JP4498209B2 - Object linkage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an object cooperation apparatus that performs cooperation processing such as dialogue / cooperation of a computer group or an object group, and a plurality of processes are created in an object-oriented environment, flexibly responding to environmental changes through a computer network, The present invention relates to an object linkage apparatus for constructing a system that changes gradually.

  In recent years, with the progress of networking, a system in which a plurality of objects distributed on a network perform processing in cooperation with each other is increasing. Researches such as object-oriented programming and component technology have been made as techniques for processing such a plurality of objects in cooperation.

  As an example of object-oriented programming, the common object CORBA (The Common Object Request Broker: Architecture) for distributed object operation established by the industry organization OMG (Object Management Group) established with the aim of standardizing and spreading object-oriented technology and Specification).

  FIG. 37 shows an example of object cooperation in a client / server system based on CORBA. This system performs a series of processes by cooperation between a client application and a server application, that is, by object cooperation.

  The application developer describes an interface of a service provided by each of the client and the server in IDL (Interface Definition Language). The content defined as an interface is an operation group that can be requested to an object. Each operation defines an operation name, parameter definition, return value definition, exception handling when an error occurs, additional information, and the like.

  By compiling the contents defined by IDL with a dedicated compiler, a stub for a client and a skeleton for a server are generated. A stub is a group of routines that provide a client application with access to a group of operations defined in IDL. The client application starts various operations by calling a routine provided by the stub. The skeleton provides a dispatching routine to the method routine provided by the server application.

  Stubs and skeletons are generated in the programming language used by the corresponding client application or server application. For example, if the programming language used is C language, the stub is generated as a C language function group, and the client application calls the function corresponding to the operation to be executed, and passes through the stub, ORB runtime, and skeleton. Then, the corresponding routine of the server application is called and a predetermined process is executed. Then, the processing result is returned to the calling client application.

  As described above, it has become easy to construct an object cooperation process using CORBA or the like. However, in order to actually construct such a cooperative process, if it is the above-mentioned CORBA, it is necessary to understand the CORBA itself and to design an object according to the CORBA specification and to define it by IDL. That is, it is necessary for the system builder to know the CORBA usage method in detail.

  In addition, it is necessary to be strongly aware of the relationship between each object. In other words, it is necessary to clarify what kind of processing each object performs and what the delivery parameters are necessary to perform the processing.

  Although the independence of the objects has been increased by making the interface between the objects common, it is assumed that there is a fixed relationship between the objects.

  Here, when considering communication between humans, indefinite exchanges often occur in reality. For example, assuming that a problem is to be solved, in order to solve the problem that has occurred, he / she thinks about himself / herself or seeks advice from another person and leads the solution. Even when I am thinking about myself, there are various points of view. In addition, when seeking advice from another person, there are cases where a specific person is inquired and a broadly unspecified person is inquired. When inquiring a wide range of unspecified people, the response of the person receiving the inquiry is different. Those who have a solution will give answers, some may give advice by analogy with their own experience and knowledge, rather than a direct solution, and are completely indifferent. Some people will ignore the inquiry. That is, for one piece of information, whether or not it responds to the information varies depending on the side receiving the inquiry, and how it reacts when reacting also varies depending on the side receiving the inquiry.

  Here, when a person is replaced with an object, the selection of whether or not to receive information flowing on the network and the response of what processing is performed on the information when received Different for each object. In other words, it is desired to have free cooperation in the relation between objects. The conventional linkage method is based on the premise that the relationship between objects is fixed, and it has been difficult to construct a linkage system having such a free relationship.

  As described above, in the distributed object system technology, as represented by CORBA or DCOM, a framework for providing transparent object access to a network and a framework for a distributed object interface are gradually being prepared. There is, however, no sufficient answer to the question of how to dynamically build relationships between objects.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to increase the degree of freedom of cooperation between objects connected to a network or between a computer and a computer, and cooperation such as dialogue / cooperation between computers or objects. An object of the present invention is to provide an object linkage apparatus for constructing a system that performs processing, flexibly responds to environmental changes in an object-oriented environment, and gradually changes.

  The object linkage apparatus of the present invention enables new object insertion during linkage between constructed objects in order to increase the degree of freedom and flexibility of linkage between constructed objects. It can be built dynamically. Also, it is possible to construct a new object linkage flexibly and dynamically by newly connecting object linkages having no linkage relationship with each other. In addition, it is possible to flexibly and dynamically construct a new object linkage of a so-called external intervention method in which the linkage between constructed objects is once disconnected and an object linkage chain in which an external object is interposed. In addition, object cooperation is not only one-to-one object cooperation, but also one-to-many so-called reception-side cooperation participation new object cooperation is constructed flexibly and dynamically, and many-to-one so-called transmission-side cooperation participation is a new object. It makes it possible to build linkages flexibly and dynamically.

  In addition, the object cooperation device of the present invention can set the cooperation condition in the object cooperation relationship while controlling the degree of freedom and flexibility of the object cooperation described above, and controls the permission / prohibition of cooperation between the objects. Objective.

  In addition, the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention provides a function for easily and positively grasping the constructed object cooperation relationship, that is, the input message pattern to which the object reacts, the action of the object and the output message pattern to be output, and the cooperation condition. The purpose is to do.

  In addition, the object linkage apparatus according to the present invention is a linkage that connects between the start point object and the end point object when the message pattern of the object that is the start point of the object linkage to be constructed and the message pattern of the object that is the end point are given. The object is to flexibly form an object linkage by searching for objects that form a relationship.

  In order to cope with the above-described conventional problem, it is first necessary to construct a linkage between objects more flexibly. This cannot be solved simply by componentizing the application, but requires a framework that dynamically configures functions while objects interact with each other. However, if the linked objects are in a close relationship such that they depend on each other's internal state or internal function, it is not easy to dynamically configure the function by interaction. Therefore, if a function is to be dynamically configured by cooperation, a loose relationship between the objects to be linked must be specified.

  Here, communication between humans and behavior that humans cooperate with each other will be described. There is a state of “Awareness” in communication between humans and actions in cooperation with each other, and the exchange of information based on this awareness brings valuation and flexibility to human communication and actions. There is a model.

  Apart from communication behavior, the Awareness model recognizes a situation where the subject of communication is not directly or purposely involved or exchanges information, and such Awareness information actually includes various behaviors including communication behavior. It is assumed that it influences the variation of

  Also in the field of distributed object technology, if information processing similar to Awareness intervening between humans can be performed between objects, and cooperation processing between objects can be performed based on the detected Awareness, it is flexible to cooperation between objects. It becomes possible to have sex. Especially in a situation where the partner object to be linked dynamically changes, if the changing object and the object that monitors it can exchange information similar to Awareness in communication between humans and execute the process autonomously It can be an effective processing model between cooperating objects on the network. This is because the Awareness model defines a loose relationship in object cooperation, and brings flexibility and dynamic changeability to the cooperation between objects.

  The object linkage apparatus of the present invention constructs a linkage between objects by linking objects according to the relationship between the message flowing in the object field and the action corresponding to the message, and the description of the relationship between the message and the action is flexible and dynamic. The object cooperation relationship constructed by updating to a flexible and dynamic update.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the object linkage apparatus according to the present invention includes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted by each object on the network, and a relationship between an action content that is a response to the message and the message. A message / action reaction relationship storage unit that stores information, an action execution unit that executes processing according to the action content, and an action execution unit that executes an action according to the message / action reaction relationship, and a correspondence between the message and the action is necessary A message / action reaction relationship update control unit for controlling the update of the correspondence relationship between the message and the action according to the gender, and an existing message / action reaction relationship storage unit designated by the message / action reaction relationship update control unit. Me A message / action reaction relation separating unit that separates sage / action correspondences, and a message / action reaction relation building unit that associates a specified action with a message specified by the message / action reaction relation update control unit. It is characterized by constructing a new message-action relationship by intervening in the existing message-action relationship.

  Here, if the specification of the message / action reaction relation update control part is the specification of the reaction relation of the existing message / action to be separated and the specification of the object having the new message / action reaction relation to be inserted, the message action The reaction relationship separation unit separates the relationship between the existing message and the action based on the designation, and the message / action reaction relationship construction unit creates a new relationship between the existing message and the new action based on the designation. A new message issued as part of a new action and a relationship between the existing action are constructed, and an object having a new message / action reaction relationship is inserted between the existing message and the existing action.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to change the flow of object cooperation flexibly and dynamically by changing the message / action reaction relationship. There is no need to compile, and system design using object linkage can be made more efficient.

  Furthermore, the present invention can flexibly construct, change, delete, and degenerate a message / action cooperation relationship by utilizing the message / action reaction relationship separation unit and the message / action reaction relationship construction unit. As an example, multi-stage insertion of object cooperation is possible by multi-stage insertion of message / action reaction relations. In addition, it is possible to degenerate the specified object by separating the linkage relationship before and after the specified object and building the object linkage relationship by setting the message action relationship that bypasses the object and connects the preceding and following objects Become. In addition, it is possible to connect objects that connect independent objects by inserting an object that mediates a plurality of independent object linkages. On the contrary, it is possible to separate object linkages by extracting a part of objects in a series of consecutive object linkages and cutting off the previous and next linkages. In addition, if the cooperation relationship between the objects to be inserted / connected is branched, parallel object cooperation can be achieved.

  The present invention can be applied to various system constructions using the above-described various object cooperation relationships. For example, if a plurality of objects that respond to a message as an action of one object are provided, a receiver-participating object cooperation device can be configured, and an object to be requested for processing is searched by a bid method. It becomes possible to do. Conversely, if you construct an object that responds to messages sent from multiple objects, you can configure a sender-participation-type object collaboration device, and centralize the processing of object collaboration that has progressed in parallel. It is possible to receive a reply from a partner who requests processing by a bid method and bid.

  Also, in order to facilitate the insertion of a new object collaboration for a series of object collaborations, the object collaboration is an object collaboration core part that maintains an object collaboration relationship as a lump, and the object collaboration core part and other objects If the object cooperation interface part is changed and the object cooperation relation changes, the object cooperation core part is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation relation part is changed by changing the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface part. Make changes.

  With the above configuration, by providing the object cooperation core part that maintains the object cooperation relationship as a lump, even if the change of the object cooperation occurs, the influence on the part is avoided, and other objects are placed before and after the object cooperation core part. By providing an object cooperation interface portion having the above-mentioned cooperation, it is possible to construct and change a relationship with an external object in that portion. New object linkages can be inserted in multiple stages between the linkages between the object linkage interface parts, so that object linkages by so-called cascade connection can be flexibly constructed.

  Next, in order to achieve the object of setting the cooperation condition in the object cooperation relationship and controlling the permission / prohibition of cooperation between the objects, the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention includes a message / action reaction condition setting unit, The message / action reaction condition is set so that the action corresponding to the received message is executed every time, and the message / action reaction relation storage unit stores the message / action reaction relation and the message / action reaction condition in association with each other. The action execution unit executes an action on the received message when the message / action reaction condition is satisfied.

  With the above configuration, when an object performs an action, in addition to receiving a corresponding message, a message / action reaction condition for reacting to the received message can be set. It can be finely controlled.

  Next, in order to achieve the object of providing a function for easily and explicitly grasping the relationship of the constructed object linkage chain, the object linkage apparatus of the present invention is configured to display the object linkage relationship established between objects. It has an object linkage presentation unit to present, and accepts messages received by the message receiver as input message pattern information. If the action execution unit outputs a message, the output possible range is output message pattern. The object cooperation relationship presentation unit presents the object cooperation relationship to be presented as the cooperation relationship between the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information.

  If the object interaction relationship presentation unit presents the message / action reaction conditions, it explicitly presents the relationship of the constructed object interaction chain, that is, the input message to which the object reacts, the action of the object and the output message to be output, and the cooperation condition. For example, a person who can legitimately change the relationship of the object linkage chain, such as a programmer, a system administrator, or a user, can easily detect the object linkage relationship. An object can be displayed as an icon, an object cooperation relationship can be displayed as link information between icons, an object cooperation relationship can be displayed as a table, and the object cooperation relationship can be visualized as a graphic so that it can be easily and positively understood. In addition, as another means for presenting the object cooperation relationship, the object cooperation relationship presentation unit describes the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information as tags, and the object cooperation relationship is included in a program description language including the tag, for example, an XML language. It can also be presented by the user in the form of a tag.

  Next, in the object cooperation apparatus according to the present invention, the object cooperation relationship presentation unit makes an object cooperation information inquiry function for inquiring object cooperation information of the object with respect to each object, and each object in response to an inquiry to each object. Object cooperation information collection function for collecting object cooperation information of each object returned from the object, object cooperation relation composition function for synthesizing the object cooperation relation of the entire object from the collected object cooperation information of each object, and the synthesized object cooperation It is preferable to provide an object cooperation relationship presentation function for presenting relationships.

  With the above configuration, it is possible for the object cooperation device to dynamically construct and update the object cooperation relationship to be updated as necessary, and to explicitly present the object cooperation relationship to the user based on the result. It becomes.

  Here, the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention includes an object cooperation control unit, and the object cooperation control unit detects an object cooperation change detection function that detects that a change has occurred in the object cooperation relationship synthesized by the object cooperation relationship composition function. And the object cooperation logical contradiction detection function that detects the occurrence of logical contradiction on the object cooperation, and cancels the change of the object cooperation when the object cooperation logical contradiction detection function detects the object cooperation logical contradiction. It is preferable to provide an object cooperation logic protection function.

  With the above configuration, relationships that obstruct object cooperation operations such as infinite loop of object cooperation, collision of object cooperation relations, etc. It is possible to detect the construction / change in advance, cancel the construction / change, and ensure smooth operation of the system.

  Further, the object linkage apparatus of the present invention forms a linkage relationship between the start point object and the end point object, given the object that is the start point and the end point of the object linkage that is to be constructed. A message captured by an object existing on the network is used as input message pattern information, a message output as part of an action is detected as output message pattern information, and an object having the pattern is detected using the input message pattern and output message pattern as search keys. An object search unit for searching is provided. In forming an object linkage from the first object to the second object, the object search unit searches for an object linked to the message pattern using the message pattern of the object as a search key. Form an object link that reaches the second object as a starting point. There are various patterns for the search, for example, a forward search, a backward search, and a forward / backward bidirectional search pattern. In the case of forward search, in forming an object link from the first object to the second object, the object search unit uses the input message pattern of the first object as the first search. The output message pattern is set, the output message pattern is arbitrarily set, the third object group is searched, the second message is set as the output message pattern of each object of the third object group, and the output message pattern is set arbitrarily. The fourth object group is searched for, and the output message pattern of each object of the fourth object group is selected as the fourth object that matches the input message pattern of the second object, and the selected object is selected. An object having an input message pattern of four objects as an output message pattern is selected as a third object from the third object group, and the third object and the fourth object are selected from the first object through the third object and the fourth object. Form an object linkage that leads to the second object.

  If a computer-readable recording medium recording a processing program for realizing the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention is provided, the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention is constructed by using the computer apparatus by reading the recording medium into a computer. It is possible to construct an object collaboration apparatus that can flexibly and easily construct and update an object collaboration relationship.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an object cooperation device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present invention is an object cooperation apparatus that performs cooperation processing such as communication, dialogue, and cooperation between distributed objects between objects. For messages that flow through a communication path defined as a common field, The processing is executed in such a way that individual computer systems or individual application programs operating in the computer system react, and the operation of the entire system is flexibly changed by changing the reaction relationship between messages and actions.

  The present invention does not make a relationship between linked objects a close relationship that depends on each other's internal state or internal function, but functions by linking the objects that define a loose relationship between the linked objects. Configure dynamically.

  To understand the present invention, the Awareness model found in communication between humans and actions in cooperation with each other is useful. The present invention is based on the premise of the cooperation processing between objects based on the detected Awareness by performing the same information processing as Awareness intervening between humans in the cooperation between distributed objects. Hereinafter, first, description will be given of the cooperation of distributed objects based on the Awareness analogy that is the premise of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, and then a description of a method for making the cooperation of distributed objects more flexible will be described with a specific embodiment. It is also described.

  The cooperation of distributed objects based on the Awareness analogy will be described. The cooperation of distributed objects or the cooperation of computers based on the Awareness analogy can be realized by the following configuration.

  1. The Awareness message is shared or broadcast.

  2. Each object that receives an Awareness message has a corresponding relationship between the message and the action.

  3. In an object that transmits or receives an Awareness message, the relationship between the message and the action is separated.

  By using the nature of messages and actions in the Awarenes analogy to be separated or separable, two important elements of participation and intervention can be added as interactions between objects and connected to the network. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the cooperation between objects and objects or between computers.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing loose cooperation between objects in the Awareness analogy.

  In FIG. 1, 201 is an object A, and 202 is an object B, each of which is a subject that transmits and receives an Awareness message. M1 is a message indicating an Awareness message. a1 indicates an action defined in the object A (201), and a2 indicates an action defined in the object B (202). Note that arrows in the figure indicate message transmission when the starting point is an object and message reception when the end point is an object. Each object has its own action as an internal state.

  In FIG. 1, cooperation between an object A (201) and an object B (202) is performed via a message M1. In the Awareness analogy, the object A (201) basically sends out a message without knowing about the object B (202) or the internal function of the object B (202). Further, there is no need to specify the object B (202) itself and send a message, and the object A (201) sends a message M1 based on its own state and processing contents. The object B (202) monitors the message flowing on the communication path, detects the message M1, and reacts to activate the action a2 when the M1 is significant for the object B. Thus, although the object A and the object B can take a significant cooperation, it is not due to the direct connection between the object A (201) and the object B (202), but the action of the message M1 and the object B (202). It can be said that a2 is linked to a2. Conversely, if the message is different from M1, object B (202) will not respond unless the message is in the same acceptable range as M1 or there are other actions associated with the message. Become. In this way, the cooperation between the objects is gently performed via the message, so that the degree of freedom of the cooperation between the objects is increased. That is, it is not necessary to specify the address of the communication partner and the content of the processing request as in conventional computer network communication, and each terminal that monitors the network by sending an Awareness message indicating its state, processing result, etc. on the network Detects the message and reacts autonomously if the corresponding action is specified.

  In the Awareness analogy, the communication path is not limited to a physical path as long as it is not only a physical network such as a LAN but also a medium that can be commonly received such as wireless, voice, and light. Further, it may be a recording medium such as a memory that can be called in common. Further, it may be a virtual existence depending on the port address of the communication path.

  The above is the basic principle of cooperation of distributed objects based on the Awareness analogy.

  Next, an object cooperation apparatus to which a method of making the cooperation of distributed objects of the present invention more flexible will be described. In the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, a method of increasing the flexibility of cooperation of distributed objects based on the above Awareness analogy and dynamically changing the cooperation relation of distributed objects is introduced. Here, according to the following first to fifth embodiments, five methods of cooperative insertion, cooperative connection, cooperative external intervention, reception-side cooperative participation, and transmission-side cooperative participation will be described in order. Further, according to the sixth embodiment, an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus having a cooperation condition setting function for providing a cooperation condition for cooperation between objects and executing cooperation between the objects when the cooperation condition is satisfied. explain. In addition, an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus having an object cooperation relationship presentation function for detecting an object cooperation relationship and explicitly presenting it to a user will be described according to the seventh embodiment. Further, according to the eighth embodiment, the object cooperation includes an object cooperation core portion that maintains the object cooperation relationship as a lump, and an object cooperation interface portion that has cooperation between the object cooperation core portion and other objects, An embodiment of an object collaboration apparatus that changes the object collaboration relationship by changing the collaboration destination of the object collaboration interface portion while maintaining the relationship of the object collaboration core portion as it is when a change occurs will be described. Further, according to the ninth embodiment, an object cooperation apparatus having a function of forming object cooperation by searching for an object that forms a cooperation relationship that connects between the object that is the start point and the object that is the end point. A form is demonstrated. Further, according to the tenth embodiment, an embodiment showing an example of a computer-readable recording medium that records a processing program including processing steps for realizing the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention will be described.

(Embodiment 1)
The first embodiment describes a basic principle of object cooperation insertion in distributed object cooperation based on an Awareness analogy and an object cooperation apparatus to which this principle is applied.

  Object linkage insertion refers to inserting a new object linkage relationship with another object in a part of the series of object linkages when there is a series of object linkages. By separating the previous and next objects and the other objects to be inserted, a linkage is established to link to the new object to be inserted from the front object from which the linkage has been separated. This refers to constructing a new series of object linkages by linking from a simple object to an object behind the linkage.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the basic principle of object cooperation insertion. An object, a message, and an action part of the object are conceptually extracted and displayed. FIG. 2A shows a state before object cooperation insertion. FIG. 2B shows a state after object cooperation insertion. In FIG. 2, 201 represents an object A, 202 represents an object B, and 203 represents an object C, which are objects that are entities that send and receive messages. M1 and M2 represent messages. a1 indicates an action specified in the object A (201), a2 indicates an action specified in the object B (202), and a3 indicates an action specified in the object C (203). In the following embodiments, arrows in the figure indicate message transmission when the starting point is an object, and message reception when the end point is an object. Each object has its own action as an internal state.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, an object cooperation relationship is established between the object A (201) and the object B (202) via a message M1. As described in the basic principle of object cooperation, this object cooperation is loose cooperation through the message M1. The message M1 does not need to be sent by designating the address of the other party, the sending object sends a message on the network field (communication medium), and the receiving object monitors the network field and arbitrarily captures the message. It is something that can be done. That is, the object A (201) does not need to be aware of the object B (202) and the action a2, and transmits the message M1 on the network. In other words, it does not matter what kind of object linkage relationship exists.

  Here, by rewriting the message / action reaction relationship of the object B (202), the object cooperation of the object C (203) can be inserted as shown in FIG. That is, the message-action reaction relationship of the object B is rewritten, the action a2 is defined as an action that reacts to the message M2, and the message-action reaction relationship held by the object C (203) is further reacted to the message M1. If the action to be performed is set to a3 and an action a3 that transmits the message M1 is constructed, it is possible to insert a new object called object C (203) as the object linkage relationship.

  Needless to say, this object-linked insertion can be multi-staged. This is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a case where cooperative insertion is performed in two stages. As seen from FIG. 2A, FIG. 3 shows that the object C (203) and the object D (204) are inserted into the object cooperation of the object A (201) and the object B (202), and the message M1. → Action a3 → Message M2 → Action a4 → Message M3 → Action a2 The message / action reaction relationship is established, and the cooperation of objects is realized.

  Needless to say, the object cooperation can be degenerated as the reverse process of the object cooperation insertion.

  Next, an object cooperation apparatus to which the basic principle of the object cooperation insertion is applied will be shown. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the object cooperation apparatus.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted over the network. Reference numeral 102 denotes a message / action reaction relationship storage unit that stores a relationship between a message and an action content that is a response to a message. The message / action reaction relationship storage unit 102 stores a message / action reaction relationship that holds a message / action reaction relationship. A table (reaction table) 103 is provided. Here, the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 compares the message pattern in the message / action reaction table 103 with the message received by 101, and the received message matches or is included in the message pattern of its own. When executed, the corresponding action content is executed. Reference numeral 104 denotes an action execution unit that executes processing according to the specified action content. Reference numeral 105 denotes a message / action reaction relationship update control unit that controls updating of the message / action reaction relationship stored in the message / action reaction relationship storage unit 102 according to the necessity of updating the message / action reaction relationship. A message in the action reaction relation storage unit 102; a message that separates the action correspondence relation; a message action reaction relation separation unit 106; and a message action relation relation construction unit 107 that associates the designated action with the designated message. I have.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a message transmission unit that transmits a message on a network as necessary, 109 denotes a communication interface, and 110 denotes a field that is a communication medium, which is a concept including a network such as communication between computers.

  Now, as a specific embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, the operation will be described by taking an example of performing file sharing display.

  FIG. 5 shows the concept of object cooperation before insertion of object cooperation according to the first embodiment. A file display object 501 does not have a shared display function, and a display object 502 has no shared display function. Assume that both the file display object 501 and the display object 502 have the configuration shown in FIG.

  If the file display object 501 wants to perform processing for displaying the file A on the display, the message M3 is sent to the field 110 via the message sending unit 108 and the communication interface 109. Here, the message M3 is, for example, (Display, FileA, x400, y300), and the file A is displayed starting from the XY coordinates (400, 300). The display object 502 monitors the field 110 and detects and captures the message M3 by the message receiving unit 108 via the communication interface 109.

  FIG. 5B shows the contents of the message / action reaction table (reaction table) 103 held in the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 of the display object 502. A message is written on the left side of the table, and a corresponding action is written on the right side of the table. Here, the message is described as (Display, *, *, *), but “*” means a wild card, and all of them correspond regardless of the description contents. That is, all messages starting with “Display” as the first item are applicable. The action is “Draw”, which indicates that the display object executes a drawing process on the display. When the display object 502 receives the message M3, the display object 502 refers to the contents of the message / action reaction table 103 to obtain the action “Draw”, and the action execution unit 104 executes the drawing process.

  Next, a case where object cooperation insertion is performed will be described. Here, an example is shown in which a shared object is newly introduced, a new object linkage is inserted, and a shared display function is introduced into the system.

  FIG. 6A shows a state where a shared object 503 is newly inserted. As shown in FIG. 6A, the object is linked from the file display object 501 to the display object 502, but then linked to the display object 502 again via the linkage to the shared object 503. The link to 503 is inserted.

  First, the message / action reaction relation update control unit 105 receives a message / action reaction relation update content, for example, based on an instruction from the user or the necessity of improving the load status of the object distribution system. The message / action correspondence relationship in the message / action response relationship storage unit 102 of the display object 502 is separated by the reaction relationship separation unit 106. Here, this means that the association between the message (Display, *, *, *) and the action (Draw) is canceled, and these may be temporarily deleted from the entry of the message / action reaction table 103 of the display object 502. . Next, the message / action reaction relation update control unit 105 uses the message / action reaction relation construction unit 107 to construct the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. Action (Status) is related to message (Display, *, *, *), and message / action correspondence and message of message (Display-shared, *, *, *) and action (Shared draw) are newly added. (Display-unshared, *, *, *) and action (Unshared draw) are additionally constructed. Further, in the shared object 503, the message / action reaction relation update control unit 105 uses the message / action reaction relation construction unit 107 to construct the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. A message / action correspondence between a message (Check-status, *, *, *) and an action (Share) is newly constructed.

  By updating the message / action reaction table 103 as described above, the operation of the object linkage apparatus is as follows. First, the message M3 (Display, File-A, x400, y300) transmitted from the file display object 501 is sent, the display object 502 reacts based on the message / action reaction table 103, and the action “Status” is executed. The Here, the action “Status” is programmed to send a message M4 (Check-status, File-A, x400, y300), and sends the message M4 onto the field 110. Next, the shared object 503 monitoring the field 110 fetches the message M4 via the communication interface 109 and the message receiving unit 108. The shared object 503 reacts according to the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. 6C and executes the action “Share”. Here, the action “Share” checks whether or not File-A specified in the second item of the message M4 is a shared file, and if the file is in the shared state, it indicates that the file sharing state is displayed on the display. Message M5 (Display-share, File-A, x400, y300) is sent, and if it is not in the shared state, the user is notified that the file is not in the shared state, and M6 (Display-unshared, File -A, x400, y300). FIG. 5A shows an example in which the file A is in a shared state and the shared object 503 sends a message M5 (Display-shared, File-A, x400, y300). The display object 502 reacts according to the message / action reaction table 103 and executes the action “Draw”.

  As described above, the object linkage apparatus having the configuration of FIG. 5 that originally did not have the shared state display performs the object linkage insertion according to the present invention to obtain the configuration shown in FIG. The sharing status can be displayed in cooperation with 503.

  The point to be noted here is that the file display object 501 requested to display the file is not changed at all. Second, the change to the display object 502 can be made dynamically in the operating state. In the object linkage by the usual conventional programming technique, the change made to the display object 502 requires recompilation of the programming code and the function change on the file display object 501 side. In the insertion method, such work is not necessary, and it is possible to more easily and flexibly insert and change the cooperative relationship of a plurality of objects.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, a basic principle of connection of object cooperation in distributed object cooperation and an object cooperation apparatus to which this principle is applied will be described.

  The connection of object linkages means that when two object linkages exist independently of each other, a new linkage relationship of objects that act as a bridge for linking between the two object linkages is established. This means that two mutually independent object linkages become a series of object linkages. That is, a new object linkage following one of the two object linkages is inserted, and the new object linkage is linked to the other of the two object linkages.

  FIG. 7 illustrates the basic principle of object cooperation connection. As in FIG. 5, the object, message, and action part of the object are conceptually extracted and displayed. FIG. 7A shows a state in which there is an independent object cooperation before connecting the object cooperation, and FIG. 7B shows a state after the object cooperation is connected. In FIG. 7, 701 to 705 are objects A to E, respectively, and M7 to M10 are messages.

  In FIG. 7A, an object A 701 and an object B 702 are linked via a message M7, and an object C 703 and an object D 704 are linked via a message M8. Object B702 sends message M9 on the field as part of the action, but object C703 and object D704 do not react. Here, it is assumed that the object C703 responds to the message M10. Thus, the two object linkages are independent from each other and do not have an object linkage relationship.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is assumed that an object E705 having a new message / action reaction relationship is added to connect two independent object linkages. Assuming that the object E705 activates the action a5 in response to the message M9 and sends the message M10 onto the field, the message M9 sent after the object cooperation of the object A701 to the object B702 which is the one object cooperation is , The message M10 is transmitted to the field via the action a5, and the object C703, which is the other object cooperation, reacts to the message M10 to activate the object cooperation of the objects C703 to D704. . In this way, the object linkages independent of each other in FIG. 7A are connected as a series of object linkages as shown in FIG. 7B. The above is the basic principle of connection of object cooperation.

  Next, an embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of object cooperation connection is applied will be described below.

  A memo transfer service will be described as a specific example.

  The schematic block diagram of the object linkage apparatus may be the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a concept of object cooperation before connection of object cooperation according to the second embodiment. 801 is a first memo transmission object (object), 802 is a first memo reception object, an object for displaying received contents on a display, 803 is a second memo transmission object, and 804 is a second memo reception object. It is an object that displays the received content above. Here, there are two object collaborations that are independent of each other, the object collaboration between the first memo transmission object 801 and the first memo reception object 802, and the second memo transmission object 803 and the second memo reception object 804. There is object linkage.

  Consider a case where the memo sender S transmits the memo 1 composed of the file B to the memo receiver R using the first memo transmission object 801. Usually, the memo sender S uses a computer in which the first memo transmission object 801 exists to activate an action for transmitting the message M11. The message M11 is assumed to be (Memo, user-S, user-R, File-B). The message reception object 802 of the computer used by the memo recipient R has a message / action reaction table as shown in FIG. 8B, and the message (Memo, *, *, *) and the action (Show memo). The message / action correspondence is maintained. The memo receiving object 802 responds to the message M11, the action (Show memo) is activated, and the file B is displayed on the display of the computer used by the memo receiver R.

  Here, it is assumed that the memo recipient R goes out, for example, moves to a remote place. In this case, the memo reception R cannot actually receive the memo only by the object cooperation. If there is a computer outside the memo recipient R, there is an object linkage between the second memo transmission object 803 and the second memo reception object 804, and a display displayed by the second memo reception object is displayed. Assume that the memo recipient R is in an environment where it can be seen.

  Here, connection of object cooperation is considered as shown in FIG. Before going out, the memo recipient R constructs a new object linkage so as to transfer the received memo, and the memo connects the object linkage up to the second memo reception object 804. The memo recipient R uses the message / action reaction relation update control unit 105 of the object linkage apparatus in which the first memo reception object 802 exists to change the contents of the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the message / action response relationship of (Memo, *, *, *) and action (Ask transfer) is updated, and a transfer object 805 is newly constructed, and the message / action of the transfer object 805 As shown in FIG. 9C, the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 includes a message / action reaction table 103 including messages (Transfer, *, *, *) and actions (Send). Build on.

  On the other hand, the second memo transmission object 803 holds the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. 9D, and the second memo reception object 804 stores the message / action reaction shown in FIG. 9E. A table 103 is held.

  The operation of linking object cooperation constructed as described above will be described.

First, the memo sender S uses a computer in which the first memo transmission object 801 exists, and activates an action for transmitting a message M11 (Memo, user-S, user-R, File-B). This is the same as FIG. 8 (a). The memo receiving object 802 of the computer used by the memo recipient R executes the action “Ask transfer” in response to the message M11 in accordance with the message / action correspondence shown in FIG. Here, the action “Ask transfer” outputs a message M12 requesting transfer of File-B specified in the fourth item of the message M11. The message M12 is as (Transfer, user-S, user-R, File-B). The transfer object 805 activates the action “Send” in response to the message M12 in accordance with the message / action reaction table shown in FIG. “Send” transmits a message M13 for transferring File-B specified in the fourth term of the message M12. For the transfer, the memo recipient R may be transferred in advance by limiting the range of the computer or the network including the computer where the memo recipient R is away from home. The message M13 is as (Ask-show, user-S, user-R ′, File-B). Here, user-R ′ in the third term indicates a transfer destination. The second message transmission object 803 of the computer where the memo recipient R is away from has a message / action reaction table as shown in FIG. 9D, and the message (Ask-show, *, *, *) and action. (Request show) message / action correspondence is held, and the memo transmission object 803 reacts to the message M13, the action (Request-show) is activated, and the memo content is stored with the message M14. Send. The second message reception object 804 existing in the computer where the memo recipient R is away has the message / action reaction table shown in FIG. 9E, and the message (Memo, *, *, *) and the action (Show). memo) message / action correspondence is maintained. The second memo receiving object 804 responds to the message M14, and the action (Show
memo) is activated, and the file B is displayed on the display of the computer where the memo recipient R is away.

  As shown above, a series of object linkages are constructed by linking object linkages as shown in FIG. 9 (a) to two mutually independent object linkages as shown in FIG. 8 (a). It becomes possible to do.

  Here, the pair of the first memo transmission object 801 and the first memo reception object 802 shown in FIG. 8 and the pair of the second memo transmission object 803 and the second memo reception object 804 need to be equivalent. Each of them may be operated based on the basic principle shown in FIG. Therefore, the device, OS, and description language in which the combination of the memo transmission object and the reception object actually operates may be independent. In addition, when exchanging messages based on FIG. 1, it is not always necessary that the message formats be the same, and the transfer object 805 that mediates between the two pairs shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to provide the conversion function.

  One of the points to be noted in the object transfer apparatus for memo transfer in this embodiment is that no change has been made to the first memo transmission object 801 that requested the memo transfer. Secondly, the first receiving object 802 and the transfer object 805 can be changed dynamically in the operating state. In the object linkage by the usual conventional programming technique, the change of the first receiving object 802 and the transfer object 805 requires recompilation of the programming code and the function change. However, in the object linkage connection method according to the present invention, Such work is not necessary, and it is possible to connect and change the cooperation of independent objects more easily and flexibly.

(Embodiment 3)
The third embodiment will explain a basic principle of external intervention of object cooperation in distributed object cooperation and an object cooperation apparatus to which this principle is applied.

  Object interaction external intervention refers to object interaction linked by a certain message / action reaction relationship, when another object intervenes from outside, disconnects the original message / action reaction relationship, and changes the object collaboration flow by itself. After the object action is taken in and executed and the predetermined action is executed, the flow of object cooperation is returned to the original object, and the process of intervention by inserting the object cooperation described in the first embodiment is schematically shown as intervention by other external objects. It is shown in The description of the intervention process by multi-stage insertion of object cooperation described in the first embodiment is omitted as appropriate. As can be seen from the example of external intervention shown in FIG. 10, the external intervention of the object cooperation has three steps. In other words, the first stage of message / action disconnection within object A, the second stage of reassigning the object linkage destination, the third stage of the new message / action combination, and the third stage of intervention execution by external objects. It is done. By this external intervention, a function that did not exist only in the object A is added through the interaction with the external object B. As can be seen in the example of FIG. 10, the separation of message and action opens the possibility of interaction with a new object. From the viewpoint of the Awareness analogy, the degree of freedom in the loose cooperation of distributed objects is born by the ability to separate and recombine the chain of message actions.

  Next, an embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of external intervention of object cooperation is applied will be described below.

  A task request / response will be described as a specific example. In particular, an example will be shown in which an object group that can only perform a monotonous response to a load execution request from the outside dynamically changes so that load distribution by a group can be realized.

  The schematic block diagram of the object linkage apparatus may be the same as that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 shows the concept of object cooperation before external intervention of object cooperation of the third embodiment, and is an example in the case of showing a monotonous reaction to a load. In this example, the action of the task object 1101 has a message M19 “query” flowing in the field. In response to this message, the serve object 1102 having a message / action set “query-server” in the message / action reaction table is responding. In the example shown in FIG. 11, even if there are a plurality of serve objects 1102 that respond to the message “query”, each serve object 1102 independently executes the action “Serve”.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows the concept of object cooperation by external intervention of object cooperation according to the third embodiment. The mediating object 1103 rewrites the message / action reaction table of the serve object 1102 as an external object, and is shown in FIG. The message / object connection between the message “query” and the action “server” is disconnected, and the mediation object 1103 intervenes, and “query (M19)” → “Bid” → “apply (M20)” → “Deceide” → “action (M21)” → “Serve” is changed to the object linkage.

  By the external intervention of the above object cooperation, the task object is exactly the same in that it sends a “query” message as in FIG. 11, but the serve object 1102 simply reacts to this message “query”. Instead, the “Serve” action is changed after receiving “Bid” (bid) and “Decade” (successful bid) to the mediation object 1103. Therefore, if the selection function of two or more serve objects 1102 competing with the mediating object is provided, the load distribution function that causes the low-load serve object 1102 to execute “query” from the task object 1101 is provided. It becomes possible. What is important here is that it is not necessary to assume the state of object cooperation in FIG. 12 in advance in the system design. After designing the simple object cooperation state in FIG. This is an extension design to the added system configuration of FIG. In the object linkage by the usual conventional programming technique, the change of the task object 1101 and the serve object 1102 requires recompilation of the programming code and the change of the function. However, in the object linkage external intervention method according to the present invention, Therefore, it is possible to change the cooperation of objects through the intervention of external objects more easily and flexibly.

(Embodiment 4)
In the fourth embodiment, a basic principle of reception side cooperation participation in cooperation of distributed objects based on an Awareness analogy and an object cooperation apparatus to which this principle is applied will be described.

  Receiving side cooperation participation means that when there is an object linkage that is linked by a single message, a new object linkage is created by adding a message / action reaction relationship in which other objects react to the message. Build and participate in the object collaboration. That is, a plurality of objects can react and participate in object cooperation for one Awareness message.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the basic principle of participation on the receiving side of object cooperation. Objects B (1302), C (1303), and D (1304) are unique to the message M22 transmitted by the object A (1301). It shows how they are responding. Of course, the actions in the objects B (1302), C (1303), and D (1304) may be the same or different. At this time, there is no effect on the object B (1302) whether or not the other objects C (1303) and D (1304) exist. Therefore, the addition / deletion of the objects B (1302), C (1303), D (1304), etc. in FIG. 13 is nothing but the generation / disappearance of the application by the participation or withdrawal of the new object.

  An embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of object cooperation reception side participation is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is an example in which the reception side participates in the display example of the file contents described in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the message M22 (Display, FileA, x400, y300) is displayed in the field 110 via the message transmission unit 108 and the communication interface 109 in order to execute the process in which the file display object 1401 displays the file A on the display. Send it out. On the field 110, there are three display objects 1402a to 1402c that hold the message / action reaction table 103 that reacts to the message M22 shown in FIG. These monitor the field 110 and detect and capture the message M22 flowing on the field 110.

  Here, three objects of the display object 1402a to display object 1402c react to (Display, FileA, x400, y300) of M22 and execute the action “Draw” to display the file A on the display. Of course, 1402a, 1402b, and 1402c may be different actions for different machines, that is, the displays displayed by the respective objects do not need to be the same, and the display format and display contents need not be the same.

  In this way, it is possible to participate in the object cooperation receiving side by adding an object having an action that reacts to the one message in parallel to an object cooperation that has an action that reacts to the one message. it can.

(Embodiment 5)
In the fifth embodiment, a basic principle of transmission side cooperation participation in cooperation of distributed objects based on an Awareness analogy and an object cooperation apparatus to which this principle is applied will be described.

  When there is an object collaboration linked by a certain message, the sending side collaboration participation constructs a new object collaboration by transmitting the one message on the field 110 by another object, To participate in the object collaboration from the sending side. That is, it becomes possible for a plurality of objects to participate by sending the same message to the object cooperation for one Awareness message.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the basic principle of object-side participation in object cooperation. As shown in FIG. 15, objects A (1501) and B (1502) send the same message M23, and object C (1503) and The message M23 is linked. In this case, object C (1503) reacts and activates an action regardless of whether message M23 is a message transmitted from object A (1501) or a message transmitted from object B (1502). This means that participation on the sending side is permitted in the cooperation of objects. In other words, it can be said that the object B (1502) intervenes as the sender side in the cooperation between the object A (1501) and the object C (1503).

  In this way, it is possible to participate in the object cooperation sending side by adding an object having an action to send the one message in parallel to the object cooperation having an action that reacts to one message. it can.

  An embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of object cooperation transmission side participation is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is an example in which the transmission side participates in the display example of the file contents described in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the message M24 (Display, FileA, x400, y300) is displayed in the field 110 via the message transmission unit 108 and the communication interface 109 in order to execute the process in which the file display object 1601a displays the file A on the display. Send it out. On the field 110, there are file display objects 1601b to 1601c that transmit a message M24 as an action in addition to the file display object 1601a. Since the display object 1602 monitors the field 110 and detects and captures the message M24, there are three transmission-side objects. Here, the display object 1602 holds the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. 15B, executes the action “Draw” in response to the message M24, and is transmitted from each of the sending objects 1601a to 1601c. Display the file on the display.

  In this way, for an object linkage that has an action that reacts to a single message, join the sending side of the object linkage by adding a transmission object that has an action to send the single message in parallel. Can do.

(Embodiment 6)
The object collaboration apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention further includes a message / action reaction condition setting unit, and sets a message / action reaction condition for executing an action corresponding to the message received for each object. The message / action reaction relation storage unit stores the message / action reaction relation and the message / action reaction condition in association with each other, and the action execution unit receives the message / action reaction condition when the message / action reaction condition is satisfied. Performs actions on messages.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of the object linkage apparatus of the sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the object linkage apparatus of the sixth embodiment includes a message / action reaction condition setting unit 120. In addition, the message / action reaction table 103a of the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102 is related to the message / action reaction condition for executing the message / action reaction in addition to the action associated with the message. It is attached. The message / action reaction condition is set by the message / action reaction condition setting unit 120. The message / action reaction condition to be set may be whether a specific parameter of the message is within the setting range, or whether the environment of the object platform such as a load condition is within the setting range. good. In addition, about the other component, the same number is attached | subjected about the thing similar to what was demonstrated in FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1, and description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 18 shows a concept of cooperation between objects by the object cooperation apparatus of the sixth embodiment. This is a conceptual representation of the action of a message / action reaction condition. As shown in FIG. 18, a message / action reaction condition 1803 is provided for the object B 1802. Conceptually, it acts as a filter for received messages, allowing acceptance only if the condition is met, and rejecting acceptance if the condition is not met. After the message M25 transmitted from the object A 1801 is received by the object B, it is checked whether or not the message / action reaction condition 1803 is satisfied. Which message / action reaction conditions are set depends on the operation. For example, it is possible to set a reaction condition that pays attention to a load factor as a platform of an object that has received a message. When the reaction condition is a load factor of 0.5 or less, an object with a large load whose load factor exceeds 0.5 is described in the action for the received message in the provided message / action reaction table 103a. Even if the action is performed, the action reaction is not executed because the given message / action reaction condition is not satisfied.

  By providing message / action reaction conditions, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, it is possible to more flexibly describe the message / action reaction relationship. Processing and control that the user wants to realize in actual operation may be complicated or may be related to specific conditions, and it is difficult to describe everything by only describing the one-to-one relationship between messages and actions. A case is assumed. According to the object linkage apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily describe actual operation processing and control related to complicated and specific conditions using the message / action reaction table 102.

  Secondly, a harmonized load distribution process can be realized in the entire object cooperation apparatus forming a network by the field 110. If only a one-to-one relationship between a message and an action is described, an action will be triggered if a message described in the message / action reaction table is received. The operating status of the received object is not considered. An object in which responses of messages frequently transmitted from a large number of objects are described frequently executes an action, and it may be temporarily overloaded, and the load may be concentrated. According to the object collaboration apparatus of the sixth embodiment, if an upper limit value of the load factor is provided as a message / action reaction condition, concentration of load can be prevented, and harmonious load distribution can be realized. Further, according to the object linkage apparatus of the sixth embodiment, it is possible to realize an AND logic operation process that executes an action when two specific messages are received.

(Embodiment 7)
In the seventh embodiment, the object cooperation relationship in the distributed object cooperation device is explicitly shown to the outside by a visual chart or the like expressed by an icon representing an object and a link line representing the object cooperation relationship.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the object collaboration apparatus according to the seventh embodiment. In the example of FIG. 19, for convenience of explanation, only three object collaboration apparatuses A 1910, object collaboration apparatuses B 1920, and object collaboration apparatuses C 1930 are connected to the field 110. In principle, the number of object cooperation apparatuses to be connected is not limited, and the field 110 may be a field in which a number of fields are connected on a network such as the Internet. In the example of FIG. 19, for convenience of explanation, components in the object cooperation apparatus are omitted as appropriate. The object cooperation apparatus A 1910 includes a communication interface 109, a message / action reaction table 103, a message / action reaction relation information collection unit. 130, only the object cooperation relationship presentation unit 150 is illustrated, but the other components are the same as those shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. Further, the object cooperation device B 1920 and the object cooperation device C 1930 are shown with all internal components omitted.

  An object collaboration relationship extraction and visualization method in the distributed object collaboration apparatus will be described. First, each object cooperation apparatus extracts the information included in the message / action reaction relation information collection unit 130 and the information indicating the relation of the action associated with the message from the message / action reaction table 103 of each object. Next, the message / action reaction relation information is exchanged between the other object cooperation apparatuses. The message / action reaction relation information is sent as a message on the field 110 via the message transmission unit 108 and the communication interface 109, and is given to another object cooperation apparatus. On the contrary, the message / action reaction relation information message transmitted from another object cooperation apparatus is received via the communication interface 109 and the message receiving unit 101.

  Next, the obtained object of each object cooperation device and the message / action reaction relation information of each object are analyzed by the object cooperation relation analysis unit 140, and the cooperation relation of the objects existing on the field is analyzed and extracted. First, each object is displayed as an icon. For each object, a message that can be reacted, an action that reacts to the message, and a message that is transmitted when the action is activated are extracted. Further, objects having an action that reacts to the transmitted message are identified. In other words, this message / action reaction relationship means cooperation between objects. The linkage is drawn as a link line between object icons. The above processing is performed on all objects and the message / action reaction relationship held by the object, and the object cooperation relationship is explicitly displayed on the object cooperation relationship display unit 150 as a visual chart. An example of a visual chart is shown in FIG.

  A square icon is an object, and an action is shown in the lower column. The arrow is a link line, and indicates that the object at the end of the arrow can react to the message transmitted by the object at the start of the arrow. The arrow is accompanied by a message that flows on the field.

  According to the object linkage apparatus of the seventh embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

  First, complex object cooperation relationships can be expressed in a visible visual chart, making it easier to understand and understand the cooperation relationships intuitively.

  Secondly, it is possible to know in advance the action reaction that can occur from one object. The objects are loosely linked by the response relationship between the message and the action. Originally, it is difficult to know in advance what kind of action reaction the other object will cause to which message from one object. However, according to the object cooperation apparatus of the seventh embodiment, possible message / action reaction relations and object cooperation relations can be provided in advance as a visual chart.

(Embodiment 8)
The object cooperation apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention includes an object cooperation core part in which object cooperation maintains an object cooperation relationship as a lump, and an object cooperation interface part that has cooperation between the object cooperation core part and other objects, An example will be described in which when the change of the object cooperation relationship occurs, the relationship of the object cooperation core portion is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation relationship is changed by changing the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface portion.

  When this object cooperation interface part is located behind the object cooperation core part in the object cooperation flow, it becomes an action part (output range interface) that reacts to the output message pattern of the object cooperation core part, and The object linkage destination can be flexibly changed by rewriting. Also, when it is located in front of the object cooperation core part, it becomes an input message pattern (input range interface) that the object cooperation core part can react to, and other objects send messages so as to match the input message pattern. For example, the object cooperation core part can have object cooperation.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example in which object cooperation has a configuration including an object cooperation core part and an object cooperation interface part.

  In FIG. 21A, two objects 2100a to 2100b surrounded by a solid line 2100 form an object cooperation core portion 2100, and two objects 2110a to 2110b surrounded by a solid line 2110 are another object cooperation. The core part 2110 is formed, and these are parts in which object cooperation maintains object cooperation as a lump.

  In the object cooperation core part 2100, the object 2100a is configured to react to the message M26 according to the description of the message action reaction table 103, activate the action a26, and issue the message M27. The object 2100b is configured to react to the message M27 according to the description of the message action reaction table 103, activate the action a27, and issue the message M28.

  In the object cooperation core part 2110, the object 2110a is configured to react to the message M29 according to the description of the message action reaction table 103, activate the action a29, and issue the message M30. The object 2110b is configured to react to the message M30 according to the description of the message action reaction table 103, activate the action a30, and issue the message M31.

  As shown in FIG. 21A, an object cooperation interface part 2101 surrounded by a dotted line is provided between the object cooperation core parts 2100 and 2110. This object cooperation interface part is a part that cooperates with the object cooperation core part and other objects, and when the object cooperation relationship changes, the object cooperation core part remains as it is, and the object cooperation interface part The object linkage relationship is changed by changing the linkage destination of the object. The object cooperation interface part can be provided in front of and behind the object cooperation core parts 2100 and 2110 in the object cooperation flow. Here, for convenience of explanation, the object cooperation interface part 2101 is an interface between the two. Pay attention to the explanation.

  The object cooperation interface part 2101 is an object controlled by one message action reaction table 103. The association of the action a28 with the message M28 is described. The action a28 has a content for transmitting the message M29 as a part of the action. In response to the message M28, the action a28 is activated to function as the output range interface 2102 of the object cooperation core part 2100. Since the transmitted message M29 reacts with the object cooperation core part 2110, the object cooperation core part 2110 It also functions as an input range interface 2103. The output range interface 2102 of the object cooperation core part 2100 and the input range interface 2103 of the object cooperation core part 2110 are related by the action that the described action a28 transmits the message M29 as a part of the action. .

  Now, in the object which is the object cooperation interface part 2101, the relation that the action a 28 described in the message action reaction table 103 transmits the message M 29 as a part of the action is cut off. That is, the action content in the message action reaction table 103 is rewritten. The relationship between the output range interface 2102 of the object cooperation core part 2100 and the input range interface 2103 of the object cooperation core part 2110 is rewritten by rewriting the contents of the action in the object message action reaction table 103 of the object cooperation interface part 2101. Although both are cut off, the functions as the interface of the object cooperation core part are not lost. That is, the output range interface 2102 and the input range interface 2103 function as interfaces, and it is possible to flexibly construct a linkage with a new object. This is shown in FIG. If the action content in the message action reaction table 103 is rewritten and the action a28 is described so as to transmit M32 as a part of the action, the effect that the output destination of the output range interface 2102 is switched to the object 2120 can be obtained. . In the output stage of the object 2120 (it can also be assumed to have an output range interface), if the message M29 is transmitted so as to match the input range interface 2103, the object 2120 is linked to the object linkage core part 2110. Thus, by utilizing the interface function of the object cooperation interface part, it is possible to change the object cooperation relationship flexibly. This situation is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 23 shows a schematic block diagram of the object linkage apparatus of the eighth embodiment. In the object collaboration apparatus according to the eighth embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 23, the message / action reaction relation construction unit 107 a includes an action content change unit 111 and an interface detection unit 112. The action content changing unit 111 is a part that rewrites the action content when the message / action reaction relation building unit 107a updates the content of the message / action reaction table 103. The interface detection unit 112 is a part that detects an input range interface and an output range interface configured by an object cooperation interface part existing on the field 110 and manages the interface information. The message / action reaction relationship construction unit 107a rewrites the action content of the object managed to be connected to the input range interface and output range interface of the object for which a new object cooperation relationship is to be constructed, and changes so as to transmit a matching message. , Build a new object linkage relationship. In addition, about the other component, the same number is attached | subjected about the thing similar to what was demonstrated in FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1, and description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  As described above, according to the object cooperation apparatus of the eighth embodiment, the object cooperation includes the object cooperation core part that maintains the object cooperation relationship as a lump, and the object cooperation interface part that cooperates with the object cooperation core part and other objects. In addition, when the change of the object cooperation relationship occurs, the relationship of the object cooperation core portion is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation relationship can be changed by changing the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface portion.

(Embodiment 9)
In the ninth embodiment, an object linkage apparatus having a function of forming an object linkage by searching for an object that forms a linkage relationship between an object as a start point and an object as an end point will be described.

  In the formation of object cooperation, an object as a starting point and an object as an end point for which object cooperation is desired to be established are determined, and a cooperation relation is formed by searching for an object connection between the two. The object collaboration apparatus according to the ninth embodiment performs an object collaboration search by the function of the object search unit 113.

  The basic principle of object cooperation provided with the search function of the ninth embodiment will be described below. Examples of the search function include a plurality of patterns. For example, there are forward search, backward search, and forward / backward bidirectional search. The basic principle of the object linkage apparatus and its object search function of the ninth embodiment will be described below using backward search as an example.

  FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an object linkage apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 24, the object linkage apparatus of the ninth embodiment includes an object search unit 113. The object search unit 113 is a part that searches for an object having the input message pattern and output message pattern existing on the field 110 using the input message pattern and output message pattern as search keys. The object search unit 113 can search by wildcarding an asterisk “*” as a search key. For example, if the input message pattern is “*” and the output message pattern is jpeg format as the search key, the object search unit 113 outputs If the message pattern is in the jpeg format, the input message pattern may be arbitrary, and all corresponding objects will be obtained as a result. The object search unit 113 includes an object message pattern detection unit 114, and the object message pattern detection unit 114 can detect an input message pattern and an output message pattern of a specified object. Further, as shown in FIG. 25 described later, it is preferable that the input message pattern and output message pattern of the detected object can be visually illustrated. In addition, about the other component, the same number is attached | subjected about the thing similar to what was demonstrated in FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1, and description here is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle for searching for object cooperation from the object as the start point to the object as the end point by the backward search method. Here, as an example, there is a user's request to convert “i” format data (for example, bitmap format data) to “k” format data (for example, JPEG format compressed data), and cooperation between objects Shows an example of executing the conversion. In this example, in the message between objects on the field in the search process of the object search unit 113, the input message pattern information and output message pattern information of the object are described as tags, and the cooperative relationship between the objects is a program description including the tags. It is described in the form of a tag in a language, for example, the xml language. FIG. 26 shows dtd representing an input message and an output message used in this embodiment.

  As a first step, first, the object search unit 113 uses the object message pattern detection unit 114 to output the output message pattern of the object that is the start point and the object that is the end point based on the xml format message indicating the start point and the end point. Detect input message pattern.

  In the example shown in FIG. 25A, the one on the left represents the output message pattern (2401) of the object that is the starting point. Here, the “i” format is used. The one on the right represents the input message pattern (2402) of the object that is the end point. Here, the “k” format is used. In other words, if the object linkage starting from the output message pattern 2401 of the object as the start point and reaching the input message pattern 2402 of the object as the end point can be constructed, the data in the “i” format can be converted into the data in the “k” format. It becomes.

  FIG. 27 shows an example of a message that the object search unit 113 sends in the first step. In the message of FIG. 27, “MATRIX NAME” and “FmtTranslate” represent the name of the linkage to be constructed and the type of linkage, and are generic names for the linkage between modules, such as protocol, ontology, and content description language. is there. “Action” “request” of ENTRY ITEM means that this message requests the conversion from the file format of the start point to the file format of the end point at the same time as presenting the start point and end point of cooperation. ENTRY ITEM "Sender" "ui serv" indicates the sender of this message. “RequestID” “dumy1” of the ENTRY ITEM indicates a conversation-id of cooperation between modules. "OriginalMessageType" "" i "" of ENTRY ITEM indicates that the file format as the starting point is a file having the extension "i" and at the same time indicates that the output pattern as the starting point is "i" ing. “TargetMessageType” ““ k ”” of the ENTRY ITEM indicates that the file format as the end point is a file having the extension “k” and at the same time indicates that the output pattern as the end point is “k”. ing. “MessageKey” of ENTRY ITEM indicates the location of the target “i” file. In this example, it is shown that data can be acquired by passing the key 936244885600 to the module ui.phx indicated by uri. ing. In the present embodiment, an object (imagearbiter.phx described later) that accepts the message shown in FIG. 27 has an input pattern that can react to the parts “Action” and “Request”, and “Original MessageType”. It has an operation for the contents indicated by tags such as "," TargetMessageType ".

  As the second step, in this example, since the search is performed by the backward search method, the object search unit 113 sets the input message pattern as a wild card, and sets the output message pattern as the input message pattern 2402 of the object as the end point, that is, “k”. Set search key and execute search. Here, the wild card indicates an arbitrary message pattern. FIG. 25B conceptually shows this state.

  FIG. 28 shows an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the second step. In FIG. 28, “Action” “in-request” of ENTRY ITEM means that this message requests a response to the module included in the pattern. The imagearbiter.phx shown in uri format in the ENTRY ITEM "Sender" indicates the sender of this message. imagearbiter.phx corresponds to an intermediary that controls the contract net for constructing a chain for performing file conversion for FmtTranslate "." RequestID "" dumy1 "of ENTRY ITEM is the conversation-id of the cooperation between modules This indicates that the message is a series of messages following the message in Fig. 27. "OriginalMessageType" in ENTRY ITEM is indicated by an asterisk "*". The asterisk "*" is used as a wild card. , Meaning "any file format format". That is, it means that the extension of the file format as the starting point may be any. “TargetMessageType” ““ k ”” of the ENTRY ITEM indicates that the file format as the end point is a file having the extension “k” and at the same time indicates that the output pattern as the end point is “k”. ing. “MessageKey” of ENTRY ITEM indicates the location of the target “i” file, and describes the location of the file shown in FIG. 27 as it is. In this embodiment, the object ("j" 2 "k" .phx described later) that accepts the message shown in FIG. 28 has an input pattern that can respond to "Action" and "in-request" parts. ing. Also, in FIG. 28, “Original MessageType” is a wild card, indicating that the input pattern of the accepting object is something specific (for example, “j” in the case of “j” 2 “k” .phx in this embodiment). ) Indicates that “j” is acceptable because it is included in “*” as a wild card.

  As a third step, the object search unit 113 receives an answer returned in response to the message inquired in the second step. If this answer is obtained, the object linkage connected to the input message pattern 2402 of the object as the end point is obtained. FIG. 25 (c) conceptually shows this state. In this way, the searched object 2403 is linked to the input message pattern 2402 of the object that is the end point.

  FIG. 29 shows an example of the message received by the object search unit 113 in the third step. In FIG. 29, “Action” “bid” of ENTRY ITEM indicates that this message is an answer to the in-request and has an input pattern included in the in-request pattern. “J” 2 “k” .phx shown in uri format in “Sender” of ENTRY ITEM indicates the sender of this message. “J” 2 “k” .phx provides a service constituting a contract net for constructing a chain for performing file conversion of “FmtTranslate”. As shown below, “k” from “j” format It is a module that can convert the file format into a format. “RequestID” “dumy1” in the ENTRY ITEM is a conversation-id for cooperation between modules, and indicates a series of messages following the messages in FIGS. 27 and 28. The “OriginalMessageType” of the ENTRY ITEM is “j”, indicating that the module “j” 2 “k” .phx uses the “j” file as the conversion source, and at the same time the type “j” as the input pattern Show that you have. The type “j” is included in the type indicated by an asterisk “*” in FIG. “TargetMessageType” ““ k ”” of the ENTRY ITEM indicates that the file format as the end point is a file having the extension “k” and at the same time indicates that the output pattern as the end point is “k”. ing. The “MessageKey” of the ENTRY ITEM is the same as that in FIG. 28, but indicates the output destination of the “k” file to be output, and the output file can be acquired using this key. The ENTRY ITEM "PathHistory" indicates that the chain has been built one step further.

  Next, when the object cooperation has not yet reached the output message pattern of the object 2401 at the starting point, the second step and the third step are repeated in order to search for further objects to be linked. Here, the inquiry process of the second step is executed again. Since the input message pattern of the object 2403 is in the “j” format, a search key is set with the input message pattern as a wild card and the “j” format as an output message pattern, and the search is executed. FIG. 25 (d) conceptually shows this state.

  FIG. 30 shows an example of a message sent out by the object search unit 113 in the repeated second step. In FIG. 30, “Action” of the message is in-request as in FIG. 27, and the sender of the message is imagearbiter.phx. 29 is used for MessageKey and PathHistory, and the same RequestID is used for FIG.

  Next, the object search unit 113 receives an answer returned in response to the message inquired in the repeated second step. If this answer is obtained, two-stage object coordination from the object 2402 as the end point to the object 2401 at the start point is obtained. FIG. 25 (e) conceptually shows this state. Here, it is assumed that an object 2404 whose input message pattern is in the “i” format exists in the obtained answer. Select this object 2404. As described above, the backward search method is used to link the input message pattern 2402 of the object as the end point to the object 2403 and further to the object 2404, and search for the object link that reaches the output message pattern 2401 of the object as the start point. That is, it is possible to construct an object linkage in which a file is converted from the output message pattern “i” format of the object 2401 as the start point to the input message “k” format of the object 2402 as the end point through the linkage of the objects 2404 and 2403.

  FIG. 31 shows an example of the message received by the object search unit 113 in the repeated third step. In FIG. 31, “Action” of the message is bid as in FIG. 29, and the sender of the message is win2s.phx that can provide the conversion service. PathHistory is shown in a form added to FIG. “OriginMessageType” is an asterisk “*” indicates that win2 “j” .phx has the ability to convert an arbitrary file to “j” format. The bid shown in FIGS. 29 and 31 gives an answer that an arbitrary file format can be converted into a “k” file. Conversion from the bmp file which is the request in FIG. 27 into the “k” file The answer is that this is possible. In the ninth embodiment, imagearbiter.phx that controls messages following FIG. 28 is checked by monitoring the messages in FIG.

  Next, as a fifth step, the file is actually converted using the obtained object cooperation. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a file conversion request message using the results obtained up to FIG. In FIG. 32, the “Action” of the message is in-serve, which requests the implementation of the file conversion service. The sender of the message is imagearbiter.phx, and the bidder in the contract net specifies win2 “j” .phx by ITEM “Contract”.

  Next, as a sixth step, the requested object cooperation result is received. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that returns the result of FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 34, imgearbiter.phx, which is a mediating object, again requests file conversion in response to the result of FIG.

  The Action in FIG. 32 is again in-serve, and OriginalMessageType and TargetMessageType have been rewritten to “j” and “k”, respectively. Further, the service executor reverses the PathHistory in FIG. 33 to select “j” 2 “k”, and the selection is shown in the “Contract” section.

  The Action in FIG. 33 is in-inform, which notifies that the file conversion has been completed successfully. In FIG. 33, PathHistory is one step shorter than FIG. This is because the process was performed by win2 “j”. The MessageKey part has been rewritten to get the converted file.

The Action in FIG. 34 is again in-serve, and OriginalMessageType and TargetMessageType have been rewritten to “j” and “k”, respectively. Also, the service executor reverses the path history of FIG. 32 to select “j” 2 “k”, and the selection is shown in the “Contract” section. FIG. 35 is the same as FIG. Similarly, it indicates that the file conversion has been completed successfully. FIG. 35 differs from FIG. 34 in that no more terms remain in PathHistory. This also indicates that the series of processes induced by FIG. 27 has been completed. When TargetMessageType is “k”, it indicates that the final file format is “k”, and at the same time, it has “k” as an input pattern and waits for TargetMessageType to become a pattern of “k”. This means that processing can be connected to the module. In this embodiment, the ui serv that sent the message of FIG. 27 responds to the pattern “k” of TargetMessageType as an input pattern and displays the “k” file.

  Through the above processing steps, the object collaboration apparatus according to the ninth embodiment designates the object to be the start point and the object to be the end point for which object collaboration is to be constructed, and searches for the collaboration of the objects connecting the two to form a collaboration relationship. can do.

  As can be seen from the above processing, in the object cooperation device of this embodiment, in the object cooperation search, the input message pattern is specified and given as a search key, and the range of cooperation using the output message pattern as a wild card is relaxed. Performing a search (expanding range). Compared to the method of narrowing the range from the start point to the end point, it uses a method that discovers the object linkage from the start point to the end point when a map that includes the end point is obtained while expanding the range from the start point A flexible search method for object cooperation can be realized.

(Embodiment 10)
The object cooperation apparatus of the present invention can be constructed using various computers by recording and providing a program describing processing steps for realizing the configuration described above on a computer-readable recording medium. As shown in the example of the recording medium shown in FIG. 36, the recording medium on which the program having the processing steps for realizing the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention is recorded is a portable recording medium 3601 such as a CD-ROM 3602 or a flexible disk 3603. In addition to the recording medium 3600 in the recording device on the network, the recording medium 3605 such as a hard disk or a RAM of the computer may be used. When the program is executed, the program is loaded on the computer 3604 and the main memory Run on.

  Further, it may be configured not only to compile a source program but also to send an intermediate language format applet to a client computer via a so-called network and execute the interpreter on the client computer.

  According to the object cooperation device of the present invention, the degree of freedom of cooperation between the object cooperation devices connected to the network can be increased, and cooperation processing such as dialogue / cooperation of the computer group or the object group is performed, and the object-oriented environment A system that responds flexibly to changes in the environment and gradually changes can be constructed. Further, in the system design, after initially designing a simple object linkage state, an extended design is possible in which an object is added later if necessary.

  According to the object linkage apparatus of the present invention, object linkage insertion can be performed flexibly and dynamically, the influence on objects before and after insertion can be reduced, and operations such as program change and recompilation can be made unnecessary.

  According to the object linkage apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to link object linkages that are not independently and flexibly and dynamically linked to a series of object linkages, reducing the influence on objects before and after linkage, Work such as recompilation can be made unnecessary.

  According to the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, external intervention by an external object can be performed flexibly and dynamically for a series of object cooperation, the flow of object cooperation can be changed, and the object before and after the change can be changed. It is possible to reduce the influence of the program and to eliminate work such as program change and recompilation.

  According to the object collaboration apparatus of the present invention, an object having an action that reacts to one message in parallel is additionally constructed for an object collaboration that has an action that reacts to one message flexibly and dynamically. It is possible to construct a form of participation on the receiving side of object cooperation.

  According to the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, an object having an action for transmitting the one message in parallel is additionally constructed for an object cooperation having an action that reacts to one message flexibly and dynamically. It is possible to construct a transmission side participation form of object cooperation.

  According to the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the message / action reaction relationship, a message / action reaction condition for the reaction to occur can be set, and flexible operation is possible. In addition, by setting reaction conditions so that loads are not concentrated, load balancing processing can be performed in a balanced manner over the entire network.

  According to the object cooperation device of the present invention, the cooperation relationship between the object cooperation devices on the network can be displayed as a visible visual chart, can be intuitively understood, and the action reaction that can occur is known in advance. Can do.

  According to the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to specify an object as a starting point and an object as an end point for which object cooperation is to be constructed, and to search for an object connection between the two to form a cooperation relationship.

The figure which showed the loose cooperation between the objects in the Awareness analogy regarding the basic principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the basic principle of the object cooperation insertion of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure at the time of making the object cooperation insertion of Embodiment 1 of this invention multistage insertion 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the concept of the object cooperation before the object cooperation insertion of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the example which newly inserted the shared object of Embodiment 1 of this invention, and introduce | transduced the shared display function into the system The figure which shows the basic principle of the connection of the object cooperation of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the concept of the object cooperation before the connection of the object cooperation of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the concept of the connection of the object cooperation of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the basic principle of the external intervention of the object cooperation of Embodiment 3 of this invention The figure which shows the concept of the object cooperation before the external intervention of the object cooperation of Embodiment 3 of this invention The figure which shows the concept of the external intervention of the object cooperation of Embodiment 3 of this invention The figure which shows the basic principle of the receiving side participation of the object cooperation of Embodiment 4 of this invention The figure which shows the object cooperation apparatus of this invention to which the fundamental principle of the receiving side participation of the object cooperation of Embodiment 4 of this invention is applied. The figure which shows the basic principle of the transmission side participation of the object cooperation of Embodiment 5 of this invention. The figure which shows the object cooperation apparatus of this invention to which the fundamental principle of the transmission side participation of the object cooperation of Embodiment 5 of this invention is applied. Schematic configuration block diagram of an object collaboration apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention The figure which shows the concept of cooperation between the objects by the object cooperation apparatus of Embodiment 6 of this invention. The figure explaining the basic principle of the object cooperation apparatus of Embodiment 7 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the visual chart which the object cooperation apparatus of Embodiment 7 of this invention produces | generates. The figure which shows the example where object cooperation has the constitution which has the object cooperation core part and the object cooperation interface part The figure which shows a mode that the object cooperation relationship is changed using the object cooperation interface part Schematic configuration block diagram of an object collaboration apparatus of Embodiment 8 of the present invention Schematic configuration block diagram of an object linkage apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention The figure explaining the basic principle which searches object cooperation by the backward search method in the object cooperation apparatus of Embodiment 9 of this invention. The figure which shows dtd showing the message used in this Embodiment 9, an input message, and an output message The figure which shows the example of the message which the object search part 113 sends out in a 1st step in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which the object search part 113 sends out in a 2nd step in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which the object search part 113 received in 3rd step in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which the object search part 113 sends out in the 2nd step of repetition in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which the object search part 113 received in the 9th step of repetition in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message of the file conversion request using the result obtained by FIG. 31 in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which returns the result of FIG. 32 in this Embodiment 9. The figure which shows the example of the message which imgearbiter.phx used as a mediation object requests file conversion again after receiving the result of FIG. 33 in the ninth embodiment As in FIG. 34, the file conversion is completed successfully in the ninth embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the recording medium which recorded the processing program which implement | achieves the object cooperation apparatus of this invention in this Embodiment 10. The figure which shows the example of the object cooperation in the client / server system based on CORBA of a prior art

Claims (2)

A message receiver that monitors and captures messages sent over the network;
And messages and message action reaction relation storage unit for storing the relationship between the action content is response to the message,
An action execution unit that searches and executes an action corresponding to the message from the message / action reaction relation storage unit ;
As a search key message pattern object existing on the network to interact, and an object search unit for searching an object with the message pattern as input and output of the message patterns,
As a search key first main Ssejipata down message action response relationships of the first object, an object that exists on the network, searches for the object that contains the message pattern corresponding to the search key, the message of the object Explore patterns,
Until the message pattern of the searched object matches the message pattern of the second message / action reaction relationship related to the second object, the message action including the message pattern using the message pattern of the searched object as the search key By searching for a response relationship from the message / action response relationship storage unit,
An object characterized by automatically searching for an object relation that connects between a first object that is a starting point for constructing an object relation and a second object that is an end point according to the message / action reaction relation of each object. Cooperation device.
Computer on the network
A message receiver that monitors and captures messages sent over the network;
And messages and message action reaction relation storage unit for storing the relationship between the action content is response to the message,
An action execution unit that searches and executes an action corresponding to the message from the message / action reaction relation storage unit ;
As a search key message pattern object existing on the network to interact, and an object search unit for searching an object with the message pattern as input and output of the message patterns,
As a search key first main Ssejipata down message action response relationships of the first object, an object that exists on the network, searches for the object that contains the message pattern corresponding to the search key, the message of the object Explore patterns,
Until the message pattern of the searched object matches the message pattern of the second message / action reaction relationship related to the second object, the message action including the message pattern using the message pattern of the searched object as the search key By searching for a response relationship from the message / action response relationship storage unit,
According to the message / action reaction relationship of each object, it is made to function as an object cooperation device that automatically searches for the cooperation relation between the first object that is the starting point for constructing the object cooperation and the second object that is the end point thereof. recorded computer-readable record medium storing a program for.

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