WO2000020967A1

WO2000020967A1 - Object linking device

Info

Publication number: WO2000020967A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/005382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Makoto Okada; Tadashige Iwao; Yuji Wada; Satoru Ushijima; Masatoshi Shiouchi
Original assignee: Fujitsu Limited
Priority date: 1998-10-02
Filing date: 1999-09-29
Publication date: 2000-04-13
Also published as: JP3727243B2

Abstract

An object linking device operated according to a message-action reaction relation and adapted to flexibly and dynamically change the link between objects. A message-action reaction relation contained in a message-action reaction table (103) in a message-action reaction relation storage (102) in which the relation between the action contents being a reaction to a message and the message is stored is separated by a message-action reaction relation separating section (106) of a message-action reaction relation update control section (105). A message-action reaction relation building section (107) builds an action relation to a new message. An object link is flexibly and dynamically structured by insertion of an object link relation, link of independent object links, intervention by an external object, participation in an object link by plural message senders, and participation in an object link by plural message recipients.

Description

Description Object linkage device Technical field

The present invention relates to an object coordination device that performs cooperative processing such as dialogue and coordination between a group of computers or objects, and a plurality of processes are created in an object-oriented environment, and the process is flexibly adapted to environmental changes through a computer network. System that changes gradually in response to

'Related to the object linkage device. Background art

In recent years, networking has progressed, and systems in which a plurality of objects distributed on a network cooperate with each other to perform processing are increasing. Research on object-oriented programming and component technology has been conducted as a technique for coordinating and processing such objects.

One example of object-oriented programming is CORBA (The Common Object Request), a common specification for the operation of distributed objects defined by the OMG (Object Management Group), an industry organization established to standardize and spread object-oriented technology. Broker: Architecture and Specification) force there ^s.

Figure 37 shows an example of object linkage in a client / server system based on CORBA. In this system, a series of processing is performed by linking a client application with a server application, that is, by linking objects. The application developer describes the interface of the service provided by each of the client and the server in IDL (Interface Definition Language). The content defined as an interface is a group of operations that can be requested to an object.Each operation defines an operation name, parameter definitions, return value definitions, exception handling when an error occurs, additional information, etc. You.

By compiling the contents defined in IDL with a special compiler, a stub for the client and a skeleton for the server are generated. Stubs are routines that provide client applications with access to the operations defined in the IDL. Various operations are invoked by the client application by calling the routine provided by the stub. The skeleton provides dispatching routines to the method routines provided by the server's application.

Stubs and skeletons are generated in the programming language used by the corresponding client or server application. For example, if the programming language used is C, the stub is generated as a set of functions in c language, and the client application calls the stub, ORB runtime, skeleton The corresponding routine of the server / application is called via, the specified processing is executed, and the processing result is returned to the calling client application.

As described above, it is becoming easy to construct object cooperation processing using CORBA or the like. If you try to build such a cooperative process, CORBA itself It is necessary to design objects according to the CORBA specifications and define them using IDL. In other words, system builders need to be familiar with the details of how to use CORBA.

It is also necessary to be strongly aware of the relationship between each object. In other words, it is necessary to clarify what kind of processing is performed by each object, and what delivery parameters are required to perform the processing.

Although the independence of objects has been enhanced by the common interface between objects, it is assumed that there is a fixed relationship between objects and objects. Has become.

Here, when we consider the communication between humans, in reality, uncertain interactions often occur. For example, assuming that you are trying to solve a problem, you will have to think inside yourself or seek advice from others to solve the problem that has occurred, and will lead you to a solution. Even when thinking about one's own thoughts, considerations are being made from various perspectives. Also, when asking for advice from another person, there are cases where a specific person is referred, and cases where a wide range of unspecified people is referred. When contacting a broadly unspecified person, the response of the person being inquired will vary. Someone who has a solution will give you an answer, some may give advice by analogy with their own experience or knowledge, even if it is not a direct solution, Some may be indifferent and ignore the inquiry. In other words, for one piece of information, responding to that information Z does not respond depends on the person receiving the inquiry, and how it reacts when responding depends on the person receiving the inquiry.

Here, when a person is replaced with an object, whether to receive or not receive information flowing over the network is selected. The response to what information is processed differs for each object. In other words, free cooperation is desired in the cooperative relationship between objects and objects. The conventional linkage method assumes that the relationship between objects and objects is fixed, and it has been difficult to build a linkage system with such a free relationship.

As described above, in the distributed object system technology, as represented by CORBA or a certain DCOM, a framework for providing transparent object access to a network or a distributed object type. Although the framework for interfaces is gradually being prepared, the invention disclosure is sufficient to answer the question of how to dynamically build cooperation between objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to increase the degree of freedom of cooperation between an object and an object connected to a network or between a computer and a computer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an object coordination device that implements coordination processing such as group dialogue and coordination, flexibly responds to environmental changes in an object-oriented environment, and builds a system that changes gradually. .

The object cooperation device of the present invention enables a new object to be inserted during the cooperation between the constructed objects in order to increase the degree of freedom and flexibility of the cooperation between the constructed objects. It enables flexible and dynamic construction of new object linkages. In addition, object linkages that do not have a mutual linkage relationship can be newly connected to each other to enable flexible and dynamic construction of new object linkages. Also, the built object In this way, it is possible to flexibly and dynamically construct a new object linkage of the so-called external intervention method, in which the linkage between the objects is once disconnected and the object linkage chain in the form of an external object is interposed. In addition to one-to-one object coordination, one-to-many so-called receiver-side coordination and new object coordination are flexibly and dynamically constructed, and many-to-one so-called sender-side coordination is also implemented. It enables flexible and dynamic construction of new object linkages.

Further, the object cooperation device of the present invention enables the setting of the cooperation condition in the object cooperation relationship while securing the degree of freedom and flexibility of the object cooperation described above, and enables or disables the cooperation between the objects. The purpose is to control

Further, the object cooperation device of the present invention can easily establish the relationship of the constructed object linkage, that is, the input message pattern to which the object reacts, the output and output message pattern of the object action and the linkage condition. The purpose is to provide a function that can be grasped explicitly. In addition, the object linking apparatus of the present invention is configured such that if a message pattern of an object serving as a starting point and a message pattern of an object serving as an end point of the object linking to be constructed are given, the object linking from the starting point to the end point is provided. The object is to flexibly form object linkage by searching for objects that form a linkage relationship that leads to the next object.

To cope with the conventional problems described above, it is necessary to build more flexible linkages between objects. This cannot be solved simply by making the application into components, but a framework is needed in which objects interact with each other to dynamically configure functions. However, the cooperating objects depend on each other's internal state and internal function. If there is such a close relationship, it is not easy to dynamically configure functions by interaction. Therefore, if you want to dynamically configure functions by coordination, you must define a loose relationship between the cooperating objects.

Here, the communication between humans and the interaction between humans are described. Human-to-human communication—behavior that interacts with each other has an “awareness” status, and the exchange of information based on this awareness (awareness) is a variation on human communication—behavior. And flexibility

Awareness model is a model that, apart from communication behavior, recognizes that the subject of communication recognizes a state or information exchange that is not directly or purposefully involved, and that such awareness information is actually It is said that it affects the variation of various actions including communication actions.

Also in the field of distributed object technology, it is possible to perform the same information processing between objects as the Awareness intervening between humans, and perform cooperative processing between objects based on the detected Awareness. If possible, it will be possible to make the linkage between the objects flexible. Especially in a situation where the object of the partner to be linked changes dynamically, the changing object and the object monitoring it exchange the same information as Awareness in communication between humans, and become autonomous. If the processing can be performed in a timely manner, it can be an effective processing model between cooperating objects on the network. This is because the Awareness model defines loose relationships in object linkage, providing flexibility and dynamic changeability between objects. The object linking apparatus of the present invention establishes a link between objects by linking objects by a relationship between a message flowing in an object field and an action corresponding to the message, and constructs a link between the objects and the message. It is intended to flexibly and dynamically update the object linkages constructed by updating the description of the relationships flexibly and dynamically.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object cooperation apparatus according to the present invention includes a message receiving unit in which each object monitors and captures a message transmitted on a network, and a function content which is a response to the message. A message / action reaction relationship storage unit that stores a relationship between the message and the message; and an action execution unit that executes a process in accordance with the content of the action, and an action execution unit that executes the action in accordance with the message / action reaction relationship. A message / action response update control unit that controls updating of the message / action correspondence according to the necessity of the message / action correspondence, and the message / action response relationship update control unit. The message-action response relationship The message that separates the existing message 'action correspondence' in the storage unit. The action specified for the message specified by the action's reaction relation separating unit and the message ' It has a message-action-relationship-building unit that relates to existing messages, and intervenes in the existing message-action relationship to build a new message-action relationship.

Here, the message / action reaction relation update control section specifies the reaction relation of the existing message / action to be separated and the new message to be inserted. Means that the message / action / reaction relationship separation section is The message-action reaction relationship builder creates a relationship between the existing message and the new action based on the specification, and issues it as part of the new action. Establish a new message-to-existing relationship with existing messages and introduce objects that have a new message-action reaction relationship between the existing message and the existing action.

With the above configuration, the flow of object cooperation can be changed flexibly and dynamically by changing the message-action reaction relationship. There is no need to change programs and recompile, and the efficiency of system design using object linkage can be improved.

Further, the present invention can flexibly construct, change, delete, and degenerate a cooperative relationship between message actions by utilizing a message'action / reaction relationship separation unit and a message / action reaction relationship construction unit. For example, multi-stage input of object cooperation by multi-stage input of reaction relations of message 'action is possible. Another method is to separate the cooperative relationship before and after the specified object, and then build the object cooperative relationship by setting the message action relationship that connects the preceding and following objects by bypassing the object. In this case, the specified object can be degenerated. In addition, it is possible to connect an object that mediates a plurality of independent object linkages and connect an independent object to connect the independent objects. Conversely, it is possible to separate object linkages by extracting some objects in a series of continuous object linkages and cutting off the linkage before and after. In addition, if the cooperative relationship of the objects to be inserted and connected is branched, it is possible to parallelize the object coordination. The present invention can be applied to various system constructions utilizing the various object cooperation relationships as described above. For example, if a plurality of objects that respond to a message as an action of one object are provided, a receiver-participating object cooperation device can be configured, and the object to be requested to process is Can be searched for by the tender method. Conversely, by constructing an object that responds to messages sent from multiple objects, a sender-participation-type object linkage device can be configured, and object linkage that has progressed to parallel multiple It is possible to centralize the process of summarizing, and it is possible to receive a response from the requesting party in the bidding method and make a bid.

Also, in order to facilitate the insertion of a new object linkage into a series of object linkages, the object linkage is an object linkage core that maintains the object linkage as a lump, and the object linkage described above. An object coordination interface that cooperates with the coordination core and other objects is provided.If a change in the object coordination occurs, the relation between the object coordination core is maintained, and the object coordination is maintained. The object linking relationship is changed by changing the link destination of the object linking interface.

With the above configuration, even if a change in object coordination occurs, by providing an object coordination core part that maintains the object coordination relationship as one block, the effect on that part is avoided, and the object coordination core part is By providing an object cooperation interface part that links with other objects before and after, it is possible to build and change relationships with external objects in that part. Object linkage interface New object linkages can be inserted in multiple stages between linkages between parts, and object linkage by so-called cascade connection can be flexibly constructed. Wear.

Next, in order to achieve the purpose of setting the coordination conditions in the above object coordination relationship and controlling the coordination between the objects, the object coordination apparatus of the present invention employs a message-action reaction condition. It has a setting unit, and sets the message / action reaction condition for executing the action corresponding to the message received for each object, and the message / action reaction storage unit stores the message / action reaction relationship and the message. The action execution condition is stored in association with the action reaction condition, and the action execution unit executes the action on the received message when the message action reaction condition is satisfied.

With the above configuration, when an object performs an action, in addition to receiving a corresponding message, a message / action reaction condition for responding to the received message can be set. Object cooperation can be finely controlled through cooperation permission.

Next, in order to achieve the object of providing a function of easily and explicitly grasping the relationship between the constructed object linkage chains, the object linkage device of the present invention is constructed between objects and between objects. An object coordination relation presenting unit that presents object coordination relations is provided.For the reception of messages captured by the message receiving unit, the acceptable range is used as input message pattern information, and the action execution unit performs When a message is output, the outputable range is used as output message pattern information, and the object linkage relationship presentation unit associates the presented object linkage with the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information. It is characterized by being presented as a relationship.

The object coordination presentation unit provides the message reaction condition. In other words, it is possible to explicitly show the relationship of the constructed object linkage chain, that is, the input message to which the object reacts, the action of the object and the output message to be output, and the linkage condition. For example, a programmer, a system administrator, a user, etc., who can legitimately change the object linkage chain, can easily detect the object linkage. Objects can be displayed as icons, object linkages can be displayed as link information between icons, object linkages can be displayed as tables, and object linkages can be visualized as graphics. And I can grasp it positively. As another means for presenting the object linkage, the object linkage presentation unit describes the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information as tags, and describes the object linkage as tags. It can also be presented by the user in the form of a tag in a program description language, for example the XML language.

Next, in the object linking apparatus of the present invention, the object linking relationship presenting unit includes an object linking information query function for querying each object for object linking information possessed by the object. An object linkage information collection function that collects the object linkage information of each object responded to by each object in response to an inquiry to the object, and the entire object from the collected object linkage information of each object It is preferable to have an object cooperation relation synthesizing function for synthesizing the object cooperation relation, and an object cooperation relation presenting function for presenting the synthesized object cooperation relation.

With the above configuration, the object linkage device dynamically builds and detects the linkage of the object to be updated as necessary, and based on the result, explicitly indicates the linkage of the object to the user. It can be presented.

Here, the object coordination device of the present invention includes an object coordination control unit. The object coordination control unit has an object coordination change detection function that detects that a change has occurred in the object coordination relationship synthesized by the object coordination synthesis function, and an object coordination An object coordination detection function that detects the occurrence of a logical contradiction, and an object that cancels the change of the object coordination when the object coordination logical contradiction detection function detects a logical contradiction of the object coordination It is preferable to provide a cooperation logic protection function.

With the above configuration, the object coordination device dynamically constructs and checks the coordination relation of the object to be updated and analyzes it as necessary, and it can be used to determine the object linkage such as an infinite loop of object coordination, collision of object coordination relation, etc. It is possible to detect the construction and change of the relationship that hinders the cooperative operation in advance, cancel the construction and change, and ensure the smooth operation of the system.

In addition, the object cooperation device of the present invention provides a connection between the object at the start point and the object at the end point, if the object as the start point and the object as the end point of the object cooperation to be constructed are given. In order to form a cooperative relationship, messages received by objects existing on the network are detected as input message pattern information, and messages output as part of the action are detected as output message pattern information. An object search unit that searches for an object having the input message pattern and the output message pattern using the search key as a search key; an object from the first object as a starting point to a second object; When forming object collaboration, the object search unit Yuki explore the Obujeku preparative you work with the message pattern sage pattern as a search key, to form the object linkage leading to the second object to the first object as a starting point. There are various types of search, such as forward search, backward search, There is a In the case of a forward search, in forming an object cooperation from the first object to the second object, the object search unit performs the input search as the first search. The message pattern is set as the output message pattern of the first object, the output message pattern is arbitrarily searched for the third object group, and the input message pattern is set as the second search using the input message pattern of the third object. The output message pattern of each object group of each object group is set, the output message pattern is arbitrarily searched for the fourth object group, and the output object pattern of the fourth object group is output. A message pattern that matches the input message pattern of the second object is selected as the fourth object among the message patterns. An object having the input message pattern of the selected fourth object as an output message pattern is selected as a third object from the third object group, and selected from the first object. An object link to the second object is formed via the third object and the fourth object construction.

By providing a computer-readable recording medium on which a processing program for realizing the object coordination apparatus of the present invention is recorded, the object coordination apparatus of the present invention is read out by using a computer device by reading the recording medium into a computer. It is possible to construct an object cooperation device that can flexibly and easily build and update object cooperation relations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a loose cooperation between objects in an awareness analogy regarding the basic principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic principle of object linkage insertion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram in a case where the object-linked insertion according to the first embodiment of the present invention is multistage insertion.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the object linking apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the concept of object cooperation before object cooperation insertion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a shared display function is introduced into the system by newly inserting a shared object according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a basic principle of connection of object cooperation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the concept of object cooperation before connection of object cooperation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a concept of connection of object cooperation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the basic principle of external intervention of object cooperation according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the concept of object cooperation before external intervention of object cooperation according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the concept of the external intervention of the object cooperation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a basic principle of participation on the receiving side in object cooperation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an object cooperation apparatus according to the present invention to which the basic principle of receiving side participation in object cooperation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the basic principle of transmitting-side participation in object cooperation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of participation of a sender in object cooperation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the concept of cooperation between objects by the object cooperation apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the object cooperation apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a visual chart generated by the object cooperation apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example in which the object cooperation has a configuration including an object cooperation core part and an object cooperation interface part.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a state in which an object cooperation relationship is changed by utilizing an object cooperation interface part.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of searching for object cooperation by the backward search method in the object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a dtd representing a message, an input message, and an output message used in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a message transmitted by the object search unit 113 in the first step in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the second step in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a message received by the object search unit 113 in the third step in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the second step of repetition in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a message received in the third step by the object search unit 113 in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a file conversion request message using the result obtained in FIG. 31 in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a message that returns the result of FIG. 32 in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a view showing an example of a message in which the intermediate object imgearbiter.ph requests the final conversion after receiving the result of FIG. 33 in the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing that the file conversion has been successfully completed in the ninth embodiment, similarly to FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a recording medium on which a processing program for realizing the object cooperation device of the present invention in the tenth embodiment is recorded. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of object cooperation in a client Z server system based on the conventional CORBA. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It will be explained while referring to the figures.

The present invention is an object cooperation apparatus that performs cooperative processing such as communication, dialogue, and coordination between distributed objects between objects, and is capable of processing messages flowing through a communication path defined as a common field. On the other hand, individual computer systems as objects or individual application programs running in the computer system execute processing in a manner that reacts to them, and the entire system is changed by changing the reaction relationship between messages and actions. Is to flexibly change the operation.

The present invention does not make the relationship between cooperating objects a close relationship that depends on each other's internal state or internal function, but rather defines a loose relationship between cooperating objects. Dynamically configure functions by cooperation.

To understand the present invention, it is useful to use the Awarenesss model found in the communication between humans and in the mutually linked actions. The present invention is based on the premise that, in the cooperation between distributed objects, the same information processing is performed between objects as in the case of Awarenews between human beings, and the cooperation processing between objects based on the detected Awarenews is performed. Hereinafter, first, the cooperation of distributed objects based on the Awareness analogy, which is the premise of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, will be described, and then, the method of making the cooperation of distributed objects more flexible will be specifically described. It will be described in conjunction with various embodiments.

A description will be given of the cooperation of distributed objects based on Awnewss analytics. Cooperation of distributed objects or cooperation of computers based on Awnews analytics can be realized by the following configuration.

1. Aw areness message is shared if Puma B roadca st is done.

2. The object that receives the Awnews message has a unique relationship between the message and the action.

3. In objects that send or receive Aw anews messages, the relationship between the message and the action is separated.

By utilizing the separable or separable nature of messages and actions in the Awareness analogy, two important elements can be added as interactions between objects: participation and intervention. However, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in linking an object and an object connected to a network or linking a computer with a computer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a loose cooperation between objects in an Awnewss anatomy.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes an object A, and reference numeral 202 denotes an object B, which are objects that are main bodies for transmitting and receiving an Awnewss message. Ml is a message, and indicates an Aw a renew s s message. a1 indicates the action specified in object A (201), and a2 indicates the action specified in object B (202). The arrows in the figure indicate message transmission when the starting point is an object and reception of the message when the end point is an object. It is also assumed that each object has its own function as an internal state.

In FIG. 1, the link between the object A (201) and the object B (202) is performed via a message M1. In the Aw areness analogy, object A (2 0 1) can be used both for object B (2 0 2) and for the internal functions of object B Basically, send a message without any notice. Also, there is no need to specify the object B (202) itself and send the message, and the object A (201) sends the message M1 based on its own state and processing contents. Object B (202) monitors the message flowing on the communication path, detects message M1, and reacts when action M2 is significant for object B to act a2. to start. In this way, object A and object B can have significant cooperation, but this is not due to the direct connection between object A (201) and object B (202). Instead, it can be said that the result is that message M1 is connected to the action a2 of object B (202). Conversely, if the message is different from M1, then object B (2 0 2) will either have the message in the same acceptable range as M1 or an action that is otherwise associated with the message. Unless there is no response. In this way, the cooperation between the objects is loosely performed via the message, so that the degree of freedom of the cooperation between the objects is increased. In other words, unlike the conventional computer network communication, there is no need to specify the address of the communication partner and the content of the processing request, and an Awareness message indicating its own status and processing results is sent on the network,端末 Each terminal monitoring the network detects the message and reacts autonomously if the corresponding action is specified.

In the Awareness analog communication system, the communication path does not need to be particularly limited as long as it is not only a physical network such as a LAN, but also a medium that can be commonly received such as wireless, voice, and light. Further, a recording medium such as a memory that can be commonly called may be used. Furthermore, it may be a virtual entity due to the port address of the communication channel. _(The above is the case of distributed objects based on Awareness This is the basic principle of cooperation.

Next, an object cooperation apparatus to which a method of the present invention for making cooperation of distributed objects more flexible will be described. In the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, a method of increasing the flexibility of cooperation of distributed objects based on the above-described awareness analogy and introducing a method of dynamically changing the cooperation of the distributed objects is introduced. Here, the following five embodiments of the first embodiment to the fifth embodiment will be described in the order of the five methods of cooperative insertion, cooperative consolidation, cooperative external intervention, receiving-side cooperative participation, and transmitting-side cooperative participation. Further, according to the sixth embodiment, an object linking apparatus is provided with a linking condition for linking objects, and has a linking condition setting function for executing linking between the objects when the linking condition is satisfied. An embodiment will be described. Also, a seventh embodiment describes an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus having a function of presenting an object cooperation relation that detects an object cooperation relation and explicitly presents it to a user. Further, according to the eighth embodiment, the object cooperation is such that the object cooperation core part that maintains the object cooperation relation as a lump, and the object cooperation core part and the other objects cooperate with each other. If the object cooperation interface part is provided, and the object cooperation relation is changed, the relation of the object cooperation core part is maintained as it is, and the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface part is changed. A description will be given of an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus that changes an object cooperation relationship. Further, according to the ninth embodiment, a function of forming an object cooperation by searching for an object that forms a cooperative relationship connecting the object from the start point to the object as the end point is provided. An embodiment of the object cooperation device will be described. In addition, according to the embodiment 1.0, a computer-readable recording medium recording a processing program having processing steps for realizing the object cooperation device of the present invention An embodiment showing an example will be described.

(Embodiment 1)

The first embodiment describes a basic principle of object cooperative insertion in a distributed object cooperative based on an Awnews analogy and an object cooperation apparatus to which the present principle is applied.

Object linkage insertion refers to inserting a new object linkage relationship with another object in a part of the series of object linkages when there is a certain series of object linkages. Object Part of the linkage is separated, and a linkage is established between the object before and after the separation and the other object to be inserted, so that the object is inserted from the front object that has separated the linkage. Linking to a new object, and linking from the inserted new object to the back object that has separated the link, to build a new series of object links. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the basic principle of object-linked insertion. It is an object, message, and the action part of the object extracted conceptually and displayed. Figure 2 (a) shows the state before object linkage insertion. Figure 2 (b) shows the state after object linkage insertion. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes an object A, reference numeral 202 denotes an object B, and reference numeral 203 denotes an object C, each of which is an object which is a subject that transmits and receives messages. Ml and M2 represent messages. al is the action specified in object A (201), a2 is the action specified in object B (202), a3 is specified in object C (203) Indicates an action. Note that, in the following embodiments, arrows in the drawings indicate transmission of a message when the starting point is an object, and reception of a message when the end point is an object. Also, each object has an internal state Each action has its own.

First, as shown in Fig. 2 (a), an object linkage is established between object A (201) and object B (202) via message M1. ing. As explained in the basic principle of object cooperation, this object cooperation is loose cooperation via message M1. Message M1 does not need to specify the address of the destination, and the sending object sends the message on the network field (communication media) and the receiving object monitors the network field. The message can be arbitrarily captured. That is, the object A (201) does not need to be aware of the object B (202) and the action a2, and transmits the message M1 on the network. In other words, it does not matter what kind of object linkage relationship exists.

Here, it is possible to introduce the object cooperation of the object C (203) as shown in Fig. 2 (b) by rewriting the reaction relation of the message action of the object B (202). Becomes In other words, the reaction relation of the message.action of the object B is rewritten, the action a2 is defined as an action responding to the message M2, and the object C (203) is further defined. If the action that responds to message M1 is a3 and the message M1 is sent by action a3, the object-relationship As a result, a new object called an object C (203) can be inserted.

It goes without saying that this object linkage insertion can be performed in multiple stages. Figure 3 shows the situation. Figure 3 shows two steps of cooperative insertion. Looking at Figure 2 (a) above, Figure 3 shows the object In response to the object cooperation between object A (201) and object B (202), object C (203) and object D (204) are inserted, and Message M1 → action a3 → message M2 → 7 action a4 → message M3 → action a2, and a message-action relationship is established, and object linkage is realized. I have.

It goes without saying that object coordination can be reduced as the reverse process of object coordination insertion.

Next, an object linkage device to which the basic principle of the object linkage insertion is applied will be described. Figure 4 is a block diagram of the schematic configuration of the object cooperation device.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 101 denotes a message receiving unit that monitors and captures a message transmitted on the network. Reference numeral 102 denotes a message / action response storage unit that stores a relationship between a message content and a response to a message, and a message / action / relationship storage unit 102 stores a message / action relationship. A message that maintains the reaction relationship. An action reaction table (reaction table) 103 is provided. Here, the message / action response relation storage unit 102 compares the message pattern in the message / action response table 103 with the message received by 101, and the received message When the message pattern matches or is included, the corresponding action is executed. An action execution unit 104 executes a process in accordance with the specified action content. 105 is a message that is stored in the message-action-relation storage unit 102 according to the necessity of updating the message-action-relationship.- A message-action that controls updating of the action-reaction relation. It is a response relation update control section, and the message in the message reaction relation storage section 102 A message / action / reaction relationship separating unit 106 for separating a function correspondence and a message / action / reaction relationship constructing unit 107 for associating a specified message with a specified message are provided. Reference numeral 108 denotes a message transmitting unit for transmitting a message on the network as needed, 109 denotes a communication interface, 110 denotes a communication media field, and This concept includes networks such as communications.

Now, as a specific embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention, the operation will be described by taking an example of performing file sharing display.

FIG. 5 illustrates the concept of object cooperation before the object cooperation according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 501 denotes a file display object without the shared display function, and reference numeral 502 denotes a display object without the shared display function. It is assumed that both the file display object 501 and the display object 502 have the configuration shown in FIG.

Now, when the file display object 501 wants to perform a process of displaying the file A on the display, the message M3 is set to the field 110 via the message transmission unit 108 and the communication interface 109. Send it out. Here, the message M3 is, for example, (Display, FileA, x400, y300), and the file A is displayed starting from the XY coordinates (400, 300). The display object 502 monitors the field 110, and detects and captures the message # 3 by the message receiving unit 108 via the communication interface 109.

FIG. 5 (b) shows the contents of the message 'action response table (reaction table) 103 held by the message' action reaction relationship storage unit 102 'of the display object 502. I have. A message is written on the left side of the table, and a corresponding action is written on the right side of the table. I have. Here, the message is described as (Display, *, *, *). The force "*" means a wildcard, and all messages are applicable regardless of the description content. In other words, all messages that start with "Display" as the first item are applicable. The action is called "Draw", which means that the display object performs drawing on the display. When the display object 502 receives the message M3, the display object 502 refers to the contents of the message / action reaction table 103 to obtain an action "Draw", and the action execution unit 104 executes a drawing process. I do. Next, the case where the object linkage is inserted will be described. Here, an example is shown in which a new shared object is introduced, a new object link is inserted, and a shared display function is introduced into the system.

FIG. 6 (a) shows a state in which a new shared object 503 is introduced. As shown in Fig. 6 (a), the linkage of the object links from the file display object 501 to the display object 502, and then the linkage to the shared object 503. After that, it is linked to the display object 502 again, and the link to the shared object 503 is inserted.

First, the message / action response update control unit 105 is provided with the updated contents of the message / action response relationship based on, for example, an instruction from a user or a need to improve the load status of the object distribution system. Then, the message-action correspondence separating section 106 separates the message-action correspondence in the message-action reaction storage section 102 of the display object 502. Here, this means breaking the association between the message (Display, *, *, *) and the action (Draw), and using them as entries in the message 'action response table 103' of the display object 502. May be temporarily deleted. Next In addition, the message / action reaction relationship update control unit 105 causes the message / action reaction relationship construction unit 107 to display the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. 6 (b) on the display object 50. Build on 2. The action (Status) is associated with the message (Display, *, *, *), and the message (Display-shared, *, *, *) and the message of the action (Shared draw) are newly added. · Function correspondence and message (Display-unshared, *, *, *) and action (Unshared draw J are additionally constructed. In addition, in the shared object 503, the message 'action reaction relation The update control unit 105 constructs the message'action response table 103 shown in Fig. 6 (c) by the message / action reaction relationship construction unit 107. A new message (Check-status, *, *, *) And action (Share) message / action correspondence.

By updating the message / action reaction table 103 as described above, the operation of the object cooperation apparatus is as follows. First, the message M3 (Display, File-A, x400, y300) transmitted from the file display object 501 is transmitted, and the display object 502 is stored in the message / action response table 103. Based on this, the action "Status" is executed. Here, the action "Status" is programmed to send message M4 (Check-status, File-A, x400, y300), sending message M4 on field 110. Next, the shared object 503 monitoring the field 110 captures the message M4 via the communication interface 109 and the message receiving unit 108. The shared object 503 reacts according to the message / action reaction table 103 shown in FIG. 6 (c), and executes the action "Share". Where the action "Share" is the second term of message M4 It is checked whether the specified File-A is a file in the shared state. If the file is in the shared state, the user is notified that the file sharing state is displayed on the display, and the message M5 (Display-A) is displayed. share, File-A, x400, y300), and sends M6 (Display-unshared, File-A, x400, y300) after notifying the user that it is not in the file sharing state if it is not in the sharing state. I do. FIG. 5 (a) shows an example in which the file A is in the shared state and the shared object 503 sends the message M5 (Display-shared, File-A, x400, y300). The display object 502 responds according to the message action response table 103 and performs the action "Draw".

As described above, the object cooperation apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 which originally did not have the shared state display performs the object cooperation insertion according to the present invention to have the configuration shown in FIG. The sharing status can be displayed in cooperation with the object (object) 503.

It should be noted here that, in the 1, _c to the second mentioned points have not been modified in any way to the file Display Object 5 0 1 that requested the file display, disk Pui O Buje click preparative 5 The point is that the change to 02 is possible dynamically in the operating state. In the case of object linkage using ordinary conventional programming techniques, changes made to the display object 502 need to be recompiled and the file display object 501 needs to have its functions changed. However, such an operation is not required in the object cooperation import method according to the present invention, and the insertion and change of the cooperation relation of a plurality of objects can be performed more easily and flexibly.

(Embodiment 2)

In the second embodiment, a basic principle of connection of object cooperation in distributed object cooperation and an object cooperation apparatus to which the present principle is applied will be described. The linking of object linkages refers to the linkage of objects that, when two object linkages exist independently of each other, serve as a bridge that links between the two object linkages. Is to construct a new object and to make two mutually independent object linkages into a series of object linkages. In other words, a new object linkage following the object linkage of one of the two object linkages is inserted, and the new object linkage is linked to the other of the above two object linkages. Figure 7 illustrates the basic principle of object linkage. Similar to Fig. 5, the object, message, and action part of the object are conceptually extracted and displayed. Figure 7 (a) shows the state of independent object linkage before linking the object linkages, and Figure 7 (b) shows the state after linking the object linkages. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 701 to 705 denote objects A to E, respectively, and M7 to M10 denote messages.

In FIG. 7 (a), object A 701 and object B 702 are linked via message M7, and object C 703 and object D 704 are They are linked via Message M8. Object B 702 sends message M9 onto the field as part of the action, but object C 703 and object D 704 do not respond. Here, assume that the object C703 reacts to the message M10. Thus, the two object linkages are independent of each other and do not have an object linkage.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), a new message 'object E705 having an action-reaction relationship is added, and two independent object linkages are connected. Object E 705 is the message Assuming that the function a5 is started in response to the message M9 and the message M10 is sent to the finale, the object A7101 to the object B7, which is one of the object linkages described above. The message M9 sent after the object 02 is linked to the object E705, the message M10 is fetched into the object E705, and the message M10 is sent to the field via the action a5. The object C703, which is the object linkage, reacts to the message M10, and the object linkage of the object C703 to the object D704 is activated. In this way, the object linkages that were independent from each other in Fig. 7 (a) are linked as a series of object linkages as shown in Fig. 7 (b). The above is the basic principle of object linkage. Next, an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of object cooperation connection is applied will be described below.

The memo transfer service will be described as a specific example.

The schematic configuration block diagram of the object linking apparatus may be the same as that shown in FIG. 4, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 8 illustrates the concept of the object linkage before the linkage of the object linkage according to the second embodiment. 801 is the first memo transmission object (object), 802 is the first memo reception object, an object that displays the received content on the display, and 803 is the second memo object. A transmitting object, 804, is a second memo receiving object that displays the received content on a display. In this example, there are two mutually independent object linkages: the first memo sending object 801 and the first memo receiving object 802, and the second memo sending object. There is an object linkage between 803 and the second memo receiving object 804.

Now, the memo sender S uses the first memo sending object 801 to send a message. Suppose that memo 1 consisting of file B is sent to recipient R. Normally, the memo sender S uses the computer in which the first memo sending object 801 exists, and activates the action for sending the message M11. The message M 11 is assumed to be (Memo, user-S, user-R, File-B). The message receiving object 802 of the computer used by the memo receiver R has a message / action response table as shown in FIG. 8 (b), and the message (Memo, *, *, *) And the action (Show memo) message. The action correspondence is maintained. The memo receiving object 802 responds to the message M 11, an action (Show memo) is activated, and the file B is displayed on the display of the computer used by the memo receiver R. Is displayed.

Here, it is assumed that the memo receiver R goes out, for example, moves to a remote place. In this case, the memo reception R cannot actually receive the memo only by the above object linkage. If the memo receiver R is away from the computer, there is an object link between the second memo sending object 803 and the second memo receiving object 804, and the second memo Assume that the display displayed by the receiving object is in an environment where the memo receiver R can see it.

Here, consider the linking of object linkage as shown in Fig. 9 (a). Before going out, the memo receiver R constructs a new object linkage to transfer the received memo, and the memo links the object linkage to the second memo reception object 804. The memo receiver R sends the message shown in Fig. 8 (b) by the message response function update control unit 105 of the object cooperation device in which the first memo reception object 802 exists. As shown in Fig. 9 (b), the contents of the reaction table 103 are updated to the message (Memo, *, *, *) and the action (Ask transfer). A transfer object 805 is newly constructed, and a message / action / relationship construction unit 107 of the transfer object 805 is constructed as shown in FIG. 9 (c). A message / action reaction table 103 including messages (Transfer, *, *, *) and an action (Send) is constructed on the message / action reaction relation storage unit 102.

On the other hand, the second memo sending object 803 holds the message action response table 103 shown in FIG. 9D, and the second memo receiving object 804 It holds the message / action reaction table 103 shown in 9 (e).

The connection operation of the object linkage constructed as described above will be described. First, the memo sender S sends the message M 1 1 (Memo, user-S, user-R, File-B) using the computer where the first memo sending object 801 exists. Activate the action you want to do. This is the same as Fig. 8 (a). The memo receiving object 802 of the computer used by the memo receiver R is the message shown in Fig. 9 (b). The action "Ask transfer" is executed in response to the message Ml1 according to the action correspondence. Is done. Here, the action "Ask transfer" outputs the message M12 requesting the transfer of File-B specified in the fourth item of the message M11. The message Ml2 is like (Transfer, user-S, user-R, File-B). The transfer object 805 starts the action "Send" in response to the message M12 according to the message 'action response table shown in FIG. 9 (c). "Send" sends message Ml3, which transfers File-B specified in the fourth term of message Ml2. When transferring the memo, the memo receiver may be transferred to a computer outside the home or a network including the computer in advance. The message M13 looks like (Ask-show, user-S, user-R ', File-B). Where user-R 'in item 3 Indicates a transfer destination. The second message sending object 803 of the computer to which the memo receiver R goes away has a message 'action response table' as shown in FIG. 9 (d), and the message (Ask-show, *, *, *) And the action (Request show) message. The correspondence between the actions is maintained, and the memo sending object 803 reacts to the message Ml3, and the action (Request-show) is activated and sends the memo content with message M14. The second message receiving object 804 existing on the computer away from the memo receiver R has the message / action response table shown in FIG. 9 (e), and the message (Memo, *, * , *) And action (Show memo) message's correspondence. The second memo receiving object 804 responds to the message Ml4, an action (Show memo) is activated, and the file B is displayed on the display of the computer to which the memo receiver R is away. Is displayed.

As described above, a series of object linkages is connected to two mutually independent object linkages as shown in Fig. 9 (a), as shown in Fig. 9 (a). Here, a pair of the first memo transmission object 801 and the first memo reception object 802 shown in FIG. 8 and the second memo transmission object The set of the object 803 and the second memo receiving object 804 does not need to be equivalent, and each may operate as long as each operates based on the basic principle shown in FIG. Therefore, the device, os, and description language on which the combination of the above memo transmission object and reception object actually operate may be independent. Also, when each exchanges messages based on Figure 1, the format of the messages does not necessarily have to be the same, and the transfer object 8 that mediates between the pair shown in Figure 9 0 5 is the format between the two What is necessary is just to have the conversion function of.

One of the notable points of the memo transfer object linking device in the present embodiment is that the first memo transmission object 801 requesting the memo transfer has not been changed at all. . Secondly, it is possible to dynamically change the first reception object 802 and the transfer object 805 in the operating state. In the case of object linkage using ordinary conventional programming techniques, changes to the first receiving object 802 and transfer object 805 require recompilation of programming codes and changes in functions. In the object linkage connection method according to the present invention, such a work is not required, and the linkage and change of the linkage of a plurality of independent objects can be more easily and flexibly.

(Embodiment 3)

Embodiment 3 describes a basic principle of external intervention of object cooperation in distributed object cooperation and an object cooperation apparatus to which the present principle is applied.

The external intervention of object cooperation means that an object intervenes externally with respect to an object cooperation that is linked by a certain message-action reaction relationship, disconnects the original message-action reaction relationship, and removes the object-action reaction relationship. After taking the flow of object cooperation into itself and executing a predetermined action, the flow of object cooperation is returned to the original object, and the intervention process by inserting object cooperation described in Embodiment 1 is performed externally. This is a schematic representation of the intervention by other objects in The description of the process of intervention by multi-stage insertion of object cooperation described in Embodiment 1 will be omitted here as appropriate. As can be seen in the example of external intervention shown in Fig. 10, external intervention of object linkage has the following three steps. In other words, the first stage of message action disconnection inside object A, object It is performed in three stages: the second stage of changing the partner of the project, the new message 'combining actions', and the third stage of executing an intervention by an external object. By this external intervention, functions that did not exist only with object A were added through interaction with external object B. As is evident in the example of Figure 10, the separation of messages and actions opens up the possibility of interaction with new objects. From the perspective of an awareness analogy, the degree of freedom in the loose coordination of distributed objects comes from the ability to separate and rejoin message action chains.

Next, an embodiment of the object cooperation apparatus of the present invention to which the basic principle of the external intervention of the object cooperation is applied will be described below.

Task request and response will be described as a specific example. In particular, an example is shown in which an object group that could only respond monotonically to a load execution request from the outside changes dynamically so that load distribution by a group can be realized.

The block diagram of the schematic configuration of the object cooperation apparatus may be the same as that shown in FIG. 4, and thus the detailed description is omitted here as appropriate.

FIG. 11 illustrates the concept of the object cooperation before the external intervention of the object cooperation according to the third embodiment, and is an example of a case where a monotonous response to the load is shown. In this example, the action of the task object 111 is sending "query" and the message M19 to the field. In response to this message, the query object response table has "query-serve" and a response object 1102 having a message message function string. In the example shown in Fig. 11, even if there are multiple serve objects 1102 that respond to the message "query", each serve object 1 102 Will execute the function "SerVe" independently.

Next, FIG. 12 illustrates the concept of object cooperation by external intervention of the object cooperation according to the third embodiment. As an external object, a mediation object 1103 is a serve object 1102 as an external object. Rewrites the message-action reaction table of Fig. 11 and disconnects the object link between the message "query" shown in Fig. 11 and the message-action called "serve". Intervening, “query (M 19),” → “B id” → “app 1 y (M 20)” → “D ecide” → “action (M 21)” → “Serve” It has been changed to object linkage.

Due to the external intervention of the object cooperation described above, the task object operates in exactly the same way as sending a “query” message, as in Fig. 11, but the serve object 1102 operates in the same way as this message. Rather than simply responding to "query", change to cause "Serve" action after receiving "Bid" (bid) and "Decide" (successful bid) to intermediary object 1103 are doing. Therefore, if the intermediary object has the function of selecting two or more competing serve objects 1102, the query object from the task object 111 can be added to the low-load serve object 1102. It is possible to have a load distribution function that executes What is important here is that it is not necessary to presuppose the state of the object cooperation shown in Fig. 12 in the system design in advance, and after designing the simple object cooperation state shown in Fig. 11, It is possible to design an extension to the system configuration shown in Fig. 12 by adding a new intermediary object. In the case of object linkage using ordinary conventional programming techniques, changes in the task object 1101 and the serve object 1122 can be made by recompiling the programming code or changing functions. In the object intervention external intervention method according to the present invention, such a work is not necessary, and the modification of the object association by the intervention of the external object can be easily and flexibly performed. .

(Embodiment 4)

In the fourth embodiment, the basic principle of receiving-side cooperation participation in distributed object cooperation based on the Awarenews analogy and an object cooperation apparatus to which the present principle is applied will be described.

Reception-side cooperative participation means that when there is an object coordination linked by a certain message, another object reacts to the message by adding a message-action reaction relationship. We will construct a new object linkage and check that we can participate in the aforementioned object linkage. In other words, it becomes possible for multiple objects to react and participate in object coordination for a single Awnewss message.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the basic principle of the receiver-side participation in the object cooperation, in which the message M 22 transmitted by the object A (1301) is compared with the object B (1302). ), C (1303), and D (1304) are each reacting independently. Of course, the actions in objects B (1302), C (1303), and D (1304) may be the same or different. At this time, there is no effect on the object B (1302) even if other objects C (1303) and D (1304) do not exist. Therefore, the addition / deletion of objects B (1302), C (1303), D (1304) in Fig. 13 creates / disappears the application by joining or leaving a new object. Nothing else.

The object of the present invention, which applies the basic principle of receiver participation in object cooperation FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the project cooperation device. FIG. 14 is an example in which the receiving side has joined in the example of the display display of the file contents described in FIG. As in the first embodiment, the file display object 144 1 executes a process of displaying the file A on the display, so that the message M 2 2 is transmitted via the message transmitting unit 108 and the communication interface 109. Send (Display, FileA, x400, y300) to field 110. On the field 110, there are display objects 1442a to display objects 1 each holding a message reaction table 103 responding to the message M22 shown in FIG. 14 (b). There are three display objects of 402c. They monitor field 110 and detect and capture messages M22 flowing over field 110.

Here, three objects, display object 1442a to display object 1442c, react to (Display, FileA, x400, y300) of M22, and the action "Draw" To display file A on the display. Of course, here, 1402a, 1402b, and 1402c can be different functions for different machines, that is, the display that each object displays need not be the same. The display format and display contents do not need to be the same.

In this way, by adding an object that has an action that responds to one message in parallel to an object linkage that has an action that responds to one message, You can join the receiver.

(Embodiment 5)

In the fifth embodiment, the basic principle of the sender-side cooperative participation in the cooperation of the distributed object based on the awareness analogy and the present principle are applied. The object cooperation device will be described.

Sender-side join participation means that when there is an object link that is linked by a certain message, another object sends that one message on the field 110 to create a new link. Object coordination is established, and it is confirmed that the sender side participates in the object coordination described above. In other words, it becomes possible for multiple objects to send the same message and participate in object coordination for one Awnewss message.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing the basic principle of sender participation in object collaboration. As shown in Figure 5, objects A (1501) and B (1502) have the same message S M23 is sent, and object C (1503) is associated with message M23. In this case, object C (1503) is sent from object B (1502) or message M23 is the message sent from object A (1501). Respond and invoke the action, regardless of whether the message was sent. This means that the sending side is allowed to participate in object linkage. From a different perspective, this means that object B (1502) intervenes as a sender in the link between object A (1501) and object C (1503). Can be.

In this way, for an object linkage that has an action that responds to one message, an object that has an action that sends the one message in parallel is added to the object linkage. You can join the sending side of.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of an object cooperation apparatus according to the present invention to which the basic principle of participation on the transmission side in object cooperation is applied. FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of a display display of file contents described in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. This is an example of participating. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the file display object 1601a executes a process of displaying the file A on the display, so that the message M24 via the message transmission unit 108 and the communication interface 109 is executed. Send (Display, FileA, x400, y300) to field 110. On the field 110, in addition to the file display object 1601a, there is a file display object 1601b to 1601c that transmits the message M24 as an action. The display object 1602 monitors the field 110 and detects and captures the message M24, so that there are three transmitting objects. Here, the display object 1602 holds the message / action reaction table 103 shown in Fig. 15 (b), and executes the action "Draw" in response to the message M24. Then, the files transmitted from the respective transmitting-side objects 1601a to 1601c are displayed on the display.

In this way, by adding a transmission object having an action of transmitting the one message in parallel to the object linkage having an action that reacts to one message, the object is linked. You can participate in the sender side of the connection.

(Embodiment 6)

The object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention further includes a message / action reaction condition setting unit, and a message / action / reaction for executing an action corresponding to a message received for each object. The message / action reaction relationship storage unit stores the message / action reaction relationship and the message / action reaction condition in association with each other, and the action execution unit stores the message / action reaction condition. Key to the message received if This is to execute the kisson.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the object cooperation device of the sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the object cooperation apparatus of the sixth embodiment includes a message'action reaction condition setting unit 120. In addition, the message 'action response table 103a of the message' action reaction relationship storage unit 102 'indicates that the message / action reaction is executed in addition to the action associated with the message. Message to be processed. The reaction conditions are related. The message / action reaction condition is set by the message / action reaction condition setting unit 120. The set message 'action response condition may be whether a particular parameter of the message is within a set range or not, and whether an environment of an object platform such as a load condition is within a set range. Or something like that. Note that, for the other components, the same components as those described in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 18 shows the concept of cooperation between objects by the object cooperation device of the sixth embodiment. This is a conceptual representation of the action of the message reaction condition. As shown in FIG. 18, the object B 1802 is provided with a message reaction condition 1803. Conceptually, it acts as a filter for received messages, accepting only if the conditions are met, and refusing to accept if the conditions are not met. After the message M25 sent from the object A1801 is received by the object B, it is checked whether or not the message action reaction condition 1803 is satisfied. What message 'action reaction conditions are set depends on the operation. For example, we focused on the load rate of the object that received the message as a Reaction conditions can be set. If the reaction condition is set to a load ratio of 0.5 or less, an object with a large load whose load ratio exceeds 0.5 will be displayed in the message `` action response table 103a ''. Even if an action is described for, no action reaction is performed because the given message 'action reaction condition is not satisfied.

By setting the message action reaction conditions, the following effects can be obtained.

First, it allows for a more flexible description of the response of message actions. In the actual operation, the processing and control that the user wants to realize may be complicated or may involve specific conditions.Therefore, describing only the one-to-one relationship between messages and actions is not sufficient. It may be difficult. According to the object coordination apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily describe the processing and control of the actual operation related to complicated and specific conditions by using the message 'action reaction table 102'.

Second, harmonized load distribution processing can be realized in the entire object cooperation device forming the network by the field 110. If only a one-to-one relationship between a message and an action is described, an action will be triggered if the message described in the message-action reaction table is received. The operating status of the received object is not considered. Objects that describe the response of messages that are frequently sent from a large number of objects will execute actions frequently, and may be temporarily overloaded, resulting in a heavy load. May do so. According to the object cooperation device of the sixth embodiment, if the upper limit of the load factor is set as the message / action reaction condition, the concentration of the load can be prevented, and the load distribution can be harmonized. Can be realized. Also, According to the object cooperation device of the sixth embodiment, it is also possible to realize an AND logic operation process in which an action is executed when two specific messages are received.

(Embodiment 7)

In the seventh embodiment, the object linking in the distributed object linking apparatus is explicitly disclosed to the outside by a visual chart that expresses the object linking by using an icon representing the object and a link line that represents the object linking. It is shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining the basic principle of the object cooperation apparatus of the seventh embodiment. In the example of FIG. 19, for convenience of explanation, only three object coordinating devices A 1910, B 192 0, and C 193 0 are provided in field 110. It is connected. In principle, the number of connected object linkage devices is not limited, and the field 110 may be one in which many fields are connected on a network such as the Internet. In the example of FIG. 19, for convenience of explanation, components in the object linking apparatus are omitted as appropriate, and the object linking apparatus A 1910 has a communication interface 109 and a message function. Only the reaction table 103, the message-action-relationship information collection unit 130, and the object-coupling-relationship analysis unit 140 are shown. The components of the present embodiment have the same components as those shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. Further, the object linking device B 1920 and the object linking device C 1930 are not shown in the figure with all the internal components omitted.

The method of extracting the object cooperation relation in the distributed object cooperation apparatus and the method of visualizing the extraction will be described. First, each object coordinating device uses the message / action / reaction-related information collection unit 130 to acquire its own object. Information indicating the relationship between the message and the action associated with the message is extracted from the message / action reaction table 103 of each object. Next, the message / action reaction relationship information is exchanged between the other object linkage devices. The message-action-relation-related information is sent as a message to the field 110 via the message transmitting unit 108 and the communication interface 109, and is given to another object linking device. Conversely, a message transmitted from another object linking device and having a message reaction relation information is received and obtained via the communication interface 109 and the message receiving unit 101.

Next, the obtained object of each object cooperation apparatus and the message / action reaction relation information of each object are analyzed by the object cooperation relation analysis unit 140, and the object existing on the field is analyzed. Analyze and extract cooperative relationships. First, each object is displayed as an icon. For each object, extract the messages that can respond, the actions that respond to the messages, and the messages that are emitted when the actions are activated. In addition, objects with actions that respond to the transmitted message are identified. In other words, this message-action relationship means cooperation between objects. The link is drawn as a link line between object icons. The above processing is performed for all objects and the message-action reaction relationships held by them, and the object cooperation relationships are explicitly displayed on the object cooperation display unit 150 as a visual chart. Figure 20 shows an example of a visual chart.

The square icon is an object, and the action is shown in the lower column. The arrow is a link line, indicating that the object at the end of the arrow can react to the message sent by the object at the start of the arrow. You. The arrow is accompanied by a message flowing on the field.

According to the object cooperation device of the seventh embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

First, complex object relationships can be represented in a visual chart, which makes it easy to understand and understand intuitively.

Second, possible reaction reactions from one object can be known in advance. Objects are loosely linked to each other due to the reaction between messages and actions, and it is originally necessary for one object to determine in advance what action the other object will respond to which message. In some cases, it is difficult to grasp

According to the object cooperation device of FIG. 7, possible message-action reaction relationships and object cooperation relationships can be provided in advance as a visual chart.

(Embodiment 8)

The object cooperation apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the object cooperation is such that the object cooperation core that maintains the object cooperation as a lump, and the cooperation of the object cooperation core with other objects. It has a proprietary object cooperation interface part, and if the object cooperation relation changes, the relation of the object cooperation core part is maintained as it is, and the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface part is changed. An example in which the object linkage relationship is changed will be described below.

When the object cooperation interface is located behind the object cooperation core in the flow of object cooperation, the object cooperation interface (output range interface) that responds to the output message pattern of the object cooperation core. 1) and a book of the action content The object link destination can be flexibly changed by switching. If the object linking core part is located in front of the object linking core part, it becomes an input message pattern (input range interface) to which the object linking core part can respond, and other objects match the input message pattern. By sending a message in this way, it is possible to have object linkage to the object linkage core.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the object cooperation has a configuration including an object cooperation core part and an object cooperation intact use part.

In FIG. 21 (a), two objects 2100a to 2100b surrounded by a solid line 2100 form an object cooperation core portion 2100, and Two objects 2110a to 2110b surrounded by a solid line 2110 form another object-coupling core part 210, and these are objects This is the part that maintains the object cooperation.

In the object cooperation core part 210, the object 210a responds to the message M26 according to the description of the message reaction table 103 and activates the action a26. It is configured to emit the message M27. The object 210 b responds to the message M 27 according to the description of the message reaction table 103, activates the action a 27, and issues the message M 28.

In the object cooperation core part 210, the object 211a responds to the message M29 according to the description of the message reaction table 103 and activates the action a29. It is configured to emit the message M 30. Object 2 1 1 0 b is the message According to the description of the reaction reaction table 103, it is configured to react to the message M30, activate the action a30, and issue the message M31.

As shown in FIG. 21 (a), an object cooperation interface part 2101, which is surrounded by a dotted line, is provided between the object cooperation core parts 210 and 210. This object coordination interface is a part that links the object coordination core with other objects.If the object coordination changes, the relationship between the object coordination core is maintained. Maintain and change the object linking relationship by changing the link destination of the object linking interface. The object coordination interface can be provided before and after the object coordination cores 2100 and 2110 in the flow of object coordination, but here, for convenience of explanation, the The following description focuses on the object cooperation interface part 2101, which is all interfaces.

The object cooperation interface part 2 101 is an object controlled by one message reaction table 103. The relation between message a 28 and message a 28 is described. The action a 28 includes a message M 29 transmitted as part of the action. In response to this message M28, the action of activating action a28 functions as the output range interface 210 of the object cooperation core part 210, and the transmitted message M29 Since the object cooperation core part 211 reacts, it also functions as the input range interface 210 of the object cooperation core part 210. The output range interface of this object cooperation core part 210 and object cooperation core part 21 The input range interface 2 103 of 10 is related to the described function a 28 by transmitting the message M 29 as a part of the action.

Now, in the object which is the object cooperation interface part 2101, the action a28 described in the message action response table 103 transmits the message M29 as a part of the action. Break the relationship. That is, the contents of the action in the message action reaction tape No. 103 are rewritten. By rewriting the content of the action in the message action reaction table 103 of the object that is the object cooperation interface part 2101, the output range interface of the object cooperation core part 210 The relationship between 102 and the input range interface 2103 of the object cooperation core 2110 is broken, but both have not lost their functions as interfaces of the object cooperation core. In other words, the output range interface 2102 and the input range interface 2103 function as an interface, and it is possible to flexibly construct a cooperation with a new object. This is shown in Figure 21 (b). If the contents of the action in the message action response table 103 are rewritten and the action a28 is described as transmitting M32 as part of the action, it is as if the output of the output range interface 210 The effect is obtained by switching the object to object 210. In the output stage of the object 2120 (it can also be assumed to have an output range interface), the message M29 is transmitted so as to match the input range interface 2103. If that is the case, it will link to the object linking core part 2110. In this way, if the interface function of the object linkage interface is utilized, the object linkage can be flexibly performed. The person in charge can be changed. This is shown in Figure 22.

FIG. 23 shows a schematic block diagram of the above-described object cooperation apparatus according to the eighth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 23, the object coordination apparatus of the eighth embodiment is configured such that the message 'action / reaction relationship constructing unit 107 a connects the action content changing unit 111 and the interface detecting unit 112 to each other. Have. The action content changing section 111 is a section for rewriting the action content when the message / action reaction table 103 is updated by the message / action reaction relationship construction section 107a. The interface detection unit 112 detects the input range interface and the output range interface that are configured by the object cooperation interface part existing on the field 110, and manages the interface information. is there. The message-action-relationship building unit 107a rewrites the action contents of the object that is managed to be connected to the input range interface and output range interface of the object for which you want to build a new object linkage. Change to send matching messages and build a new object linkage. Note that, for the other components, the same components as those described in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the object cooperation apparatus of the eighth embodiment, the object cooperation is performed by the object cooperation core portion that maintains the object cooperation relationship as a lump, the object cooperation core portion and the cooperation between the object cooperation core portion and another object. It has an object cooperation interface part that takes the form of an object.If the object cooperation relation changes, the object cooperation core part is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation interface part is changed. This makes it possible to change the object cooperation relationship.

(Embodiment 9) In the ninth embodiment, an object having a function of forming object cooperation by searching for an object that forms a cooperative relationship that connects from an object serving as a start point to an object serving as an end point. The linking device will be described.

In forming this object cooperation, the object as the starting point and the object as the end point for constructing the object cooperation are determined, and the cooperation of the objects connecting the two is searched for to form the cooperation. The object cooperation apparatus of the ninth embodiment executes the search for the object cooperation by the operation of the object search unit 113.

The basic principle of object cooperation with a search function according to the ninth embodiment will be described below. Examples of the search function include multiple patterns. For example, there are a forward search, a backward search, and a forward and backward search. In the following, the basic principle of the object cooperation apparatus of Embodiment 9 and its object search function will be described by taking a backward search as an example.

FIG. 24 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an object cooperation apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 24, the object linking apparatus of the ninth embodiment includes an object search unit 113. The object search section 113 is a section for searching for an object having the input message pattern and the output message pattern existing on the field 110 using the input message pattern and the output message pattern as search keys. is there. Note that the object search unit 113 can perform a search by wildcarding an asterisk "*" as a search key.For example, the input message pattern is "*" and the output message pattern is a search key. If given in jpeg format, the output message pattern can be any; if it is in jpeg format, the input message pattern can be arbitrary and will result in all relevant objects being obtained. is there. Object search The search unit 113 includes an object message pattern detection unit 114, and the object message pattern detection unit 114 detects an input message pattern and an output message pattern of a specified object. can do. Further, as shown in FIG. 25 described later, it is preferable that the input message pattern and the output message pattern of the detected object can be visually illustrated. The other components are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of searching for the object cooperation from the starting point object to the ending point object by the backward search method. Here, as an example, there is a user request to convert “i” format data (eg, bitmap format data) to “k” format data (eg, JPEG format compressed data). An example is shown in which the conversion is executed by linking the tat. In this example, in the message between the objects on the field in the search processing of the object search unit 113, the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information of the object are described as tags, and The linkage between objects is described in the form of tags in a program description language including tags, for example, xml language. FIG. 26 shows dtd representing an input message and an output message used in the present embodiment.

As a first step, first, the object search unit 113 uses the object message pattern detection unit 114 to determine the start point by an xm1 format message indicating the presentation of the start point and end point. Detects the output message pattern of the object and the input message pattern of the end object.

In the example shown in Fig. 25 (a), the one on the left is the starting point This indicates the output message pattern (2401) of the project. Here, it is in "i" format. The one on the right represents the input message pattern (2402) of the object at the end point. Here, it is in the “k” form. In other words, if object coordination can be constructed from the output message pattern 2401 of the object serving as the starting point to the input message pattern 2402 of the object serving as the ending point, the "i" shape Expression data can be converted to “k” format data.

FIG. 27 shows an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the first step. In the message shown in Fig. 27, "MATRIX NAME" and "FmtTranslate" indicate the name of the linkage to be constructed and the type of linkage, and specify the linkage between modules such as protocol, ontology, and content description language. It is a generic term for things. ENTRY ITEM "Action" "request" means that this message indicates the start and end points of the connection and at the same time asks for the conversion from the file format of the start point to the file format of the end point. "ENTRY ITEM" "Sender" "ui serv" indicates the sender of this message. "RequestID" "dumyl ,," of ENTRY ITEM indicates the conversation — id of cooperation between modules. "OriginalMessageType" of "ENTRY ITEM" "" i "" has the file format of the starting point with the extension "i". ”Indicates that the file has the“ i ”as the starting point output pattern. ENTRY ITEM, TargetMessageType "" "k" ,, indicates that the file format of the end point is a file with the extension "k", and at the same time, the output pattern of the end point is "k". It indicates that there is. The "MessageKey" of ENTRY ITEM indicates the location of the target "i" file. In this example, the module "ui.phx"

Indicates that data can be obtained by passing the key 936244885600 are doing. In the present embodiment, the object (imagearbiter.phx to be described later) that receives the message shown in FIG. 27 has an input pattern that can respond to the “Action”, “Request”, and the relay part. In addition, "Original MessageType" and "TargetMessageType" are indicated by the 7 tags and have operations corresponding to 7 Uchiya.

As the second step, in this example, since the search is performed by the backward search method, the object search unit 113 sets the input message pattern to the wild type and sets the output message pattern to the input object of the object at the end point. Set the search key as message pattern 2402, that is, “k”, and execute the search. Here, a wildcard refers to an arbitrary message pattern. Fig. 25 (b) shows this situation conceptually.

FIG. 28 shows an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the second step. In Figure 28, ENTRY ITEM “Action” “in request” means that this message requests a reply to the module included in the pattern.

The imagearbi ter. Phx, which is expressed in the uri 开 expression in CO “Sender”, does not send this message 1§ ¾ ¾. The imagearbi ter. Phx, and FmtTranslate, are used to perform file conversion. It is equivalent to an intermediary that controls a contract net for building a chain. The “Request ID” “dumyl” of ENTRY ITEM is a conversation-id of cooperation between modules, and indicates that it is a series of messages following the message in Figure 27. The "OriginalMessageType" is indicated by an asterisk, and the asterisk "* '" is used as a wildcard, meaning "any file format". In other words, it means that the extension of the file format as the starting point may be any. "TargetMessageType" of "ENTRY ITEM", "k"" It indicates that the mat is a file with the extension "k" and that the output pattern that is the end point is "k". The “MessageKey” of the entry item indicates the location of the target “i” file, and describes the location of the file shown in Figure 27 as it is. In the present embodiment, an object that receives the message shown in FIG. 28 (described later (“jj 2“ k ”.phx))“ Action ”,“ in—: request ”and a sound | Also, in Figure 28, the ″ Original Message Type} is a wildcard, which means that the input pattern of the receiving object is something specific (for example, this embodiment). In the case of "j" 2 "k". Phx, even if it is ")", it means that "j" is included in the wildcard {*}, so it is acceptable.

As a third step, the object search unit 113 receives an answer returned in response to the message queried in the second step. If this answer is obtained, it means that the object linkage that leads to the input message pattern 2402 of the object as the end point is obtained. Figure 25 (c) shows this situation conceptually. In this way, the searched object 2403 is linked to the input message pattern 2402 of the object that is the end point.

FIG. 29 shows an example of a message received by the object search unit 113 in the third step. In Figure 29, the "Action""bid" of the ENTRY ITEM is a response to this message power in-request, indicating that it has an input pattern that is included in the in-request pattern. Reply "J" 2 "k" .phx in the uri format in the entry item "Sender" indicates the sender of this message. “J” 2 “k”. Phx provides a service that configures a contract net for building a chain for performing file conversion of FmtTranslate〃. , As shown below in "j" format It is a module that can convert the file format from “k” format to “k” format. The “RequestID” and “dumyl の” of the entry item are the conver- sion-id of the cooperation between the modules, and indicate that the message is a series of messages following the messages in Figs. 27 and 28. ENTRY ITEM The “OriginalMessageType” power S “j” of “J” means that the “j” 2 “k” and phx modules use the “j” file as the conversion source, and at the same time, as an input pattern. It has the type "j". The type “j” is included in the type indicated by the asterisk “*” in Fig. 28. ENTRY ITEM () “TargetMessageType”, “k” {} is the end point file format. Indicates that the file has the extension “k”, and also indicates that the output pattern at the end point is “k”. "MessageKey" of ENTRY ITEM is the same as Fig. 28, but indicates the output destination of the "k" file to be output, and the output file can be obtained using this key . ENTRY ITEM

The “PathHi story” in the table indicates that the chain has been constructed one step further. Next, if the object linkage has not yet reached the output message pattern of the starting object 2401, then The second and third steps are repeated to search for the cooperating object, where the inquiry processing of the second step is executed again. Since the input message pattern is a wildcard, the search key is set as the “j” format as the output message pattern, and the search is executed. Figure 25 (d) conceptually illustrates this situation.

FIG. 30 shows an example of a message sent by the object search unit 113 in the second step of the repetition. In FIG. 30, the “Action” of the message is an in-request as in FIG. 27, and the sender of the message is imagearbi ter. ph. The MessageKey and PathHistory are the ones in Fig. 29, and the RequestlD is the same in Fig. 27 and below. Next, the object search unit 113 receives an answer returned in response to the message queried in the second step of the iteration. If this answer is obtained, two-stage object cooperation from the end point object 2402 to the start point object 2401 is obtained. Figure 25 (e) conceptually illustrates this situation. Here, it is assumed that an object 2404 whose input message pattern is in the “i” format exists in the obtained answers. Choose this object 2404. In this way, by the backward search method, the input message pattern 2404 of the object to be the end point is linked from the object 2404 to the object 2304, and further to the object 2404, and the start point is linked. The output message pattern of the object that becomes the object can be searched for the object linkage that reaches pattern 2401. In other words, from the output message pattern “i” format of the starting object 2401, the input message of the ending object 2402 through the cooperation of the objects 2404 and 2403 The object linkage that the file is converted to “k” format can be constructed.

FIG. 31 shows an example of a message received by the object search unit 113 in the third step of the repetition. In Fig. 31, the "Action" of the message is bid as in Fig. 29, and the sender of the message is win2s. Phx, which can provide the conversion service. PathHistory is added to Figure 29. The "OriginMessageType" of the asterisk "*" indicates that win2 "j" .phx has the ability to convert any file to "j" format. If the bids shown in Fig. 29 and Fig. 31 can convert any file format to a "k" file, we have obtained a response. This means that conversion from aisle to “k” files is possible. In the ninth embodiment, the imagearbiter.ph, which controls the message following FIG. 28, monitors the message shown in FIG. 27 and below.

Next, as a fifth step, the file is actually converted using the obtained object linkage. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a file conversion request message using the results obtained up to FIG. In Figure 32, the "Action" of the message is in-serve, which requests the implementation of a file conversion service. The sender of the message is imagearbiter.phx, and the bidder on the contract net specifies X win2 “j” .phx by ITEM “Contract”.

Next, as a sixth step, receive the results of the requested object collaboration. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message that returns the result of FIG. Here, further, as shown in FIG. 34, after receiving the result of FIG. 33, the intermediate object imgearbiter.phx requests file conversion again. The action in Figure 32 is again in-serve, and the OriginalMessageType and

The TargetMessageType has now been rewritten to "j" and "k" respectively. In addition, the service executor selects “j” 2 “k” by reversing the PathHistory in Figure 33, and this is indicated in the Contract section.

• The Action in Figure 33 is in-inform, which signals that the file conversion has been completed successfully. In Fig. 33, PathHistory is shorter than that in Fig. 32. This is because the process was performed by win2 “j”. The MessageKey part has been rewritten to get the converted file.

The Action in Figure 34 is again in-serve, and the OriginalMessageType and The TargetMessageType has now been rewritten to "j" and "k" respectively. In addition, the service executor selects “j” 2 “k” by reversing the PathHistory in Fig. 32, and the selection is shown in the Contract section.

FIG. 35 shows that the file conversion has been completed successfully, as in FIG. Fig. 35 differs from Fig. 34 in that there are no more terms left in PathHistory. This also indicates that the series of processes induced by FIG. 27 has been completed. TargetMessageType "k" indicates that the final file format is "k", and has "k" as the input pattern,

TargetMessageType power S This means that processing can be connected to the module waiting for the pattern "k". In the present embodiment, the ui serv that sent the message of FIG. 27 responds to the target message type “k” as an input pattern and displays “k” final.

By the above processing steps, the object linking apparatus of the ninth embodiment specifies the object as the starting point and the object as the ending point for which the smart object linking is to be constructed, and links the objects linking the two. You can explore and form partnerships.

As can be seen from the above processing, in the object cooperation apparatus of the present embodiment, in the object cooperation search, the input message pattern is specified and given as a search key, and the output message pattern is used as a wild card for cooperation. The search is being carried out while reducing the range of search (expanding the range). Compared to the method of narrowing the range from the start point to the end point, the method uses the method of finding the object linkage from the start point to the end point when the mapping including the end point is obtained while expanding the range from the start point and expanding the range. Yo A more flexible method of searching for object linkage can be realized.

(Embodiment 10).

The object cooperation apparatus of the present invention can be constructed using various computers by recording and providing a program describing processing steps for realizing the above-described configuration on a computer-readable recording medium. it can. As shown in the example of the recording medium shown in FIG. 36, the recording medium storing the program including the processing steps for realizing the object cooperation device of the present invention is a CD-ROM 3602 ゃ a flexible disk 36. In addition to portable recording media such as 0 3, etc., any of the recording media 360 0 in a recording device on a network and the recording media 360 0 5 such as a computer hard disk or RAM When the program is executed, the program is loaded on the computer 364 and executed on the main memory.

Further, the configuration may be such that not only a source program is compiled but also an intermediate language format applet is transmitted to a client computer via a so-called network, and an interpreter is executed on the client computer to operate. . Industrial applicability

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, the degree of freedom of cooperation between the object cooperation apparatuses connected to the network can be increased, and cooperation processing such as dialogue and cooperation of a computer group or an object group can be performed. By implementing it, it can flexibly respond to changes in the environment in an object-oriented environment and build a system that changes gradually. Also, in the system design, it is possible to perform an extended design by initially designing the state of simple object cooperation, and then adding object objects later if necessary. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, object cooperation insertion can be performed flexibly and dynamically, the influence on the object before and after insertion can be reduced, and work, such as program change and recompilation, can be made unnecessary. it can.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, the object cooperation which is independent and mutually independent can be flexibly and dynamically connected to a series of object cooperation, and the influence on the object before and after connection is reduced. This makes it unnecessary to change programs and recompile.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, external intervention by an external object with respect to a series of object cooperation can be performed flexibly and dynamically, and the flow of object cooperation can be changed. In addition, the impact on the object before and after the change can be reduced, and work such as program change and recompilation can be eliminated.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, with respect to the object cooperation which has the action which responds to one message flexibly and dynamically, it responds to the one message in parallel. An object having an action can be additionally constructed, and a form of participation on the receiving side of the object cooperation can be constructed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, the action which transmits the said one message in parallel with the object cooperation which has the action which responds flexibly and dynamically to one message It is possible to construct an additional object with, and it is possible to construct a form of participation on the sender side of object cooperation.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, the message / action reaction conditions for the reaction to occur can be set in addition to the message / action reaction relationship, and flexible operation is possible. In addition, by setting reaction conditions so that loads are not concentrated, harmonization is performed over the entire network. And the load distribution processing can be performed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the object cooperation apparatus of this invention, the cooperation relationship between the object cooperation apparatuses on a network can be displayed as a visual visual chart, and it can be intuitively grasped easily, and it is possible. Action The reaction can be known in advance.

According to the object cooperation device of the present invention, an object as a start point and an object as an end point for which object cooperation is to be constructed are specified, and the cooperation of the objects connecting the two is searched to form a cooperation relationship. can do.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A message receiving unit in which each object captures a message transmitted over the network in a stream,

A message-action-relationship-storage storage unit for storing a relationship between the message content and the action content as a response to the message;

An action execution unit for executing an action according to the message'action relation;

In the message-action reaction relationship storage unit, when a message associated with an action is described as a message pattern and provided as all messages belonging to a range indicated by the message pattern, If the message received by the message receiving unit is a message belonging to the range indicated by the message pattern, the action is associated with the received message as a response.

2. A message receiving unit in which each object captures messages sent over the network

A message-action-relationship storage unit that stores a relationship between the message and the action content that is a response to the message;

An action execution unit that executes an action according to the message / action reaction relationship;

When the message received by the message receiving unit is described as a message pattern and given as all messages belonging to the range indicated by the message pattern,

The message associated with the message belonging to the range indicated by the message pattern in the message response relation storage unit. Object linkage device, characterized in that actions are related as reactions

3. A message receiver where each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network;

A message 'action reaction relationship storage unit for storing a relationship between the action content and the message as a response to the message,

An action executing unit that executes an action according to the message / action reaction relationship;

A message-action relationship update control unit that controls updating of the correspondence relationship between the message and the action according to the need to update the message-action relationship;

A message / action relationship constructing unit for associating the designated action with the message designated by the message / action relationship updating control unit;

An object linking device characterized by establishing a new message-action relationship by intervening in an existing message-action relationship.

4. The specification of the message / action reaction relation update control part is a message of the intervening first message and the first action, the specification of the function relation, and the specification of the second action to be added. And the specification of the intervention content that additionally constructs a reaction relationship of the second action with respect to the first message,

The message / action reaction relationship constructing unit additionally constructs a relationship between the first message and the second action, and an object based on a relationship between the first message and the first action. 4. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the object cooperation and the new object cooperation based on the relationship between the first message and the second action are parallelized.

5. The message / action response relationship update control unit specifies that the intervening first message and the first action are the message and the action relationship designation and the existing first message that issues the first message. (2) the designation of the third action to be added and the third action to be added, and the designation of the intervention content for additionally constructing a new cooperative relationship between the designated third action and the first action.

The message-action reaction relationship constructing unit additionally constructs a relationship in which the third action emits the first message to provide a new object cooperation,

Object linkage based on the relationship between the second action, the first message, and the first action, and new object linkage based on the relationship between the third action, the first message, and the first action. The object cooperation device according to claim 3, which is parallelized.

6. In the case where there are a plurality of independent object coordination pairs that cooperate according to the relationship between a message and an action, the specification of the message 'action reaction relation update control unit is the same as that of the intervening first object coordination. And the specification of the existing second object linkage, and the specification of the intervention content of linking the specified independent object linkage pairs. The message / action reaction relationship constructing unit specifies the intervention content. A first message issued in response to the execution of the action at the end of the first object linkage, and a new message issuing a second message in response to the action at the start of the specified second object linkage. Create new message-action reactions with new functions and combine independent object linkages Object linking apparatus according to claim 3 for connecting.

7. The message / action reaction relationship constructing unit deletes the additionally constructed message / action reaction relationship, thereby enabling the connection. 7. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the set of linked object coordination is separated into a set of independent object coordination.

8. A request comprising a message / action / reaction relationship separating unit for separating the existing message / action correspondence in the message / action / reaction relationship storage unit designated by the message / action / reaction relationship update control unit. Item 3. The object cooperation device according to Item 3.

9. The message / action / reaction relationship update control unit specifies whether the existing message / action relationship to be separated is specified and the new message / action relationship object to be imported is specified. The message / action reaction relationship separating unit separates the relationship between the existing message and the action based on the designation,

The message-action-relationship constructing unit associates the existing message with a new action based on the specification, and associates the new message issued as part of the new action with the existing message. Build relationships with the sessions,

9. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an object having a new message / action reaction relationship between the existing message and the existing function is introduced.

10. The reaction relation of a new message / action by the object inserted between the existing message and the existing action is made multi-stage, and the existing message is linked with multi-stage action and message. 10. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object coordination leads to an existing function.

1 1. When the relationship between the existing message and the existing action is multi-stage, and there is a relationship from one message through multi-stage coordination of action and message to one action, The specification of the message / action response relation update control unit is based on the relation between the existing first message and the first action that intervene, and the relation between the existing second message and the second action. And specifying that the first message and the second action specified above are related to each other to degenerate objects between them.

The message / action reaction relationship constructing unit updates the content of the action issuing the first message to change the content of the action to emit the second message, and the second action changes the content of the action issuing the second message. 9. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the object cooperation destination is changed so as to respond to a message, and the existing object related to the cooperation from the first action to the second message is degenerated. .

1 2. In the case where the relationship between the existing message and the existing action is multi-stage, and there is a relationship from one message to one action through multi-stage coordination of the action and the message,

The message response relation update control unit specifies the relation between the existing first message and the first action and the relation between the existing second message and the second action. And that the first message and the second action specified are associated with each other to degenerate an object between them.

The message / action / reaction relationship separating unit separates the relationship between the existing second message and the second action,

The message / action reaction relationship constructing unit associates the first message with the second action so that the second action responds to the first message. 9. The object coordination device _{c according} to claim 8, wherein the object is changed and the existing object related to the coordination from the first action to the second message is degenerated.

13 3. The object cooperation by the message / action reaction is performed by the object cooperation core part which maintains the object cooperation relation as a lump, and the object cooperation which links the object cooperation core part with other objects. Interface interface part,

When the object cooperation relationship changes, the object cooperation core portion is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation relationship is changed by changing the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface portion. An object cooperation device according to claim 3.

14 4. The object coordination by the message-action reaction is the object coordination core part that maintains the object coordination relationship as a lump, and the object coordination that cooperates with the object coordination core part and other objects. With an interface part,

When the object cooperation relationship is changed, the object cooperation core portion is maintained as it is, and the object cooperation relationship is changed by changing the cooperation destination of the object cooperation interface portion. An object cooperation apparatus according to claim 8.

15. The object linkage is performed by the first object linkage core, the first object linkage interface that is the object linkage interface, the second object linkage core, and the object linkage core. A second object cooperation interface, which is the object cooperation interface,

In the case where the first object coordination interface and the second object coordination interface are related by one message / action reaction relationship and constitute object coordination, '' The specification of the action-reaction relationship update control unit is that the first object cooperation interface portion and the second object cooperation interface The specification of the separation of the linkage with the interface part and the specification of a new object to be inserted.

The message / action reaction / relation separating unit separates cooperation between the first object cooperation interface part and the second object cooperation interface part based on the designation,

The message-action-relationship constructing unit associates the first object cooperation interface with the object to be inserted based on the designation, and inserts the object and the second object. 15. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a relation with an object coordination interface portion is established, and the new object is inserted.

16. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a function of notifying an input pattern and an output pattern of the object cooperation interface part to the outside.

17. The object according to claim 13, wherein an input pattern and an output pattern of the object cooperation interface portion can be changed.

18. A message receiver where each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network;

A message-action relationship storage unit for storing a relationship between the action content and the message, which is a response to the message;

A message / action reaction condition setting section is provided to set a message / action reaction condition for executing an action corresponding to a message received for each object,

The message-action-relationship storage unit stores the message- Wherein the action execution unit executes an action on the received message when the message action reaction condition is satisfied. Device.

19. A message receiver where each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network,

An object coordination relation presentation unit that presents the object coordination relation established between the object and the object is provided.

For the reception of the message received by the message receiving unit, the acceptable range is used as input message pattern information. When the action execution unit outputs a message, the output available range is used as output message pattern information. The object cooperation presentation unit presents the object cooperation to be presented as a cooperation between the input message pattern information and the output message information.

20. When a message for executing an action corresponding to a message received for each object and an action reaction condition are set, the object cooperation relation presenting unit sets the object cooperation relation to be presented. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: presenting the message reaction condition.

21 The object coordination relation presenting unit displays the object as an icon, and indicates the object coordination relation as a link between the icons. 21. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the object coordination device displays the object coordination information and visualizes the object and the constructed object coordination relationship as a graphic.

22. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the object cooperation relation presentation unit presents the object cooperation relation as a table.

23. The object cooperation relation presentation unit describes the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information as tags, and presents the object cooperation relation in a program description language including the tag. 21. The object cooperation device according to claim 19 or 20.

24. The object cooperation relation presenting unit inquires of each object about object cooperation information possessed by the object, and an object cooperation information inquiry function for inquiring of each object. An object linkage information collection function for collecting the object linkage information of each object responded from the object, and information on the object linkage relationship of the entire object from the collected object linkage information of each object. The object cooperation apparatus 25 according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising an object cooperation relation assembling function for assembling and an object cooperation relation presenting function for presenting the assembled object cooperation relation. Inquiry from the object linkage information inquiry function Respect, the object linking apparatus of claim 2 4 with an object linkage information notification function of responding objects linkage information that the object has. ,

26. An object coordination control unit is provided, and the object coordination control unit detects an object coordination change detected by the object coordination relationship assembled by the object coordination assembly function. When the detection function and the object coordination logic inconsistency detection function detect that a logical contradiction in coordination has occurred in the object coordination, and the object coordination logic contradiction detection function detects a logical contradiction in the object coordination 25. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising an object cooperation logical protection function for canceling the change of the object cooperation.

27. A message receiver where each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network,

A message-action-relationship storage unit for storing a relationship between the message and the action content that is a response to the message;

An action execution unit that executes an action according to the message-action reaction relationship;

An object search unit that searches for an object that has the message pattern as an input / output message pattern using a message pattern exchanged by objects existing on the network as a search key, and starts from the first object In forming an object cooperation leading to a second object, the object search unit may determine the output message pattern of the first object and the input message pattern of the second object. Detecting, using the message pattern of the detected object as a search key, searching for an object corresponding to the message pattern, and arriving at the second object starting from the first object. Object partnerships that form object linkages Apparatus.

28. The object search unit includes an object message pattern detection unit, and the object message pattern detection unit can detect an input message pattern and an output message pattern of a specified object. An object cooperation device according to claim 27

2 9. The object search unit

As a first search, an input message pattern is set as an output message pattern of the first object, and an output message pattern is arbitrarily searched for a third object group.

As a second search, an input message pattern is set as an output message pattern possessed by each of the third object groups, and a fourth object group is searched with an arbitrary output message pattern, and the fourth object group is searched. Among the output message patterns of the objects of each object group, those that match the input message pattern of the second object are selected as the fourth object, and the output object pattern of the selected fourth object is selected. An object having the incoming message pattern as the outgoing message pattern is selected from the third object group as the third object,

28. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the object coordination apparatus forms object coordination from the first object to the second object via the third object and the fourth object.

30. If there is no output message pattern of the object of each of the fourth object groups that matches the input message pattern of the second object, the input message pattern is used as a third search. By repeating the procedure of searching for the fifth object group with an output message pattern as an output message pattern of each object of the fourth object group, searching for the object group Is repeated until there is an output message pattern of the object group corresponding to the input message pattern of the second object, from the first object to the second object. 30. The object according to claim 29, which forms an object linkage up to Project linking device.

3 1. The object search unit

As a first search, a third object group is searched using an input message pattern as an arbitrary one and an output message pattern as an input message pattern of the second object.

In a second search, the input message pattern is arbitrary, and the fourth message group is searched using the output message pattern as the input message pattern of each of the three object groups.

Among the input message patterns of the objects of each of the fourth object groups, a pattern that matches the output message pattern of the first object is selected as a fourth object, and the selected fourth object is selected. An object having the output message pattern of the object as an input message pattern is selected as a third object from the third object group,

28. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 27, wherein an object cooperation from the first object to the second object through the fourth object and the third object is formed.

3. If there is no incoming message pattern of the object of each of the fourth object groups that matches the outgoing message pattern of the first object, the input message pattern is used as a third search. The procedure of searching for the fifth object group as an input message pattern of each object of the fourth object group by repeating the output message pattern is repeated, and the object group is repeated. Is repeated until there is an input message pattern of the object group corresponding to the output message pattern of the first object, and the first object to the second object 30. The object-jet coordinating apparatus according to claim 31, which forms object coordination up to a unit.

3 3. The object search unit

As a first search, an input message pattern is set as an output message pattern of the first object, and a third object group is searched with an arbitrary output message pattern,

As a second search, an input message pattern is arbitrarily set, and an output message pattern is used as an input message pattern of the second object, and a fourth object group is searched.

A combination in which the output message pattern of each object of the third object group and the input message pattern of each object of the fourth object group match is selected, and the third object group according to the combination is selected. The third object is a third object, the object of the fourth object group is a fourth object, and the third object and the fourth object are obtained from the first object. 28. The object coordination apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the object coordination forms the object coordination to the second object via the second object.

3 4. If there is no match between the output message pattern of each object in the third object group and the input message pattern of each object in the fourth object group, a third search is performed. A procedure of searching for a fifth object group with an arbitrary input message pattern as an output message pattern of each object of the third object group and an output message pattern of the third object group; and The input message pattern is arbitrary, and the output message pattern is searched for the sixth object group as the input message pattern of each object of the fourth object group. The search for objects is repeated until the output message pattern of each object in one object group matches the input message pattern of the object in each other object group. 34. The object cooperation apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the object cooperation forms an object cooperation from the object to the second object.

35. A computer-readable recording medium storing a processing program for realizing an object linking device driven according to a message-action relationship.

A message receiving processing step in which each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network;

A message for storing the relationship between the action content and the message, which is a response to the message; a message for storing the action / reaction relationship;

An action execution processing step of executing an action according to the message-action reaction relationship;

A message 'action response relationship update processing step, which controls the update of the message-action correspondence according to the need to update the message-action relationship;

A message / action / reaction relation separating step for separating the existing message / action relation stored in the message / action / relation relation storage processing step specified in the message / action / reaction relation update processing step;

A message / action / relationship construction processing step for associating the specified action with the message specified in the message / action / reaction relation update processing step;

Intervene in the relationship between existing messages and functions and create new messages. A storage medium characterized by storing a processing program for realizing an object cooperation apparatus for establishing a function relationship.

36. A computer-readable recording medium storing a processing program for realizing an object cooperation device driven according to a message-action reaction relationship,

A message that stores the relationship between the action content and the message, which is a response to the message; a message that stores the action response relationship;

A processing step of setting a message action reaction condition for executing an action corresponding to a message received for each object;

A processing step of storing the message-action reaction relationship and the message-action reaction condition in association with each other;

The action execution processing step executes an action on the received message when the message 'action reaction condition is satisfied, intervenes in the relationship between the existing message and the action, and executes the message' action reaction condition. A storage medium storing a processing program of an object cooperation apparatus for establishing a relationship between a new message and an action to be executed when the condition is satisfied.

37. A computer-readable recording medium storing a processing program for realizing an object cooperation device driven according to a message-action reaction relationship, A message receiving processing step in which each object monitors and captures messages sent over the network;

A message that stores the relationship between the message content and the message, which is a response to the message; a message that stores the action / reaction relationship;

An action execution processing step of executing an action according to the message / action reaction relationship;

An object cooperation relation presentation processing step of presenting the object cooperation relation established between the object and the object;

The message to be captured by the message receiving processing step is input message pattern information.If the action execution processing step outputs a message, the message is output message pattern information. A storage medium storing a processing program of an object cooperation apparatus for presenting the presented object linkage as a linkage between the input message pattern information and the output message pattern information. .