WO1999063444A1 - Method and apparatus for information processing - Google Patents

Abstract

An information processing system comprises an Internet connection (3) connected with Internet (2), a telephone network connection (7) connected with a telephone network (14), a script interpreter (5) for script execution, a recognizer/synthesizer (8) for processing data based on the script, and a temporary file storage (6) for storing file data temporarily. A script is selectively downloaded from one (file storage server (10), for instance) of a plurality of servers existing on the Internet (2), and processed data is supplied to a communication terminal such as a telephone terminal (15) and a facsimile terminal (16) connected with telephone network (14).

Description

 Description Information processing apparatus and information processing method

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method for easily realizing transmission and acquisition of information by ordinary people using, for example, the Internet or a public telephone network.

Prior to the background technology, it was difficult for the general public to transmit and distribute information to an unspecified number of people, but in recent years, the Internet has spread rapidly. Then, it has become relatively easy to transmit information by using the so-called WWW (World Wide Web) and electronic mail. In particular, regarding the WWW, software that lays out information has become widespread so that it can be easily read by those who receive it. ) Is published.

At this time, to retrieve and view information such as WWW and e-mail from the network, personal A common method is to connect evening (so-called personal computer, hereafter referred to as PC) or a dedicated terminal to the network. In other words, according to www, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of PCs 101 and 102 are connected to the Internet 103, and a so-called web server is also connected to the Internet 103. 104 is connected. In the registration of information using the WWW, for example, information from the PC 101 is registered in the web server 104 via the internet 103. On the other hand, when information is taken out, for example, the PC 102 receives the information registered in the web server 104 via the Internet 103. Further, according to the e-mail, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, information from the PC 101 is transmitted to the PC 102 via the Internet 101.

 In this way, the WWW and e-mail require computer equipment such as a personal convenience as well as the sending side as well as the sending side. Therefore, those who do not own the equipment cannot use the information on the WWW or e-mail, and even if they do, the software for browsing the equipment and information is not available. It is difficult to use for those who are not familiar with the operation.

 In addition, in order to connect these devices to the network, it is often necessary to pay a usage fee by signing a contract with a specialized business operator (so-called Internet service provider). In addition, the burden on the face value is large.

The current WWW and e-mail environments described above are somewhat easy to use and reasonably easy to use, and are actually used by quite a few people. It can not be said that it is easy to use, and it is not economical. On the other hand, as a form in which more people can easily receive information, there is a form of telephone answering service ゃ facsimile (FAX) service as shown in Fig. 3. In other words, in the telephone answering service and the fax service system, the information created by the data creation device 116 (information provided as a service) is registered in the storage device 115 of the server 113. The user who wants to receive this information calls the server 113 from the telephone terminal 111 via the telephone line network 112, and then calls a specific number corresponding to the information to be received. . At this time, in the server 113, the specific number is interpreted by the interactive program execution unit 114, information corresponding to the specific number is extracted from the storage device 115, and the telephone line network 112 is read. To the user's telephone terminal 1 1 1 via. This allows the user to receive the desired information.

 As described above, the telephone answering service and the fax service means that a user who wants to receive information calls a specific number of the server 113 from the telephone terminal 111 via the telephone network 112. With this, information is exchanged via voice communication and image communication.

 One of the major features of these telephone answering services, facsimile services, is the use of equipment that has already become widespread, such as telephone terminals and facsimile terminals. Users (users) purchase new personal computers. There is no need to learn the operation of dedicated software that runs on the personal computer. In addition, since services such as Internet-based Internet providers are not used, it can be expected that usage costs will be relatively low.

However, these telephone answering services, such as facsimile service In such a system, data representing the contents of the response service (provided service) is often stored, updated, and executed on the same device, and the administrator of the device and data is often the same. In such a case, the person who wants to provide a response service (individual or a company, etc.), for example, prepares the data itself and prepares and operates this device, or prepares the data with a specialized company. And commission the operation of the equipment. In the former case, the cost of introducing the equipment is large, and in the latter case, frequent updates are difficult, and commissioning costs are also incurred. In any case, it is not in line with the purpose of sending information casually like the WWW.

 In addition, the system cannot use various types of information (such as www) that exist on the Internet, and often uses information owned by individuals or organizations that operate the services. You can only access it.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and realizes information transmission and information acquisition easily and at low cost using the Internet, a public telephone network, or the like. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that perform the above.

According to the present invention, an information processing device connected to a computer network and also to a telephone network temporarily stores an execution procedure file selectively acquired from another server and interprets the execution procedure file. And provide the data processed based on the execution procedure to the communication terminals connected to the telephone network.

 That is, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a network connection unit connected to a computer network; a telephone line network connection unit connected to a telephone line network; Data processing means for processing data based on an execution procedure; and temporary storage means for temporarily storing at least file data, and any one of a plurality of servers on a computer network. The method is characterized in that an execution procedure file is selectively obtained from the program, and the processed data is provided to a communication terminal connected to a telephone network.

 Further, the information processing method according to the present invention selectively obtains an execution procedure file from any of a plurality of servers on a computer network, interprets the obtained execution procedure file, and executes the execution procedure file. The method is characterized in that data is processed based on the interpreted execution procedure, and the processed data is provided to a communication terminal connected to a telephone network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram used to explain registration and cancellation of information with www.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram used to explain the transmission and reception of electronic mail. FIG. 3 is a block diagram used for explaining the telephone answering service. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic structure of an information service system to which the information processing device of the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the information service system to which the present invention is applied.

 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the script management file.

 FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a response script and an execution procedure. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a response script. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the registration form on the screen.

 FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the registration result notification on the screen.

 FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure when using the service. FIG. 12 is a diagram used to explain an example in which a plurality of services are mixed. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing only a portion related to speech synthesis in the overall configuration diagram.

 FIG. 14 is a block diagram for explaining an example in which the data file is placed outside the server.

 FIG. 15 is a block diagram for explaining an example in which the response script is placed outside the server.

 FIG. 16 is a block diagram used to explain the positional relationship of the file transfer control unit.

 FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the remote file management file. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the oral cache management file.

 FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the file cache of the file transfer control unit.

 FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the cache transfer processing of the file transfer control unit.

Figure 21 shows the processing performed when the file transfer control unit completes file access. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure.

 FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the site cache setting file. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of the cache setting correspondence file. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the individual load check processing procedure of the file transfer control unit.

 FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the trust site setting file. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the life check processing procedure for each file.

 FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a procedure for deleting unnecessary files, for example, after completion of file access.

 FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the script interpreter in pre-reading the download file.

 FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an example of a script for playing two audio files.

 FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the execution procedure of the scribing in FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 Overview of information service system to which the present invention is applied

In the information service system to which the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied In the same way as WWW, information is managed using the Internet, providing an environment where information can be created and managed more easily than conventional telephone answering services and facsimile services, etc., and means for receiving information By making telephone terminals and facsimile terminals available, more people can easily receive information.

 FIG. 4 shows a typical use mode to which the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied, in which service data is created and managed by a personal computer (PC 30), and service is provided by a telephone terminal 15. The configuration of a simple information service system is shown. In other words, the information service system shown in FIG. 4 has the advantages of both the WWW and the telephone answering service, and compensates for the disadvantages.

Here, the information service system shown in Fig. 4 differs greatly from the conventional telephone answering system shown in Fig. 3 in that the device (server 1) that operates the answering service is connected to the Internet 2 network. This means that data as a response service can be downloaded from another terminal (such as PC 30) connected to the Internet 2 concerned. In other words, according to this information service system, the application creating side (PC 30) of the response service does not need to be involved in the operation of the service, and needs to use its own terminal (PC 30) for the operation of the service. There is no. This is one of the advantages of the current WWW. Therefore, more people can easily participate in the creation of answering service applications than conventional telephone answering services, and more useful information in addition to the WWW is provided by the general public. It is expected that it will be. Furthermore, by utilizing the fact that the device (server 1) that operates the response service is connected to the Internet 2, it is now possible to use the existing WWW information that exists on the Internet 2. I have. As a result, it will be possible to provide voice response services utilizing the vast existing data on the WWW.

 The major difference between this information service system and the conventional WWW system is that the server 1 is connected to the telephone network 14 and can be connected to a general telephone terminal 15 to receive services. C This allows access to information on the server 1 using the telephone terminal 15 that is already widely used in the world. In other words, in conventional WWW systems, it is common to access a server from a terminal (PC) connected to the Internet 2 and browse information in a visual form. According to the system, it is possible to access from the telephone terminal 15 and extract information in an auditory manner.

 In order to realize the information service system described above, a dedicated programming language is defined here. The conventional WWW uses a language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) as follows to describe information. The H TML is premised on visually browsing the information.

<HTML>

 <TITLE> test page </ TITLE>

 Ku BODY bgcolor two white>

<Hl> Test Page / Hl> Gif> This is a test page. <BR>

 Html> here </A>. </ B0DY> </ HTML> On the other hand, this information service system uses the information provided to the user of the telephone terminal 15. The programming language for writing also assumes that information is exchanged in an auditory format over the telephone, and enables programming of the order and timing of sound reproduction, handling of button input from telephone terminal users, and so on. It has been done. Since this information service system is also assumed to be used from terminals other than telephone terminals (facsimile terminals, etc.) as described later, the programming language is set so that it can be used from those terminals as well. Design

Ό

 Therefore, while the conventional WWW system stores "document files described in HTML and associated data such as images and sounds", this system uses "descriptive files written in a special language and associated images". · Use "Deserts such as voice". In the following description, this “file written in a special language” will be called a “response script file” or simply a “response script”.

A simple example of the response service described in the response script above is the so-called telephone service. That is, when a call is made to the service provider, a specific guidance sound is played, the user is requested to select information, and when the user inputs a code number indicating the desired information using the operator of the telephone terminal, a response is made. That is, the audio of the information to be reproduced is reproduced. In this system, users accessing from a telephone terminal As a result, it is possible to provide the same service as the conventional telephone answering service, and it is also possible to provide services that are not provided by the conventional service, as described later.

2 System configuration

2.1 Overall configuration

 FIG. 5 shows an overall configuration of an information service system to which the present invention is applied, and an internal configuration of a server 1 connected to an information network of the information service system.

 In FIG. 5, the server 1 includes a service management unit 20, an internet connection unit 3, a file transfer control unit 4, and a script interpreter execution unit which constitute the interactive program execution unit 31 of FIG. 5, a telephone network connection unit 7, a recognition / synthesis unit 8, and a file temporary storage device 6 which forms a part of the storage device 32 in FIG. This server 1 communicates with user terminals such as a telephone terminal 15, a facsimile terminal 16, a combination terminal 17, and a dedicated terminal 18 via a telephone line network 14, and if necessary, an in-line terminal. Other servers (master file storage server 9, file storage server 10 described later, server program execution server 11, server 1, server 12, web server 19, etc.) via the Internet 2 (For example, a personal computer, hereafter referred to as a PC) 13. Communicate with 3. Thus, the server 1 provides various services according to requests from the user terminals.

That is, in the server 1, the telephone network connection unit 7 transmits and receives voice data, facsimile data, DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signals, and the like through the telephone network 14, and performs voice recording / reproduction. The raw unit 7B, the image input / output unit 7C, and the DTMF processing unit 7A perform processing such as encoding, decoding, and error correction on each data. In addition, the caller number detector 7D detects the telephone number of the user terminal connected to the server 1 if it can be detected. As described above, the server 1 can provide various services by detecting the operation of the controls on the telephone terminal 15 and the facsimile terminal 16, the input voice, and the facsimile data. . The user terminals connected to the telephone network 14 are not limited to the above-mentioned telephone terminals 15 and facsimile terminals 16, but may also be computer terminals 17, dedicated terminals 18, mobile phones, so-called PHS (personal handyphone system), etc. May be.

 The file transfer control unit 4 is configured to transmit the voice data obtained from the internet connection unit 3 via the internet 2, the image data of a facsimile terminal, and a WWW (World Wide Web) document. The data, response procedure, script data, etc. are appropriately converted to the data format inside the server 1 and output to the script-in-time pre-execution unit 5 ゃ file-time storage device 6, and vice versa. Pre-executing unit 5 Converts the data sent from the air time storage device 6 into an appropriate format as appropriate and outputs it to the network 2. However, the data format in the event 2 and the data format in the server 1 need not necessarily be different.

 The server file storage server 9 connected to the server 1 network 2 holds a server file for controlling the operation of the server 1.

The file storage server 10 responds to the script script and voice, It holds images and other data (collectively called remote files).

 The database server 12 internally stores a database, and in response to a request from the server program execution server 11, outputs the contents of the database to the server program execution server 11 as appropriate, and conversely, executes the server program. The database is updated according to the data input from the server 11.

 The server program execution server 11 communicates with the database server 12 as appropriate in accordance with requests from other terminals connected to the Internet 2 and the contents of the server program stored therein. Exchanges information with Net 2.

 The PC 13 is connected to the in-net 2 and communicates with the server 1, the file storage server 9, the file storage server 10, and the server program execution server 11 as appropriate. As a result, users of the PC 13 can manage the information stored on these various servers. However, from the viewpoint of security, each server performs a sufficient authentication operation for management operations from outside the server.

With such a mechanism, the server 1 retrieves the master file from the master file storage server 9 via the Internet 2, exchanges a remote file with the file storage server 10, and executes the server program execution server. The database server 12 is configured to exchange data overnight via 11. Further, the server 1 communicates with another PC 13 connected to the Internet 1 to send information to the PC 13 or, conversely, operates the server 1 according to an instruction from the PC 13. And can be changed.

 The script interpreter execution unit 5 of the server 1 switches the operation as appropriate in accordance with the contents of the mass task event input via the Internet 2 or stored in the file temporary storage device 6, and the file transfer control unit 4制 御 Controls the memory device at the time of fire 6 and the telephone network connection unit 7, and exchanges data with these devices overnight.

 The file temporary storage device 6 communicates with the file transfer control unit 4 and the recognition / synthesis unit 8 and stores therein the data inputted thereto, and appropriately stores the data stored under the control of these devices. Output or update or delete.

 The file temporary storage device 6 has at least one script management file. The script management file has a structure as shown in Fig. 6, for example, and manages the correspondence between the response procedure script file name and the response service code.

 The recognition / synthesis unit 8 performs processing such as voice synthesis, voice recognition, character recognition, and image synthesis on data input from the telephone network connection unit 7 or the file temporary storage device 6 under the control of the telephone network connection unit 7. Then, the result is output to the telephone network connection unit 7 or the storage unit 6 for fire time. For this processing, the recognition / synthesis unit 8 internally includes a speech synthesis unit 8A, a speech recognition unit 8B, a character recognition unit 8C, and an image synthesis unit 8D, and these are used as appropriate.

2.2 Files

 2.2.1 Response procedure script

In this system, users using terminals such as telephone terminal 15 The program that controls the dialogue with the server 1 through the telephone network 14 is called a response procedure script (response script, script, etc. as appropriate). A file that contains this program as a computer program is called a response procedure script file (response script file, script file, etc., as appropriate).

 The script file is interpreted by the script execution section 5 of the server 1 and the server 1 operates according to the contents. In other words, the script file contains information and instructions for controlling the operation of the server 1. The following is an example of a response script.

while (TRUE) {

 & wait one call

 & off— hooks

 & p lay one sound ('hello. snd 、

 & 0H— hook;

 }

Figure 7 shows the procedure for executing the response script. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, in step SP1, a call is waited for from a user terminal, and in step SP2, a line is connected when a call is received from a user. Line at step SP 2 Is connected, in step SP3, an audio file whose file name is "hel lo. Snd" is played. After that, the line is disconnected at step SP4.

 Among the response procedure scripts, the one that is read first when the server 1 starts up is called the master script.

 The script must be stored in the file temporary storage device 6, the master file storage server 9, or the file storage server 10 in the form of an electronic file.

2.2. Data

 As in "hel lo. Snd" in the script example program above, the script file allows other data files to be referenced. In this example, the audio data is referred to, but text data, image data, and the like can also be used. Furthermore, it is possible to use data files of various formats for the same voice data files. These data are electronically filed, and are stored in the file temporary storage device 6, the file storage server 10, or the like.

2.3 Response service code

Also, in this information service system, a service constituted by a response procedure script provided to a user connected from the telephone network 14 by the telephone terminal 15 or the like has a unique code number. This is called a response service code. This enables weather forecast services, road traffic information services, maps The user can select various services registered in the server 1 such as a printing service by using the code number at the user terminal. The management file shown in FIG. 6 associates this code number with the script representing the actual response service. When the user inputs the code number from the user terminal in the service, the server 1 executes this management file. The corresponding script can be determined based on the.

 The response service code is generated by the service management unit 19 when the author of the response procedure script registers the script in the server 1.

2.4 Basic operation

 The basic operations of this information service system are as follows.

 • Preparation of response procedure script and related data

 • Registration of the same client on server 1

 '' Use of services by the Scribts

 '' Maintenance of the event and related events

Hereinafter, each of the above items will be described.

2.4.1 Creating scripts and data

As described in section 2.2 above, the services provided by the system and provided to the users using the equipment connected to the telephone network 14 are described in the response procedure script and its associated data, and the response is described. The procedure script is the text file exemplified in section 2.2.1. However, the language specification is not included in the present invention. Anyone can create it as long as it follows the language specifications. Anyone can create the data (voice, image, etc.) related to the response procedure script. Only when both scripts and data are created and registered on the server 1 can they be used through the telephone network 14.

2.4.2 Registering a response script

 Various examples can be considered for a method of registering a response script from the PC 13 connected to the in-net 2 to the server 1.

 FIG. 8 shows an example of an operation procedure of the server 1 when registering a response script from the PC 13 to the server 1 via the internet 1.

 In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, when a user starts a so-called web browsing software on PC 13 and connects PC 13 to server 1 to register a client, for example, web server 1 9 works, and the web server 19 transmits a web page for script registration to the web browsing software of the PC 13 in step SP 11. As a response script registration screen displayed on the display by the web browsing software executed on the PC 13, a screen as shown in FIG. 9 can be mentioned as an example. On the response script registration screen, a name input section and a file name input section are displayed, and further, a soft key display ("OK", "RESET") indicating whether or not to register the input is displayed. Is done.

The creator of the response script creates a response script on PC 13 and opens this screen to enter the name input section and file name input section. In the blanks, enter your name and the file name of the response script. As a result, the PC 13 sends the response script itself or the address indicating the location of the response script on the PC 13 to the server 1 by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). Then, the server 1 proceeds to the process of step SP12 and receives the transmitted data.

 Subsequently, the server 1 proceeds to the processing of step SP 13, determines whether the script itself has been sent or the address of the script has been sent, and if the address has been sent, step SP 13. Move to the processing of 14 and extract the script itself from the address. As the address, for example, a so-called URL (Unified Resource Locator) can be used. In this case, the server 1 sends the IP address from the Internet connection unit 3 according to the protocol described in the URL. Take out the script from PC 13 via net 2. The server 1 that has received the scribe in any of the above-described manners then proceeds to the process of step SP15, checks the contents of the scribe, and determines whether there is a grammatical error. If an error is detected here, the process proceeds to step SP16, and an error message is transmitted to PC13. As a result, an error message is displayed on the screen of the PC 13 web browsing software, and prompts the user to make a correction and register again.

If no error is detected in the check in step SP15, the server 1 proceeds to the process in step SP17, and the service management unit 20 stores this script in the file temporary storage device 6. Further, the process proceeds to step SP 19, and the service management unit 20 responds to the client. A corresponding service code is generated and notified to the web server 19. Then, in the following step SP 20, the web server 19 generates a web page for notifying the user of the notified service code, and transmits the data to the PC 13. Thus, the user can confirm the service code issued by the server 1 on the screen of the web browsing software on the PC 13. Fig. 10 shows an example of the screen output displayed on the screen of the web browsing software at this time. In other words, in the example shown in Fig. 10, a message such as "Your response script file has been correctly registered. The access number of this response script is 3487" is displayed. .

2.4.3 Using scripts

 Figure 11 shows the operation procedure of the server 1 when the service user receives the service by the response script.

 In FIG. 11, when the service user uses the telephone terminal 15 and connects to the server 1 through the telephone network 14, the server 1 proceeds to the process of step SP31 and provides guidance to the telephone terminal 15. Send a voice (for example, “Enter the desired service code”). On the other hand, if the service user inputs the desired service code (3 4 8 7 in the case of the scribble registered in the example of FIG. 10) using the operator of the telephone terminal 15, the server 1 executes step SP. 3 Move to the process of 2 and receive and convert the signal in the telephone network connection unit 7 to make it into internal format.

Subsequently, in step SP33, the service management unit 20 determines whether or not this value is appropriate. If the service corresponding to the service code cannot be provided, step S

Proceeding to the process of P 36, the telephone line connection unit 7 sends a voice message indicating that the service code is invalid to the service user's telephone terminal 15 via the telephone line network 14. The notification is made, and the process returns to step SP32 and waits for the input of the support code again. If the service code is appropriate in the determination in step SP33, the process proceeds to step SP34, where the service management unit 20 stores the script corresponding to the service code in the file temporary storage device. Take it out from 6 and pass it to the script interpreter execution unit 5.

 Subsequently, the process proceeds to step SP35, in which the script execution unit 5 interprets and executes the passed response script.

 By assigning a code number to each response client in this manner, a single server 1 can realize a plurality of services. Figure 12 shows an example of a configuration in which a single server 1 implements multiple services.

In FIG. 12, the PC 41 of the creator of the response script S 1 of “weather forecast” and the PC 4 of the creator of the response script S 2 of “news”, for example, are placed on the in-net network 2. 2 are connected to each other, and both connect to the server 1 to register the client. As a result, the server 1 registers those clients in addition to the already registered response clients S3 of, for example, "traffic information" and issues a code number to each of the clients. The user who connects to the server 1 using the telephone terminal 15 can use the code number (in this example, S1, S2, or S3 script) of the client who provides the desired service. To receive the desired service. Can be

2.5 Extension

2.5.1 Speech synthesis

 As described above, the server 1 can transmit voice data prepared in advance to the user's telephone terminal 15 or the like. It can also be generated and sent.

 FIG. 13 shows only the portion related to speech synthesis in the overall configuration shown in FIG.

 In FIG. 13, the file temporary storage device 6 can hold not only programs and audio data but also text data.

 Then, the script interpreter executing unit 5 requests the file transfer control unit 4 to transmit text data as appropriate according to the read program. The file transfer control unit 4 takes out the requested file from the file temporary storage device 6 and sends it to the telephone network connection unit 7, and the telephone network connection unit 7 sends the data to the recognition and synthesis unit 8.

 In the recognition / synthesis unit 8, the data is converted into voice by the voice synthesis unit 8 A, and the generated voice data is transmitted to the telephone network connection unit 7. Then, the voice is transmitted from the telephone network connection unit 7 to the user's telephone terminal 15 through the telephone line 14.

When the text data stored in the file temporary storage device 6 is sent to the recognition / synthesis unit 8, it is not limited to the method described above, but is sent directly to the recognition / synthesis unit 8 from the file time storage device 6. Made like May be. In that case, the identifier of the file of the target data is notified from the script execution unit 5 to the recognition and synthesis unit 8 through the telephone network connection unit 7.

 The following is an example of a script that reads a specific sentence.

whi le (TRUE) {

 &wait_call;

 & off_hook ^

 & play_text ("The service is currently suspended <& play_text (" Please call back tomorrow. "), '

 & on— hook;

 }

As described above, in the information service system, a voice can be generated from text data and used for a conversation service, so that a person who creates the conversation service does not necessarily need to prepare a voice message, which is simpler. Service can be created.

2.5.2 Voice input

As described above, the server 1 can receive and interpret the DTMF signal from the operator of the telephone terminal 15 as an input from the user, but also receives the voice input from the telephone terminal 15 by the user. It has also been done. The user uses the microphone on the phone terminal 15 The input voice is input to the telephone network connection unit 7 through the telephone network 14. Actually, the processing of the audio data is performed by the script interpreter executing section 5 deciding according to the program being executed and controlling the telephone network connecting section 7.

 For example, if it is specified in the program that the voice from the telephone terminal 15 is to be recorded in the file temporary storage device 6, the voice data input to the telephone network connection unit 7 is transmitted to the voice recording / playback unit 7B. The file is converted to an internal format as needed and stored in the file temporary storage device 6.

 If it is specified in the program that the voice from the telephone terminal 15 is to be used for voice recognition, the voice data input to the telephone network connection unit 7 is sent to the recognition and synthesis unit 8 and the voice recognition unit At 8B, the speech recognition processing is performed, and the result is sent to the scribing-in / pre-evening execution unit 5.

 As described above, since the server 1 can receive the voice input from the telephone terminal 15 by the user, the server 1 can record the voice of the user via the telephone terminal 15 and reproduce it later. It is possible to handle a program that implements a service or the like in which selection from several menus can be made by voice without depending on the operator of the telephone terminal 15.

2.5.3 Importing external files

In the system example shown in FIG. 5 described above, the response script and the data accompanying the response script are stored in the file temporary storage device 6 in the server 1, but in the present invention, these scripts are stored outside the server 1. It is possible to put it. In the response script described in section 2.2.1, an audio file is played in the script (example of the response script). By generalizing the part of the script where the audio file name is specified, it is not only possible to use the same location where the script file is stored, but also to save data in various locations on the network. Can be specified.

 A typical method for indicating the location of data on the Internet (hereinafter referred to as an address) is a URL (Unified Resource Locator). In this information service system, a URL or a device having a similar function is used. Used.

 For example, in contrast to the example of the response script described in section 2.2.1 above, in the following script, URL is written in the part that specifies the audio file name.

whi le (TRUE) {

 & wait— call;

 & off— hook;

 & play—sound (, http: //www.foo.co.jp/data hel lo.snd '); &on—hook;

 }

FIG. 14 shows a state in which the client is registered in the server 1 and stored in the temporary file storage device 6. In FIG. 14, when a script specifying data is executed on the server 1, the server 1 transmits a data file appropriately specified as needed from the in-net connection unit 3 to the in-net file. Take out through 2 For example, when the script execution section 5 interprets and executes the script, the script file is instructed to retrieve the data file to the net connection section 3 and the file is recorded through the internet connection 2. For example, the audio data extracted from the storage server 10 may be reproduced by the audio recording / reproducing unit 7B.

 Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the script itself can be placed outside the server 1.

 In the case of the example shown in FIG. 15, the creator of the response script registers the URL indicating the location of the script in the server 1 instead of registering the script itself. The server 1 saves the URL registered in the list of clients in the temporary file storage device 6, and stores the actual response script registered through the Internet 2 as a file in the response service when necessary. Retrieve from server 10 and execute. In FIG. 15, the script and the data file are placed on the same server (file storage server 10), but they may be placed on different servers. In this case, it is only necessary that URLs are assigned to each of them, and that they can be extracted from the server 1 according to them. Further, instead of the URL, an encoding method having a similar function (a function of uniquely determining the location of data on a network) may be used.

By placing the scripts and data used by the scripts outside of the server 1 as shown in Figures 14 and 15 above, The addition can be easily performed. For example, if the creator of the script manages his or her web server, the content of the script can be changed at any time by placing the script on that server.

2. 5.4 File transfer control unit

 In the server 1 of this information service system, as shown in FIG. 16, a more flexible data transfer can be realized by placing the file transfer controller 4 inside. FIG. 16 shows only the file transfer control unit 4 in the server 1 and its related parts.

 In FIG. 16, the file transfer control unit 4 appropriately converts the response script obtained via the internet connection unit 3 and various data accompanying it into the data format inside the server 1. And outputs it to the storage unit 6 of the script-in / pre-execution section 5 and the data transmitted from the storage unit 6 of the script-in / pre-execution section 5 and the file temporary storage 6 as appropriate. Convert to the appropriate format and output to Internet 2. However, the data format on the Internet and the data format inside the server 1 do not necessarily need to be different.

2.5.5 File caching

When the file transfer control unit 4 retrieves the data requested from the in-net / pre-night execution unit 5 from another server on the in-net network 2, it stores the data in the temporary file storage device 6. And later again on the same day When the evening request is made, the data stored in the file temporary storage device 6 may be returned without being taken out again from the site on the Internet 2. This can prevent the execution of the response script from being delayed due to the time required to read the same file. This down-file cache is described in more detail in Section 2.6, "Details of Download File Caching" below.

 Depending on the script creator's will, the cache of downloaded files should not be uniformly cached, but should be distinguished from files that do not need to be cached, files that should be cached as long as possible, and files that should be cached until a specific time. May be required. In addition, it is necessary to check whether the cached file has been updated on the site side after downloading, but sometimes it is desired to specify the update check frequency. These requests can be handled by having a management file on site and downloading it. This cache extension control is described in detail in “Details of Cache Control Extension” in section 2.7 below.

2.5.6 File read-ahead

In this information service system, a file required for the response script during or before execution may be read into the fire time storage device 6 in advance. This prevents the execution of the response script from being delayed during the execution of the script, compared to the case where a file is first read when it is needed. Can be. The prefetching of files required for the ongoing response script is described in detail in “Details of prefetching of download files” in section 2.8 below.

 Depending on the script creator's will, there may be some files for which it is better to read ahead than others, and others for which you do not want to read ahead.

 In such a case, such a request can be satisfied by explicitly writing a command that gives priority to prefetching of a specific file in the script itself or a command that prohibits prefetching. Becomes possible.

2.5.7 Restriction of script function 'Function change

 In this information service system, it is possible to download and execute response script files from various sites. However, if any response script can be executed unconditionally, the system will be vice versa. This may be a problem due to the security and resource usage of the system.

 In such a case, by preparing a file in which the script execution authority is set for each site or for each file, the function described in the script can be restricted according to the setting, or By changing the functions, problems such as security and the amount of resources can be solved.

Restrictions on resource usage, such as maximum recording time, file size that can be downloaded, file cached at the same time Setting items such as the maximum size of the request, the priority of caching, and the callable level of the response script can be considered. Further, in the restriction by the security, setting items such as whether or not the file in the temporary file storage 6 can be uploaded and whether or not access to the system file can be considered.

 The function change means performing an alternative process such as playing an error sound file when trying to play a sound file with restricted access. This is also possible by setting alternative processing along with function restrictions.

2. 5.8 Automatic selection of script engine

 In this information service system, the response script is interpreted / executed by the script execution unit 5. This interpreting / executing program (script engine) is not necessarily required to be one. Even if there are multiple scripting languages for response scripts, if multiple script engines are prepared for each language, it is possible to determine which script engine can be used by the script-in / pre-execution execution unit 5 before executing the response script. It can be automatically determined and interpreted / executed by the corresponding script engine.

 The type can be determined by, for example, describing the name of the description language at the beginning of the script itself or the name of the corresponding script engine.

In addition, even when the response script is written in the same language, it is necessary not only to execute the language script as it is, but also to execute a response script that has been converted to an intermediate language in advance. There is also. Such cases can be dealt with by preparing script engines corresponding to the source and intermediate languages.

2.5.9 Automatic download of script execution related files

 The scribing engine does not necessarily need to be prepared on the server 1 in advance, but may be downloaded from the mass file storage server 9 and stored in the file temporary storage device 6 as necessary. . For example, when trying to execute a response script that needs to be interpreted / executed by the script engine, the script interpreter execution unit 5 requests the file transfer control unit 4 to download the required script engine, Alternatively, when the file transfer control unit 4 downloads the response script, if the script engine required to interpret / execute the response script is not in the file temporary storage device 6, the response script is downloaded by itself. You may.

 Also, the file to be automatically downloaded does not have to be a script engine. For example, when interpreting / executing a response script, a program required to execute a specific command used in the script is used. Alternatively, if the data is not on the server 1, the necessary file may be downloaded from the mass storage file storage server 9.

By doing so, it is not necessary to prepare in advance all possible programs and data on the server 1, and the resources of the file temporary storage device 6 can be saved. After the operation of Server 1, Even if the engine engine is updated or newly created, the latest file can be downloaded when necessary without stopping the operation of the server 1, so the system is always kept up to date be able to. By placing those files in the temporary file storage 6, you can use the same cache-in, cache-out, and file read-ahead functions as other downloaded files. Resources are not wasted.

2.5.10 User control outside script description

In a so-called WWW browser used on PCs, etc., not only read the HTML file of a certain homepage and display it according to the HTML description, but also read the file according to the user's intention during transfer or display. It is possible to interrupt on the way or to redisplay the page displayed immediately before. In the case of a terminal that uses a screen, a soft switch for that function is provided on the screen, and the user can press it whenever he wants. However, in the case of a terminal such as a telephone terminal in which the interface that the user can input is extremely limited, the user may wait for the input by the interface on the response script, and perform the operation. Often the stem cannot be occupied for such special applications. In such a case, if a specific sequence is input from the interface in the script-in / pre-execution execution unit 5 or the telephone network connection unit 7, the response script itself is input. Script-in-one-pre-executing unit 5 performs its own interpretation without passing I just need to be controlled.

 In this way, when, for example, “**** 1” is continuously input from the operator of the telephone terminal 15, the display returns to the immediately preceding script. If "* 0" is entered, it is possible to control to return to the first script, regardless of the description of the response script itself. Of course, it is also possible to perform the same control not only by the operation by the operator but also by inputting, for example, “stop” or “return” by voice.

2.5.11 Automatic selection of script based on connection destination terminal address / type By the way, in this information service system, when a user who uses the system at a communication terminal connects to the network, the same script service is used. It is not always convenient to do so. Therefore, for example, the telephone line network control unit 7 is provided with a caller ID detecting unit 7D, and when the connection is made from the user's communication terminal, the number is transmitted to the scribing-in execution unit 5 so that the script-in operation can be performed. Evening execution section 5 may be configured to select and execute a response script corresponding to the number.

 By doing so, for example, a service corresponding to a pre-registered user can be immediately provided.

Also, a function to detect the type of terminal is provided in the telephone network connection unit 7, and the type of the terminal is transmitted to the script execution unit 5 when the connection from the user's communication terminal is established, so that script execution is performed. The evening executing unit 5 may select and execute a response script corresponding to the number. By doing so, it is possible to provide optimal services to users connected by telephone terminals, users connected by facsimile terminals, and users connected by PDA (personal digital assistant), for example. Become like

2.5.1 Server program, database access

 In the response script used by the server of this information service system, other WWW information on the Internet 1 can be referenced and used. As an example of a script that can read the contents of a specific web page on the in-net 1 net, the following script can be considered.

while (TRUE) {

 &wait_call;

 &off—hook;

 & read— aloud— html (, http: //www.foo.co.jp/data/news.htm

1 ');

 & on_hook ；

In addition to reading aloud, it is possible to use data obtained on the WWW and information obtained from server programs (such as CGI) in various ways. For example, if a server program is set to return the current time at that time, the program The script using the ram notifies the connected user of the current time.

{

 whi le (TRUE) {

 & wait—cal l, '

 & off— hook, '

 $ time = & get_web (, http: //www.ioo.co.jp/cgi-bin/time.cgi,);

 & play— text ("The current time is $ time."); & on— hook;

 }

 } When processing such a script, the script execution unit 5 interprets the script and uses the information existing on the internet 2 outside the server 1 to describe the script. The detected portion is detected, and the information is extracted directly from the Internet connection unit 3 or via the file transfer control unit 4.

As described above, this information service system can also use information that already exists on the Internet, and the creator of the response client must use the information provided by the client himself to create. You do not need to prepare it yourself. It is also possible to provide services that provide information created by processing and summarizing information that already exists on the Internet. Therefore, providing various services It is possible to provide an environment where more people can make more scraps.

2.6 Download File Caching Details

 The file transfer control unit 4 downloads the file via the internet 2 in response to the request of the script-in / pre-execution execution unit 5, but frequently used files are repeatedly downloaded. Downloading the same file many times is often time-consuming when communicating via Internet 2 and there is a problem on the user's convenience.

 Therefore, the downloaded file is temporarily stored in the file temporary storage device 6, and the next time the user is instructed to download the same file, the file is retrieved from the file temporary storage device 6, so that the same file can be stored. It takes less time and is more efficient than going down again. Such processing is generally called a file cache.

 Figures 17 and 18 show examples of files (remote file management file, oral cache management file) for managing the file cache in this information service system. These files are created / updated by the file transfer control unit 4 and stored in the file temporary storage device 6.

The remote file management file shown in Fig. 17 records the correspondence between the URL of the downloaded remote file and the file name (local file name) stored in the file storage 6 at the time of recording. The master file may be handled in the same manner as the remote file. The oral file name is generated by the file transfer control unit 4 when the remote file is downloaded so as not to overlap with the existing oral file name. Also, as items of this file, record the remote file update date and time to record when the remote file was created / updated, and when to check whether to download the remote file And the date and time of the last update check. In the example shown in Fig. 17, the remote file URL "http: \ test.jp/a.txt" is managed as an oral file with the file name "a0121.txt", and the downloaded remote file The date and time when the file was created / updated was 1997/11/11/10: 00/10: 00/15 seconds, and the last time the remote file was updated was 199/97 It indicates that it is January 13 1 2:15:05 5 seconds.

The oral cache management file shown in Fig. 18 is used to record information related to access to the oral file. The items recorded for each oral file are the last access date and time, which is the date and time when the local file was last accessed, and the number of clients who are currently using the oral file (download request). There is a county evening during access. In this access count, if the value is 0, it indicates that the oral file is not used, and if it is 1 or more, it indicates that it is being used. This makes it possible to determine whether the oral file can be updated or deleted. In the example shown in Fig. 18, the last access to the local file “a0121.txt” was at 19:00 on January 1, 1997, at 15: 00: 01: 11, and now 2 seconds. By one script Indicates that it is used.

2.6.1 Cash-in procedure

 FIG. 19 shows the procedure performed by the file transfer control unit 4 regarding the file cache when downloading a remote file. This is executed, for example, when the script-in-first-out execution unit 5 requests the file transfer control unit 4 to download a remote file according to the description of the script.

 In FIG. 19, first, in step SP41, it is determined whether the remote file to be downloaded is registered using the remote file URL of the remote file management file as a search key, that is, the file has already been downloaded to the file storage device 6 in the file mode. And start searching. Here, in step SP42, it is determined whether or not the remote file search was successful. If the search failed, that is, if the corresponding remote file has not been registered, the processing in step SP47 is performed. Move to and do a down-go-down.

 On the other hand, in step SP42, if the search is successful, that is, if the corresponding remote file is registered, whether or not to download again is determined by the following procedure.

 If it is determined in the above step SP42 that the remote file is registered, in step SP43, the corresponding local file name recorded in the corresponding entry of the remote file management file is obtained, and the Search the entry with the same local file name from the Calculator management file.

Next, in step SP44, the access counter of the corresponding entry is Examine the evening. Here, if the value of the entry's access count is 1 or more, it is assumed that there are other scripts accessing the local file, and the process proceeds to step SP51 without downloading. On the other hand, if the value of the accessing count is 0, the process proceeds to step SP45.

 In step SP 45, the remote file storage server 10 or the like is inquired of the update date and time of the remote file itself via the internet connection unit 3, and the result is obtained as the latest update date and time. Next, in step SP46, the latest update date and time are compared with the remote file update date and time recorded in the remote file management file, and if they are the same, the remote file is not updated and is regarded as the same as the local file. Move on to the processing of step SP50 without going down.

 On the other hand, if the update date and time of the remote file are different in the determination at step SP46, it is considered that the remote file has been updated from the previous down-link and the down-link is performed in the following procedure. La.

 If it is determined in step SP46 that the update date and time of the remote file are different, in step SP47, a cache out check is performed to determine whether or not the storage capacity of the memory device 6 at the time of the file is sufficient. If not, delete local files that are less likely to be used. The details of this operation will be described later in the description of the flowchart of FIG.

Next, in step SP48, it is necessary to transfer a remote file corresponding to the file storage server 10 or the like through the Internet connection unit 3. Request and download it to the temporary file storage 6. At this time, if the file is registered in the remote file management file, the existing local file is overwritten.If not, a new local file is given with a name that does not overlap with other local files. Store as a file.

 Next, in step SP49, the contents of the corresponding entry of the remote file management file and the local cache management file are updated to the latest information. Here, if it is an unregistered remote file, a new entry is created in each file. The update date and time of the remote file and the last access date and time of the oral file are the current date and time, and the value of the file being accessed is 0.

 In the next step SP50, the last update check date and time of the remote file management file is updated to the current date and time.

 Then, in step SP51, 1 is added to the count during access of the local cache management file (1 increment), and the fact that the use of the corresponding oral file has been started is stored.

 Finally, in step SP52, the last access date and time of the oral cache management file is updated to the current date and time, and the download process ends.

 Here, if this processing is performed according to the request of the script interpreter executing section 5, the script interpreter executing section 5 is notified that the download has been completed.

2.6.2 Cashout procedure

Figure 20 shows that when downloading a remote file, An example of a procedure in which the file transfer control unit 4 deletes a local file that is unlikely to be used from the file cache (usually called a cache account) will be described. In the example of FIG. 20, the local files that have not been accessed recently are sequentially deleted until the area for storing the local files in the file temporary storage device 6 has room.

 In FIG. 20, first, in step SP 61, it is checked whether or not there is a free space in the temporary file storage device 6, and if there is a free space, the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no room, the process proceeds to step SP62.

 In step SP62, the entries of the local cache management file are arranged in chronological order of the last access date and time, and in the next step SP63, the first entry, that is, the one with the oldest last access date and time, is extracted.

 Next, in step SP64, it is checked whether the value of the access count value of the entry is 0. If the value is not 0, the entry is currently being accessed, so that entry is skipped and the process proceeds to step SP68. On the other hand, if the value of the in-access counter is 0, the corresponding local file is deleted. First, in step SP65, the local file corresponding to the remote file management file and the local cache management file is supported. Delete the entry you want.

 Next, in step SP66, the oral file itself is deleted.

In the next step SP 67, it is checked whether or not the free space of the storage device 6 at the time of free space has been freed by the deletion of the local file. If there is enough time, the process ends. On the other hand, if there is not enough room, the process proceeds to step SP68.

 In this step SP68, it is checked whether or not the selected entry is the last entry, and if it is the last entry, the process is terminated. If not, the process proceeds to step SP69. move on.

 In step SP69, the next entry is obtained, and thereafter, the process returns to step SP64 to repeatedly search for a local file that can be deleted.

 FIG. 21 shows a procedure in which the file transfer control unit 4 terminates the access of the oral file. This is because, for example, when the script-in-one-execution execution unit 5 finishes executing one script, the script transfer control unit 4 notifies the file transfer control unit 4 that the file downloaded by that script has been used. Request processing. For example, if the script in the script execution unit 5 requests the processing of Fig. 19 in accordance with the description of the script, the script in the script execution unit 5 remembers the file requested for download, and When done, request processing of all remembered files. If the same file is requested to download multiple times, this process will be called the same number of times.

 In FIG. 21, first, in step SP 71, an entry is searched for from the oral cache management file using the corresponding oral file name as a key.

 Next, in step SP72, the last access date and time of the searched entry is updated to the current time.

In the next step SP73, subtract 1 from the value of After that, the process ends. This allows for basic file cache functionality.

2.7 Details of Cache Control Extension

 The above-mentioned cache function is a general cache function that puts all downloaded files in a file cache and deletes the least recently used files when the free space in the temporary file storage device 6 becomes insufficient. It is applied to this information service system. Also, it was checked every time whether or not the file in the file storage server 10 was updated.

 However, in some cases, it is better to be able to specify the handling in the cache for each file. For example, there is a case where a file that is not used for a while in a file such as a master file and the user wants to keep the default file on the file temporary storage device 6. Such files do not need to be checked every time, because they are known in advance to be rarely updated. Conversely, some files do not need to be kept in the cache for a long time because they are updated frequently, and these various cases are assumed. The cache function described above treats all files equally, but the following processing can make the handling of caches special for each file or only some files. .

 Figures 22 and 23 show an example of a file that is used to handle each file individually in the cache.

The site cache configuration file shown in Figure 22 is a file storage server. W

The administrator of the directory is located in the directory (site) where remote files of the server 10 and the mass storage file storage server 9 are located. This file is itself a remote file. This file has a file name and the frequency of checking the update date and time of each remote file in the directory (site). The update date and time check frequency indicates how many files are stored in the cache. A file lifetime indicating whether the user wants to do so is associated. In the example shown in Fig. 22, if the URL of the site cache setting file itself is "http: \ test.jp/d/sitec.def", the file "a. Wav" on the same site Since "http: \ test.jp/d/a.wav" is not scheduled to be updated, it is not necessary to check the update date and time, and it is set to be left on the cache as long as possible. Similarly, the file "scd" checks for updates after January 19, 1997, and caches after January 30, 1997. It is a setting that can be deleted from. The file "sitec.def" is set to perform the update check more than one hour after the previous check and handle the cache normally. The file name in this setting can be specified not only for each file, but also for example, a wild card / regular expression. For example, in the file “*. .txt "and" foo.txt ". Also, since this file “* .txt” is updated frequently, the update date and time check is performed for each access, and the cache is treated as valid only during the execution of the script.

The cache setting corresponding file shown in Fig. 23 is the one-of-a-kind file of the site cache setting file downloaded from the remote site. This is for managing the correspondence with the file name, and records the correspondence between the remote site URL and the local file name of the cache setting correspondence file of that site. In the example of FIG. 23, the cache setting compatible file downloaded from the remote site whose URL is “http: //test.jp/d/j” is stored in the file temporary storage device 6 with the file name “b0533.def”. Is stored. This file is created / updated by the file transfer control unit 4 and stored in the file storage unit 6.

2.7.1 Individual Cache Inch

 FIG. 24 shows a procedure in which the file transfer control unit 4 individually performs a load check on a file cache when downloading a remote file. The flowchart of FIG. 24 is assumed to be inserted and executed between step SP44 and step SP45 in FIG.

 In FIG. 24, first, in step SP81, the URL of the remote site is searched from the cache setting corresponding file.

In the next step SP82, the URL of the remote site corresponding to the URL of the remote file requested to be downloaded in step SP81 (the remote file URL is "http: \ www.test / d / a.wa v ", the URL of the remote site is searched to see if" http: \ www.test / d / "is registered in the cache setting compatible file. _{c In} this step SP82, if it is registered, the step is executed. The process proceeds to step SP86, and if not registered, the process proceeds to step SP83. In step SP83, the corresponding cache setting corresponding file is downloaded.

 In the next step SP84, it is checked whether or not the download was successful. If the cache setting corresponding file could not be downloaded here, the process proceeds to step SP91. From here, the processing of step SP45 in FIG. 19 is continued.

 On the other hand, if the cache setting compatible file has been downloaded in step SP84, the process proceeds to step SP85. In this step SP85, the remote site URL and the local file name are registered in the cache setting corresponding file.

 Next, in step SP86, a search is made as to whether the file name of each entry of the corresponding site cache setting file matches the name of the remote file requested to be downloaded. At this time, if a wildcard or a regular expression has been made in the file name, such a search is performed.

 In the next step SP87, as a result of the search, if there is no corresponding remote file entry, the process proceeds to step SP45 in FIG. 19 through step SP91, and if an entry is found, Proceed to step SP88.

 In step SP88, the update date / time check frequency of the corresponding entry is acquired.

Then, in step SP89, it is determined whether or not the update date check is necessary according to the update date / time check frequency. If necessary, the process proceeds to step SP45 in FIG. If step is unnecessary, step SP in Fig. 19 through step SP92 5 Proceed to step 1.

 In this way, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to check the update date and time of each remote file, and the processing is performed.

2.7.2 Individual cash out check

 Figure 25 shows the trust site configuration file. This trust site setting file is a file for registering trusted remote sites. It is created by the administrator and stored in the mass storage file storage server 9, and is stored when the system is started up. The transfer control unit 4 downloads the data to the fire time storage device 6. This file is used to judge whether to trust the description of the site cache setting file etc. of a specific remote site as it is, and is referred to by the file transfer control unit 4 and the script execution unit 5 . In the example in Figure 25, the remote site represented by the URLs rhttp: // master, jp / a / j and “http: \ te st. Jp / d / j” is registered as a trusted site. I have.

 Figure 26 shows the procedure for checking the lifespan preset for each file when deleting an unused file from the file cache. This flowchart is assumed to be inserted and executed between steps SP64 and SP65 in FIG.

 In FIG. 26, first, in step SP 101, a remote file URL of the oral file to be deleted from the cache is acquired from the remote file management file.

The next step, SP102, is Search whether the corresponding remote site URL is registered in the cache setting compatible file.

 Next, in step SP103, it is checked whether or not the search for the remote site URL was successful. If the URL has not been registered, the processing proceeds to step SP65 in FIG. 20 via step SP110. The process moves to delete the mouth file, but if it is registered, the process proceeds to the next step SP104.

 In step SP104, a corresponding site cache setting file is specified from the cache setting corresponding file, and a remote file name is searched from the file.

 In the next step SP105, it is checked whether or not the search for the file name has been completed. If the search does not find the entry of the remote file, the step in FIG. It moves to the processing of SP65, and if found, proceeds to the processing of step SP106.

 In step SP106, the file life time of the corresponding entry is obtained.

 Next, in step SP107, it is checked whether or not the file lifetime setting is not a normal setting such as permanent storage and is not set to be deleted yet. Then, the process proceeds to step SP108, but if not, the process proceeds to step SP65 in FIG. 20 via step SP110.

In step SP108, the corresponding remote site is searched from the trust site configuration file to check whether the contents of the site cache configuration file can be trusted. In the next step SP109, it is checked whether or not the search for the remote site URL was successful. If the search does not find the remote site, the process proceeds to step SP110 to execute FIG. The process proceeds to step SP65, and if found, the process proceeds to step SP68 in FIG. 20 via step SP111, and the file is not deleted. In step SP110, the process proceeds to step SP65 in Fig. 20. If the file to be deleted is a site cache setting file, the corresponding entry is deleted from the cache setting corresponding file. Add processing.

 In this way, the timing of deletion from the cache can be adjusted in consideration of the file life preset for each file.

 Fig. 27 shows the procedure for checking and deleting files that are no longer needed by the file transfer control unit 4 at the end of local file access. The flowchart in FIG. 27 is assumed to be inserted and executed after step SP73 in FIG.

 In FIG. 27, first, in step SP121, it is checked whether or not the in-access counter in the oral cache management file has become 0 for the file whose access has been completed, and if it is not 0, the process ends. On the other hand, if the count during access becomes 0, the process proceeds to step SP122.

In step SP122 and subsequent step 123, the same processing as step SP101 and step SP102 in FIG. 26 is performed. That is, the corresponding remote site entry in the cache setting correspondence file is searched. In the next step SP 1 24, it is checked whether the search for the remote site URL was successful. If the search was not successful and the entry was not found, the process is terminated. Proceed to processing.

 In step SP125, the same processing as in step SP104 of FIG. 26 is performed. In other words, the site of the corresponding remote file is searched from the site cache setting file.

 In the next step SP126, it is checked whether or not the file name search was successful. If there is no file name, the process is terminated. If found, the process proceeds to step SP127.

 In step SP127, the file lifetime of the corresponding entry is reached. Next, in step SP128, the life of the file is reached by setting the file lifetime, that is, only one script is being accessed. Check whether the settings not to leave in the cache or the date to leave in the cache have already passed, and if the settings are to be deleted, proceed to the next step SP 12 9, otherwise terminate the processing I do.

 In step SP129 and subsequent step SP130, as in step SP65 and step SP66 in Fig. 20, the entry is deleted from each management file and the oral file itself is deleted. I do. After that, the process ends.

In this way, files that are no longer needed at the end of the scribble, etc. can be individually deleted from the file cache. 2.8 Download file read-ahead details

 The file transfer control unit 4 downloads the remote file, the master file 9 or the execution result of the server program in response to the request of the script interpreter execution unit 5, but uses the internet 2 Because communication is performed, downloading often takes longer than a system configured in a LAN (Local Area Network). If the download is performed every time in the script file instructing the file to be downloaded, the user accessing the server 1 using the telephone terminal 15 or the like will have to wait each time. Therefore, there is a problem on convenience.

 Therefore, this information service system almost eliminates the above-mentioned problem by executing the file download in parallel with other processing before the part explicitly specified in the script. I am trying to do it.

 For example, while a user who accesses the server 1 using the telephone terminal 15 performs audio playback according to a script, a file that may be downloaded later is downloaded in advance. FIG. 28 shows a procedure in which the script interpreter 5 executes the process of prefetching a file when executing a script.

 In the flowchart of FIG. 28, first, in step SP141, before executing the script, a file name that may be downloaded in the script is obtained.

In the next step SP 14 2, the acquired file name is sent to the file transfer control unit 4 to start downloading those files. After this, execution is actually performed according to the scribing procedure. In step SP143, the first command of the script is read. In the next step SP144, it is checked whether the command is a download command. If the command is a command to be downloaded, the process proceeds to step SP145. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step SP147.

 In step SP145, it is checked whether the file name to be downloaded is the file that has already started the download in step SP142, and if it is, the process proceeds to step SP150 and the file is downloaded. If not, the process proceeds to step SP146.

 In step SP146, the file name is sent to the file transfer control unit 4 to start the down mode.

 On the other hand, in step SP 147, among the commands other than the command to be downloaded, it is checked whether the command uses the downloaded file, such as reproduction of an audio file, and if not, the process proceeds to step SP 149. Execute the command of On the other hand, if the command is the command, the process proceeds to step SP148. In step SP148, it is checked whether the file has been downloaded to the file temporary storage device 6, and if it has not been downloaded yet, it waits until it is downloaded.

 If the download is performed in step SP148, the process proceeds to step SP149 to execute the command.

Finally, in step SP150, it is checked whether the script has finished. If it has not finished, the process proceeds to step SP1501 and the next command is read from the script. Return to the process of step 4 and repeat the same process. W

53 On the other hand, if the script ends in step SP150, the execution of the script ends.

 Next, an example of an actual operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. Figure 29 shows an example of the procedure for writing the script that downloads and plays two audio files in sequence.

 In FIG. 29, the contents of the script are as follows. First, in step SP161, the audio file A is downloaded from the file storage server 10.

 In the next step SP162, the downloaded audio file B is downloaded in the same manner as in the downloaded audio file A in step SP166, and the downloaded audio file B is played in the step SP164.

 FIG. 30 shows a procedure in which the scribing in FIG. 29 is actually performed by the scribing-in printer execution unit 5.

 In FIG. 30, first, in step SP 171, file names (audio files A and B) of files that may be downloaded are extracted from the script of FIG. 29. This corresponds to the process of step SP 14 1 in FIG.

 Next, in step SP172, the extracted file names (audio file A and audio file B) are sent to the file transfer control unit 4 to request download. This corresponds to the process of step SP142 in FIG.

Next, in step SP173, the CPU reads step SP161 in FIG. 29, which is the first command of the script, and proceeds to the next command because the download request command has already been requested. This corresponds to the processing from step SP 143 to step SP 145 and the processing from step SP 150 to step SP 151 in FIG. Since step SP 162 in FIG. 29 is a command that uses the file (audio file A) for which download has been requested, the process waits until the file is completely downloaded to the temporary file storage device 6. This corresponds to the processing of steps SP 144 and SP 147 to SP 148 in FIG.

 Then, in step SP174, the downloaded audio file A is reproduced by the audio recording / reproducing unit 7B of the telephone network connection unit 7. This corresponds to the processing in step SP149 of FIG. Step SP175 and step SP176 also play the audio file B in the same manner as step SP173 and step SP174, and terminate the execution of the script.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Network connection means connected to the computer network;

 A telephone network connection means connected to the telephone network;

 An execution means for interpreting and executing the execution procedure file;

 Data processing data based on the execution procedure by the interpretation execution means.

—Evening processing means,

 Temporary storage means for temporarily storing at least file data,

 The execution procedure file is selectively acquired from any of the plurality of servers on the computer network, and the data processed by the data processing means is provided to a communication terminal connected to a telephone network. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data processed according to the execution procedure is obtained from any one of the plurality of servers.

 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the server that obtains the execution procedure file and the server that obtains the processed data are the same or different one or more servers. .

4. The data processing means synthesizes a voice signal as a data processing based on the execution procedure, and outputs the voice signal to a communication terminal connected to the telephone line network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

5. The data processing means synthesizes an image signal as an addition to data based on the execution procedure, and outputs the image signal to a communication terminal connected to the telephone line network. 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein

 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data processed by the data processing means is output to any of the plurality of servers.

 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is acquired from a communication terminal connected to the telephone network based on the execution procedure.

 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data obtained from the communication terminal or the processed data is output to any of the plurality of servers.

 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data acquired from the communication terminal is tone data subjected to predetermined modulation.

 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data obtained from the communication terminal is audio data.

 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data obtained from the communication terminal is image data.

 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said temporary storage means includes a recording means for recording voice data obtained from said communication terminal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said temporary storage means includes recording means for recording image data obtained from said communication terminal. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

 14. The data processing means includes a voice recognition means for recognizing the voice data acquired from the communication terminal.

Item 10. The information processing device according to Item 10.

 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said data processing means includes conversion means for converting the recognized voice data into text data.

 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a file for individually controlling restrictions and changes of the execution procedure in the execution procedure file is obtained. 17.

 17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interpretation executing means selects a processing program for executing the execution procedure according to a type of the execution procedure file.

 18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processing program is obtained from any of the plurality of servers together with the execution procedure file.

 1 9. Data that has already been processed and saved in any of the servers, or an execution procedure file that exists in any of the servers is specified and the server 2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device acquires the data processed by the computer.

 20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temporary storage means includes a cache area for caching files or data obtained from said plurality of servers.

2 1. A file linked to the above execution procedure file, or 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein data processed in accordance with an execution procedure is obtained in advance from any one of said plurality of servers and stored in said temporary storage means. .

 2 2. The interpretation executing means performs processing of a procedure different from the execution procedure based on a specific input from a communication terminal connected to the telephone line network during execution of the execution procedure. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

 23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution procedure file is selectively acquired based on information relating to each communication terminal connected to the telephone line network.

 2 4. Selectively obtain the execution procedure file from any of the multiple servers on the computer network,

 Interpret the acquired execution procedure file,

 Add data based on the execution procedure that interprets the above execution procedure file,

 An information processing method comprising providing processed data to a communication terminal connected to a telephone network.

 25. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein the data processed according to the execution procedure is obtained from any of the plurality of servers.

 26. The information processing method according to claim 25, wherein the execution procedure file is obtained from one or more servers that are the same or different.

27. A speech signal is synthesized based on the execution procedure, and the speech signal is output to a communication terminal connected to the telephone network. 25. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein

 28. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein the image signal is synthesized based on the execution procedure, and the image signal is output to a communication terminal connected to the telephone line network. .

 29. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein the data processed based on the execution procedure is output to any of the plurality of servers.

 30. The information processing method according to claim 24, further comprising acquiring data from a communication terminal connected to the telephone network based on the execution procedure.

 31. The information processing method according to claim 30, wherein the data obtained from the communication terminal or the processed data is output to any of the plurality of servers.

 32. The information processing method according to claim 30, wherein the data acquired from said communication terminal is a tone modulated with predetermined modulation.

 33. The information processing method according to claim 30, wherein the data obtained from the communication terminal is audio data.

 34. The information processing method according to claim 30, wherein the data obtained from said communication terminal is image data.

 35. The information processing method according to claim 33, characterized by recording the audio data obtained from the communication terminal.

 36. The information processing method according to claim 34, characterized by recording image data obtained from said communication terminal.

3 7. Voice recognition of voice data obtained from the above communication terminal The information processing method according to claim 33, wherein the information processing method is characterized in that:

 38. The information processing method according to claim 37, wherein the recognized voice data is converted to text data.

 39. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein a file for individually controlling restriction and change of the execution procedure in said execution procedure file is obtained.

 40. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein a processing program for executing the execution procedure is selected according to the type of the execution procedure file.

 41. The information processing method according to claim 40, wherein said processing program is obtained from any one of said plurality of servers together with said execution procedure file.

 4 2. Specify the data that has already been processed and saved on any of the servers, or specify the execution procedure file that exists on any of the servers, and 25. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein the data processed in step (a) is acquired.

 43. A file which is characterized in that a file linked to the execution procedure file or data processed according to the execution procedure is acquired and stored in advance from any of the plurality of servers. Item 25. The information processing method according to Item 25.

4 4. A process different from the above-mentioned execution procedure is performed during execution of the above-mentioned execution procedure, based on a specific input from a communication terminal connected to the above-mentioned telephone network. The information processing method according to paragraph 24.

45. The information processing method according to claim 24, wherein the execution procedure file is selectively acquired based on a report related to each communication terminal connected to the telephone line network. .