose is to simplify design, development, testing, etc.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, the WWW server 11 displays a screen in response to an access from the browser 1 to display a search result, etc., and includes a CGI application program 12, a definition body 13, a template 14, and The data access library 15 and the like are included.
[0012]
The CGI application program 12 transitions the screen by identifying a screen ID that is an identifier for each screen type and a button indicating a process designated from the screen. The button displays processing contents (cancellation, confirmation, etc.) that can be selected on the input screen, and executes processing by selecting the button.
[0013]
The definition body 13 is an internal table that defines screen transition information and a corresponding template name.
The template 14 is a format of an HTML document notified to the browser, and is composed of a fixed part such as a title and a variable part such as a search result. For the item for searching the external database, the data access library is requested to perform a search process, the search result is embedded in the template, and the browser is notified.
[0014]
The data access library 15 accesses external data in accordance with instructions from the browser and the description in the template and returns the result. In the access process to the external database, a search sentence is automatically generated and executed according to the instruction from the browser and the description in the template. Therefore, the specification of the document DB and the item can be variably specified instead of fixed to the program.
[0015]
Next, the operation will be described.
Corresponding to the access from the browser 1, the CGI application program 12 of the WWW server 11 retrieves the template name based on the screen transition information according to the button selected with reference to the definition body 13, and the extracted template name A screen and external data are extracted from the template 14 as necessary, and the data access library 15 accesses the external data 16 in response to a search instruction, returns the result, and displays it on the embedded screen in the template. .
[0016]
Therefore, by defining the definition body 13 that gives the operating environment, the screen templates 14 and the data access library 15 and modularizing them, various screens can be constructed only by the definition of the definition body 13 and the template 14 to ensure compatibility. Therefore, it is possible to simplify design, development, testing, etc., and even if the screen is changed, it is not necessary to correct from the source program.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be described sequentially in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, a program read from a recording medium or a hard disk device which is an external storage device, or a program transferred from the center via a line is loaded into the main memory and started, and various processes described below are performed. I am doing so.
[0018]
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a browser 1 accesses a WWW server 11 which is a server via a line on the Internet or the like, captures a screen, inputs data, or displays a search result on the screen. The HTML document described in the HTML language is displayed.
[0019]
The HTML document 2 is a document described in the HTML language, and is composed of a search item input area 3, a search result display area 4, handling information 5 between screens, and the like.
[0020]
The search item input area 3 is an area for inputting an item to be searched.
The search result display area 4 is an area for displaying search results.
The inter-screen handling information 5 is information for identifying which browser is the processing request.
[0021]
In the WWW server system, the exchange between the browser on the client and the WWW server is independent for each session. Therefore, for example, even if the client notifies the server of the search condition and then notifies the additional search condition, the server cannot identify the additional condition. Therefore, related screens are managed by embedding DISPLAY ID, which is identification information for collectively managing a plurality of screens to be displayed on the client, between HTML documents.
[0022]
The WWW server 11 displays a screen corresponding to an access from the browser 1 to input search items, display search results, and the like. The CGI application program 12, the definition body 13, and the template 14 And the data access library 15 and the like.
[0023]
The CGI application program 12 transitions the screen by identifying the screen ID and the button.
The definition body 13 defines a template name corresponding to the screen transition information, and includes a button DEC, a screen transition DEC, a display item DEC, a search item DEC, and the like as shown in FIG. Is.
[0024]
The template 14 defines a screen associated with a template name and external data search as necessary.
The data access library 15 accesses the external data 16 and returns the result.
[0025]
The external data 16 is external data such as a database.
A program for realizing the functions of the present application is provided as a medium, installed in a server apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, and operates on a memory.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail according to the order shown in the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 2 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention.
[0027]
In FIG. 2, S1 decodes a CGI variable group. This is the URL described in S41 of FIG.
http://test.co.jp/cgi-bin/search
Decode.
[0028]
In S2, the value of DISPLAYID of the CGI variable is acquired.
In S3, a button ID list corresponding to DISPLYID is acquired from the button DEC.
In S4, the acquired button ID list is compared with the button ID in the CGI variable, and the processing of the corresponding button ID after S5 is performed.
[0029]
In this description, DB search is used as an example, so the processes that can be specified from the screen are “Search”, “Next screen display”, “Previous screen display”, “Screen initialization (by canceling processing)” And so on. Therefore, the flow of processing on the WWW server side when these processing is designated by the selection button from the browser is shown below.
[0030]
If the button ID = “BNO1” (search), S5 proceeds directly to S16.
S6 reads the record corresponding to the DISPLYID and the button ID acquired in S10 from the button DEC when the button ID = "BNO2" (next screen display of only the screen branch), acquires the branch item name, and in S11 The CGI variable is matched with the branch item name, the value corresponding to the branch item name is acquired, and the DISPLYID acquired from the screen transition DEC and the lower level DISPLYID corresponding to the branch item name and value are acquired in S12. Then, the process proceeds to S16.
[0031]
In S7, when the button ID = “BNO2” (next screen display of the result display), the lower DISPLYID in which the upper DISPLYID of the screen transition DEC matches the acquired DISPLYID in S13 is acquired. Then, the process proceeds to S16.
[0032]
In S8, when the button ID = “BNO4” (previous screen display), the upper DISPLYID in which the lower DISPLYID of the screen transition DEC matches the acquired DISPLYID in S14 is acquired. Then, the process proceeds to S16.
[0033]
In S9, when the button ID = “others” (screen initialization), the DISPLYID of the highest screen is acquired from the screen transition DEC in S15. Then, the process proceeds to S16.
In S16, a template name that matches the DISPLYID finally acquired from the screen transition DEC is acquired and read sequentially.
[0034]
In S17, the description character string in the template is determined.
S18 is a description character string in the template of S17
<INPUT TYPE = HIDDEN ...>
In this case, the CGI variable is output as the value of the non-display item in S21. Data that is set in the data returned to the client, such as the display ID described above, but does not need to be displayed on the screen is the target.
[0035]
S19 is the description character string in the template of S17
<! .... SELECT ... string>
In this case, the data access library is called in S22. The character string after SELECT indicates a search item to the database.
[0036]
S20 is the description character string in the template of S17
<Other character string>
Appears. If this appears, the contents of the template are output as they are in S23.
[0037]
As described above, the WWW server 11 that has received the URL from the browser decodes and acquires the DISPLYID value (for example, INDEX), acquires the button ID list corresponding to the DISPLYID from the button DEC, and searches using the acquired button ID. Next screen display with only screen branch, next screen display of result display, previous screen display, or screen initialization. Next, obtain a template that matches the DISPLYID that was finally obtained from the screen transition DEC, and output it as the value of a hidden item according to the description in the template, call the data access library, or output the content of the template as it is Is possible.
[0038]
FIG. 3 shows a processing flowchart of the data library of the present invention. This is the detailed processing flowchart of S22 of FIG.
In FIG. 3, a CGI application program is passed in S31.
<! ... SELECT ... string>
Is divided into a plurality of character strings using a space as a delimiter, and a group ID (character string starting with GRP =) and a display item ID (other character strings) are obtained.
[0039]
In S32, the currently acquired DISPLYID is acquired.
In S33, a record whose DISPLYID and group ID match is read from the display item DEC, and an attribute value of data to be extracted corresponding to the display item ID is acquired. When writing the database search result in the HTML document, necessary data is added before and after the result data according to the attribute value, and an HTML display sentence is assembled.
[0040]
In S34, a record whose DISPLYID and group ID match is read from the search item DEC, an item corresponding to the CGI variable is analyzed, and a conditional statement for extracting data is assembled.
[0041]
In S35, a data input / output instruction is assembled from the conditional sentence and the display sentence. Then, the contents are returned to the CGI application by outputting the extraction result.
As described above, when the data access library 15 is called in S22 of FIG. 2, it is possible to automatically assemble and retrieve conditional statements and automatically generate and return an HTML document as an extraction result. .
[0042]
FIG. 4 shows an operation image example according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 4A, a URL is designated from the browser. This starts a CGI application program for searching for a product from the browser 1 as described on the right side. The browser 1 is for example a URL
htt: //test.co.jp/cgi-bin/search
Is sent to the WWW server 11 and the WWW server 11 calls “search” (CGI application program 12) to start (see S41 and S42 in FIG. 7).
[0043]
FIG. 4B shows an example of a product search screen. In this case, the CGI application program (search) 12 activated by the URL shown in FIG. 4A displays the product search screen shown in FIG. 7 through S43, S44, and S45 described later. On this merchandise search screen, here, as described on the right side, after selecting the merchandise category (here, “home appliance” is selected) as a search key, the confirmation button is clicked (S46 in FIG. 7).
[0044]
FIG. 4C shows an example of a search result screen. This corresponds to the fact that “home appliance” is selected in FIG. 4B and the confirm button is pressed, and the search result screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in S47 to S51 of FIG. Here, as described on the right side, the search result screen is displayed in response to the search condition of the product classification, for example, a list of product names and amounts is displayed as a list of home appliances as shown in the figure.
[0045]
As described above, simply by transmitting the URL from the browser 1, the product search screen is automatically transmitted from the WWW server 11 and displayed on the browser 1, and the product category (for example, “home appliance”) is selected on the product search screen. When the confirm button is pressed, the WWW server automatically searches and the search result can be displayed on the search result screen.
[0046]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a definition body of the present invention.
FIG. 5A shows the button DEC used. This table manages IDs of processing buttons that can be selected on each screen indicated by the DISPLAY ID. This button DEC is defined as shown below by associating DISPLYID and button ID as shown in the figure.
[0047]
DISPLYID Button ID Branch item name
INDEX BN01
FIG. 5B shows the screen transition DEC used. In this screen transition DEC, the lower-level DISPLYID, template name, branch item value, and the like, which are screen transition destinations, are defined as shown below in association with the upper-level DISPLYID.
[0048]
Upper DISPLYID Lower DISPLYID Template name Branch item value
INDEX SO1 INDEX.HTM
FIG. 5C shows the display item DEC used. This table is a table that defines a display format for displaying search results. This display item DEC includes a display item ID associated with DISPLYID, data to be added forward during extraction, data to be added backward during extraction, entity file name, entity item name, and group ID. Define as follows.
[0049]
FIG. 5D shows the search item DEC used. This table is a table that is referred to when a designated search condition is set. In this search item DEC, an input item ID, an actual file name, an actual item name, a group ID, and an operator at the time of search are defined as shown in association with DISPLYID.
[0050]
As described above, the button DEC, the screen transition DEC, the display item DEC, and the search item DEC are defined.
FIG. 6 shows an example template of the present invention. It is an HTML document showing a format for each screen.
[0051]
FIG. 6E shows an example of a used template. This is the template with the template name “INDEX.HTM” in FIG.
FIG. 6F shows an example of a used template. This is the template with the template name “SO1.HTM” in FIG.
[0052]
FIG. 7 shows an operation example of the present invention. In the state where the definition body and the template described in FIGS. 5 and 6 are prepared, the above-described specification of the URL in FIG. 4A and the display and selection of the product search screen in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a detailed procedure for displaying the search result screen of FIG.
[0053]
In FIG. 7, S41 indicates that the browser 1
http://test.co.jp/cgi-bin/search
Is specified as a URL and transmitted.
[0054]
In S42, the WWW server 11 calls the CGI application program 12 (search).
In S43, since the CGI application program 12 is (1) DISPLYID = “” AND button ID = “”, the highest level DISPLYID (= INDEX) is acquired from the screen transition DEC.
[0055]
(2) The template name (INDEX.HTM) is acquired from the record with DISPLYID = INDEX of the screen transition DEC, and the template is read.
(3) Pass the HTML data that outputs the contents of the template to the WWW server.
[0056]
In S <b> 44, the WWW server 11 passes (1) the HTML data passed from the CGI application program 12 to the browser 1.
[0057]
(2) The button ID (= BNO2) and DISPLYID (= INDEX) in the template are also embedded in the HTML data.
In S45, the browser 1 displays a product search screen according to the HTML data delivered from the server.
[0058]
In S46, “Home Appliance” (KEY001 = 001%) is selected in the product classification on the product search screen, and the confirmation button (button ID = BN02) is clicked.
In S47, the WWW server 11 calls the CGI application (search), and DISPLAY ID = INDEX, BNO2, KEY001, and 001% are passed as CGI variables.
[0059]
In S48, the CG application program 12 acquires a button list (1) DISPLYID = “INDEX” from the button DEC (BN01 and BN02).
[0060]
(2) Map the button ID list and CGI variable to obtain the corresponding button ID (BN02) Q
(3) The lower level DISPLYID whose acquired DISPLYID matches the upper level DISPLYID of the screen transition DEC is acquired (SO1).
[0061]
(4) Obtain and read the template name (SO1.HTM) with DISPLYID = SO1 from the screen transition DEC.
(5) <! -SELECT-GRP = 01 MARK NAME YEN> appears in the template, so call the data access library.
[0062]
In S49, the data access library 15 called in (5) performs the following processing.
(1) <! -SELECT-GRP = 01 Get group ID (= 01) and display item ID (MARK, NAME, YEN) from MARK YEN>.
[0063]
(2) Obtain the current DISPLYID (SO1).
(3) A record whose DISPLYID and group ID match is read from the display item DEC, and a display sentence corresponding to the display item ID is assembled. MARK extracts the product code of the product master, and adds specified data before and after each extracted data. NAME and YEN are interpreted in the same way.
[0064]
(4) Read the record whose DISPLYID and group ID match from the search item DEC, match the input item ID with the CGI variable, and assemble the conditional statement.
Since 001 indicating the home appliance is notified as the value of KEY001 that is the input item ID, a condition is established in which the product code of the product master matches the front of the home appliance.
[0065]
(5) Put the search result in the conditional sentence in the assembled display sentence and output it as an HTML document. As shown in FIG. 4C, an image showing a selection button, a product name (XX product), and a unit price (XX yen) are displayed.
[0066]
(6) Since <INPUT TYPE = HIDDEN NAME = HIDEKEY VALUE = “”> appears in the template, the CGI variable is stored in the variable name.
In S50, the WWW server (1) passes the data passed from the CGI application program to the browser 1.
[0067]
(2) Button ID and DISPLYID (= S01) in the template are also passed.
In S51, a search result screen is displayed (DISPLYID: SO1).
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the definition body that defines the operating environment of each screen, the template that defines the display format of each screen and the search condition for the database, and the data access that performs only the access processing to the database. By preparing a library, requesting a database search process from the data access library based on the definition contents and the setting contents in the template, and preparing a processing program that generates display result data according to the search result and the template, It is possible to generate data for displaying similar search designations and processing results on the browser. Therefore, conventionally, a search specified by a processing program prepared for each screen has been performed and an HTML document as a search result has been created. Therefore, if there is a change in the screen content or search processing, the processing program must be modified. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to cope with a change only in data such as a definition body and a template instead of a program, and an efficient correction becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of the data library of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation image example according to a specific example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an example of a definition body of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an example template of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an operation example of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Browser 2: HTML document 3: Search item input area 4: Search result display area 5: Inter-screen handling information 11: WWW server 12: CGI application program 13: Definition body 14: Template 15: Data access library 16: External data

Claims (2)

Based on the information received from the client device, the search device searches the database for the specified item, and notifies the display data to the client device based on the search result to the display format of the client device side,
A template file that defines the position where the search result is stored in the display data of the search result display screen in association with the screen ID ;
The file name and item name of the search target database are defined for each search target item, and the data to be added to the front and rear of the search result, which is the display data format of the search result, is defined for each display item and associated with the display screen. An environment definition body that defines a higher-level screen ID and a lower-level screen ID that identify the display screen of the transition destination being
When a search request is received from the client device , the environment definition body is referred to, a search condition sentence to the search target database corresponding to the specified item is generated, the database is searched according to the specification of the search condition sentence, and the result of the search The obtained display item is converted in accordance with the corresponding display data format, and is output as display data to the storage position in the template corresponding to the screen ID of the display screen of the transition destination associated with the display screen when the search request is received. A search apparatus comprising: search processing means. In a search method executed by a search device, a database is searched for an item specified from a client device, and a search result is notified to the client device based on a display format on the client device side.
The search device is
Receiving a search request from a client device ;
Generating a search condition statement to the search target database corresponding to the specified item to be searched with reference to an environment definition body that defines the file name and item name of the search target database for each search target item ;
Searching the database according to the specification of the search condition statement;
Display corresponding to the display item obtained as a result of the search in the search step with reference to an environment definition body that defines data to be added to the front and rear of the search result which is a display data format of the search result for each display item Convert according to the data format, and specify the template file that defines the location where the search result is stored in the display data of the search result display screen in association with the screen ID, and the transition destination display screen that is associated with the display screen With reference to the environment definition body that defines the upper screen ID and the lower screen ID , the storage location in the template corresponding to the screen ID of the transition destination display screen associated with the display screen at the time of receiving the search request is stored. search method characterized by performing the step of outputting as display data.

Images