JPH05143556A - Network control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a control function by enabling the input/output operation of each processing device on a network from a controller device without changes of existing interactive processing programs. CONSTITUTION:In a controlled object device 1, an output switching part 6 distributing display information to be outputted to a display device 2 to a controller device 10 via a network, an input switching part 7 switching the input destination of input information to the side of the controller device 10 and an input/output switching control part 9 controlling the switching operation of the input switching part 7 and the output switching part 6 are provided. In the controller device 10, an input/output managing control part performing the display control of display information from the controlled object device 1, the transmission control of input information to the controlled object device 1 and the start control of an input/output switching control part 9 of the controlled object device 1 is provided. In the controller device 10, an interactive processing program provided in the controlled object device 1 is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the operation of each processing device of a network in which a plurality of processing devices are connected, and in particular, in processing based on an interactive processing program, each processing device by a user. The present invention relates to a network management system suitable for efficiently controlling the input / output operations of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system in which a plurality of processing devices are connected by a network includes, for example, an electronic interactive system and an electronic conferencing system which use a specific interactive program, and a CAI (Computer Assist).
ed Instruction, a teaching and learning system using a computer) and the like. In these network systems, a network administrator is placed, and this network administrator uses the management processing device (administrator device) to perform input operation and screen output operation between the user and the processing program. It is desired to monitor the operation status of the user's processing device (managed device) by monitoring and improve the operability of the system.

A conventional technique for monitoring the operability of a processing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-160233. According to this technique, it is possible to automatically create and monitor input / output data, a display image plane style, and a history of operations without making any special modifications to the program.

In the above network system,
If the network administrator gives instructions to the user on the correct operation method while watching the input operation and screen output exchange between the user and the processing program on the administrator device, the network administrator It is effective to actually perform an input operation on the processing program from the administrator's device on behalf of the person. However, the above-described conventional technique cannot be applied to such an input operation, and in order to enable such an operation, the administrator device is modified by modifying the processing program to be operated. It must also accept input from.

[0005]

The problem to be solved by the prior art is that in the prior art, input / output operations for an interactive processing program operating in a processing unit connected to a network are performed without modifying the processing program. The point that cannot be performed from other processing devices. An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of these conventional techniques, and enable an input / output operation from an administrator device to a processing program running on a managed device without changing each interactive processing program, It is an object of the present invention to provide a network management system capable of instructing a user of each management target device from a manager device on an appropriate operation method and improving the operability of a system such as CAI.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the network management system of the present invention corresponds to (1) an input device for inputting input information from a user and input information input by this input device. However, a processor for management and a processor to be managed, which includes a program processing unit that advances processing based on an interactive processing program stored in advance and a display device that displays display information output from the program processing unit. In a network management system in which the management device manages the operation status of the managed device, the display information output from the program processing unit to the display device is distributed to the managed device, and the management device is connected via the network. The output switching unit for sending to the administrator device and the input destination of the input information to the program processing unit are connected to the network An input switching unit that switches to an input device of the worker device, and an input / output switching control unit that controls the operation of the input switching unit and the output switching unit based on a control signal from the administrator device sent via the network, Then, the administrator device controls the display of the display information from the managed device received via the network to the equipped display device, and the input information from the equipped input device to the managed device via the network. Is provided and an input / output management control unit is provided for performing start-up control of the input / output switching control unit of the management target device via the network based on the input information from the provided input device. It is characterized by operating a processing program running on the managed device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the network manager centrally controls and manages the input / output operations for the interactive processing programs running on the respective processing devices (managed devices) on the network by the management device. To do. That is, the administrator device can activate the input / output switching unit provided in each managed device via the network. As a result, the display information of the interactive processing program displayed on the display device of each managed device is sent to the administrator device via the network, and the display device of the administrator device also displays the display information. It becomes possible to reproduce, and the network administrator can monitor the operation status of each managed device. Also, enter the input destination of each managed device
It is possible to switch to the input device on the administrator device side,
The network administrator can make an input to the interactive processing program running on each managed device via the network.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the network management system according to the present invention according to the present invention. The network management system according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a managed device 1 to be managed and the managed device 1.
And an administrator device 10 that manages the operation of each managed device, and a network 16 that connects the managed device 1 and the administrator device 10.
It should be noted that there are usually a plurality of managed devices 1, but in the present embodiment, only one is described for convenience. Managed device 1
Is a display device 2 such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube, cathode ray tube), an input device 3 including a device such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output processing unit 4 for controlling output of data to the display device 2, and an input The input processing unit 5 that controls the input of data from the device 3, the output switching unit 6 according to the present invention that switches the output destination of the output display information, and the data input destination are the input device 3 or the network 16. The input switching unit 7 according to the present invention, which switches via the logical switch 7a, to any of the input devices 12 of the administrator device 10 connected via the program processing unit 8 which advances processing based on an interactive processing program. According to the present invention, the operation of the input switching unit 7 and the output switching unit 6 is controlled based on the control information from the administrator device 10 connected via the network 16. It is composed of input and output switching controller 9 according. The administrator device 10 also includes a display device 11 including a CRT, an input device 12 including a device such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output processing unit 13 that controls output of data to the display device 11, and an input device 12. Based on the input processing unit 14 that controls the input of data from and the input / output management program that controls the input / output operation of the interactive processing program that operates on each managed device including the managed device 1 on the network 16, Network 16
The input / output management program processing unit 15 according to the present invention controls transmission / reception of information to / from the management target device 1 via the.

The input / output management program processing unit 15 is
Specifically, it has the following processing functions. (A) Find all managed devices connected to the network 16 and display an icon corresponding to each managed device on the screen of the display device 11 of the administrator device 10. (B) Display information of the interactive processing program running on each management target device on the network 16 is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 of the administrator device 10. For example, the output switching unit 6 on the management target device 1 relays the display information of the program processing unit 8 to the display information.
It is carried out by sending it to the administrator device 10 via 6. That is, by the input of the administrator from the input device 12 of the administrator device 10, the input / output switching control unit 9 on the managed device 1 is activated and the output switching unit 6 is controlled.
It is possible to control the display / non-display of the display information of the managed device 1 on the screen of the display device 11 of the administrator device 10. (C) With the processing function of (a) above, the administrator device 10
The input screen of each device to be managed displayed on the display device 11 can be input from the input device 12 by the administrator. At this time, the input from the input device 3 of the managed device 1 is forcibly terminated. That is, the input / output management program processing unit 15 sends an instruction to the management target device 1 via the network 16, and according to the instruction,
The input / output switching control unit 9 of the managed device 1 has the input switching unit 7
To the logic switch 7a of the program processor 8
The input destination for is switched. With such a configuration, in the network management system of the present embodiment,
Without changing the interactive processing program running on each managed device, the network administrator instructs the user of the managed device from the administrator device on the appropriate operation method. Can be done. Hereinafter, the operation of the network management system according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the display contents on the screen of the display device of the administrator device in FIG.
The present embodiment shows the display contents of the screen 26 of the display device 11 in FIG. 1, and in the figure, 17 is a pointer, and the administrator uses a mouse or the like to move the pointer 17
Is moved on the screen 26 to input various instructions. Similarly, 18 is an icon, and one icon is set for each managed device on the network. By specifying and opening this icon 18 with the pointer 17,
The display information of each management target device is displayed by making the screen 26 into a window. Reference numerals 19 and 19a denote cursors, particularly cursors included in the output screens of the respective windows displaying the output screens of the respective management target devices. In the monitoring mode, the control of the cursor 19 controls each management target device. In the instruction mode, the control of the cursor 19a is performed by the administrator device 10 of FIG.
Reference numerals 20 and 20a denote pointers, which are included in the output screen of the window displaying the output screen of each managed device, and the control thereof is the same as that of the cursors 19 and 19a. 21, 21
Reference numeral a denotes a window, which is an area generated by opening the icon 18. This area is composed of several parts, and the center is the display area 24 for displaying the output screen of each managed device. , 24a. 22, 2
Reference numeral 2a denotes a switching button used for switching input between the monitoring mode and the instruction mode, which is a display area 2 of the windows 21 and 21a.
Buttons that are displayed outside the area 4 and 24a for switching the input destination for the processing program of each managed device. When switching to the monitoring mode like the switch button 22, for example, input from the input device 3 of the managed device 1 in FIG. 1 becomes possible, and when switching to the instruction mode like the switch button 22a, Input is possible from the administrator device 10 in FIG. 23 and 23a are iconized buttons,
This button has the function of closing the window and making it an icon. By pressing the iconize buttons 23, 23a, the windows 21, 21a are closed,
At the same time, the display of the output information relayed from the corresponding managed device is terminated and the initial display state is restored. 24, 2
Reference numeral 4a denotes a display area, which is an area for displaying output information relayed from the management target apparatus, and is mapped so that the frame of the utilization area corresponds to the frame of the screen of the management target apparatus. 25, 2
A title bar 5a is an area for displaying the name of the corresponding managed device.

Information on the screen of the display device 2 of the managed device 1 of FIG. 1 can be displayed on the screen 26 having such a display configuration in the following three modes. (A) Monitoring mode: As shown in the window 21,
This is a mode in which display information displayed on the screen of the display device 2 of the managed device 1 of FIG. 1 is displayed in the display area 24 in the window 21. Since the display area 24 is in the monitoring mode, the operation state of the user of the managed device 1 of FIG. 1 is displayed on the cursor 19 and the pointer 20, and the administrator only controls the movement to control. I can't. In addition to the display area 24, the window 21 includes a title bar 25 indicating the name of the managed device 1 of FIG. 1 displayed in the window 21, a switching button 22 for switching from the monitoring mode to the instruction mode, and a window. Is made into an icon and is configured by an iconizing button 23 for ending the monitoring mode. (B) Instruction mode: As shown in the window 21a, the information displayed on the screen of the display device 2 of the managed device 1 in FIG. 1 is displayed in the display area 24a in the window 21a. Since the display area 24a is in the instruction mode, the cursor 19a and the pointer 20a are set to the administrator device 10 of FIG.
1 is controlled, the input signal from the input device of the device to be managed is not accepted, and the input device 12 in FIG. And the pointer 17
However, in this embodiment, the outside of the window 21a is highlighted when entering the display area 24a, and the cursor 19a and the pointer 20a in the window 21a are highlighted.
1 is transferred to the administrator device 10 of FIG. 1, and an input operation can be performed from this administrator device. At this time, the movements of the cursor 19a and the pointer 20a controlled by the administrator device also appear on the screen of the display device 2 of the managed device 1 in FIG. 1, for example. (C) Icon mode: a mode in which information is not exchanged on the screen of the display device 2 of the managed device 1 in FIG. On the screen 26, only the icon 18 and the pointer 17 are displayed, and when the icon 18 is opened by designating the pointer 17, the monitor mode is set, and the window 21 is displayed as a window. In this way, the network administrator can perform input / output operations with respect to the interactive processing program operating in each managed device by using the administrator device, which is the own device. Thereby, for example, in the CAI system, even when the user of the device to be managed does not know the input operation method, the administrator performs the actual input operation on behalf of the user, Can teach correct input operation. The operation of the network management system of FIG. 1 using such a screen 26 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a first embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the network management system in FIG. The administrator device 10 of FIG. 1 is started, and the process up to conversion to the instruction mode is shown. Figure 1
When the administrator device 10 of FIG. 1 is started, the input / output management program processing unit 15 of FIG.
Start searching for the management target device connected above (steps 301 and 302). The input / output switching control unit of each normally operated managed device outputs a response to this inquiry, and based on this response, the icon 18 can be managed on the screen 26 as shown in FIG. It is displayed as a new device (step 303). When relaying the screen of each managed device displayed as an icon, screen 2 in FIG.
6, an icon 18 to be processed is selected by the pointer 17 and a command for windowing is input (step 304). The icon selected in this way is enlarged and displayed on the screen as the window 21 of FIG. Inside the window, as shown in FIG. 2, a display area 24 of the output screen of the managed device,
It is composed of a switch button 22 for switching between the instruction mode and the monitoring mode, an icon button 23, and a title bar 25 showing the name of the managed device. Simultaneously with the windowing of this icon, the input / output management program processing unit 15 of FIG. 1 sends a signal for instructing windowing to the input / output switching control unit of the corresponding managed device, and in response to this signal. For example, in FIG. 1, the input / output switching control unit 9
Instructs the output switching unit 6 to also send the screen output information to the administrator device 11 (step 30).
5). And the screen output information sent to the administrator device is
It is mapped and displayed in the corresponding display area on the screen 26 of FIG. 2 (step 306). In this way
The process for monitoring the screen output of any managed device in the administrator device is completed. This state is the monitoring mode, which is a mode only for monitoring the screen output information of the corresponding managed device.

As described above, when the window is once created and the monitoring of the managed device monitoring the output screen is terminated, for example, the window 21 in FIG.
The iconized button 23 displayed inside is selected (step 307), and the input / output management program processing unit 15 of FIG. 1 instructs the input / output switching control unit 9 of the managed device 1 in FIG. A signal for instructing iconification is sent, and an instruction for suspending the transmission of the screen output information from the output switching unit 6 in FIG. 1 to the administrator device 10 is performed (step 308). By this processing, the screen 26 of FIG.
The upper window 21 is deleted and displayed as an icon in the lower left portion of the screen (step 309). However, in step 307, instead of the iconized button, the button shown in FIG.
When the switch button 22 on the screen 26 in step 3 is selected, it is determined that the monitor mode is switched to the instruction mode (step 3
10), the input / output management program processing unit 15 of FIG. 1 sends a signal indicating the start of the instruction mode to the input / output switching control unit of the corresponding managed device. For example, in FIG. 1, when the input / output switching control unit 9 receives this signal, the input / output switching control unit 9 activates the logical switch 7a inside the input switching unit 7, and forcibly changes the input authority to the program processing unit 8 to the management target. Transfer from the device 1 to the administrator device 10 (step 31)
1). Such a state is the instruction mode, and not only the screen output information of the corresponding managed device but also the input authority to the managed device is deprived of the user of this managed device. That is, in FIG. 1, the input device 12 of the administrator device 10 can be used to make an input to the program processing unit 8 on the managed device 1, and the administrator can use the managed device from the administrator device. It is possible to directly instruct a person to perform a specific operation method. Further, the screen output is performed by the managed device 1 in FIG.
Is displayed on both the screen of the display device 2 and the screen of the display device 11 of the administrator device 10. From this instruction mode screen, switching to the monitoring mode by the switching button 22a in FIG. 2 and the pointer 20a in the display area 24a in FIG.
It becomes possible to shift to the processing by. The processing operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the network management system in FIG. The process of FIG. 3 shows the process based on the window 21a of FIG. 2 that is windowed to the instruction mode. The instruction mode window 21 shown in FIG.
In a, for example, when the mode conversion to the monitoring mode is selected by the switching button 22a (step 31
2), the input / output management program processing unit 15 in FIG. 1 receives the signal and sends a signal indicating mode conversion to the input / output switching control unit of the corresponding managed device. The input / output switching control unit that receives this signal, for example, in FIG. 1, the input / output switching control unit 9 activates the logical switch 7a inside the input switching unit 7 and manages the input authority to the program processing unit 8. The device 10 is returned to the managed device 1 (step 313). On the screen 26 of the administrator apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the window 21a remains as it is, but the display of the switching button 22a is changed from the instruction mode to the monitoring mode. Further, in the instruction mode, on the screen 26 of the administrator apparatus in FIG. 2, it is necessary to consider the situation of simultaneously controlling a plurality of managed devices. Therefore, in order to make the window in a state in which input to the managed device is possible, in FIG. 2, not only the switching button 22a is in the instruction mode ON, but also the pointer 17 of the administrator device displays the window 21a. It must be included in the area 24a. Only when such a condition is satisfied (steps 314 and 315), the pointer 17 of the administrator apparatus is hidden in FIG. 2, and instead, the management target screen pointer 20a or the cursor 1 is displayed.
9a receives an input from the input device 12 of the administrator device 10 of FIG. 1 (step 317). In FIG. 2, the outer frame of the window 21a is highlighted (step 316), the management target device is ready for input, and the pointer 20a is included in the display area 24a. Indicates that. In FIG. 2, the cursor 1
When 7a moves to the outside of the display area 24a (step 318), the highlight display of the window 21a is
The state is returned to the standard state (step 319), the input operable state of the managed device is interrupted, and the state of waiting for the input from the administrator device is resumed (step 320).
Returning to step 303 of FIG. If an end command is input (step 321), the process ends.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in the network management system of the present embodiment, the input / output operations of the processing programs used by the respective devices on the network can be changed without changing. Can be centrally managed. As described above, the present invention can be introduced without modifying a large amount of user property, so that the present invention is versatile and can be applied to a wide range. For example, in the case of applying this embodiment to a newly developed system, it directly leads to a reduction in development man-hours. In addition, the present embodiment can be easily introduced to an already operating system. For example, it has a wider range of versatility than electronic dialogue systems that use a specific dialogue program, and electronic conferencing systems. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and can be used, and particularly, high effects can be expected in application to an education system called CAI. For example, in the input switching unit, using a switch mechanism other than the logical switch,
The configuration may be such that switching processing is performed, as long as the administrator device can distribute the display information of the managed device to the administrator device and switch the input device connected to the managed device.

[0016]

According to the present invention, an input / output operation from an administrator device for an interactive processing program running on each managed device connected via a network can be performed without changing each processing program. It is possible to easily apply to systems such as CAI to improve the operability of those systems.

[0017]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration relating to the present invention of a network management system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display contents on a screen of a display device of an administrator device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the processing operation of the network management system in FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a second embodiment of the processing operation according to the present invention of the network management system in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 managed device 2 display device 3 input device 4 output processing unit 5 input processing unit 6 output switching unit 7 input switching unit 7a logical switch 8 program processing unit 9 input / output switching control unit 10 administrator device 11 display device 12 input device 13 Output processing unit 14 Input processing unit 15 Input / output management program processing unit 16 Network 17 Pointer 18 Icon 19, 19a Cursor 20, 20a Pointer 21, 21a Window 22, 22a Switching button 23, 23a Iconification button 24, 24a Display area 25, 25a title bar 26 screen

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting input information from a user, a program processing unit for advancing processing based on an interactive processing program stored in advance corresponding to the input information input by the input unit, A processor for management and a processor to be managed having display means for displaying display information output from the program processing means are connected by a network,
In the network management system for managing the operation status of the managed device by the administrator device, display information output from the program processing means to the display means is distributed to the managed device, and the managed device is distributed via the network. Output switching means for sending also to the administrator device, input switching means for switching the input destination of the input information input to the program processing means to the input means of the administrator device connected by the network, Input / output switching control means for controlling the operations of the input switching means and the output switching means based on a control signal from the administrator device sent via the network; Display control of the display information received from the above-mentioned managed device to the display means provided and input from the input means provided Sending control of information to the managed device via the network, and starting control of the input / output switching control means of the managed device via the network based on input information from the input means provided. A network management system characterized in that input / output management control means is provided, and the manager device operates a processing program running on the arbitrary managed device.