JPH09223062A - Customization method for service offering form and server device applicable to execution of the customization method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate such a troublesome procedure that is required for a user to perform a programming operation, etc., by himself, by customizing the service while a client is receiving the service from a server. SOLUTION: A system includes a PAD 2, i.e., a client and a server 4 which offers the service and an extended HTML to the PDA 2. These PDA 2 and server 4 are connected to each other via a network 6. A viewer is mounted on the PDA 2 to interpret the HTML, and an HTTPD 24 is mounted on the server 4 together with a various-type processing part 22 which includes the offer of service to the PDA 2. When the service is actually being utilized by the PDA 2, the service is offered in a state where an instruction is received from the PDA 2 to chance the offering form. When the instruction of change is received, the offering form is changed based on the instruction and the offer of service is carried on.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for customizing a service providing form and a server device usable for implementing the method. The present invention particularly relates to a method of customizing a service providing form from a client device receiving a service from a server device, and a server device customizing a service providing form according to an instruction from the client device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the adoption of a graphical user interface (GUI) often simplifies a user's operation on an information device such as a computer.
For example, even when the user receives some service from the server device for his or her own device (client device), the service screen (a screen showing a list of selectable service target items or a screen showing the service provision status) is displayed on the service. If a GUI using graphic symbols or the like is adopted, selection and execution of services become easy. The user can, for example,
Instead of inputting a long character string from the keyboard, click the button on the screen with the mouse to instruct to select and execute the service. The GUI is designed in consideration of visibility and distinctiveness, and generally, the work efficiency of the user can be greatly improved.

On the other hand, however, there is also a demand for the user to customize this GUI. This is because the work content and the frequency of each work are different for each user, so that the GUI may need to be modified according to the work situation of the user.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-4280 discloses a method of constructing a desired GUI by a user's own operation.
This method enables the definition and modification of the type for each panel type (for example, window or message box) in view of the fact that the work of programming a GUI has been complicated and difficult in the past. A GUI editor that implements the method contains a user-modifiable GUI source code control file, which is a GUI.
It contains a tag file that defines I. The tag file describes GUI panel objects (eg, icons and control boxes). Using these files, this method roughly includes the steps of opening the control file and editing the tag file in the control file. By this method, the user creates and reuses the desired GUI panel without performing complicated programming by himself.

On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-110670 also discloses a UI customization method by a user. This method also requires users to write techniques, especially GU
The purpose is to relieve the trouble of learning the extended language that constitutes I. In this method, the operation of the extended language interpreter is interrupted by the instruction of "event acquisition" of the extended language to obtain the desired event, so that the user does not need to newly learn the extended language itself.

Both of the above two conventional techniques are useful in supporting customization work by a user with little programming experience, but when various services are provided through a network, for example, when the services are provided by the Internet, For the following reasons, it is necessary to consider customizing the GUI of the service screen from another viewpoint.

In the service via the Internet, the UI itself of the client (here, a user device or a client program built therein) is in the form of a text described in a screen configuration description language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) from the server. Will be sent in. HTML is a document structure description language SGML (Standard
It is a language defined as a type of Generalized Markup Language) and enables the import of image data, etc., centering on the display of character strings. That is, the server side generates text according to the HTML grammar and sends it to the client, and the client HT sends this text.
Interpretation according to the ML grammar, the specified layout, size,
The character string is displayed according to the font, etc., and the image other than the character string is displayed. Since the GUI of the service screen is configured by this, customization regarding this service screen is not simply a problem solved by the user device alone.

[0008]

When the service providing form including the GUI of the service screen in the client device is customized, the original HTML text (hereinafter simply referred to as "HTML") is provided from the server. Operation is required. To customize the GUI, follow the steps below.

1. 1. The user informs the server administrator etc. (administrator or developer) of his / her request. The server administrator or the like logs in to the server and rewrites the HTML or the CGI program for generating the HTML according to the user's request.

As a result, there is room for improvement in the following points.

(1) It is time-consuming and requires a long response time. (2) The work is temporarily performed by an administrator or the like. (2) Incomplete customization. Since an intermediary enters, the intention is completely reflected. Not limited to (3) Skills required for customizing work The administrator or the like directly rewrites the HTML or CGI program, so skill is required for these.

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of these problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a service easily by a user when a service is supplied from a server (that is, a service related to the service). (EN) It is to provide a method for customizing the configuration of a screen, cooperation of the service with another service, and the like, and a server device capable of implementing this method.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The present invention is a method for customizing a service providing form, and a method for customizing the service providing form from a client device receiving a service from a server device. The “service provision form” may be related to the content of the service itself, or may be associated with the provision of the service. In the former case, for example, when several different services are provided in a certain order,
The type and order of these services determine the form of delivery. In the latter case, when a certain service is provided, for example, the configuration of the service screen regarding the service determines the providing mode.

In this situation, when the service is actually used by the client device, the server device provides the service in a state of receiving an instruction from the client device for changing the provision form, When the change instruction is received, the service form is changed according to the instruction and the service is continued. "The service is actually used by the client device" is synonymous with "the server device is actually providing the service to the client device". As an example of the “state in which the instruction is accepted”, “the state in which the instruction input button is displayed on the screen” can be considered.

According to the present invention, it is possible to customize a service while the service is actually provided, and it is not necessary to temporarily exit the service for customization.

(2) On the other hand, the server device of the present invention provides the client device with the service and the screen configuration information of the service screen to be displayed on the screen of the client device for the service (for example, markup such as HTML). (Information written in a language) and a device for providing the information. On this assumption, when the client device sends a service-related instruction, the server device receives the instruction, the instruction interpreting device that interprets the content of the received instruction, and the content of the interpreted instruction. When the execution of the service (for example, provision of the service) is indicated, the service execution means for executing the corresponding service, and when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates the customization of the service providing form, the customization means for executing the customization according to the instruction. And a screen configuration information generation unit that generates the screen configuration information so that the input of the customization instruction is accepted on the service screen, and a transmission unit that transmits the screen configuration information to the client device.

In this aspect, first, some instruction (request) is transmitted from the client device to the server device. The server device receives this by the receiving means and interprets the content of the instruction by the instruction interpreting means. If the content of the instruction is to execute a service such as printing of a document, the corresponding service (actual printing here) is executed by the service executing means.

On the other hand, when the content of the instruction indicates the customization of the service providing form, the customization means executes the customization in accordance with the instruction. Since the input of the customization instruction is accepted on the service screen, the service itself can be targeted for customization during execution of the service. Here, the screen configuration information is generated by the screen configuration information generation means so that the customization instruction can be input, and this is transmitted to the client device by the transmission means.

(3) In one aspect of the server device of the present invention, when the customization means of (2) indicates that the content of the interpreted instruction indicates a change in the configuration of the service screen regarding the service currently being provided, the screen configuration The information generating means changes the screen configuration according to the instruction while the service is being provided.

(4) In the case of (3), in one aspect of the present invention, the screen configuration information generating means selects one of the service target items displayed on the service screen whose configuration can be changed. The screen configuration information is generated so as to be displayed in a possible state.

"Service target item" means an element or item that can be designated as a service on each service screen. Therefore, as the service contents are specified and the service screen changes, the service target items also change. For example, on the initial screen of the service, a rough service type is usually displayed, such as "print service, fax service, file service ...", and thus the print service or the like is a service target item. If the user selects "Print Service" here, "Document Name,
Items such as printer name, number of sheets, paper size ... "appear. Here, the specific contents of these services are the service target items. It should be noted that the service target item is used in a meaning including not only those directly related to the content of the service as described above but also those not related to the service outline description. This is because the summary description can also be the target of screen configuration change.

In this mode, the user only needs to check or click the item whose configuration should be changed, and the user does not have to perform programming or input a character string.

(5) In another aspect of the server device of the present invention, when the customization means of (2) is an instruction relating to cooperation between a plurality of services whose interpreted contents are different, customization is performed according to the instruction. The means sets the link of the service. “Coordination between services” refers to holding a certain service in association with another service. For example, when a certain service is executed, the service to be continuously executed becomes a candidate for association. The “link setting” is used in the sense that it includes cancellation of the setting already made.

(6) In case of (5), in one aspect of the present invention, the screen configuration information generating means may link other service target items among the service target items displayed on the service screen. The screen configuration information is generated so that what can be displayed is displayed in a selectable state. Thereafter, when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates the execution of one linked service target item, the service execution means also executes the other linked service target item.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Here, it is assumed that the service and its service screen are provided in the form of HTML via the Internet. The device (or its program) that provides HTML to the client is called "HTML
"Server" or simply "Server". WWW (World
Wide Web) servers are an example. On the other hand, since the client device (or its program) interprets and displays HTML, "HTML viewer" or simply "viewer" is displayed.
Call. A WWW browser is an example.

In the present embodiment, as a general rule, a script relating to the realization of customization (hereinafter referred to as "extended script") is described in the comment part of HTML to realize customization. The viewer extends the function so that this extension script can be interpreted. Since the conventional viewer ignores the comment part, there is no fear that the added description causes a problem such as abnormal display of the screen. This maintains backward compatibility. The description method of the HTML in which the extension script is embedded (hereinafter referred to as “extended HTML”) will be described at the end of the embodiment.

[1] Types of customization The types of customization are roughly classified into those relating to the configuration of the service screen and those relating to the cooperation between services. The former has a tab, a fixed display area setting, UI object deletion, detailed / simplified display, page branching, and the like, and the latter has another service link function and the like.

(1) Structure of service screen 1. Tab "Tab" has the dual meaning of a designated position where the beginning of each unit of display (for example, a character string or a radio button) should be placed, or the actual placement at that position. The tab function is a function of arranging UI objects such as radio buttons and check boxes on the tab at the specified position. Since there is no tab command in the conventional HTML, in order to align UI objects, it is necessary to insert a required number of spaces immediately before the UI objects on the server side to adjust the position. The tab has a great effect on improving the visibility of the object.

2. Fixed display area setting A fixed display area that does not scroll is provided in a part of the screen.
It is convenient for the UI such as the "register button" that can be operated by the user at any timing to remain on the screen even if the HTML document being displayed scrolls. In particular, when a long document is displayed on a device with a small screen such as a PDA and the registration button is provided at the end of the document, the user must scroll the screen to the end and press the button. I won't. Therefore, a fixed display area is provided so that a UI object to be displayed in this area can be designated.

3. Delete Delete the UI objects that do not need to be displayed on the screen. This is useful when operations on the object are rare. In particular, this is a function for enhancing the visibility of the user when displaying a complicated UI on a device with a small screen. The specified object disappears from the screen, but the server continues to hold it as a service attribute (item). Exceptionally, this customization does not rely on extended HTML
This is done by deleting the corresponding part of the TML text.

4. Detailed / simplified display Change the display level of the item to be customized. In the simplified display, UI objects that are originally selectable or capable of inputting a character string are reduced in function to a state in which they cannot be selected, and then they are displayed collectively. The detailed display is the opposite. This customization is also useful for devices with small screens.

5. Page branch If there are many objects on the screen, collect the objects that are rarely used on a separate page and display them.

(2) Related to service linkage Customize to use another service by linking it from the screen about the service currently being used, or to return the already linked service from the linked state to the state before linking Is. An example of linking is a link between print and fax services. From this function,
It is also possible to perform automatic execution such as sending only the printed page by fax after printing.

[2] Configuration (1) Overall System Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration for realizing the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, this system is roughly divided into a user device, PDA2, and a service and an extended H
It includes a server 4 that provides TML, which are connected via a network 6. Extended HT on PDA2
A viewer that can interpret ML is installed, and the server 4
Includes various processing units 22 that perform various processes including the provision of services to the PDA 2, and HTTPD (Hyper Text Trans).
fer Protocal Daemon) 24 is installed.

The PDA 2 is once connected to a proxy server (proxy server) 14 for PDA via a modem 8, a mobile phone 10 such as a PHS, and a public line 12, and is connected to a network 6 such as Ethernet via this. . PDA
2 may access the proxy server 14 directly by infrared rays 16. The proxy server 14 is a PDA and a server connected to the end of the network 6.
It functions as a gateway with 2. That is, the extended HTML that the server 4 wants to display on the PDA 2 is displayed on the PDA.
On the other hand, the PDA 2 acts as an intermediary for passing values selected by the viewer to the server 4, respectively. These communications are
It is performed by a transmission / reception unit (not shown) provided in the server 4 and the PDA 2.

A WWW server 18 and other various service devices 20 are also connected to the network 6. Examples of services provided by the various service devices 20 include print and fax. The various processing units 22 convert the result given from these services into the extended HTML or generate the extended HTML according to the result, and the extended HT on the PDA 2
Hand it over to the ML viewer. Thus, the requested service is P
Provided to DA2. The HTTPD 24 passes requests and values from viewers to the various processing units 22 in the form of events,
The extended HTML is received from the various processing units 22 in the form of the return value of the function. The server 4 manages the file system 26.

(2) Server Configuration FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the various processing units 22 of the server 4.
These software function module groups form a part of the CGI program in the various processing units 22. As shown in the figure, the various processing units 22 include an input / output unit 30 for communicating with the HTTPD 24, an instruction interpreting unit 40 for interpreting an instruction from the viewer input via the input / output unit 30, and an interpreted instruction. When the service is executed, the service execution unit 50 that actually performs the service, when the interpreted instructions are related to the customization related to the service, the customization unit 60 that actually performs the customization, and reflects the execution result of the service or the customization of the viewer. It includes a screen configuration information generation unit 70 that determines a screen configuration and generates information about this configuration. The generated screen configuration information is given to the input / output unit 30 and given to the viewer of the PDA 2 via the HTTPD 24 and the network 6 to display the service screen.

The service execution unit 50 refers to the service function sequence template 80 when executing a service. The service function sequence template 80 is a template (that is, a template) that holds a process or a function required to execute a service together with an order in which the service should be executed. On the other hand, the screen configuration information generation unit 70
Refers to the response sequence template 90. The response sequence template 90 is a template that holds the screen to be displayed as a response to the user's instruction regarding the service together with its order.

In this configuration, customization is finally realized by modifying these two templates.

FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the instruction interpretation unit 40 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the instruction interpreting unit 40 has a customization instruction identifying unit 402 for identifying a customization instruction from the user, and the customization instruction identifying unit 402 further extracts an argument included in the instruction from the user. Has 404. In this configuration, when an instruction is sent from the user, it is determined whether the instruction requests execution of a normal service or customization regarding the service currently being executed,
In order to know the details of the content of the instruction, the argument included in the instruction is extracted. The extracted argument is given to the service execution unit 50 if the instruction is the execution of the service, and to the customization unit 60 if it is customized, and the intended processing is performed.

FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram of the service execution unit 50 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the service execution unit 50 first has a service primitive sequence generation unit 502 and a service primitive dispatch unit 504. If the argument indicates an operation request related to a service, the service primitive sequence generation unit 502 derives a service procedure corresponding to the request from the service function sequence template 80 and decomposes it into the simplest (primitive) service operation unit. To do. For example, if the operation request is "copy file", the service operation unit is
Copying the part related to the attribute of the file to be copied, copying the data body part of the file, etc. On the other hand, the service primitive dispatch unit 504 receives each service operation unit from the service primitive sequence generation unit 502, and performs a dispatch process for each service, that is, a multidirectional branch process.

The various service handlers 506 are a group of handlers called from the service primitive dispatch unit 504, and are composed of APIs (application program interfaces) such as a print service handler 512 and a file service handler 514. The service target item can also be considered as various attributes of the service handler. The various access tools 508 are a group of tools used by various service handlers 506, and include a print service access tool 516, a file service access tool 518, and the like. Various service departments 510
Is a group of programs that are actually in charge of executing services according to instructions from the various access tools 508, and include a print service unit 520, a file service unit 522, and the like.

FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram of the customizing section 60 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the customization type determination unit 6 that determines the type of customization instructed from the argument.
02, a customization execution unit 604 that actually performs customization according to the determination result, and when customization is performed, the screen configuration of the PDA 2 changes in some way. Therefore, a customization screen generation that determines the screen to be displayed in consideration of this change Includes section 606. In accordance with the contents of the change in the screen configuration determined here, the screen configuration information generation unit 7 to be described later
At 0, screen configuration information is created in the form of HTML or extended HTML.

The customization execution unit 604 is roughly classified into a screen configuration customization unit 608 that is in charge of customization when the type of customization relates to the configuration of the service screen.
And a service cooperation customization unit 610 that is in charge of customization in the case of service cooperation, that is, linking. When the screen configuration is customized, the user confirms the customization result, and then a new template is displayed as the response sequence template 9
Registered to 0. Similarly, when services are linked, a new template is registered in the service function sequence template 80.

FIG. 6 is an internal block diagram of the screen configuration information generating section 70 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the screen configuration information generation unit 7
0 has a screen configuration description generation unit 702. The screen configuration description generation unit 702 embeds an HTML generation unit 704 that generates an HTML related to a service screen display, which is equivalent to the conventional one, and an extension script for enabling customization that is characteristic of the present embodiment in the HTML. Extended HT
It includes an extended HTML synthesizer 706 for generating ML.

The screen configuration information generating unit 70 further includes a service response analyzing unit 708 and a UI primitive generating / arranging unit 7.
Have 10. The former determines the normal / abnormal termination of the service. In the case of normal termination, the screen configuration description generation unit 702 reads out a screen corresponding to the normal termination from the response sequence template 90, and the HTML generation unit 7 so as to display this.
HTML is generated at 04. In the case of abnormal termination, the screen configuration description generation unit 702 is instructed to overwrite the dialog box on a part of the screen.

The UI primitive generation / arrangement unit 710 uses U
I is generated in the state of the simplest part (for example, a button), and it is decided at which part of the screen this is to be arranged.
For example, since the position of each button changes when the tab function is executed, the UI primitive generation / arrangement unit 710 calculates this change, and the calculated result is the screen configuration description generation unit 70.
2, and holds the result as internal information for subsequent screen display. Extended H generated in this way
The TML is sent to the viewer via the input / output unit 30 and the HTTPD 24.

[3] Operation of Configuration FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of service execution operation and customization operation in the server 4. The specific procedure of customization will be described later.

First, it is assumed that the user of the PDA 2 instructs the server 4 to "print page 1 of document A" by clicking a button or the like. When the server 4 receives this instruction, the instruction interpretation unit 40 first interprets the instruction (S100). Since this instruction is not related to customization, it is determined to be an instruction to execute a normal service (service provision) (S10).
2 N), service primitive sequence generation unit 50
2 and the service primitive dispatch unit 504 prepare a service (S104). Then, in the service execution unit 50, the service handler (here, the print service handler 512), the service access tool (the same print service access tool 516), and the service unit (the same print service unit 520) are activated in order, and the actual printing is performed. Be seen. The same applies to services other than printing.

Next, for example, it is assumed that the user gives a customization instruction to "provide a fixed display area on this screen" on a certain service screen. In this case, since the instruction is related to customization (Y in S102), it is next determined whether or not the type of customization is related to the configuration of the service screen (S11).
2). Since the fixed display area is related to the screen configuration, S1
14, the screen configuration is changed according to the instruction of the user (not shown), and the response sequence template 90 is modified (S114). After that, a so-called preview (preview) screen is transmitted to the PDA 2, and the user confirms the new screen configuration (S116), and then the new template is registered in the response sequence template 90 (S118).

On the other hand, when the service currently being provided is, for example, a print service, and the user sends an instruction of "service link", the process proceeds to N in S112. Here, in order to link the service target items, a service target item related to the service currently being executed and a service target item related to another service that can be linked are displayed on the currently displayed service screen. In this case, for example, "fax service, file service ..." Is displayed. Here, if the user selects the fax service, the service cooperation customizing section 610 of the customizing section 60 links the two according to this selection (S120) and modifies the service function sequence template 80 (S122). As a result, a new template is registered (S124). By linking the services, customization such as faxing the printed document as it is to a designated place becomes possible.

After the above procedure, a series of processing is finished. A customization end message may be sent before the processing ends.

Here, the actual customization will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the print service is used as an example to customize the configuration of the service screen or the cooperation between the services. At the initial screen of the service, the server confirms whether the user is willing to customize. If the user answers "none", the normal service screen appears. FIG. 8 shows the normal screen. In the figure, the service name is displayed at the top of the screen, the service outline description is displayed below it, and the print target document name, the printer name in charge of the service, the number of prints, the paper size,
Enlargement / reduction ratio (%) and allocation are displayed. Below the paper size, there are radio buttons. "Cancel" and "Print" buttons are displayed at the bottom of the screen.

On the other hand, if the user replies that he / she wants to customize, the possible customization is additionally displayed on the screen of FIG. FIG. 9 shows a screen on which six types of customizations are selectably displayed. As shown in the figure, at the bottom of the screen, five buttons related to the service screen configuration (simply referred to as “configuration” on the screen) and one button related to the cooperation between services appear. The screen transition and customization when each of these buttons is pressed will be described below.

(1) Configuration: Tab FIG. 10 is a screen that appears when "Configuration: Tab" is pressed. Here, one check box appears in front of all items for which tabs can be set, and an item actually checked by the user has a cross. In the figure, radio buttons such as blanks for writing the document name and papers are checked.

On the other hand, at the bottom of the screen, a horizontal row of check boxes and a "tab setting OK" and "preview" button appear. The check box group is for setting tab positions, and here, three check boxes are already checked. These radio buttons, etc.
It will be placed with the point at the top. FIG. 11 shows a screen displayed when "Preview" is pressed in this state. As shown in the figure, the selected items are aligned. If four or more items are selected in one line,
Move to the next line from the fourth item and repeat the same tab as the previous line.
At the bottom of the screen, a "Preview return" button to exit from the preview is displayed. After confirming the customized screen, the user presses this button and
Return to the state of No., and if there is no correction, press "tab setting OK" to finish the process. When you press this button, the screen is
It becomes the state of 1. If there is a correction, you can repeat the check and repeat the preview to get the desired customized screen.

The above is the customization by the tab. It should be noted here that the service can be continuously received during the customization. For example, the user can change the paper size and the like or actually print even in the state of FIG. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform customization while displaying the screen itself to be customized, so that the efficiency of the customization work is greatly improved.

If the operations of FIGS. 10 and 11 are performed by a conventional viewer, it is possible to press the preview button, but an extended script for realizing the tab function is inserted in the comment. Since it is ignored, the screen remains in the state shown in FIG.

(2) Structure: Area FIG. 12 is a screen that appears when "Structure: Area" is pressed in FIG. 9, and a new "area setting OK" and "preview" button appears. “Area” is an abbreviation for fixed display area, and items with check boxes move to the fixed display area. In FIG. 12, this corresponds to the “number of sheets”. FIG. 13 shows a screen displayed when "Preview" is pressed in this state. The bottom column of the screen becomes a fixed display area, where "Number of sheets" is displayed.
Is displayed. Here, instead of “number of sheets”, “cancel” and “print” are moved to the normal scroll area, but this may be left at the original position.

After confirming the customized screen, the user presses "return to preview", and thereafter, the customization is completed in the same procedure as (1).

(3) Structure: Delete When this button is pressed, a screen almost equivalent to that shown in FIG. 10 appears.
However, there is no group of check boxes in one row, and “tab setting OK” becomes “delete OK”. Checked items disappear from the screen by "Delete OK", and the entire screen is simplified.

(4) Structure: detailed / simplified FIG. 14 is a screen that appears when “Structure: detailed / simplified” is pressed in FIG. 9, and items under “document name” are sandwiched by check boxes for each line. There is. Here, "paper" and below are checked. FIG. 15 is a screen displayed when "Function: Simplification" is pressed in this state, and the three checked lines are displayed together. This display only shows the current selection status, and no new selection can be made. In FIG. 15, the check boxes corresponding to the lines are checked again. If "Structure: Simplification" is pressed in this state, this line is further simplified and displayed, for example, {A4, 100%, standard}. In order to return from this state to the original display, after checking the item, "configuration: refinement" may be pressed twice.

(5) Structure: Page Branching FIG. 16 is a screen that appears when “Structure: Page Branching” is pressed in FIG. 9, and the following “paper” is checked. These will be turned to another page.

In the same figure, "Structure: execute branch" is a new button, and next to this, there are input points for "branch button name" and "title". When "option setting" and "print service (option setting)" are input for these respectively and "configuration: branch execution" and "to branch page" are pressed in this order, the screen of FIG. 17 appears. This screen is the original page at the time of branching, and the three lines that were checked are gone.
Instead, a button for jumping to the page to which these branched off is displayed under the name of "option setting". If you press this button and "To branch page" in this order,
Jump to the branch destination page.

FIG. 18 shows the screen of the branch destination page. Here, the above three lines have been moved to the new title. If you press "Branch OK", you will return to the branch source page. The rectangular area in the figure is an area for freely entering an arbitrary character string or the like.

(6) Collaboration: Link FIG. 19 is a screen that appears when "Collaboration: Link" is pressed in FIG. 9, and is a screen for designating a link for the print service currently in use and another service. Four services under "File" are displayed as link candidates. 20 shows a screen that appears when "fax" is pressed and "cooperation: link destination determination" is pressed in FIG. As shown in the figure, the service attributes (items) of the fax service that is the link destination and the print service that is the link source are displayed. Here, for example, if you fax the document currently being printed,
Press the "Document Name" button on both services, and then click "Link:
Press the "Link item" button. With this, both are linked, and then the “paper” of both services are linked by the same procedure. Finally, "Run button after linking"
If you click "Send", the same document is automatically sent with the same paper size.

It should be noted here that some attributes are linkable and some are not. For example, since a "FAX number" cannot be linked, in such a case, processing such as inputting is performed on the fax service side. It should be noted that, each time linking is performed, if both linked attributes are displayed in association with the margin of the screen, it becomes easier to use.

[4] Extended HTML description method Finally, an extended HT that realizes customization of tab functions and the like.
The ML description method will be described.

(1) Operation of conventional HTML and viewer FIG. 21 shows a conventional general H for displaying three buttons.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a description example of TML, and FIG. 22 is the HTML of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen when is displayed by a conventional viewer or an extended HTML viewer according to the present embodiment. 21 H
With regard to TML, the same display is made in the conventional viewer and the extended HTML viewer.

In FIG. 21, an 8-line HTML consisting of a so-called header part 800 and a body (body part) 801 is described. The numbers at the left end of the figure are line numbers given for convenience, and are not a part of the HTML description.

The first and second lines of FIG. 21 form the header section 800. The unit of description in HTML is called a tag,
It is described in <>. <Aaa> is the start tag, </
aaa> is called an end tag, and the content of the process whose name is aaa is described between them. For example, <
HEAD> is the start of the header section 800, </ HE in the second line
AD> indicates the same end. Here, in the header section 800, this HTML title is defined as “Example0”.

Next, the third to eighth lines are the text 801. "INPUT" in lines 4 to 6 is a reserved word indicating everything related to user input, and "TYPE" is a reserved word indicating a type (type such as text, check box, radio button). “Radio” indicates a radio button, and “radioset” is a name given to the radio button. Only one of the buttons having the same name can be pressed.

At line 7, there is a comment "End of sample 0". In HTML, <! --Aa
When a-> is written, the description of aaa is treated as a comment. In the case of FIG. 21, this comment is a normal comment in which the tab function is not embedded (hereinafter simply referred to as “normal comment”, and the comment in which the extended function is embedded is referred to as “extended function comment”).

FIG. 22 shows a screen display when FIG. 21 is actually displayed. In FIG. 21, three buttons are described on separate lines, but in reality, these are simply three buttons arranged horizontally. This is because normal HTML does not have an instruction for explicitly performing a line break, and even if the line is divided into three lines as shown in FIG. 21, the line break cannot be performed. Note that, in FIG. 22, the user selects "fires".
When the button corresponding to "t" is pressed, the value "a1" is returned to the server, and the processing corresponding to the button is performed.

(2) Operation of extended HTML and viewer As described above, <! When written as --xxxx->, x
Since xx is treated as a comment, in this embodiment, an extended function, that is, a script for declaring a specified tab position and tab execution is embedded in this xxx part.

In the present embodiment, when xxx is a character string starting with%, it is determined that this comment is an extended function comment. That is, if “% ...” Appears in the comment sentence, it is determined that the tab function is embedded, and tab processing is performed.

FIG. 23 shows an extension H for realizing the tab function.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a description example of TML (title is Example1), and FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a screen when the extended HTML of FIG. 23 is displayed by the extended HTML viewer according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 23, as in FIG. 21, the extended HTML is composed of a head portion 802 and a body 803. Note that the comment portion <! ---
Removing all-> means returning to the HTML exactly the same as in FIG. 21 (in FIG. 21, the meaningless seventh line is excluded). The script related to the tab function introduced in FIG. 23 is as follows.

1. SETTABAREA The script added to the second line (head portion 802) of FIG. 23 declares the specified tab position.

"SETTABAREA" means "T" in the next item.
When actually executing the tab function in "ABAREA",
This means that the position of the tab is set (set). Here, the designated tab position TAB1 is set with an argument of 20%. The description form of the argument is as follows.

"10C" ... 10 character width (assuming fixed font)-"80P" ... 80-pixel width- "50%" ... 50% (ie, center) position from the left end of the screen to the screen width , "20%", the position where the screen width is advanced by 20% from the left end of the screen is the designated tab position. That is, the respective objects such as the buttons to be displayed are all arranged in the same designated tab position with the tops of the display aligned, as described later. The setting of a plurality of designated tab positions, TAB1, TAB2 ... Will be described later.

2. TABAREA The script added to the fifth line in FIG.
The range of the target to which the tab function is actually applied according to the setting by TABAREA is shown. That is, the fifth
SETTABARE is the start tag of the line to the end tag of the 9th line
A is the effective range of operation, and the description in lines 6 to 8 is affected here.

3. TAB In the script added to lines 6 to 8 of FIG. 23, the display start position of the content to be displayed next is set to the above-mentioned SETTABARE.
It is a script for instructing to advance to the designated tab position by A inside the apparatus.

Now, consider the operation of the viewer. Regarding the operation of the extended HTML viewer according to this embodiment, only the part different from (1) will be described.

First, in the conventional viewer, the extended HTML of FIG.
21 is displayed, the display is the same as that for HTML in FIG. 21, that is, the same display as in FIG. This is because the conventional viewer completely ignores the comment part, and as a result, backward compatibility is ensured.

On the other hand, in the extended HTML viewer according to this embodiment, when "SETTABAREA" on the second line is read, it is recognized that this is a comment and a declaration of the specified tab position. At this time, the argument "20%" is extracted using "TAB1" as an index.

Subsequently, when "TABAREA" on the fifth line is read, the specified tab position is used for updating the display start position until the end tag of TABAREA appears (that is, up to the ninth line). Recognize that When the "TAB" script is actually read in the first half of the sixth line, the viewer reads 20% of the argument with the specified tab position TAB1 as an index, and reads it by 20% of the screen width.
After calculating the position of%, the display start position is advanced to the specified tab position. Therefore, the "first" button described in the latter half of the sixth line is displayed from this display start position.

Moving to the 7th line, since the "TAB" script still exists, the viewer moves to the next designated tab position TAB2.
Try to read. However, in this example, since only TAB1 is held, the viewer again reads the argument related to TAB1. In this case, since the display start position is the same as the previous position, after the line feed is performed, the process of advancing the display start position to the designated tab position (hereinafter referred to as “wrap process”) is performed. As a result, the "second" button is displayed as "firsts".
Appears below the "t" button. The same applies to the “third” button.

As described above, when the number of designated tab positions is smaller than that of the object to be displayed (button in this case), the line feed operation occurs and the display of FIG. 24 is obtained. In the case of FIG. 24, three buttons are vertically arranged in the screen frame 810 at a position where the screen width is 20% from the left end of the screen. By using such a tab function, it is possible to easily obtain a desired display state.

Although the designated tab position is set only by TAB1 here, if TAB1 to TAB4 are set, a conventional viewer

[Table 1] ○ 1st ● 2nd ○ 3rd ○ 4th ○ AA ● AB ○ ABBC
C ○ ABC ○ 10000 ○ 1000 ○ 100 ● 10, such as UI object buttons grouped and displayed,

[Table 2] ○ 1st ● 2nd ○ 3rd ○ 4th ○ AA ● AB ○ ABBCC ○ ABC ○ 10000 ○ 1000 ○ 100 ● 10 can be arranged in an orderly manner. 1 in the table below
Regarding the line, when the "TAB" script first appears, the viewer advances the display start position to TAB1, where "○ 1st" is displayed. Subsequently, the viewer internally advances the index, and prepares to refer to TAB2 when "TAB" appears next time. As a result, "●
"2nd" is displayed with the tab position designated by TAB2 as the display start position. Similarly, "? 3rd" and "? 4th" are displayed at the tab positions designated by the TABs 3 and 4, respectively. After this, because there is no designated tab position TAB5,
The lap process is performed and the second line is displayed. The same applies to the third and fourth lines.

(3) Generalization In the present embodiment, the viewer that implements the extended function has been described by taking the tab function as an example. Here, generalization regarding the extended function other than the tab will be considered. As is clear from the example of the above tab, the extension script to be written in the comment has the following form.

<! ---% XYZ ARG1 = "arg1"---> Here, XYZ is a script indicating an extended function.
The argument related to YZ is arg1 and the like. The extended HTML viewer performs a predetermined process according to the XYZ and the argument. For example, when a fixed display area is provided, as scripts corresponding to XYZ, (a) one for designating the height of the area and the position on the screen (up, down, left and right), (b) one for designating an object or the like to be actually displayed in that area , Two types may be prepared. In the script of (a), the height and the position are specified by the arguments, and in the script of (b), the concept of the effective operation range is used. That is, an object or the like to be displayed in the area may be written between the start tag and the end tag of the script of (b). Hereinafter, any customization can be realized by these two types of tags.

[0093]

According to the method of customizing the service providing form of the present invention, since the server device provides the service in the state of accepting the change instruction for the service providing form, the client device receives the service from the server device. During that time, you can make customizations to the service. At this time, there is no need for complicated procedures such as user programming by himself or requesting the server administrator to log in to the server. Of course,
There is no need for the server administrator to rewrite the HTML or CGI program, for example. Further, since it is possible to customize while viewing the service screen, it is easy to check the result of customization.

On the other hand, since the server device of the present invention generates the screen configuration information so that the input of the customization instruction in the client device is accepted on the service screen,
The user can instruct customization of the service on the service screen.

At this time, since the server device of the present invention has the screen configuration information generating means, if the content of the instruction indicates the change of the configuration of the service screen regarding the service currently being provided,
The screen configuration is changed according to the instruction. Further, the means displays the service target items whose configuration can be changed among the service target items displayed on the service screen in a selectable state, so that the customization work becomes very easy.

On the other hand, since the server device of the present invention is provided with the customizing means for executing the customizing instruction relating to the cooperation of the services, when the instruction content is the instruction relating to the cooperation between a plurality of services, the link of the service is executed according to the instruction. Settings are made. As a result, it becomes possible to customize such that a plurality of services are continuously performed.
At this time, the screen configuration information generating means of the server device of the present invention further displays the service target items that can be linked to other service target items in a selectable state, which facilitates the customization work. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration that realizes an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of various processing units of the server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of an instruction interpretation unit 40 in FIG.

4 is an internal configuration diagram of a service execution unit 50 in FIG.

5 is an internal configuration diagram of a customization unit 60 of FIG.

6 is an internal configuration diagram of a screen configuration information generation unit 70 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of service execution operation and customization operation in the server 4.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a normal service screen that appears when the user has no intention of customizing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen on which six types of customization are displayed in a selectable manner.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “CONFIGURATION: TAB” is pressed in the state of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when “preview” is pressed in the state of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “Structure: Area” is pressed in the state of FIG. 9;

13 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when "preview" is pressed in the state of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “Structure: detailed / simplified” is pressed in FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when “Structure: Simplification” is pressed in the state of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “Structure: Page branch” is pressed in the state of FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “Structure: execute branch” and “to branch page” are pressed in this order in the state of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a screen of a branch destination page.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a screen that appears when “cooperation: link” is pressed in the state of FIG. 9;

FIG. 20: Press “Fax” in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the screen which appears when "cooperation: link destination determination" is pushed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a description example of a conventional general HTML for displaying three buttons.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a screen when the HTML of FIG. 21 is displayed by a conventional viewer or an extended HTML viewer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a description example (title is Example1) of extended HTML for realizing a tab function.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a screen when the extended HTML of FIG. 23 is displayed by the extended HTML viewer according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 PDAs, 4 servers, 6 networks, 8 modems, 10 mobile phones, 12 public lines, 14 proxy servers, 16 infrared, 18 WWW servers, 20
Various service devices, 22 Various processing units, 24 HTTP
D, 26 file system, 30 input / output unit, 40
Instruction interpreting unit, 50 service executing unit, 60 customizing unit, 70 screen configuration information generating unit, 80 service function sequence template, 90 response sequence template, 402 customizing instruction identifying unit, 404 argument extracting unit, 502 service primitive sequence generating unit, 504 Service primitive dispatch part,
506 various service handlers, 508 various access tools, 510 various service parts, 512 print service handlers, 514 file service handlers,
516 print service access tool, 518 file service access tool, 520 print service unit, 522 file service unit, 602 customization type determination unit, 604 customization execution unit, 60
6 customization screen generation unit, 608 screen configuration customization unit, 610 service cooperation customization unit, 702
Screen configuration description generation unit, 704 HTML generation unit, 70
6 Extended HTML synthesis unit, 708 service response analysis unit, 710 UI primitive generation and arrangement unit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method of customizing a service providing form from a client device receiving a service from a server device, wherein the server device provides the service form when the service is actually used by the client device. The service is provided in a state of receiving an instruction from the client device for changing the service, and when the change instruction is received, the service is continued after changing the providing mode according to the instruction. Method of customizing service provision form. 2. A server device that provides a service to a client device and screen configuration information of a service screen to be displayed on the screen of the client device for the service, wherein the client device issues an instruction regarding the service. Receiving means for receiving this instruction when transmitted, instruction interpreting means for interpreting the content of the received instruction, and service executing means for executing the corresponding service when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates execution of the service When the content of the interpreted instruction indicates customization of a service providing form, a customization unit that executes customization according to the instruction, and the screen configuration information that allows the input of the customization instruction to be accepted on the service screen. Screen configuration information generating means, and the screen configuration information A transmitting device for transmitting to an ant device, and a server device. 3. A server device which provides a client device with a service and screen configuration information of a service screen to be displayed on the screen of the client device, the command relating to the service being issued from the client device. Receiving means for receiving this instruction when transmitted, instruction interpreting means for interpreting the content of the received instruction, and service executing means for executing the corresponding service when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates execution of the service And, when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates a change in the configuration of the service screen regarding the service currently being provided, a customization unit that executes a change in the screen configuration during the provision of the service according to the instruction, and the customization instruction. Screen that generates the screen configuration information so that the input of A configuration information generation unit, the server apparatus characterized by comprising a transmitting means, a transmitting this screen configuration information to the client device. 4. The server device according to claim 3, wherein the screen configuration information generating means can select, from among service target items displayed on the service screen, an item whose configuration can be changed. A server device, characterized in that the screen configuration information is generated so as to be displayed by. 5. A server device which provides a client device with a service and screen configuration information of a service screen to be displayed on the screen of the client device for the service, wherein an instruction regarding the service is issued from the client device. Receiving means for receiving this instruction when transmitted, instruction interpreting means for interpreting the content of the received instruction, and service executing means for executing the corresponding service when the content of the interpreted instruction indicates execution of the service When the content of the interpreted instruction is an instruction regarding cooperation between a plurality of different services, a customizing means for setting a service link according to the instruction and an input of the customizing instruction are accepted on the service screen. Screen configuration information generating means for generating the screen configuration information; And a transmitting unit that transmits a message to the client device. 6. The server device according to claim 5, wherein the screen configuration information generating means is a service target item displayed on the service screen, which can be linked to another service target item. When the screen execution information is generated so as to be displayed in a selectable state, the service execution unit displays the execution of one of the service target items linked with the content of the interpreted instruction, and the other linked service. A server device that also executes the service target item of.