JP4839715B2 - Thin client system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thin client system in which a server performs document editing processing in response to an editing command received from a client terminal, and executes document processing in a procedure in which the client terminal receives the processing result and displays the screen.

The thin client system is a system in which the data processing load of the client terminal is suppressed as is well known, and the client terminal gives a data processing command to the server, receives the processing result from the server, and presents it to the user. is there.
Thin clients do not have data to be processed locally (thin client terminals) and do not have input / output means for external storage devices, so data security is high and the processing burden on thin client terminals can be reduced. Since it has an advantage that it is easy to make a system configuration using a wireless information processing device such as a portable wireless information terminal as a thin client terminal, it is expected to be used for document processing in a so-called mobile environment.

Here, in an information browsing system using a portable wireless terminal, an invention has been proposed in which information once viewed even in a place where radio waves do not reach is cached in the terminal so that the information can be browsed on the terminal. (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-300654

  In a basic thin client system, when a communication device such as a portable wireless information terminal with relatively low data processing capability is used as a thin client terminal, the document processing program itself is also present on the server together with the document data to be processed. Since the thin client terminal simply sends an editing command to the server, receives the editing result from the server and presents it to the user, the communication with the server is interrupted. There is a problem that processing cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable a thin client terminal to perform simple document processing in a situation where communication with a server is interrupted. .

As an aspect of the present invention, in a thin client system in which a client terminal and a server communicate with each other and a server edits a document in accordance with an editing command received from the client terminal, the server includes document data that is a target of the editing command. The simple document data is generated based on the data and transmitted to the client terminal, and the client terminal receives and holds the simple document data from the server for use in the document processing for the editing command during the communication disconnection with the server.
Therefore, even if communication with the server is interrupted, the simplified version of the document can be viewed on the client terminal, and further, communication can be resumed for the simplified document by having a simple editing program. The editing operation can be performed in advance without waiting.

Here, the timing at which the server transmits the simple document data to the client terminal is the timing at which the server starts the document processing. For example, when there is an instruction to save the document data from the client terminal side, Various timings can be employed, such as when a request is made, at every predetermined time interval timed by the server, or when it is detected that the radio wave condition at which communication is interrupted is below a predetermined value.
As will be described later, in the present invention, simple document data and a simple editing program for editing simple document data can be implemented in a state of being held in advance in the client terminal.

  Simplified document data is document data such as font modification function information, various media information display function information such as photos, Web access function information such as URLs, etc., compared to document data when normal editing processing is performed on the server. For example, when normal document data includes text data and photo information of document description, the client terminal has a relatively low memory capacity and processing capability. The simple document data is smaller than normal document data so that the photograph information is omitted so that the document data can be held and processed.

  The simple editing program corresponds to the simple document data, and functions (normal font editing function, media editing display function such as a photo, Web access information editing function such as URL, etc.) Etc.) is a simple editing program that is limited, and by omitting these functions, it is a small program that can be held and executed by a client terminal having a relatively low memory capacity and processing capability. For example, this corresponds to a simple editing program in which a part of functions of the editing program for PDA is omitted for an editing program installed in a personal computer.

As a more specific aspect, the present invention provides a thin client system,
The server executes editing processing according to the editing command from the client terminal by the editing program means, and holds document data edited by the editing program means by the document holding means.
The client terminal holds the simple editing program whose function is limited by the simple program holding means and the function of the document data edited by the server corresponding to the simple program by the simple document holding means. When the simple document data with limited information is held, the communication status determining means constantly or periodically monitors to determine the communication status with the server, and when the communication with the server is disconnected, the simple program control means Then, a simple program is activated to edit the simple document data, and edit processing history information by the simple program is transmitted to the server when the disconnected communication is reconnected.

Then, the server is a simple process reflecting means, and in accordance with the editing process history information received from the client terminal, causes the editing program means to execute the editing process on the document data to be edited from the client terminal, and disconnects the communication. The editing operation performed on the client terminal is reflected in the document data.
Here, the editing process history information transmitted from the client terminal to the server is, for example, the editing command history input by the user to the simple editing program in order to edit the simple document at the client terminal, and edited by the simple editing program at the client terminal. Any simple document may be used as long as the information can be reflected in the server by the editing program means by editing the document data.

  Here, in the case where the server provides the simple document data to the client terminal, the server uses the simple document creation means from the document data held by the document holding means at the timing set as described above. Data is generated and transmitted to the client terminal, and the client terminal may hold the simple document data received from the server in the simple document holding means.

  In the case where the server provides a simple editing program to the client terminal, the server holds the simple editing program of the editing program means by the simple program providing means and is set at the same timing as the simple document data. The client terminal may hold the simple program received from the server in the simple program holding means.

  Here, in order to ensure a higher level of security in the client terminal, for example, the end of the document editing process is detected, for example, that an edit end command has been transmitted from the client terminal to the server, or that the client terminal has been turned off. Preferably, the client terminal is provided with erasing means for erasing the simple document data held in the simple document holding means. It should be noted that by using a volatile memory as the simple document holding means, an erasing means for erasing the simple document data held in the simple document holding means may be configured by turning off the power of the client terminal. .

  The present invention is realized as a thin client system including a server and a client terminal, as well as a server constituting the thin client system, a server program constituting the server by a computer, a client terminal constituting the thin client system, and the client terminal. It can be realized as a document editing method implemented by a client terminal program configured by a computer and a thin client system.

  According to the present invention, since the thin client terminal can perform simple document processing even in a situation where communication with the server is interrupted, the user of the thin client terminal confirms the overview of the document to be edited. Alternatively, an editing operation on the document can be performed in advance.

The present invention will be specifically described based on an example.
In the thin client system of this example, as shown in FIG. 1, a server S is connected to an access point (wireless base station) P via a network N, and a client terminal located in the communication area E of the access point P (Wireless communication terminal) C and server S communicate via access point P, server S edits the document in response to an edit command received from client terminal C, and server S displays the result of the edit process. The edited document is displayed on the screen of the client terminal C by being transmitted to the client terminal C.
In other words, the basic processing in the thin client system is that when the client terminal C and the server S are connected, the editing processing program is executed by the server S, and the client terminal C receives an instruction input to the carver S. (Client that only displays the editing process result by server S)

  In the thin client system of this example, when the client terminal C moves outside the communication area E of the access point P and communication with the server S is interrupted, simple document processing is performed at the client terminal C. 2 is provided in the server S and the client terminal C.

  The server S is edited by the communication means 1 that communicates with the client terminal C connected to the access point P, the editing program means 2 that executes the editing process in accordance with the editing command received from the client terminal C, and the editing program means 2 edits. Document holding means 3 for holding document data, a simple processing unit 4 for performing processing for simple editing performed by the client terminal C, whether information received from the client terminal C is an editing command or editing processing history information, etc. The simple edit determination means 5 for determining the above is provided.

  Then, as the simple processing unit 4, the simple program providing means 6 for holding the simple editing program of the editing program constituting the editing program means 2 for transmission to the client terminal C, and the document holding means 3 for transmitting to the client terminal C The simple document creation means 7 for creating simple document data from the document data held by the client terminal C, the editing program means 2 converts the document data to be edited from the client terminal C in accordance with the editing process history information received from the client terminal C. Simple processing reflecting means 8 for executing editing processing is provided.

Here, transmission of the simple editing program by the simple program providing means 6 and transmission of the simple document data by the simple document creation means 7 are performed in response to a user request from the client terminal C or periodically. However, in this example, as will be described later, this is performed when the editing program means 2 is started and the document editing process is started, or when the document data is saved by a user request from the client terminal C.
In addition, each said function means 1-8 with which the server S was equipped is comprised by running the program which concerns on this invention with the computer which comprises the said server S in this example.

  The client terminal C includes a wireless communication unit 11 that communicates with the server C via the access point P, an input unit 12 that receives an operation input from a user, and a document that is edited in accordance with a drawing command received from the server S. Communication with the display processing unit 13 that displays an image on the screen, the simple program holding unit 14 that holds the simple editing program received from the server S, the simple document holding unit 15 that holds the simple document data received from the server S, and the server S Communication status determination means 16 for monitoring and determining the status When the communication with the server S is disconnected, a simple program is activated to edit the simple document data, and the disconnected communication is reconnected. Simple program for sending edit processing history information by simple program to server S Is equipped with a control means 17.

In this example, the client terminal C further includes an erasing unit 18 that detects the end of the document editing process (end of the session with the server) and deletes the simple document data held in the simple document holding unit 18. However, the document data is retained more than necessary so that the confidentiality of the document contents is not harmed.
In this example, as the editing process history information, a set of editing commands input by the user using a simple editing program is transmitted to the server S. In the server S, the simple processing reflecting means 8 has the editing command set 8 concerned. Thus, the editing data by the simple editing program is reflected in the document data of the server S by editing the document data by the editing program means 2 according to the above.

In this example, each time the server S performs an editing process, the server S transmits a command for drawing a document image as a result of editing to the client terminal C, and the client terminal C displays a document image on the screen according to the drawing command. However, the server S may send a document image as a result of editing every time the editing process is performed, and the client terminal C may display the document image.
In the present example, each of the functional units 11 to 18 provided in the client terminal C is configured by executing a program according to the present invention on a computer configuring the client terminal C.
As the client terminal C, various wireless communication devices such as PDAs can be used. Recently, the client terminal C has a wireless communication function and a thin and flexible display unit such as paper, depending on information received wirelessly. An electronic paper that writes and displays a document image on the display unit by itself can also be used.

FIG. 3 shows an example of document data (a) to be edited by the server S and simplified document data (b) of the document data.
Document data includes additional data such as attribute data including document ID and type, text data that is the description content of the document, modification data such as specification of text color and thickness, graphic data included in the document, etc. The data part is included. On the other hand, simple document data is data that has been compacted into a necessary and sufficient data part (in the example shown, attribute data and text data, for example, simple text data) as a document. The data is limited and has a small capacity.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an editing program (a) executed by the server S and a simple program (b) of the editing program.
In addition to the document editing function, the editing program includes additional functional units such as a character modification function for modifying characters in the document and a graphic drawing function for drawing a graphic in the document. On the other hand, the simple program is an editing program that is compacted into a functional part necessary and sufficient for document editing (in the illustrated example, the document editing function), and the functions are limited by the editing program of the server S. The program is small and requires a small processing capacity.

The editing process according to this example will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS.
In this example, in the server S, the document editing program 2 and the simple document creation program 7 operate on the operating system (OS), and in the client terminal C, the user interface is operated by the input unit 12 and the display processing unit 13 on the operating system (OS). The simple desktop program and the simple program 14 for editing the simple document data held in the buffer (simple document holding means) 15 operate.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the wireless connection between the client terminal C and the server S is established, the simple document editing program 14 held in the client terminal C is stopped. When the user inputs an editing command to the user interfaces 12 and 13 at the client terminal C, the editing command is transmitted to the server S, and the document editing program 2 is held in the document holding unit 3 according to the command. The document data to be edited is edited, a drawing command for displaying the image of the edited document is returned to the client terminal C, and the user interfaces 12 and 13 display the document image edited in accordance with the drawing command on the screen.
At a predetermined timing during the communication, the simple document creation program 7 of the server S creates simple document data from the document data and transmits it to the client terminal C. The client terminal C receives the buffer (simple document holding means) 15. To store and hold.

  Then, when the wireless connection between the client terminal C and the server S is interrupted due to the client terminal C moving out of the wireless communication range, etc., as shown in FIG. This is detected, and the simple document editing program 14 built in the simple program control means 17 is activated. Thereby, the edit command input from the user interfaces 12 and 13 is substantially input to the simple document edit program 14, and the simple document edit program 14 edits the simple document data 15 while the wireless connection is disconnected. Can continue.

  When the wireless connection between the client terminal C and the server S is resumed, for example, when the client terminal C moves into the wireless communication area, as shown in FIG. Edit history information (for example, edited simple document data, edit command set, etc.) is transmitted to the server S, and the simple process reflecting means 8 of the server S controls the editing program 2 and the original held by the document holding means 3. The simple document is synchronized with the original document of the server S by reflecting the difference with the edited simple document data in the document data.

FIG. 8 shows the flow of editing processing from the start of communication connection (session start) to the end of communication connection (session end) in the thin client system of this example.
When the client terminal C communicates with the server S, transmits an editing start command with the document ID to be processed, etc. to the server S, and the editing process session starts, the server S displays the document to be processed. A drawing command is transmitted to the client terminal C, and the document image is drawn and displayed.

When the server S receives the document editing program start command from the client terminal C, the server S starts the document editing program 2, and each time the editing command is received from the client terminal C as described above, The document data is edited according to the editing command, and a drawing command for displaying the edited document on the screen is transmitted to the client terminal C for display processing.
Then, when receiving a document editing program end command from the client terminal C, the server S ends the document editing process, and the client terminal C deletes the simple document data held in the buffer 15.

In such a series of editing processes, in this example, when the document editing program 2 is started up, when the user command for saving the document data being edited is received from the client terminal C, the simple document creation program 7 receives the simple document data. Create (or update) and send to client terminal C.
In addition to a mode in which the simple editing program 14 is always provided in the client terminal C, for example, a predetermined time such as when a session is started or when the server S detects that the client terminal C is likely to go out of the communication range (decrease in received electric field strength). Sometimes, the server S may transmit to the client terminal C and hold it.

FIG. 9 shows a flow of processing from the communication connection start (session start) to the communication connection end (session end) in the thin client terminal C of this example.
The client terminal C communicates with the server S to start an editing process session (step S1), transmits an editing command to the server S, and causes the document editing program 2 to perform the document editing process (step S2).
The status of the editing process communication is monitored by the communication status determination unit 16 and when it is determined that the communication with the server S (that is, the access point P) is interrupted (step S3), the simple program control unit 17 performs the server S. Is stopped (step S4), the simple editing program 14 is started, and the process proceeds to an editing process for the simple document data 15 (step S5).

  When the communication status determination unit 16 determines that communication with the server S (that is, the access point P) has been resumed (step S6), the simple program control unit 17 transmits the editing history information to the server S to send the server S Is reflected in the document data (step S7), and a normal session for performing the document editing process by the document editing program 2 is resumed in accordance with the editing command from the client terminal C (step S8). Thereafter, when the user transmits an edit end command from the client terminal C, it is transmitted to the server S, the document editing program 2 ends (step S9), and the session ends (step S10). Note that the simple document data held in the simple document holding means 15 is erased by the erasing means 18 with the end of the session.

It is a figure which shows the thin client system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the client terminal and server which concern on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the simple document data based on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the simple edit program which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the edit process which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the edit process which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the edit process which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the flow of the edit process of the thin client system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the flow of a process in the client terminal of this example which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2: Document editing program, 3: Document holding means,
4: Simple processing means, 5: Simple editing determination means,
6: Simple program providing means, 7: Simple document creating means,
8: Simple processing reflection means,
14: Simple program holding means (simple document editing program),
15: Simple document holding means, 16: Communication status judging means,
17: Simple program control means, 18: Erase means,
C: Client terminal, P: Access point,
S: Server,

Claims (9)

In a thin client system in which a client terminal communicates with a server and the server edits a document in response to an editing command received from the client terminal,
The client terminal is
Simple editing program holding means for holding a simple editing program whose function is limited by an editing program for performing document editing processing on the server;
Simple document holding means for holding simple document data in which functional information is restricted from document data edited by the server in correspondence with the simple editing program;
Communication status determining means for determining a communication status with the server;
When the communication with the server is disconnected, the simple editing program is started in order to edit the simple document data, and when the disconnected communication is reconnected, editing processing history information by the simple editing program And a simple editing program control means for transmitting to the server,
The server
Editing program means for executing an editing process in response to an editing command from a client terminal;
Document holding means for holding document data to be edited by the editing program means;
A simple process reflecting unit that causes the editing program unit to execute an editing process on document data that is a target of an editing command from the client terminal in accordance with the editing process history information received from the client terminal. Thin client system. The thin client system according to claim 1,
The server further includes a simple editing program providing means for holding a simple editing program of the editing program means and transmitting to the client terminal,
The thin client system, wherein the client terminal holds the simple editing program received from the server in the simple editing program holding means. The thin client system according to claim 1 or 2,
The server further comprises simple document creation means for creating simple document data from the document data held by the document holding means and transmitting it to the client terminal,
The thin client system, wherein the client terminal holds the simple document data received from the server in the simple document holding means. The thin client system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The thin client system, wherein the client terminal further includes an erasing unit that detects the end of the document editing process and erases the simple document data held in the simple document holding unit. Communicates with the client terminal, the server executing the editing process of the document in accordance with the edit command received from the client terminal,
Editing program means for executing an editing process in response to an editing command from a client terminal;
Document holding means for holding document data to be edited by the editing program means;
When the communication with the server is cut off, the client terminal uses a simple editing program whose functions are limited by the editing program for editing the document on the server, and the function information from the document data edited by the server corresponding to the simple editing program. Is received from the client terminal history information obtained by editing the simple document data limited in number, and the editing program means edits the document data to be edited from the client terminal in accordance with the editing process history information. Simple process reflection means for executing
A thin client system server characterized by comprising: Communicates with the client terminal, the server executing editing processing document in accordance with the edit command received from the client terminal, the program constituting a computer,
Editing program means for executing an editing process in response to an editing command from a client terminal;
Document holding means for holding document data to be edited by the editing program means;
When the communication with the server is cut off, the client terminal uses a simple editing program whose functions are limited by the editing program for editing the document on the server, and the function information from the document data edited by the server corresponding to the simple editing program. Is received from the client terminal history information obtained by editing the simple document data limited in number, and the editing program means edits the document data to be edited from the client terminal in accordance with the editing process history information. Simple process reflection means for executing
A server program for a thin client system, comprising: In the client terminal that communicates with the server and causes the server to edit the document according to the editing command to be transmitted,
Simple editing program holding means for holding a simple editing program whose function is limited compared to an editing program that performs document editing processing on a server;
Simple document holding means for holding simple document data in which functional information is restricted from document data edited by the server in correspondence with the simple editing program;
Communication status determining means for determining a communication status with the server;
When the communication with the server is disconnected, the simple editing program is activated to edit the simple document data, and when the disconnected communication is reconnected, the server is an editing instruction target. to execute the editing process that reflects the editing history by the simple editing program in the document data, and characterized by including a simple editing program control unit, a to transmit the editing processing history information according to the simple editing program to the server Thin client system client terminal. In a program that configures a client terminal that communicates with a server and causes a server to edit a document in response to an editing command to be transmitted,
Simple editing program holding means for holding a simple editing program whose function is limited compared to an editing program that performs document editing processing on a server;
Simple document holding means for holding simple document data in which functional information is restricted from document data edited by the server in correspondence with the simple editing program;
Communication status determining means for determining a communication status with the server;
When the communication with the server is disconnected, the simple editing program is activated to edit the simple document data, and when the disconnected communication is reconnected, the server is an editing instruction target. to execute the editing process that reflects the editing history by the simple editing program in the document data, that constitute a simple editing program control means for transmitting the editing processing history information according to the simple editing program to the server, to the computer A client terminal program for a thin client system. In the document editing method in the thin client system in which the client terminal communicates with the server and the server edits the document in accordance with an editing command received from the client terminal.
The server holds an editing program that executes an editing process in response to an editing command from the client terminal, and document data that is edited by the editing program.
The client terminal includes a simple editing program whose function is restricted by an editing program for performing document editing processing on the server, and a simple function whose function information is restricted by document data edited by the server corresponding to the simple editing program. Document data and
When the client terminal determines the communication status with the server and communication with the server is disconnected, the client terminal starts the simple editing program to edit the simple document data, and the disconnected communication is reconnected. Send the editing process history information by the simple editing program to the server,
A document editing method, wherein a server executes an editing process by using an editing program on document data that is an object of an editing command from the client terminal in accordance with editing process history information received from the client terminal.

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