JPH0863411A - Data communicating method and data communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the throughput by performing data format conversion only once when systems having different data formats make a data communication. CONSTITUTION: A transmission-side communication system 1 generates and sends a message, including information (F1-Fs) on conversion between the data format F1 of the transmission-side communication system 1 and a standard data format Fs registered in a conversion table 11 and data, to a reception-side communication system 2. The reception-side communication system 2 generates information (F1-F2) on conversion between the data format F1 and the data format F2 of the reception-side communication system 2 from information (F2-Fs) on conversion between the data format F2 and the standard data format Fs, which are registered in a conversion table 25, and uses this conversion information (F1-F2) to convert the data format of the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication method for performing data communication between systems having different data formats and a data communication system for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, EDI (Electronic Data) is an electronic version of order slips used for transactions.
It has become common to conduct transactions by electronically exchanging Interchange data between systems. By the way, if the data format of EDI data handled by each system is the same, there is no problem. However, if the data format of the communication system on the transmitting side and the data format of the communication system on the receiving side are different, processing cannot be performed. It is necessary to convert the data format.

When converting the data format,
Conventionally, when a conversion program for converting a data format of a transmission side communication system into a data format of a reception side communication system is prepared in the transmission side communication system and EDI data is transmitted from the transmission side communication system to the reception side communication system. , The data format of the EDI data to be transmitted is converted to the data format of the receiving side communication system and output, or the conversion program is prepared in the receiving side communication system, and the data of the EDI data received in the receiving side communication system I was trying to convert the format to the data format of my system.

However, this method requires the conversion processing for each partner system that uses different data formats to be incorporated into the conversion program, which causes a problem that it takes time and labor to create the conversion program, and that the partner system has a problem. There was a problem that the conversion program had to be recreated every time the data format was changed.

Therefore, when transmitting EDI data, the data format of the EDI data to be transmitted is converted from the data format of the own system to the standard data format and transmitted, and when receiving the EDI data, the received EDI data of the standard data format is converted. It is considered to convert it to the data format of the own system (for example, “Introduction to EDI Business Network Protocol”, 1st March 1991, 1st edition, Soft Co., Ltd.
Published by Research Center).

[0006]

According to this method, the above-mentioned problems can be solved, but in the communication system of the transmitting side, the data format of the own system is converted into the standard data format, and the communication system of the receiving side is performed. In this case, there is a problem that the processing efficiency is poor because the data format conversion processing must be performed twice on the EDI data such as conversion from the standard data format to the data format of the own system.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the processing efficiency by performing the data format conversion process on the data only once.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a transmitting communication system which, when transmitting data to a receiving communication system, combines the data with the data format of its own system and a standard data format. And transmitting the first conversion information between the receiving communication system and the receiving communication system by receiving the data and the first conversion information from the transmitting communication system. From the first conversion information and the second conversion information between the data format of the own system and the standard data format, the third conversion information between the data format of the transmitting communication system and the data format of the own system is used. Conversion information is generated, and the data format of the received data is set based on the third conversion information. To convert to Matto.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a transmission side communication system, wherein a first conversion table in which first conversion information between a data format of the own system and a standard data format is registered. Message generating means for generating a message in which the first conversion information registered in the first conversion table is added to the data to be transmitted to the reception side communication system and transmitting the message to the reception side communication system. The receiving communication system includes a second conversion table in which second conversion information between the data format of the own system and the standard data format is registered, and a message sent from the transmitting communication system. Based on the first conversion information stored in the second conversion table and the second conversion information registered in the second conversion table. Conversion information generation means for generating third conversion information between the mat and the data format of the transmission side communication system, and the transmission side communication based on the third conversion information generated by the conversion information generation means And a data conversion means for converting the data format of the data included in the message sent from the system into the data format of the own system.

Further, the present invention has an object to achieve data communication between arbitrary computers having different data formats in a system in which a plurality of computers are connected via a line. In a system in which a plurality of computers are connected via a line, each computer has a conversion table in which conversion information between the data format of its own computer and the standard data format is registered,
Message generating means for generating a message in which conversion information registered in the conversion table is added to data to be transmitted to the partner computer, and message transmitting means for transmitting the message generated by the message generating means to the partner computer A message receiving means for receiving a message to the own computer, and a data format of a computer as a sender of the message based on the conversion information in the message received by the message receiving means and the conversion information registered in the conversion table Information generating means for generating conversion information between the data format of the computer and its own computer, and data of data included in the message received by the message receiving means based on the conversion information generated by the conversion information generating means. Convert the format to the data format of your computer Is obtained by a that the data conversion means.

[0011]

When transmitting the data, the message generating means in the communication system on the transmitting side converts the first conversion information between the data format of the own system registered in the first conversion table and the standard data format into the data. Generate the added message and send it to the receiving system.

When a message is sent from the transmission side communication system, the conversion information generating means of the reception side communication system stores the first conversion information included in the sent message and the second conversion table. A third conversion between the data format of the transmission side communication system and the data format of the reception side communication system based on the registered second conversion information between the data format of the own system and the standard data format. Information is generated, and the data conversion unit converts the data format of the data in the message into the data format of the receiving communication system based on the third conversion information generated by the conversion information generation unit.

In another configuration, at the time of data transmission, the message generation means in each computer generates a message to which conversion information between the data format of the own computer registered in the conversion table and the standard format is added. Then
The message transmitting means transmits the message generated by the message generating means to the partner computer.

When the message receiving means receives a message for the own computer, the conversion information in the received message and the conversion information between the data format of the own computer and the standard data format registered in the conversion table in the own computer. Based on the conversion information generation means, the conversion information between the data format of the computer of the transmission source and the data format of the own computer is generated, the data conversion means based on the conversion information generated by the conversion information generation means. Convert the data format of the data in the message to the data format of your computer.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. A communication system 1 on the transmitting side and a communication system 2 on the receiving side are shown.
And a line 3 connecting the two. Here, the transmission side communication system 1 and the reception side communication system 2 are E
It is assumed that DI data is transmitted and received, and the data formats of the EDI data handled by the transmission side communication system 1 and the reception side communication system 2 are F1 and F2, respectively.

The transmission side communication system 1 includes a conversion table 1
1, a message generation unit 12, and a message transmission unit 13.

In the conversion table 11, conversion information (F1-Fs) between the data format F1 of EDI data handled by the transmitting communication system 1 and the standard data format Fs of EDI data standardized in the industry or internationally.
Is registered.

The conversion information (F1-Fs) indicates the correspondence between each control code and data identifier in the data format F1 and each control code and data identifier in the standard data format Fs. , Has the contents shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 2, the control codes 1, 2, ... In the standard data format Fs correspond to the control codes 1-1, 2-1, ... In the data format F1, and the data identifier 1 in the standard data format Fs. , 4 are data identifiers 1-1, 4-in the data format F1.
It is indicated that the data identifier corresponding to 1 and corresponding to the data identifiers 2 and 3 in the standard data format Fs does not exist in the data format F1.

When the EDI data to be transmitted to the receiving side communication system 2 is input, the message generating means 12 adds a header and conversion information (F1-Fs) registered in the conversion table 11 to the EDI data. Has the function of generating.

ED input to the message generating means 12
The I data has a data format shown in FIG. 3, for example. As shown in the figure, the EDI data is composed of a plurality of data segments, and each data segment has data identifiers 1-1 and 1-2 indicating the types of items included in the data segment, such as the transmission date and sender name. -1
, The contents 1 and 2 of the item whose type is indicated by the data identifiers 1-1 and 2-1, the control code 1-1 indicating the delimiter between the data identifier and the contents, and the control code indicating the delimiter between the data segments. 2-1 and 2-1. Incidentally, E
For the last data segment in the DI data, ED is used instead of the control code 2-1 indicating the delimiter of the data segment.
A control code 3-1 indicating the end of I data is set.

The message transmitting means 13 has a function of transmitting the message generated by the message generating means 12 to the receiving side communication system 2 via the line 3.

The receiving side communication system 2 includes a message receiving means 21, a message separating means 22, a data storing means 23, conversion tables 24, 25 and 27, a conversion information generating means 26, a data converting means 28, and And a reception file 29.

The conversion table 25 contains conversion information (F2-F) between the data format F2 of EDI data handled by the receiving communication system 2 and the standard data format Fs.
s) is registered.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing conversion information (F2-Fs) registered in the conversion table 25. In this example, the control codes 1, 2, ... In the standard data format Fs are in the data format F2. Control code 1-2, 2-
2, ..., Data identifiers 1 and 3 in the standard data format Fs correspond to data identifiers 1-2 and 3-2 in the data format F1, and data identifiers 2 and 4 in the standard data format. Indicates that the data identifier corresponding to does not exist in the data format F2.

The message receiving means 21 has a function of receiving a message sent from the transmission side communication system 1 via the line 3.

The message separating means 22 separates the EDI data in the message received by the message receiving means 21 from the conversion information to store the EDI data in the data storing means 23.
To register the conversion information in the conversion table 24.

The conversion information generating means 26 uses the conversion table 2
Conversion information (F1-Fs) between the data format F1 registered in 4 and the standard data format Fs
And the conversion information (F2-Fs) between the data format F2 and the standard data format Fs registered in the conversion table 25, the data format F
1 and conversion information between the data format F2 (F1-
F2) is generated and the generated conversion information (F1-F2) is registered in the conversion table 27.

The data conversion means 28 has a conversion table 27.
The EDI data of the data format F1 stored in the data storage means 23 is converted into the EDI of the data format F2 based on the conversion information (F1-F2) stored in
It has the function of converting to data.

5 and 6 are flow charts showing an example of processing of the data converting means 28, and the operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The message generation means 12 in the transmission side communication system 1 receives the EDI data as shown in FIG. 3 from a user terminal, a program in the transmission side communication system, or the like, and is instructed to transmit the EDI data. The header of the data and the conversion information (F1-
The message shown in FIG. 7 with Fs) is generated and input to the message transmitting means 13. Here, the format of the conversion information (F1-Fs) added to the EDI data is, for example,
It may be as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG.

The example of FIG. 8 shows an example in which the control code and data identifier used in the data format F1 and the control code and data identifier used in the corresponding standard data format Fs are paired and added to the EDI data. ing. In the case of this example, the order of the pair of control code and data identifier added to the EDI data can be arbitrary.

Further, the example of FIG. 9 shows the transmitting side communication system 1
The format that can be taken when the transmission order of the control code and the data identifier is fixed between the receiving side communication system 2 and the receiving side communication system 2. In this way, when the transmission order is fixed, the control code and data identifier of the standard data format can be omitted.

When the message is transmitted from the message generating means 12, the message transmitting means 13 transmits the inputted message to the receiving side communication system 2 via the line 3.

When a message is sent from the transmitting side communication system 1 via the line 3, the message receiving means 21 in the receiving side communication system 2 receives the message.

The message separating means 22 registers the EDI data in the message received by the message receiving means 21 in the data storing means 23 and the conversion information (F1-Fs) in the conversion table 24.

The conversion information generating means 26 uses the conversion table 2
When the conversion information (F1-Fs) sent from the transmission-side communication system 1 is registered in No. 4, the conversion information (F1-Fs) registered in the conversion table 24 and the conversion information 25 are registered in the conversion table 25. Based on the conversion information (F2-Fs), the data format F1 and the data format F
Conversion information (F1-F2) between 2 and 3 is generated and registered in the conversion table 27. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of conversion information (F1-F2) registered in the conversion table 27.

The data conversion means 28 has a conversion table 27.
When the conversion information (F1-F2) is registered in, the first data segment of the EDI data registered in the data storage means 23 is registered in the conversion table 27, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Input based on the control code indicating the delimiter of the data segment (step S1).
Now, for example, if the EDI data shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the data storage means 23, the data conversion means 28
Will input the first data segment based on the control code 2-1 indicating the segment data segment.

Next, the data conversion means 28 performs data conversion on the input first data segment,
The conversion result is output to the reception file 29 (step S
2).

Thereafter, the data conversion means 28 inputs the next data segment from the data storage means 23 and performs data conversion on the input segment (step S).
3, S4, S2). After that, the data converting means 28 repeats the above-described processing until the control code indicating the end of the data is input, that is, until there are no unprocessed data segments (YES in step S4).

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a detailed processing example of step S2 of FIG. 5, and the processing of step S2 will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, when the data segment is input, the data identifier of the data format F1 corresponding to the data identifier of the data format F1 in the input data segment is input from the conversion table 27, and the data identifier of the input data format F2 is received. File 29
(Step S11). If the data identifier of the data format F1 corresponding to the data identifier of the data format F1 in the input segment does not exist, the data identifier of the data format F1 is output to the reception file 29 as it is.

Next, the control code of the data format F1 corresponding to the delimiter in the data segment and the control code of the corresponding data format F2 are input from the conversion table 27, and the input control code is output to the reception file 29.
(Step S12) After that, the contents in the data segment are output to the reception file 29 (step S13).

Further, the data format F corresponding to the control code of the data format F1 indicating the delimiter between the data segments in the data segment or the end of the data.
The control code of No. 2 is input from the conversion table 27, and the input control code is output to the reception file 29 (step S1
4).

Therefore, for example, if the head data segment shown in FIG. 3 is input, the data conversion means 2
8 is a data identifier 1-2 of the data format F2 corresponding to the data identifier 1-1, a control code 1-2 of the data format F2 corresponding to the control code 1-1, a content 1,
The control code 2-2 of the data format F2 corresponding to the control code 2-1 is sequentially output to the reception file 29. By performing such processing on all the data segments shown in FIG. 3, the data format-converted data as shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the reception file 29.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, which is a case where the present invention is applied to a system in which a plurality of computers A, B, C and D are connected via a line. . In this embodiment, the computers A, B, C and D handle EDI data of data formats F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the computer A. Conversion in which the conversion information (F1-Fs) between the data format F1 of EDI data handled by the computer A and the standard data format Fs is registered. Table 11A
Message generating means 12A, message transmitting means 13A, message receiving means 21A, message separating means 22A, data storing means 23A, conversion table 24A, conversion information generating means 26A, conversion table 27A, and data. Conversion means 28A and received file 29
It has A and. The other computers have the same configuration as the computer A.

At the time of transmitting the EDI data, the EDI data to be transmitted and its destination are input to the message generating means 12A and the message transmitting means 13A of the computer A, respectively.

The message generating means 12A sends E
When the DI data is input, a message in which the header and the conversion information (F1-Fs) registered in the conversion table 11A are added to the EDI data as in the case of the message generating means 12 in the embodiment of FIG. Is generated and input to the message transmitting means 13A, and the message transmitting means 13 is generated.
When the message is input, A sends the message to the computer indicated by the destination via the line.

Also, the message receiving means 21 of the computer A
When A receives the message, the message separating means 22
A registers the EDI data and the conversion information included in the message in the data storage unit 23A and the conversion table 24A, and the conversion information generation unit 26A is registered in the conversion information registered in the conversion table 24A and the conversion table 11A. The conversion information between the data format of the transmission source computer and its own computer A is created and registered in the conversion table 27A based on the conversion information (F1-Fs) that has been transmitted, and the data conversion means 28A stores it in the conversion table 27A. Based on the registered conversion information, the data format of the EDI data stored in the data storage means 23A is converted into the data format F1 of the own computer A and output to the reception file 29A.

In the embodiment, the case where EDI data is communicated has been described as an example, but the type of data is not limited to this.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first conversion information between the data format of the transmitting communication system and the standard data format is used when transmitting data from the transmitting communication system to the receiving communication system. Data of the transmission side communication system based on the first conversion information transmitted in the reception side communication system and the second conversion information between the data format of the own system and the standard data format. Generating third conversion information between the format and the data format of the communication system on the receiving side, and converting the data format of the received data to the data format of the own system based on this third conversion information Since the conversion process for the data only needs to be performed once, if the amount of data is large, the third conversion information generation process should be performed. Even taking into, there is an effect that it is possible to higher process efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing conversion information between a data format F1 and a standard data format Fs.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of EDI data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing conversion information between a data format F2 and a standard data format Fs.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the data conversion means 28.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the data conversion means 28.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a message transmitted from the transmission side communication system 1 to the reception side communication system 2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format example of conversion information added to EDI data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of format of conversion information added to EDI data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing conversion information between a data format F1 and a data format F2.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing EDI data after conversion of a data format.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a computer A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transmission side communication system 11 ... Conversion table 12 ... Message generation means 13 ... Message transmission means 2 ... Reception side communication system 21 ... Message reception means 22 ... Message separation means 23 ... Data storage means 24 ... Conversion table 25 ... Conversion table 26 ... conversion information generation means 27 ... conversion table 28 ... data conversion means 29 ... received file 3 ... line A to D ... computer 11A ... conversion table 12A ... message generation means 13A ... message transmission means 21A ... message reception means 22A ... message separation means 23A ... Data storage means 24A ... Conversion table 26A ... Conversion information generating means 27A ... Conversion table 28A ... Data conversion means 29A ... Reception file

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. The transmission side communication system, when transmitting data to the reception side communication system, transmits to the reception side communication system first conversion information between the data format of its own system and a standard data format together with the data. And the reception side communication system receives the data and the first conversion information from the transmission side communication system to thereby receive the first conversion information, the data format of the own system, and the Third conversion information between the data format of the transmission side communication system and the data format of the own system is generated from second conversion information between the standard data format and the third conversion information. Data communication characterized by converting the data format of the received data into the data format of the own system Law. 2. The transmission side communication system includes a first conversion table in which first conversion information between a data format of the own system and a standard data format is registered, and data to be transmitted to the reception side communication system. Message receiving means for generating a message added with the first conversion information registered in the first conversion table and transmitting the message to the receiving communication system, wherein the receiving communication system has a data format of its own system. A second conversion table in which second conversion information between the standard data format and the first conversion information included in a message sent from the communication system on the transmitting side is registered;
Conversion information generation means for generating third conversion information between the data format of the own system and the data format of the transmission side communication system based on the second conversion information registered in the conversion table of Data conversion means for converting the data format of the data included in the message sent from the transmission side communication system into the data format of the own system based on the third conversion information generated by the conversion information generation means; A data communication system comprising: 3. In a system in which a plurality of computers are connected via a line, each computer has a conversion table in which conversion information between a data format of its own computer and a standard data format is registered, and a counterpart table. Message generation means for generating a message in which conversion information registered in the conversion table is added to data to be transmitted to a computer, and message transmission means for transmitting the message generated by the message generation means to the partner computer, A message receiving means for receiving a message for its own computer; a data format of a computer as a sender of the message based on the conversion information in the message received by the message receiving means and the conversion information registered in the conversion table; A converter that generates conversion information to and from the data format of your computer. Conversion information generating means, and data conversion means for converting the data format of the data included in the message received by the message receiving means into the data format of the own computer based on the conversion information generated by the conversion information generating means. A data communication system characterized by being provided.