JP5318977B2 - ONLINE SYSTEM, PROGRAM GENERATION DEVICE, AND SCREEN CONTROL PROGRAM GENERATION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily develop a program in a short period without work that requires knowledge of a program language. <P>SOLUTION: An online system includes: first and second programs; a first operation screen having a first variable input area; a second operation screen having a processing result output area for outputting a result of processing with the first program using a variable whose data is input on the first operation screen as an input, and a second variable input area; a third operation screen having a processing result output area for outputting a result of processing with the second program using a variable whose data is input on the second operation screen as an input; and a single variable storage area composed of mutually different variables. The variable input areas and variable output areas on the first to third operation screens correspond to areas of variables in the variable storage area. A result of processing with the first program is output to the variable storage area. The variable storage area includes at least one variable to be used as an input to the second program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an application development support apparatus and program, and in particular, an application development support apparatus that supports development of an application program performed using a plurality of types of tools, and a function for causing a computer to function as the application development support apparatus. It relates to an application development support program.

Recently, BPEL (Business Process Execution Language) has become widespread as a standard (language) that can describe a business process as a workflow. Regarding BPEL, a desired workflow can be visually described by selecting and combining desired parts from multiple types of parts corresponding to different processes, and compliant with BPEL from the created workflow A tool capable of automatically generating the program is prepared, and an execution environment in which the computer automatically generates the program automatically generated by the tool can be constructed. For this reason, by using the above tools, it is possible to easily and quickly develop a program for realizing a workflow for providing a desired web service by a computer without performing coding work that requires knowledge of a programming language. it can.

On the other hand, JSF (Java (registered trademark) Server Faces) is known as a standard for constructing a user interface for a web application. With regard to this JSF, user interface screen design and user interface screen transitions can be made by performing operations such as selecting and arranging desired symbols from a plurality of types of symbols that can be used as components of the user interface screen. A tool that can construct a user interface such as a definition and can automatically generate a program that realizes the constructed user interface is prepared, and a program that realizes a desired user interface by using this tool Can be obtained easily and in a short time without coding work. For this reason, when developing a web application, a user interface part program of the web application is automatically generated using a JSF tool, and a web service part program is automatically generated using a BPEL tool. By doing so, it is expected that the development period can be greatly shortened by eliminating the need for any coding work.

However, the JSF standard does not consider linking a program automatically generated using JSF (a program realizing a user interface) with a program automatically generated using BPEL (a program realizing a workflow) ( The process of calling other programs is not defined as a standard). For example, a link (for example, a hyperlink pasted on an arbitrary document, an Internet shortcut, etc.) is called directly to select a specific web In order to construct a user interface including a specific user interface screen for displaying the execution result of the service, a program for starting the specific program that provides the specific web service is separately created by coding work, and the specific user interface is displayed. It is necessary to add to the scan screen. Therefore, even if the user interface part program is automatically generated using the JSF tool and the web service providing part program is automatically generated using the BPEL tool in the web application to be developed, it will eventually be However, it has been difficult to significantly shorten the development period because coding work is required.

In relation to the above, in Patent Document 1, a socket communication program capable of communicating with a web server without using a web browser is provided in the client terminal, and on the data server according to a request sent from the client terminal by the socket communication program. A technology that enables data processing automation by enabling the client terminal to display the result without using a web browser by providing a program for exchanging with the database and sending the result to the client terminal on the web server. It is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in an application server having a first virtual machine that interfaces with a client and a second virtual machine that executes various business objects, identification names of data necessary for processing of the business objects are listed. Stored for each business object, the first virtual machine causes the client to display an arbitrary screen and input arbitrary data, receives a request including form data, and receives a business object corresponding to the received request. When calling, obtain the identification name of each data required by the business object to be called, and transfer only the data whose identification name matches the acquired identification name among the data included in the form data to the second virtual machine To extract the necessary data on the second virtual machine side. Techniques for coding for processing to eliminate the need is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 discloses a web application control apparatus that distributes a business process according to a request content from a client to any of a plurality of business process modules prepared in advance, and returns a processing result to a requesting client. Accepts a request containing business process identification information to be executed together with the data subject to business process, distributes the process to the business process module corresponding to the received identification information, acquires the process result, and identifies the identification information and the business process module. Based on the processing result, the screen generation process of the processing result is distributed to any of the plurality of screen generation modules, and the screen generation module generates screen data of the distributed processing result and outputs it as a response to the requesting client Techniques to do this are disclosed.

JP 2003-108558 A JP 2006-268121 A JP 2004-38559 A

The technologies described in Patent Literature 1 to Patent Literature 3 described above are technologies for realizing the use of a desired web service from a client terminal, but these technologies display an execution result of a specific web service. When a link is directly called for a specific user interface screen, no consideration is given, and when a user interface including the specific user interface screen described above is constructed, a coding operation needs to be performed. If the development of a program requires some coding work, the development staff is limited to those who have knowledge of the programming language, and debugging work is also required for programs created by coding work. Therefore, there is a problem that the development period is significantly prolonged compared to the case where coding work can be omitted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and it is possible to develop an application program having a user interface including a user interface screen that is directly called from a link and displays an execution result of a specific web service. It is an object to obtain an application development support apparatus and an application development support program that can be realized without performing it.

In order to achieve the above object, an application development support apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention displays a plurality of types of symbols that can be used as components of a user interface screen on a display screen by a computer. When a user interface to be constructed is defined by performing at least a first operation for designing a user interface screen by arranging a desired symbol among the symbols in a desired position in the screen, the user interface When a developer creates a first tool for generating a first program for realizing the above and a flowchart for defining a process for providing a desired web service, the process represented by the created flowchart is executed. The second program to do An application development support apparatus for supporting development of an application program including the first program and the second program, which is performed using a second tool generated by the method, and can be used as a component of the user interface screen In addition, a specific user interface screen is used as activation symbol information for causing the computer to perform processing for calling the second program generated using the second tool and providing the predetermined web service. When a link in which link information including address information for calling is embedded is selected, the link is directly called from the link, and the result of the process for providing the predetermined web service performed by the second program is displayed. The specific user interface When the specific user interface screen arranged is directly called from the link during operation, the second program is activated to execute the process of providing the predetermined web service. A symbol generating means for generating information on an unconditional activation symbol to which a third program to be executed by a computer is added is provided.

In the first invention, the first tool displays a plurality of types of symbols that can be used as components of the user interface screen on a display screen by a computer, and a developer selects a desired symbol from among the plurality of types of symbols. When a user interface to be constructed is defined by performing at least a first operation for designing a user interface screen by arranging a desired position in the screen, a first program for realizing the user interface Is generated by a computer. More specifically, in the first tool, in addition to the first operation by the developer, each information input / display field arranged in the user interface screen designed by the first operation is displayed in the variable storage area. A second operation for associating with a corresponding variable storage area among a plurality of variables provided with a storage area, and a third operation for defining a transition of a plurality of designed user interface screens. If the user interface to be constructed is defined by the tool, a tool that generates the first program may be used. Further, as in the fourth invention, a tool conforming to the first standard can be applied as the first tool. More specifically, for example, as in the fifth invention, as the first standard, JSF can be applied.

In the first invention, the second tool is a second program for executing a process represented by the created flowchart when a developer creates a flowchart that defines a process for providing a desired web service. Is generated by a computer. As the second tool, a tool compliant with the second standard (standard different from the first tool) can be applied, and more specifically, as the second standard, for example, as in the fifth invention Can apply BPEL.

Here, an application development support apparatus according to the first invention is an apparatus that supports development of an application program including the first program and the second program, which is performed using the first tool and the second tool. The symbol generation means can be used as a component of the user interface screen, and causes the computer to perform a process of providing a predetermined web service by calling the second program generated using the second tool. As the activation symbol information for this purpose, a link in which link information including address information (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) for calling a specific user interface screen is selected is directly called from the link ( Called without any other user interface screen display) Are arranged on a specific user interface screen that displays the result of the processing for providing a predetermined web service performed by the second program, and are realized at the time of operation (for example, when the first program is executed by the computer or by the first program). When the arranged user interface screen is directly called from the link at the time of providing the user interface to the user, a process of starting the second program and executing a process of providing a predetermined web service is performed. Information on the unconditional activation symbol to which the third program to be executed by the computer is added is generated.

The unconditional activation symbol can be used as a component of the user interface screen, so the developer can place the unconditional activation symbol in the specific user interface screen being designed by performing the first operation. It becomes. When the user interface screen on which the unconditional activation symbol is arranged is directly called from the link during operation, the third program attached to the unconditional activation symbol is executed, and the second program is activated to execute a predetermined web service. A process for executing the process to be provided is performed unconditionally, and an execution result of a predetermined web service is obtained.

As described above, in the first invention, when the arranged user interface screen is directly called from the link during operation, the process of starting the second program and executing the process of providing a predetermined web service is unconditionally performed. Since the information of the unconditional activation symbol to which the third program to be performed is generated is generated by the symbol generation means, a user interface including a specific user interface screen that is directly called from the link and displays the execution result of the specific web service is displayed. In the development of an application program, the coding work for creating a program for starting a second program from the specific user interface screen and executing a process for providing a predetermined web service can be omitted. In addition, the developer only performs a first operation of placing the unconditional activation symbol displayed on the display screen by the first tool in the user interface screen that displays the execution result of the specific web service. Since the user interface screen can be designed so that it can be called directly from a link, the period required for the work to specify the user interface to be built, coupled with the fact that the above coding work is no longer necessary As a result, the development period of the application program can be shortened.

In the first invention, the unconditional activation symbol may be a symbol that is visually displayed on the arranged user interface screen during operation. For example, as in the second invention, the symbol generation means As the unconditional activation symbol, it is preferable to generate symbol information in which attribute information is also set so that it is not visible on a specific user interface screen that is arranged during operation. Thereby, it can avoid that the user interface screen which has arrange | positioned the unconditional starting symbol becomes complicated.

In the first invention, the symbol generating means can be used as a component of the user interface screen before at least the first operation is performed on the first tool, for example, as in the third invention. As a symbol, one of the n types of second programs generated using the second tool is called, and m (m ≧ n) types of processes that can be executed by the n types of second programs Condition activation symbol generation means for generating information on m types of condition activation symbols for performing different processes, and a specific symbol among the m types of condition activation symbols for which information is generated by the condition activation symbol generation means Is selected in a state of being visually displayed on the arranged user interface screen at the time of operation, the computer selects n types of Generating a fourth program for starting a specific second program capable of executing a corresponding process in the program and executing the corresponding process, and adding the generated fourth program to information of a specific symbol; m Program adding means for each type of condition activation symbol, and m types of condition activation symbols to which the fourth program is added by the program addition means when the first operation is performed on the first tool. When a change to an unconditional activation symbol is instructed for a specific conditional activation symbol selected from the information and arranged in a specific user interface screen under design, the specific arrangement in the screen When the fourth program added to the condition activation symbol information is in operation, the specific user interface screen that was placed is called directly from the link. When the program is released, the computer activates a specific second program that can execute the corresponding process and changes the program to a third program that executes the corresponding process. And changing means for generating an unconditional activation symbol from a specific conditional activation symbol arranged.

As a result, when the developer performs an operation of defining the user interface to be constructed using the first tool, the condition activation symbol generated by the condition activation symbol generation unit of the symbol generation unit is also the first. Is displayed on the display screen as a symbol that can be used as a component of the user interface screen. By performing the first operation, a desired activation symbol (m types of processing) among the displayed conditional activation symbols is displayed. Among them, a condition activation symbol corresponding to a process desired to be executed can be arranged in the user interface screen under design. In addition, when the user selects the conditional activation symbol while the user interface screen is displayed during operation, the fourth program added to the activation symbol is executed, and the corresponding processing is executed. The corresponding specific process is performed by starting a specific second program that is possible. Therefore, according to the third invention, when the user interface of the application program to be developed is selected, a user interface in which a condition activation symbol for activating the second program and executing a corresponding process is arranged in the screen. Coding can be omitted even when screens are included.

In addition, when the first operation is performed on the first tool, the developer selects and designs a specific conditional activation symbol from m types of conditional activation symbols generated by the conditional activation symbol generation means. A specific user interface screen (in which a link in which link information including address information for calling a specific user interface screen is embedded is selected and the link is directly called from the link, and the predetermined program executed by the second program is selected. If you perform an operation to instruct a specific conditional activation symbol placed in the screen to be changed to an unconditional activation symbol, the screen will be displayed in the screen. The specific conditional activation symbol placed in is changed to an unconditional activation symbol. That generate an unconditional starting symbol to execute the desired processing of the processing of, it can be realized by a simple operation.

An application development support program according to a sixth invention causes a computer to display a plurality of types of symbols that can be used as components of a user interface screen on a display screen by the computer, When the user interface to be constructed is defined by performing at least the first operation for designing the user interface screen by arranging the desired symbols in desired positions in the screen, the user interface is realized. When a developer creates a first tool for generating the first program of the computer and a flowchart that defines a process for providing a desired web service, a process for executing the process represented by the created flowchart is executed. 2 programs to computer An application development support program for functioning as an application development support apparatus for supporting development of an application program including the first program and the second program, which is performed using the second tool to be generated, A computer can be used as a component of the user interface screen, and the computer can perform a process of calling the second program generated using the second tool and providing the predetermined web service. As the activation symbol information of, the link in which link information including address information for calling a specific user interface screen is embedded is selected, and the link is directly called from the link, and the second program is executed. When the specific user interface screen is directly called from the link, the second program is started when the specific user interface screen is displayed. It is characterized by functioning as symbol generating means for generating information on an unconditional activation symbol to which a third program that causes a computer to execute processing for providing the predetermined web service is added.

Since the application development support program according to the sixth invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the symbol generation means, the computer executes the application development support program according to the sixth invention, so that the computer A user who functions as an application development support apparatus according to the first invention and includes a user interface screen that is called when a link is selected and displays an execution result of a specific web service, as in the first invention. Development of an application program having an interface can be realized without performing coding work.

As described above, the present invention can be used as a component of a user interface screen, and can be used to call a specific user interface screen as information on a startup symbol for causing a computer to perform a process of providing a predetermined web service. When a link in which link information including address information is embedded is selected, the link is called directly from the link, and is arranged on a specific user interface screen that displays a result of a process for providing a predetermined web service. When a specific user interface screen is directly called from a link, information on an unconditional activation symbol added with a third program for causing a computer to execute a process for providing a predetermined web service is generated. So the link is selected Called in Rukoto, the development of an application program having a user interface including a user interface screen that displays an execution result of a specific web service, can be realized without performing the coding work, it has an excellent effect that.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first computer system 10 according to this embodiment. The first computer system 10 according to the present embodiment is a computer used when developing an application program for providing a predetermined service (web service) to a user who accesses a predetermined website. A system, in which a server computer 12 is connected to each of a large number of client terminals 16 via an intranet 14. Each client terminal 16 is a terminal operated by a developer who develops the above-described application program. For example, the client terminal 16 includes a personal computer (PC) and the like. ) And the like, and a network interface (I / F) unit 16D. Each client terminal 16 is connected to a display 18 as display means, a keyboard 20 and mouse 22 as input means, and is connected to the intranet 14 via a network I / F unit 16D.

In addition, the application program described above is for providing a predetermined web service to a user and a screen control program (first program in the present invention) for realizing a user interface (UI) portion in a predetermined website. Web service providing programs (second program in the present invention). The storage unit 16C of the client terminal 16 is installed with a UI construction tool program for developing the screen control program and a web service creation tool program for developing the web service providing program. Furthermore, a conditional activation button generation program for performing a conditional activation button generation process described later on the client terminal 16 and an unconditional activation button generation program for performing an unconditional activation button generation process are also installed. The conditional start button generation program and the unconditional start button generation program correspond to the application development support program of the sixth invention, and the client terminal 16 has the above-described conditional start button generation program and unconditional start button generation program executed by the CPU 16A. By executing this, it functions as an application development support apparatus according to the present invention.

The UI construction tool corresponds to the first tool according to the present invention, and the web service creation tool corresponds to the second tool according to the present invention. As the UI construction tool, a tool conforming to the standard of JSF (Java (registered trademark) Server Faces) is suitable, but a tool conforming to another standard may be used. Further, as the web service creation tool, a tool compliant with the BPEL (Business Process Execution Language) standard is suitable, but a tool compliant with another standard may be used.

On the other hand, the server computer 12 includes a CPU 12A, a memory 12B including a RAM, a storage unit 12C including an HDD, and a network I / F unit 12D, and is connected to the intranet 14 via the network I / F unit 12D. ing. In the development of a web service providing program using the web service creation tool described above, a program is developed in units of individual web services (for example, “book search” and “book purchase” described later). The web service providing program can also be used to provide the same web service on other websites. Therefore, the storage unit 12C of the server computer 12 stores a web service library for registering the developed web service providing program. The web service providing program registered in the web service library is stored in the storage unit 12C. A plurality of developers operating different client terminals 16 can be used.

Next, the configuration of the second computer system 30 as an execution environment for the application program developed by the first computer system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The second computer system 30 includes a website management system 32 for operating a specific website. The website management system 32 includes an application server 34, a web service providing server 36, and a DB (database) server 38. The web service providing server 36 and the DB server 38 are connected to the application server 34 via communication lines, respectively. Configured.

The application server 34 includes a CPU 34A, a memory 34B including a RAM, a storage unit 34C including an HDD, and a network I / F unit 34D. The storage unit 34C includes the first computer system described above. The above-described screen control program is installed among the application programs developed using 10. The network I / F unit 34D of the application server 34 is connected to a computer network (Internet) 40 in which a large number of web servers are connected to each other via a communication line. The Internet 40 includes a CPU 42A, A memory 42B composed of a RAM or the like, a storage unit 42C composed of an HDD or the like, and a network I / F unit 42D. A browser (web browsing software) program is installed in the storage unit 34C, and a display 44 as a display means, A large number of client terminals 42 to which a keyboard 46 and a mouse 48 as input means are respectively connected are connected.

The web service providing server 36 includes a CPU 36A, a memory 36B including a RAM, a storage unit 36C including an HDD, and a network I / F unit 36D. The HDD 36C includes the first computer system described above. The above-described web service providing program is installed among the application programs developed using 10.

Next, as an operation of this embodiment, first, development of a web service providing program performed using a web service creation tool will be described. When a developer starts a web service creation tool program on the client terminal 16 in order to develop a web service providing program, a creation screen as shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display 18 of the client terminal 16 as an example. Is displayed. The web service creation tool has a function of generating a web service providing program for executing the process represented by the created flowchart when the flowchart defining the process for realizing the web service to be provided is created by the developer. The creation screen shown in FIG. 2A includes a work area for developers to create flowcharts and multiple types of parts (symbols) that can be used to create flowcharts and represent different processes. A displayed palette is provided.

When the creation screen is displayed, the developer selects a desired part from a plurality of parts displayed in the pallet via the mouse 22 or the keyboard 20 and places it in the work area. Correspondingly, input information specifying the contents of the process represented by the arranged parts, and an operation for defining the connection relation (execution order of the process represented by each part) between the arranged parts and the parts already arranged in the work area. By repeating, as shown in FIG. 2B as an example, a flowchart defining a process for realizing the Web service to be provided is created. When the creation of the flowchart is completed, the developer performs an operation for instructing generation of a program corresponding to the created flowchart. A program for realizing the processing represented by each part is added to each part displayed in the pallet, and the web service creation tool creates a flowchart when the program generation is instructed. The program added to the individual components that make up the software is modified based on the information that defines the processing content input by the developer, and rearranged according to the connection relationship of the individual components in the created flowchart. By performing the process, a program (web service providing program) for executing the process represented by the created flowchart is generated. As a result, the developer can obtain a web service providing program that provides a desired web service without performing coding work.

The web service creation tool also generates variable definition information describing the names of input variables and output variables when the generated web service providing program is executed. More specifically, this variable definition information is generated in units of web services realized by the web service providing program. For example, there are many common parts in processing for realizing individual web services, and so on. When a flowchart for realizing a service is created, and a web service providing program for realizing a plurality of types of web services is generated based on the flowchart, different webs of the plurality of types of web services are generated by a web service creation tool. A plurality of variable definition information corresponding to the service is generated.

When a web service providing program for realizing a plurality of types of web services is generated, the number n of web service providing programs is smaller than the number m of web services that can be provided (n <m). When each service providing program is a program that realizes a single web service, the number n of types of web service providing programs is the same as the number m of types of web services that can be provided (n = m). The above variable definition information is referred to as WSDL (Web Service Description Language) in the BPEL standard, for example. Further, in this embodiment, there is a development rule that “a constant name is used for each variable”, and a web service that uses the same variable is defined in the corresponding variable definition information regardless of the content of the web service. The names of the variables are the same.

When the generation of the web service providing program and variable definition information by the web service creation tool is completed as described above, the developer uploads the generated web service providing program and variable definition information from the client terminal 16 to the server computer 12. Let The web service providing program and variable definition information uploaded to the server computer 12 are registered in the web service library and can be used by other developers.

Next, preparation work performed by the developer prior to the development of the screen control program using the UI construction tool will be described. When developing a screen control program using a UI construction tool, the developer lists all the web services that are scheduled to be provided to the user through the UI realized by the screen control program to be developed. The web service providing program and variable definition information corresponding to each uploaded web service are downloaded from, for example, the web service library of the server computer 12, or the web service creation tool is started as necessary, and the above-described flowchart creation is performed. After the work is performed, the web service creation tool and variable definition information are generated by the web service creation tool (stored in the memory 16A or the storage unit 16A). When the corresponding web service providing program and variable definition information are acquired for all web services scheduled to be provided to the user, the condition activation button generation program is activated on the client terminal 16.

Hereinafter, a condition activation button generation process performed by the client terminal 16 when the activated condition activation button generation program is executed by the CPU 16A will be described with reference to FIG. In the condition activation button generation process, first, in step 50, variable definition information (for example, in the BPEL standard) stored in the memory 16A or the storage unit 16A and corresponding to each web service scheduled to be provided to the user. All of the input variables and output variables described in the individual variable definition information are extracted with reference to (WSDL). For example, when the number of types of web services scheduled to be provided to users is m, input variables and output variables are respectively extracted from m variable definition information. In the next step 52, the variables stored in the input variable and the output variable extracted in step 50 are combined into one variable (name is the same, that is, the same variable), and each variable storage area is provided. An area (for example, a managed bean in the JSF standard) is generated.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 6A, web services scheduled to be provided to users are “book search service” and “book purchase service”, and the input variable of “book search service” is “book”. Name ”, the output variable is“ Book ID ”, the input variable of“ Book Purchase Service ”is“ Book ID ”and“ Purchaser ”, and the output variable is“ Result ”, the duplicate“ Book ID ” Are combined into one, a variable storage area is generated in which one storage area for each variable of “book name”, “book ID”, “purchaser”, and “result” is provided.

In step 54, a single web service is selected as a processing target from among the web services scheduled to be provided to the user, and in the next step 56, it is visually displayed on the UI screen at the time of operation. A condition start button (information) that can call the web service to be processed on the web page is generated. Although details will be described later, in the UI construction tool, symbols such as information input / display fields and various buttons that can be used as components of the UI screen are displayed in the palette of the creation screen (see also FIG. 5). Thus, the UI screen is designed by repeating the operation of selecting a desired symbol and placing it at a desired position. In step 56, as a condition activation button that is visible on the UI screen during operation and can be called on the web page by selecting it, the same standard (for example, JSF) as the UI construction tool is used. Generate compliant condition start button (information). As a result, the generated condition activation button can be displayed in the palette of the UI construction tool creation screen. Step 56 corresponds to the condition activation symbol generating means of the third invention.

The processing after the next step 58 corresponds to the program adding means of the third invention. First, at step 58, from among the input variables and output variables described in the variable definition information corresponding to the web service to be processed. A single variable is selected, and in the next step 60, the variable storage area generated in step 52 is searched using the name of the variable selected in step 58 as a key, so that the storage area corresponding to the variable selected in step 58 Are extracted from the variable storage area. In step 62, it is determined whether or not the variable selected in step 58 is an input variable. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 64, and the data stored in the storage area extracted in step 60 from the variable storage area is delivered to the processing target web service as the variable (input variable) selected in step 58. Create an assignment statement (program). Also, if the variable selected in step 58 is an output variable, the determination in step 62 is denied and the process proceeds to step 66, out of the output variables delivered from the processing target web service when the processing by the processing target web service ends. Then, an assignment statement (program) is created for storing the output variable selected in step 58 in the storage area extracted in step 60 from the variable storage area.

In the next step 68, it is determined whether or not the above processing has been performed for all the variables described in the variable definition information corresponding to the web service to be processed. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 58, and step 58 to step 68 are repeated until the determination of step 68 is affirmed. As a result, at the time of starting the processing target web service (the program that provides the processing), the processing corresponding to the input variable in the processing target web service is transferred from the variable storage area to the processing target web service as an input variable (example) As shown in FIG. 6B, see the arrow pointing to the right indicated by a broken line), and at the end of the processing target web service (the program that provides it), the output variable delivered from the processing target web service is stored in the variable storage area. A program for performing the process (see the left arrow indicated by the broken line in FIG. 6B as an example) is automatically generated.

If the determination in step 68 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 70 to create a call statement (program) for calling the web service to be processed. In step 72, the calling program created by the above-described processing (the program including the assignment statement created in steps 64 and 66 and the call statement created in step 70: equivalent to the fourth program of the third invention) The button is added to the button (information) corresponding to the web service to be processed generated in step 56, and is stored in a predetermined storage area of the memory 16B or the storage unit 16C. In the next step 74, it is determined whether or not the above processing has been performed on all the web services scheduled to be provided to the user. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 54, and steps 54 to 74 are repeated until the determination of step 74 is affirmed. As a result, buttons (information) to which the calling program is added are generated for all web services scheduled to be provided to the user. If the determination at step 74 is affirmative, the condition activation button generation process is terminated.

Subsequently, the developer activates a UI construction tool program on the client terminal 16. As a result, a creation screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 18 of the client terminal 16 as an example. The UI construction tool is a tool having a function of generating a screen control program for realizing the constructed UI when the developer performs an operation for constructing the UI and the operation by the developer is completed. The creation screen shown in Fig. 2 displays a UI screen creation area for developers to create UI screens (web pages), symbols such as information input / display fields and various buttons that can be used as components of the UI screen. A screen transition definition area for defining transitions between the created palette and a plurality of UI screens created in the UI screen creation area is provided. In the present embodiment, since the above-described condition start button generation process is executed prior to starting the UI construction tool, it is generated by the condition start button generation process and stored in a predetermined storage area when the UI construction tool is started. As shown in FIG. 5 as an example, the condition start button information generated by the condition start button generation process (for calling each web service scheduled to be provided to the user) is read. Button) is also displayed in the palette as one of the symbols that can be used to create the UI screen.

When the preparatory work is completed as described above, the developer then performs an operation for defining a UI to be constructed, thereby constructing a UI (screen control program of a screen control program) in a predetermined website that provides a web service. Development). That is, the developer selects a desired symbol from a plurality of symbols displayed in the palette via the mouse 22 or the keyboard 20 and places it at a desired position in the UI screen creation area. By repeating the operation (first operation) for inputting text information to be displayed in the UI screen, a plurality of UI screens (web pages) constituting a predetermined website are sequentially created (designed). In the creation of individual UI screens, if the UI screen being created is a screen that provides a user with a specific web service, the developer must select one of the symbols displayed in the palette. A condition activation button for calling a specific web service is also selected, and an operation for arranging the button in the UI screen is also performed.

By the way, a specific content that can be directly called from the link by selecting the link in which the link information is embedded in the screen content for displaying the processing result of the specific web service in the UI to be constructed. When a UI screen (hereinafter, this screen is referred to as a “link call UI screen”), when the developer creates a link call UI screen, the developer uses a condition start button once arranged in the UI screen being created. An operation to instruct unconditional activation (change to the unconditional activation button) is performed.

This operation is performed, for example, on a specific web service in which a processing result is displayed on the link call UI screen among a plurality of condition activation buttons generated by the previous condition activation button generation processing and displayed in the palette of the creation screen. After selecting the corresponding specific condition start button and performing an operation to temporarily place the selected specific condition start button at a desired position in the UI screen being created, the specific condition start button placed in the UI screen being created is selected. A function to display the property (attribute information) of the condition start button, and then to execute the calling program unconditionally when the UI screen is called out of the attribute information of the specific condition start button displayed In the embodiment, this function is referred to as “SubmitOnLoad function”). As a result, the unconditional activation button generation program is activated on the client terminal 16, and the activated conditional activation button generation program is executed by the CPU 16A, whereby the unconditional activation button generation process shown in FIG. 4 is executed.

In this unconditional activation button generation process, first, in step 80, information on a specific condition activation button (condition activation button instructed to turn on the SubmitOnLoad function) arranged in the link call UI screen is stored in the memory 16B or the storage unit 16C. Change the button attribute information (specifically, information that defines the display color of the button) out of the read button information so that the button after unconditional activation is invisible on the link call UI screen (Transparent) In step 82, the calling program generated by the previous condition activation button generation process is extracted from the information of the read button information.

The calling program extracted in step 82 is called from the client terminal 42 on the display 44 of the client terminal 42 when the UI screen on which the corresponding condition start button is arranged is in operation (when the developed application program is executed). This is executed when the condition activation button displayed and further displayed visually in the displayed UI screen is selected, and performs processing such as calling the corresponding web service. Then, when a UI screen (link call UI screen) on which an unconditional activation button is arranged is called by selecting a link or the like, the calling program is executed unconditionally (without going through a button selection operation). As described above, the calling program extracted in step 82 is changed, and the unconditional start button generation process is terminated. . Note that the process of step 84 can be performed, for example, by deleting a determination sentence (program) for determining whether or not a button selection operation has been performed in the calling program.

When the above unconditional activation button generation processing is completed, the conditional activation button arranged in the UI screen being created is unconditionally activated (changed to the unconditional activation button), and the attribute information in the previous step 80 is changed. With the change, the display in the UI screen being created also changes from visible display to invisible display (transparent). In addition, when the conditional start button arranged in the UI screen being created is changed to an unconditional start button, the UI screen being created is displayed in the screen when the UI screen is directly called from a link. When the calling program added to the unconditional activation button is unconditionally executed by the application server 34, the specific web service is called, and when the processing corresponding to the specific web service is completed, the specific web service is terminated. This is changed to a UI screen for displaying the processing result of this, that is, a link call UI screen.

In this way, the developer places a condition activation button in the UI screen being created, displays the properties of the arranged condition activation button, and instructs to turn on the SubmitOnLoad function. It is possible to generate an unconditional activation button (change the UI screen being created to a link call UI screen) without performing the above. The calling program that has undergone the above-described unconditional activation button generation processing corresponds to the third program according to the present invention. The unconditional activation button generation process described above corresponds to the symbol generation means according to the present invention together with the conditional activation button generation process described above. In particular, the unconditional activation button generation process is the changing means of the third invention. It corresponds to.

Further, when the created UI screen is a screen provided with an information input / display field for inputting information or displaying information by the user, the developer can input / display individual information in the screen. The field is associated with the storage area corresponding to the information input via the information input / display field or the information displayed in the information input / display field among the variable storage areas generated by the previous button generation process (UI binding) (Also called) operation (second operation). Furthermore, when all the UI screens (web pages) constituting the website are created, the developer performs an operation (third operation) for defining the transition of each created UI screen within the screen transition definition area.

The operation by the developer will be described with a specific example. As shown in FIG. 6B, as a web service program scheduled to be provided to the user through the development target website, a book search service and a book are provided. A purchase service program has already been developed, and the UI of the website uses a book search screen for a user to input a search target book name and instruct a search, and a book ID extracted by the search. After the user confirms and changes the book ID as necessary, the book purchase screen for inputting the purchaser information and instructing the purchase, and the result display screen for the user confirming the result of the purchase process When building a UI that transitions in order, the developer calls an information input / display field for inputting a book name and a book search service for the book search screen. An operation for creating a book search screen by performing an operation for arranging each condition start button in the screen, and associating the information input / display field in the book search screen with the book name storage area in the variable storage area Do.

In addition, for the book purchase screen, the developer inputs an information input / display field for displaying and inputting a book ID, an information input / display field for inputting buyer information, and a condition for calling a book purchase service. A book purchase screen is created by performing an operation of arranging start buttons on the screen, and an information input / display field for displaying and inputting a book ID in the book purchase screen is included in the variable storage area. In addition to associating with the storage area of the book ID, an operation for associating the information input / display field for inputting the purchaser information with the storage area of the purchaser information in the variable storage area is performed. In addition, for the result display screen, the developer provides an information input / display field for displaying the result information and a button for instructing to erase the screen (a button labeled “OK” shown in FIG. 6B). A result display screen is created by performing an operation of arranging each in the screen, and an operation for associating the information input / display field in the result display screen with the result information storage area in the variable storage area is performed.

Further, when the condition activation button in the screen is selected while the book search screen is displayed, the developer transits from the book search screen to the book purchase screen, and the screen is displayed while the book purchase screen is displayed. When the condition start button is selected, an operation for defining the transition of each screen is performed so that a transition is made from the book purchase screen to the result display screen. With the above operation, the UI shown in FIG. 6B can be defined.

In addition, when trying to construct the above-described UI by the conventional method of providing a variable storage area in units of individual web services scheduled to be provided to users, as shown in FIG. An information input / display field for displaying and inputting a book ID provided in the book ID storage area in the variable storage area corresponding to the book search service, and in the variable storage area corresponding to the book purchase service Each needs to be associated with a storage area for book IDs. However, in standards such as JSF that the UI construction tool complies with, the number of storage areas in the variable storage area that can be associated with each information input / display field is limited to one each. Thus, since the information input / display field in the book purchase screen for displaying and inputting the book ID cannot be associated with a plurality of storage areas, a UI as shown in FIG. 6B cannot be constructed. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the condition start button generation process described above, a variable storage area is generated by sharing the storage area of the variable defined in the variable definition information. As shown in B), the UI shown in FIG. 6B can be constructed only by associating the information input / display field in the book purchase screen for displaying and inputting the book ID with a single storage area. Thus, the degree of freedom of UI design that can be realized can be improved.

Further, the above is a description of the construction of a UI including a normal UI screen on which a condition start button is arranged. However, an information input / display field for displaying the processing result of the web service is also provided for the link call UI screen. At least an operation (second operation) for associating the provided information input / display field with a storage area in which the processing result of the web service is stored is performed. Further, in addition to the unconditional activation button, a condition activation button may be further arranged on the link call UI screen by performing the first operation. The condition activation button arranged on the link call UI screen is selected. When a transition is made to another UI screen as a trigger, an operation (third operation) that defines the transition from the link call UI screen within the screen transition definition area is also performed.

When the operation for defining the UI is completed, the developer instructs the UI construction tool to generate a program that realizes the UI. Thereby, the UI construction tool realizes the UI constructed by the developer (displays each UI screen in order on the display 44 of the client terminal 42 in response to a request from the client terminal 42 (see FIG. 8)). Generate a program. This screen control program includes data that defines individual UI screens and a program that defines processing when various operations are performed by the user via individual UI screens. For a UI screen provided with a condition start button for calling a web service, the calling program generated by the condition start button generation process described above and added to the condition start button is read and read. The called program is used as a program for defining processing when the condition activation button is selected by the user (incorporated into the screen control program). For the link call UI screen provided with the unconditional start button, the call program changed by the unconditional start button generation process described above and added to the unconditional start button is displayed from the link to the link call UI screen. Is used as a program that prescribes processing that is unconditionally performed when is called (incorporated into the screen control program).

With the operations and processes described above, the development of the application program including the screen control program and the web service providing program is completed. As described above, in this embodiment, the web service providing program can be developed without performing coding work by using the web service creation tool, and the condition activation button generation process is also performed in advance for the screen control program. To create a variable storage area that shares the variable storage area defined in the variable definition information of each web service that is scheduled to be provided to the user, and provides it to the user. By creating a condition activation button with a calling program that calls each web service that is scheduled to be used, the developer uses the UI construction tool and is displayed in the palette on the UI construction tool creation screen. By performing various operations including placing the condition start button on the screen without coding work It can be carried out construction of Nozomu of UI (the development of a screen control program).

In addition, even when a link call UI screen is included in the UI to be constructed, the developer can select a specific condition start button corresponding to a specific web service whose processing result is displayed on the link call UI screen. If you select and place the selected condition start button in the UI screen being created, and turn on the “SubmitOnLoad function” for the condition start button placed in the UI screen being created, the UI screen being created The conditional start button placed inside is changed to an unconditional start button, and the UI screen being created becomes the link call UI screen. Therefore, the construction of the UI including the link call UI screen can be realized without performing coding work. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to develop application programs including a screen control program and a web service providing program in a very short period of time.

Next, the operation when the application program is executed (when the website is operating) will be described. At the time of execution of the application program, as shown in FIG. 8, among the developed application programs, the screen control program is installed in the storage unit 34C of the application server 34, and the web service providing program is stored in the web service providing server 36. Installed in the unit 36C.

Although not shown, the application server 34 executes a predetermined program (hereinafter referred to as a platform program) that functions as a platform for executing the screen control program. (For example, when the UI construction tool conforms to the JSF standard, the screen control program generated by the UI construction tool is executed on a platform called a JSF engine). The web service providing server 36 executes a predetermined program that functions as a platform for executing the web service providing program, and the web service providing program is executed on the platform (for example, a web service creation tool is provided). In the case of conforming to the BPEL standard, the web service providing program generated by the web service creation tool is executed on a platform called a BPEL engine).

The screen control program executed by the application server 34 sends the UI screen data requested for distribution to the requesting client terminal 42 every time a user requests distribution of the UI screen via the client terminal 42. By transmitting, the UI screen requested to be distributed is displayed on the display 44 of the requesting client terminal 42. The information input in the information input / display field in the UI screen displayed on the display 44 by the user operating the keyboard 46 or the like is temporarily stored in the memory 42B or the like of the client terminal 42. The data is transferred to the application server 34 at a predetermined timing (for example, a timing when a condition start button serving as a trigger for transition to the next UI screen is selected).

When the application program 34 receives from the client terminal 42 the information entered in the information input / display field in the UI screen by the user, the platform program operating on the application server 34 receives the received information. In the variable storage area provided on the memory 34B of the application server 34, the information is stored in a storage area pre-associated with the information input / display field in which the information is input (see FIG. The process corresponding to the arrow pointing to the right among the solid arrows labeled “Substitute”).

In addition, when a condition start button for calling an arbitrary web service in the UI screen is selected by the user, the corresponding web service program is added by the calling program added to the selected condition start button. Is started on the web service providing server 36, and the data in the storage area (preset storage area) corresponding to the input variable in the started program in the variable storage area is read from the variable storage area, The read data is transferred as an input variable to the activated program (a process corresponding to a right-pointing arrow among the broken-line arrows indicated as “assignment by calling program” in FIG. 6B). As a result, a process for realizing the web service corresponding to the condition activation button selected by the user is executed on the web service providing server 36. In addition, when the process for realizing the web service includes access to the DB, the web service providing server 36 instructs the DB server 38 to access the DB via the application server 34, so that the DB is accessed. Access is realized.

Further, when the processing by the program started on the web service providing server 36 is finished, data corresponding to the output variable is delivered from the web service providing server 36 to the application server 34, and the delivered data is changed to the variable by the calling program. Processing stored in a storage area (preset storage area) corresponding to the output variable in the storage area (in FIG. 6B, the arrow pointing to the left among the broken-line arrows described as “assignment by calling program”) Corresponding processing) is performed on the application server 34. Further, when the storage area in which data is newly stored by the above processing is associated with an information input / display field in any UI screen, it is determined by the platform program operating on the application server 34. Then, a process of displaying the data newly stored in the storage area in the associated information input / display field in the UI screen is performed (a solid line arrow indicating “automatic assignment by binding” in FIG. 6B) The processing corresponding to the arrow pointing to the left). As a result, various web services are provided to the user through the website.

As an example, when a website including UI screens shown in FIG. 6B is accessed by a user, a book search screen is first displayed on the display 44 of the client terminal 42 operated by the user. In addition, after the user inputs the name of the book to be searched in the book name input / display field on the book search screen, a condition activation button (button for calling the book search service) labeled “Search” is displayed. When selected, the book name input in the book name input / display field is temporarily stored in the book name storage area of the variable storage area by the platform program, and then the book search service program started by the calling program As an input variable. In addition, the UI screen displayed on the display 44 of the client terminal 42 is switched to the book purchase screen in response to the selection of the condition activation button written as “search”. However, the UI screen is an output variable of the book search service. The book ID is temporarily stored in the book ID storage area of the variable storage area by the calling program and then displayed in the book ID input / display field in the book purchase screen by the platform program.

In addition, when the book purchase screen is displayed on the display 44, the user confirms the book ID displayed in the input / display field of the book ID in the screen and overwrites the book ID as necessary. After the purchaser information is entered in the purchaser information input / display field, a condition activation button (button for calling a book purchase service) labeled “purchase” is selected. As a result, the purchaser information entered in the purchaser information input / display field is stored in the purchaser information storage area of the variable storage area by the platform program (the book ID is overwritten by the user). The book ID after overwriting is also stored in the corresponding storage area), and then the book ID and purchaser information stored in the variable storage area are stored in the book purchase service activated by the calling program. Passed to the program as an input variable. Further, the UI screen displayed on the display 44 of the client terminal 42 is switched to a result display screen in response to the selection of the condition activation button labeled “purchase”. The result information is temporarily stored in the result information storage area of the variable storage area by the calling program, and then displayed in the information input / display field of the result information in the result display screen by the platform program.

Next, in a state where an arbitrary document to which a link in which link information including address information (URL) of the link call UI screen is embedded is added is displayed on the display 44 of the client terminal 42, the above link is displayed. An operation when the link call UI screen is directly called by being selected will be described. The above arbitrary document may be a document to which a link can be added. For example, a text document, a spreadsheet, a presentation document, an e-mail document, a web page, and other various documents that can be displayed by any of various applications. Any of these may be used.

When the link call UI screen is directly called by selecting a link, a process for drawing (generating) the link call UI screen is performed. In this process, the link call UI screen is first arranged in the called link call UI screen. The calling program added to the unconditional activation button is unconditionally executed by the application server 34, and the corresponding web service (for example, the web service for obtaining list information) is activated on the web service providing server 36. Is performed (step 110 in FIG. 9). Then, a process for realizing the corresponding web service is executed on the web service providing server 36 (step 116 in FIG. 9).

When processing (for example, list acquisition processing) by a program started on the web service providing server 36 is completed, information (output variable) corresponding to the processing result is delivered from the web service providing server 36 to the application server 34. A process of storing the delivered data in the storage area corresponding to the output variable in the variable storage area by the calling program (see also step 110 in FIG. 9 and the broken arrow labeled “store” in FIG. 9). Done. The storage area in which data is newly stored by the above processing is associated with the link call UI screen by the second operation performed by the developer at the time of UI construction, and is operating on the application server 34. The platform program performs processing for displaying the data newly stored in the storage area in the associated information input / display field in the link call UI screen (indicated as “automatic assignment by binding” in FIG. 9). (See also solid arrows).

When the generation of the link call UI screen displaying the processing result by the web service is completed, the link call UI screen is distributed to the client terminal 42 (step 114 in FIG. 9) and displayed on the display 44 of the client terminal 42. Will be. At this time, on the link call UI screen displayed on the display 44, the unconditional activation button arranged on the link call UI screen is not visible according to the button attribute information changed in the unconditional activation button generation processing. It is displayed (displayed as a transparent button) (see also the “list acquisition” button lightly shown in FIG. 9).

In the above, the screen control program corresponding to the first program according to the present invention and the web service providing program corresponding to the second program according to the present invention are different computers (application server 34 and web service providing server 36). Although the mode to be executed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first program and the second program may be executed by the same computer.

In the above, after the condition start button is generated once, the information of the condition start button in which the operation for turning on the SubmitOnLoad function is performed among the generated condition start buttons is changed, thereby making the same web service unconditional ( Although the embodiment of generating the unconditional activation button to be activated when the link call UI screen is invoked has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the unconditional activation button is generated independently of the generation of the conditional activation button. You may do it.

In the above description, the unconditional activation button is described as a button that is invisible (transparent) in the link call UI screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the unconditional activation button is a link call UI. It may be visible on the screen.

In the above description, a mode in which a predetermined web service is provided to a user who accesses a website (application server 34) through the Internet 40 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to a mode in which a predetermined web service is provided to a user (for example, an employee of a specific company) who can connect to the intranet using an intranet.

Furthermore, in the above description, the condition activation button generation program and the unconditional activation button generation program corresponding to the application development support program according to the present invention have been described in advance as being stored (installed) in the storage unit 16C of the client terminal 16. The application development support program according to the present invention can be provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first computer system as an application program development environment in the present embodiment. FIG. (A) is an example of a creation screen of a web service creation tool, and (B) is an image diagram showing an example of a flow created on the creation screen using the tool. It is a flowchart which shows the content of a condition starting button production | generation process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of an unconditional starting button production | generation process. It is an image figure which shows an example of the creation screen of UI construction tool. (A) is a conceptual diagram illustrating generation of a variable storage area from variable definition information, and (B) is a conceptual diagram for explaining binding of information input / display fields and storage areas in a screen and substitution of data (variables) during operation. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the problem in the case of performing the same process as FIG. 6 (B) by a conventional system. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the 2nd computer system as an execution environment of an application program. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the flow of a process at the time of utilizing a web service from a link.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Computer system 12 Server computer 16 Client terminal 30 Computer system 34 Application server 36 Web service provision server 42 Client terminal

Claims (2)

A first service program;
A second service program;
A first operation screen having a first variable input area;
A second operation screen comprising a processing result output area for outputting a result of processing in the first service program with a variable for which data has been input from the first operation screen as an input, and a second variable input area;
A third operation screen having a processing result output area for outputting a result of processing in the second service program using a variable in which data is input from the second operation screen as an input;
A single variable storage area composed of different variables;
With
There is only one variable area in the variable storage area corresponding to each of the variable input area and the processing result output area in the first to third operation screens,
The variable storage area includes at least one variable for outputting a result processed in the first service program and serving as an input to the second service program ,
A variable that is output as a result of processing in the first service program and that is an input to the second service program is a variable having the same name in the first service program and the second service program. And an online system. The online system according to claim 1, wherein the first to third operation screens are generated in accordance with a JSF standard.

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