JPH1124895A - Starting method of application program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a starting method of an application program capable of executing starting restriction of the application program or a setting of a utilization function without changing the application program. SOLUTION: A user terminal 1 and a server 2 are connected each other with network interfaces 4, 6. A program 3 at the side of the user terminal is the one to execute a certain application and a main body application program S12 is executed after a starting program S11 is executed by the program 3. User data is fetched from a storage device 5 at the side of the user terminal and starting condition data is simultaneously fetched from a storage device 7 at the side of the server with the network by the program 3 at the side of the user terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for starting an application program for setting a restriction on the use of an application program or a use function in an information processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, an application program that causes a computer to execute various processes is restricted as a trial version such that the application program can be used free of charge only within a valid use period. In such a case,
Activation condition data relating to activation restriction is added to the application program, and a function is provided for collating with the user data stored in the user's computer at the time of activation.

[0003] An application program has data relating to these activation conditions, for example, activation condition data relating to user data such as a date at the time of activation, a user password, etc., and performs collation of these activation condition data with user data or comparison thereof. There is a need to do. The data relating to the start condition may be changed from time to time, but every time it is changed, a part of the application program must be changed, which is inefficient.

[0004] Further, depending on an application program executed on a user terminal, there is a case where information is fetched from a server via a network and used. In such a case, there is a demand to make a difference in taking in information depending on the user. Even in such a case, it is desired that the application program efficiently respond to the change of the use function.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to restrict the starting of an application program or set a use function without changing the application program. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of activating an application program that can be used. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of activating an application program which can execute setting of a use function of a server having a database resource or the like without changing the application program.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for activating an application program, the information processing system comprising a storage unit for storing user data and executing the application program and the activation program. An activation method of an application program, wherein the activation program is executed to read the user data, determine whether the user data satisfies a predetermined activation condition, and satisfy the predetermined activation condition. In such a case, the application program is started. Therefore, it has a function of starting an application program for a user who satisfies a specific condition, and this function can be realized independently of the application program.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of activating an application program, an information processing section having a storage section in which user data is stored and executing the application program, and a network connected to the information processing section. A method of activating an application program in an information processing system having a server connected via a server and executing a start program, wherein the user program is read by executing the start program, and the user data is stored in a predetermined start mode. It is determined whether or not a condition is satisfied, and the application program is activated only when the predetermined activation condition is satisfied. Therefore, it has a function of starting an application program for a user who satisfies a specific condition,
This function is independent of the application program,
Further, it can be realized on the server side independent of the user side. The startup program can be used in common for a plurality of users.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method of activating an application program, an information processing unit having a storage unit in which user data is stored, wherein the application program and the first activation program are executed, and A method for activating an application program in an information processing system having a server connected to an information processing unit via a network and executing a second activation program, wherein at least one of the first and second activation programs is executed. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the user data satisfies a predetermined start condition, and when the predetermined start condition is satisfied, the application program is started. Therefore, it has a function of starting an application program for a user who satisfies a specific condition, and this function can be realized independently of the application program and in cooperation with the user and the server. The side on which the startup program is placed can also be selected according to the startup conditions suitable for the user to determine and the startup conditions suitable for the server to determine.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of activating an application program in an information processing system having a storage unit in which user data is stored and executing the application program and the activating program, wherein the activating program is By being executed,
Reading the user data, determining whether the user data satisfies a predetermined usage condition, setting a range of functions that can be used for the application program according to the determination result, and activating the application program Things. Therefore, a function that can be used for an application program can be set for a user who satisfies a specific condition, and this setting can be realized independently of the application program at startup.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method of activating an application program, an information processing apparatus having a storage unit in which user data is stored and executing the application program and the activation program, and the information processing apparatus A server having a database in which information is stored connected to a network via a network, wherein the user program is read by executing the start program to read the user data. It is determined whether or not the data satisfies a predetermined use condition, and according to the determination result, a function that the application program can use for the server is set, and the application program is started, and the application program is started. Beam in which takes in the information from the database. Therefore, a function that can be used for the server can be set for a user who satisfies a specific condition, and this setting can be realized at the time of startup independently of the application program.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a first embodiment of a method for starting an application program according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a user terminal, 2 is a server, 3 is a program on the user terminal side, 4 is a network interface, 5 is a storage device on the user terminal side, 6 is a network interface, 7 is a storage device on the server side, and S11 is activated. The program, S12, is a main body application program.

The user terminal 1 and the server 2 are connected via a network via respective network interfaces 4 and 6. The program 3 on the user terminal side is a program for executing a certain application. For example, the program 3 is stored in a hard disk or the like in advance, loaded into a random access memory (RAM), and executed. After executing the startup program S11, the main body application program S12 is executed. The program 3 on the user terminal side fetches user data from the storage device 5 on the user terminal side and fetches start condition data from the storage device 7 on the server side via the network.

When the user performs an operation for starting the main body application, a start program S11 is executed.
Is executed, the user data is read, and it is determined whether or not the user data satisfies a predetermined activation condition based on the activation condition data, and only when the activation condition is satisfied, the main body application program S12 is activated. The main body application program S12 cannot be started by itself, and is started only by the start program S11. In this way, the function of restricting the activation of the main body application program S12 can be executed without changing the main body application program S12. Conversely, a startup program S11 can be created in common for various different main body application programs S12.

The activation condition is a condition relating to an effective use period, an effective use count, an effective use time, a service class, a user ID, a password, a user's telephone number, a personal computer communication, an e-mail address, and the like. If the activation condition is the validity period, the current date is read from the user data, and it is determined whether or not the date has passed the preset validity period. If the start condition data is the valid use count, the start program S11 or the main application program S12 writes the start count from the start date and time of use of the main application program S12 to the present time in the user data, When the program S11 is executed, the number of activations is read out and it is determined whether the number of activations is equal to or less than the number of effective uses.

When the activation condition is the effective use time,
The main body application program S12 writes in the user data the usage time from the start date and time of use of the main body application program S12 to the present time, and when the start-up program S11 is executed, reads the usage time and reads the usage time below the effective usage time. Is determined. If the activation condition data is a service class having a different charging fee, data of the service class stored in advance in the user data is extracted, and it is determined whether or not this service class is a class that permits execution of the main application S12. I do.

If the start condition data is a user ID set in the main application program or the operating system, a temporary temporary password, a password that does not specify a user (hereinafter collectively referred to as a user ID), From the user data,
These user IDs are extracted, and it is checked whether the user ID matches a specific user ID in the activation condition data or one of a plurality of user ID groups, and whether the user ID is a numeric string satisfying a predetermined rule.

The user ID, the current date, the user's telephone number, and the like need not be set by the user via a user interface such as a keyboard every time the main application program S12 is started. The user ID is obtained in advance by attached printed matter, delivery by post, delivery by network, or the like, and once set, is stored as user data in the storage device 5 of the user. The start condition data such as the expiration date, the effective use count, the effective use time, and the service class described above is set in accordance with each user in association with the user ID by the server 2 acquiring the user ID in advance. You can also.

In the above description, the start condition data is fetched from the storage device 7 on the server side via the network, thereby facilitating the maintenance of the setting change by the administrator. Instead, the start condition data may be fixedly added in advance to the start program S11. In this case, the user terminal 1 can be used in a stand-alone state without being connected to a network.

FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a second embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention. Since this is a modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, some of the same parts as those in the first embodiment are omitted from the drawing, and the same parts as those in FIG. I have. S11a to S11c are startup program modules 1 to n. In the present embodiment, the start-up program S11 is divided into a plurality of module units on condition that a plurality of requirements are satisfied simultaneously.

Each of the activation program modules 1 to n in S11a to S11c determines whether the user data individually satisfies the various activation conditions described with reference to FIG.
If the activation condition is satisfied in one activation program module, the process is sequentially passed to the next activation program module. You can create a module that performs matching and comparison processing according to the type of startup condition, combine these modules as needed, or change the module to create a startup program. Changes are easier.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the processing of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The startup program module n is illustrated. In S21, the start program module n is started by the user performing an operation for starting the main body application or by the server 2 via the network. In S22, start condition data is obtained from the storage device 7 on the server side shown in FIG. In S23, the activation condition data is compared or compared with the user data obtained from the user's storage device 5. S24
If the activation condition is not satisfied in step, the process proceeds to S25 for error processing, the reason why the activation is not possible is displayed on a display (not shown) of the user terminal 1, and the operation is terminated after returning. If the activation condition is satisfied in S24, the process proceeds to S26 to activate the next activation program module (n-1) and to activate the activation condition data as an argument with the activation program module (n-
Return to 1) and end itself. By taking the same processing steps for the activation program module (n-1) and thereafter, it is possible to inspect for at least one activation condition.

The start modules n to 1 start the start modules one after another in the same manner, and each start module starts the next start module only when each start module satisfies the respective start conditions. By the time the program S12 is activated, it can be confirmed that all the activation conditions are satisfied.

In the above description, since the start-up program module n has acquired all the start-up condition data in S22, in S26, the next start-up program module (n-
1) had passed. As a modified example, in S22, if the activation program module n acquires only the activation condition data required in S23, the activation condition data is not used as an argument in S26. The next startup program module (n-1) is
In a processing step similar to S23, only the activation condition data required by the activation program module (n-1) itself is acquired. If start condition data is acquired in the same manner for the subsequent start program modules, the next start program module is started without using the start condition data as an argument.

FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of a third embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. S31 is a start program, and S32 is a main body application program. In the first and second embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, only the start condition data is acquired from the server 2, whereas in this embodiment, the start program S 31 itself is also on the server side. Storage device 7
In the user terminal 1 via a network. At this time, start condition data can be added to the start program S31 from the beginning.

In the user terminal 1, a program for taking in the starting program S31 from the server 2 side is inserted, and after executing this program to take in the starting program S31, the starting program S31 is automatically started. It may be. Even if it has already been loaded, the startup program stored in the user terminal 1 can be updated by always loading the startup program S31. Therefore, the administrator of the main body application program S32 can easily change the setting including not only the startup data but also the startup program. As a modified example of this embodiment, the main application program itself in S32 may be taken into the user terminal 1 from the storage device 7 on the server side via the network. In the first to third embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, since the start-up program is executed on the user terminal side, user data may not go outside through the network. There is no. Therefore, the user data is protected from the network.

FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of a fourth embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 41 is a server-side program. In this embodiment, a main body application program is provided as the program 3 on the user terminal 1 side, and an activation program is provided as the program 41 on the server side. When the user performs an operation for starting up the main body application, a start-up program is executed via the network interfaces 4 and 6, and the user data stored in the storage device 5 on the user terminal side is read. It is determined whether or not the data satisfies a predetermined activation condition, and the main application program is activated only when the predetermined activation condition is satisfied. Whether the predetermined activation condition is satisfied is determined based on the activation condition data stored in the storage device 7 on the server side. The startup program can be executed by the operation of the server 2.

The first to fourth embodiments described with reference to FIGS.
In the third embodiment, the startup program is placed on the user terminal 1 side, and in the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, the startup program is placed on the server 2 side. As a fifth embodiment of the present invention, although not shown, the startup program is divided into first and second startup programs, the first startup program is placed on the user terminal 1 side, and the second startup program is placed. The program can be placed on the server 2 side.

First, one of the first and second boot programs, for example, the first boot program is started, and it is determined whether the user data satisfies a first predetermined start condition. Only when the first activation condition is satisfied, the second activation program is activated, and it is determined whether or not the user data satisfies a second predetermined activation condition. Start the main application program only when the condition is satisfied.

In the above description, if the start condition is not satisfied, the main application program is not started so that it cannot be used. Instead, a plurality of usage conditions may be provided and activated, but a function corresponding to each usage condition may be used. In other words, the use of the function corresponding to each use condition may be restricted. For example, there is a database with a date, and the main application program may search this database to obtain desired information. When a use restriction date of the database is set in this main body application program, information with a date that has passed the use restriction date is made unretrievable, or information is not taken in even if it can be retrieved. On the other hand, any information with a date up to the usage restriction date can be freely taken in.

A specific example is a case where the user data holds that the current date is June 30, 1997, and the user data does not hold the user password of the main application program. Assuming that the date of May 31, 1997 and the user password are held as the restriction date, the user terminal that does not hold the user password receives information accompanying the date of May 31, 1997 as information. If there is, it can be imported. An example in which the use restriction of such a function can be executed will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a functional diagram of a sixth embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 51 is a database, S61a to S61c
Are startup program modules n-1. This embodiment is a method of activating a database search application program for setting a use function of a server having database resources in an information processing system in which a user terminal 1 and a database 51 in a network of a server 2 effectively cooperate.

On the user terminal 1 side, an activation program is S
The activation program modules na to 61c are arranged separately. This start program does not check the start condition, but executes the database 5 on the server 1 side.
One or more usage conditions are checked at the time of startup. Each module individually checks a plurality of usage conditions. The information in the database 51 is searched for, taken in, and used when the main body application program S62 is executed.

By sequentially activating the activation program modules n-1 in S61a-S61c, it is determined whether the user data stored in the storage device 5 on the user terminal side satisfies the usage conditions assigned to each of them, The server-side program 4 according to the unsatisfied use condition
The use restriction setting program set as 1 sets an environment in which the use of the database 51 is restricted.
2 is started. When the main body application program S62 searches for and takes in information in the database 51, the main body application program S62 enables the database 51 to be searched or taken in after the search within a limited range of the information stored in the database 51. In this case, the database 51 may be rebuilt in an environment suitable for use conditions.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the processing of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a flowchart of the activation program module n, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart of the usage restriction setting program. FIG.
In S71 of (A), the activation program module n is activated by a user or a server. In S72, usage condition data is acquired from the storage device 7 on the server side. In S73, collation, comparison, and the like of the acquired use condition data with the user data stored in the storage device 5 on the user terminal side are performed. In S74, it is determined whether or not the use condition n is satisfied. If the use condition n is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S75. However, if the use condition n is satisfied, the process proceeds to S76.

In S75, the start-up program module (n-1) in the next S61b is started, and data indicating that the use condition n is not satisfied and use condition data are passed as arguments, and the routine returns. In S76,
The activation program module (n-1) in the next step S61b is activated, only the use condition data is passed as an argument, the process is returned, and the activation program module n is terminated.

The subsequent startup program module (n-
The same processing is performed for 1) to 1 except for S75 and S75.
Regarding the step corresponding to 76, when data indicating that the use condition is not satisfied is generated in the already-executed startup program module, this is passed as an argument to the subsequent startup program modules, and the last startup program 1 The data generated so far that the usage conditions are not satisfied is passed to the usage restriction setting program on the server 2 side, and the main application program in S62 is started. In the use restriction setting program shown in FIG. 7 (B), if at least one of the data indicating that the use condition n is not satisfied or the data indicating that the use condition 1 is not satisfied is generated in S81, these are used. receive. In S82, use restrictions on the database 51 are set according to these use conditions.

In the above description, the usage condition data is stored in the storage device 7 on the server side.
1 may be added with the start condition data from the beginning.
Similarly to the third embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4, the startup program S31 may be stored in the storage device 7 on the server side, and may be loaded into the user terminal 1 via the network. As in the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 and the fifth embodiment which is a modification of the fourth embodiment, the start program 41 is placed on the side of the server 2 or both the user terminal 1 and the server 2 May be placed in

As another example of the setting of the use function or the use restriction of the server 2, the transmission quality set by the server 2 when the data stored in the database 51 is taken in via the network. For example, a special charge and a normal charge are set as charging data, and the service class is changed according to the charge. For example, for the terminal user 1 who pays the special charge, the transmission speed of the modem is increased. The network interface 6 of the server 2 is set to perform the operation.

The use function or the use restriction can be set for the main body application program. For example, if multiple versions of the main application program are installed on the user terminal at the same time, and there are certain usage conditions, for example, if there is no user password and the usage restriction date has passed, the main application will be upgraded after the usage restriction date. In this case, the old version of the main body application program can be started.

In the above description, an example in which the use of functions is restricted has been described. However, the user's age, gender, occupation, hobbies, and the like are stored in user data, and use conditions are set for these. Alternatively, the server may provide a database suitable for the user.

In the above description, the general application program has been described. As a specific example, there is an application program for karaoke performance. The user terminal reproduces karaoke performances stored on a hard disk, CD-ROM, or the like, together with video with lyrics. In this case, new songs that are not stored in the user terminal are connected to the server via the telephone line, search for the desired song, and import them to the user terminal. In this case, the validity period is set because there is no password. The user can be set so that music data released after the expiration date cannot be imported. In addition, it is possible to limit the release time of songs that can be imported according to the service class of the user to one month before the present, or to limit the age and the category of the songs. Also, different service classes are set for each searched song, for example, for each specific song,
The number of musical instruments used and the sound field can also be set.

There is also a network concert software program for enjoying a concert through the Internet. For users with a high service class,
By setting the transmission speed of the communication modem to be high or by increasing the processing capacity of the server to send data, it is possible to set the tone data, audio data, video data, and the like so as not to be interrupted.

The above-mentioned user terminal is not limited to a general-purpose personal computer that operates even in a stand-alone type.
A network computer that is assumed to be connected to a network, or a dedicated computer application device specialized to execute only a dedicated application may be used.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention changes the application program such as the setting of the starting restriction and the use function of the application program, the setting of the use function and the use restriction of the server having the database resource, and the like. There is an effect that the operation can be easily performed on the manager side without the need. As a result, it is possible to create an application program without special consideration of making it correspond to various start restrictions and use function settings.
Further, it is possible to make the startup program flexibly respond to a change in the setting of the startup restriction or the use function, or to be able to be used commonly by different application programs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a first embodiment of a method for starting an application program according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a second embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of a third embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of a fourth embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional diagram of a sixth embodiment of the application program starting method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to the sixth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 user terminal, 2 servers, 3 user terminal side program, 4 network interface, 5 user terminal side storage device, 6 network interface, 7 server side storage device, 41 server side program, 51 database

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for activating an application program in an information processing system having a storage unit in which user data is stored and executing the application program and the activation program, wherein the activation program is executed to execute the user program. A method of starting an application program, comprising reading data, determining whether the user data satisfies a predetermined start condition, and starting the application program when the predetermined start condition is satisfied. 2. An information processing unit having a storage unit storing user data and executing an application program,
And a server connected to the information processing unit via a network and executing a start program, wherein the start program is executed to execute the application program. Reading an application program to determine whether the user data satisfies a predetermined start condition, and starting the application program only when the predetermined start condition is satisfied. 3. An information processing unit having a storage unit storing user data and executing an application program and a first startup program, and a second startup program connected to the information processing unit via a network. Is executed, the user data satisfies a predetermined start condition by executing at least one of the first and second start programs. A method for activating an application program, comprising determining whether or not the application program is activated and activating the application program when the predetermined activation condition is satisfied. 4. A method of activating an application program in an information processing system having a storage unit in which user data is stored and executing the application program and the activation program, wherein the activation program is executed to execute the user program. Reading data, determining whether the user data satisfies a predetermined usage condition, setting a function that can be used for the application program according to the determination result, and activating the application program. How to launch application programs. 5. An information processing apparatus having a storage unit storing user data and executing an application program and a startup program, and a database connected to the information processing apparatus via a network and storing information. A method for activating an application program in an information processing system having a server, wherein the activation program is executed to read the user data and determine whether the user data satisfies a predetermined usage condition, The application program sets functions that can be used by the application program with respect to the server according to the determination result, activates the application program, and the application program acquires the information from the database. How to start the program.