WO2002093396A2

WO2002093396A2 - Business data processing apparatus using network

Info

Publication number: WO2002093396A2
Application number: PCT/JP2002/004565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tadao Matsuzuki
Original assignee: Knowledge Soft Corporation; Matsuzuki, Torajiro
Priority date: 2001-05-14
Filing date: 2002-05-10
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Also published as: WO2002093396A8; JP2002342561A

Abstract

An internal link information section (111) stores step information necessary for updating input data and storing the update result. The step information is control information representing a transmission destination from a lower step to an upper step, which is set in a computer. External link information is control information used to transmit data of each step in the computer to a desired step in an external computer. The internal link information and external link information can be supplied from a computer serving as a lead computer, and their start date/time can be set.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N

BUSINESS DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS USING NETWORK

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-143390, filed May 15, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Filed The present invention relates to a business data processing apparatus ,using a network, which is effective as a computer system used for business transactions by large and smaller enterprises, retailers, and individuals.

Background Art Recently, development of computers and preparation of networks are progressing. Even in company operation, a parent company sometimes collects various kinds of databases from a subsidiary using a network (intra-office LAN or the like) . Alternatively, related companies exchange databases in some cases.

However, databases have various formats depending on the business scene and are not unified. Hence, a database must be processed into a unique format, resulting in inconvenience. That is, since the database formats are not unified, a long time is required to classify and analyze collected information.

In recent years, have been companies merging or splitting at a rapid rate. Every time it occurs, a computer system must be re-designed, resulting in an increase in cost.

Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a business data processing apparatus using a network, which can easily build a network for any of a company, group companies, and other companies.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a business data processing apparatus using a network, which can easily cope with merging or splitting of companies.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a business data processing apparatus using a network, which can easily adapt business data processing for a company of any scale or any business category.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a business data processing apparatus which observes latest public information by using public information of another computer without storing it in a computer of its own, and can easily load the public information into its basic system. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a business data processing apparatus which ensures security for information exchange between a computer of its own and another computer. In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a business data processing apparatus comprising a first data processing section which obtains at least first total data of input data, a first step group formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to the first data processing section, a second data processing section which obtains second total data by totalizing the first total data of the first step group, a second step group formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to the second data processing section, a third data processing section which obtains third total data by totalizing the second total data of the second step group, a third step group formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to the third data processing section, a fourth data processing section which obtains fourth total data by totalizing the third total data of the third step group, a fourth step group formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to the fourth data processing section, an external link information section which has computer address information of a transmission destination and step information of data to be transmitted so as to output total data of an arbitrary step in the first total data of the first step group, the second total data of the second step group, the third total data of the third step group, and the fourth total data of the fourth step group, and means for referring to the step information of the data to be transmitted and the computer address information of the transmission destination in the external link information section and transmitting total data of a designated step to a designated computer.

With this arrangement, the information transmission and reception channels of each computer are determined, and pieces of information are collected by a master computer.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Brief Description of Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a computer to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the basic operation of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operational explanatory view for explaining the functions of a rule check section and rule change/correction control section of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the step structure of data to be processed by the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a path through which the apparatus of the present invention executes data transfer processing;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing another path through which the apparatus of the present invention executes data transfer processing;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing still another path through which the apparatus of the present invention executes data transfer processing;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing still another path through which the apparatus of the present invention executes data transfer processing; FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing still another path through which the apparatus of the present invention executes data transfer processing;

FIG. 11 is a table showing external link information employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a table showing another external link information employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a table showing still another external link information employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a view showing internal link information employed by the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a view showing another internal link information employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a business data classification format employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing data construction when the data construction section of the apparatus of the present invention is used;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing another data construction when the data construction section of the apparatus of the present invention is used; FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the progress in data processing by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view for explaining the consolidated/unconsolidated processing function of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining determination processing operation in determining whether the rule check section should execute consolidated processing or unconsolidated processing upon inputting data to the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view for explaining the construction form of data constructed in the business data section of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a public information processing function imparted to the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining operation of setting public information in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are views showing the data structure of public information and the basic data structure of public information holder information, which are employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 26A and 26B are views showing a network when public information is accessed and when public information holder information is registered in the management computer in the system of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart for explaining operation of using public information in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a view showing a display form that appears on the screen when public information is used in the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing route of public information used in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing another processing route of public information used in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing still another processing route of public information used in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a data processing block diagram for explaining a scrambling system employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a data processing block diagram for explaining a descrambling system employed by the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing the basic arrangements of scrambling and descrambling sections employed by the apparatus of the present invention; and FIG. 35 is an explanatory view showing the data storage state in the business data section of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out of the Invention An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of a business data processing apparatus (business data processing computer) according to the present invention. This apparatus is controlled by a system control section 100. The system control section 100 is connected to a bus 101. An operation section 102 is connected to the bus 101. An operation signal from the operation section 102 is supplied to the system control section 100 through the bus 101. A disk driver 103 is connected to the bus 101. The disk driver 103 drives, e.g., an optical disk or hard disk (not shown). The system control section 100 reads out software recorded on an optical disk and stores it in an internal software memory. The system control section 100 can control the entire business data processing apparatus on the basis of the software.

A transmission/reception interface 104 is connected to the bus 101. The transmission/reception interface 104 is connected to an external network. Examples of the external network are a telephone line, the Internet, and a LAN. Information exchange with a computer over a short range may be done wirelessly.

Data received by the transmission/reception interface 104 is temporarily stored in a received data buffer 105. The contents of the received data are analyzed and processed by the system control section

100. A transmission data buffer 106 connected to the bus 101 temporarily stores transmission data to be externally transmitted. The transmission data is externally transmitted through the transmission/ reception interface 104. The contents of the transmission data will be described later.

A rule setting section 109 is connected to the bus

101. Rules are required for business transactions. There are various kinds of rules required for business transactions. For example, the presence/ absence of a person in charge, the presence/absence of authority of the person in charge, the inventory situation of merchandise, sales-inhibited merchandise, or rating of a customer is checked in a company on the basis of the rules.

An internal link information section 111 is connected to the bus 101. The internal link information section 111 stores information used to determine the process manner of received input data (sales information of merchandise) . An external link information section 112 is connected to the bus 101. The external link information section 112 stores information used to determine an external computer to which processed data constructed by the internal link information should be transmitted.

A business data section 113 is connected to the bus 101. The business data section 113 stores a real database which stores various kinds of input data, a business report database effective for various kinds of business reports, and a management report database effective for management reports. FIG. 1 shows only one data construction section pattern in the business data section 113. However, as will be described later, a plurality of data construction sections with the same pattern are prepared for various use (application) purposes .

The real database is a set of real data directly input to electronic worksheets corresponding to information written in contract forms, ordering forms, order forms, order reception forms, reception forms, reserve forms, cancellation forms, slips, and the like. The business report database is a set of electronic ledger data corresponding to information written in various kinds of ledgers (employee [person-in-charge] ledger, customer information ledger, ordering information ledger, order information ledger, order reception information ledger, reception information ledger, reserve information ledger, cancel information ledger, sales ledger, sales merchandise ledger, purchase merchandise ledger, contract information ledger, and the like) . The ledger data are classified for each ledger. Hence, these ledger data are used as business report information effective for grasping the business activity situation.

The management report database is a set of electronic data corresponding to management information sheets, i.e., a balance sheet (B/S) , a statement of profit and loss (P/L), a cash flow (C/F), and the like. Hence, these data are used as management report information effective for grasping the company operation situation. The real database, business report database, and management report database are further classified into commercial distribution data, physical distribution data, and monetary distribution data. These will be described later. A display 115 is connected to the bus 101 through a display interface 114.

A public information processing section 116 is also connected to the bus 101. The public information processing section 116 processes public information such as a merchandise catalog stored in its public information memory. Public information can be externally accessed to check the contents.

FIG. 2 shows functional sections that operate when the data processing apparatus of the present invention is used. An example in which a customer places an order for merchandise to a department store or a retail store will be described.

A user can display various kinds of worksheet lists on the screen of the display 115 by operating the operation section 102. Then, the user can move a cursor and select a worksheet to be used. When a worksheet (in this case, a sales slip) is selected and displayed, the user inputs data to necessary portions. At this time, the input data are processed by an input data processing section Al .

Examples of input data are a person-in-charge code, customer information, sales merchandise code, quantity, and unit price. Note that after a person-in-charge code is input, a sales merchandise code, unit price, and the like may sometimes be automatically input through a barcode reader. If sales merchandise is for general consumers, customer information may be input as "undefined" . After the data are input to the sales slip, an enter key is operated to register the input data, and rule check by a rule check section A2 is executed.

If worksheets of the same type are always used, use worksheet fixing operation can be performed. When the use worksheet fixing operation is performed, an identical worksheet can be displayed on the screen without executing worksheet selection operation.

Rule check is executed by looking up rule setting data registered in the rule setting section 109. When a person-in-charge code is input, it is checked whether a registered person-in-charge code corresponding to the person-in-charge code is present in the person-in-charge information ledger. When customer information is input, it is checked whether registered customer information corresponding to the customer information is present in the customer information ledger.

When a sales merchandise code is input, it is checked whether a registered sales merchandise code corresponding to the sales merchandise code is present in the sales merchandise information ledger. When a sales merchandise code is input, it is also checked by looking up the inventory information ledger whether the inventory of corresponding merchandise is present. In this case, the rule setting section 109 can also refer to information in the business data section 113.

If a current person in charge should sell a large quantity of merchandise, the sales authority of the person in charge may be checked by looking up the person-in-charge information ledger. This is because upper limits are sometimes imposed to merchandise sales quantity, purchase quantity, and the like of a person in charge depending on internal rules in a company. An upper limit is also sometimes imposed to the handling amount of a person in charge by internal rules in a company. Alternatively, an upper limit is sometimes imposed to a discount rate by internal rules in a company when a person in charge sells merchandise.

Customer information or a sales merchandise code may be input by the following scheme.

Pieces of customer information are registered in the customer information ledger. Sales merchandise codes are registered in the sales merchandise information ledger. Hence, in the above transaction operation, the pieces of customer information or sales merchandise codes registered the ledger may be displayed on the screen. The user selects a desired customer or merchandise on the screen, thereby completing data input. In this case, the presence of the customer or sales merchandise need not be checked. When rule check is executed, and any rule definition is not satisfied, a warning message is displayed. The contents of warning messages are, e.g., "unqualified person in charge", "merchandise sales inhibited", "exceeding quantity of sales merchandise", and "shortage in inventory of sales merchandise".

In addition to the above-described rule check, various kinds of rule check are executed. As another rule check, determination (identification) of input data for consolidated companies and input data for unconsolidated companies (to be described later) is also performed.

When rule check is executed, and the rule definitions are satisfied, a data transfer processing section A3 executes data storage processing and data transfer processing.

Data is stored in and transferred to the business data section 113 shown in FIG. 1. The input data is stored as a real database. The input data is also described in the management information ledger corresponding to business information as a business report database. The input data is also processed as a management report database, and the result is described in a management information report sheet.

In processing business report data, the input data is classified in accordance with its type (or classification item) and described in a ledger. In ledger information, the sum or difference between the input data and existing data is described. The input data itself may be transferred to another portion in some cases. In processing management report data, addition or subtraction of the input data and existing data or multiplication or division of the input data and a coefficient is executed to construct a business report. The input data itself may be described in the management report database management ledger in some cases .

The above real database construction processing, business report data construction processing, and management report data construction processing are executed by a real data processing section A10, business report data processing section All, and management report data processing section A12, respectively.

The above processing operations correspond to processing at the first step level. That is, in the above data transfer processing, the real database, business report database, and management report database are constructed at person-in-charge level.

Internal link processing will be described next. Internal link processing is executed in a computer by referring to internal link information. This processing is executed by an internal link processing section A4.

When database construction at the person-in-charge level is ended, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the second step (e.g., a section) level to which the person in charge belongs are executed. The database formats at the second step are the same as those at the first step. Hence, the data at the first step are added to or subtracted from corresponding data at the second step.

When database construction at the second step (section) level is ended, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the third step (e.g., a department) level to which the section belongs are executed. The database formats at the third step are the same as those at the second step. Hence, the data at the second step are added to or subtracted from corresponding data at the third step. When database construction at the third step

(department) level is ended, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the fourth step (e.g., a branch) level to which the department belongs are executed. The database formats at the fourth step are the same as those at the third step. Hence, the data at the third step are added to or subtracted from corresponding data at the fourth step. When database construction at the fourth step

(branch) level is ended, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the fifth step (e.g., a company) level to which the branch belongs are executed. The database formats at the fifth step are the same as those at the fourth step. Hence, the data at the fourth step are added to or subtracted from corresponding data at the fifth step.

When database construction at the fifth step (company) level is ended, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the , sixth step (e.g., a company group) level to which the company belongs are executed. The database formats at the sixth step are the same as those at the fifth step. Hence, the data at the fifth step are added to or subtracted from corresponding data at the sixth step.

When the above internal link processing is ended, processing by a transmission protocol determination processing section A5 is executed. In the transmission protocol determination processing, databases at a step to be transmitted and a computer which should receive the databases are determined. This determination processing is done by referring to external link information.

For example, if the computer that is currently being used is a computer for personal use of a person in charge, the databases at the person-in-charge level (first step) must be transmitted to a computer for constructing databases at the section (second step) . If the computer that is currently being used is a computer for constructing databases at the section (second step) , the databases must be transmitted to a computer for constructing databases at the third step (department) . If the computer that is currently being used is a computer for constructing databases at the department (third step) , the databases must be transmitted to a computer for constructing databases at the fourth step (branch) . If the computer that is currently being used is a computer for constructing databases at the branch (fourth step) , the databases must be transmitted to a computer for constructing databases at the fifth step (company) . If the computer that is currently being used is a computer for constructing databases at the company (fifth step) , the databases must be transmitted to a computer for constructing databases at the sixth step (group leader company) . To do this, external link information contains at least step information to be transmitted and computer addresses of transmission destinations. In the transmission protocol determination processing, databases at a step to be transmitted are transmitted to the upper step (layer) by referring to the external link information. In this case, the computer address of the transmission destination and step information to which the databases should belong are added to the headers of the databases. Transmission information is temporarily stored in the transmission data buffer 106, read out at a preset transmission time, and sent to the network through the transmission/reception interface 104.

Next, received data reception processing is started by a received data reception processing section A6. In the received data reception processing, data in the received data buffer 105 is read out. The read time is a preset time interval. Received data is subjected to various kinds of data processing in accordance with its contents. This data processing is executed by a received data processing section A7. Assume that a database is transmitted from an external computer. For example, if the computer that is currently being used is a computer at the section (second step) level, a database at the first step belonging to the section is transmitted. In this case, the database at the first step is added to or subtracted from the database at the second step. Another example of data transmitted from an external computer is rule change data such as sales merchandise inventory information, sales merchandise price change information, or customer information delete instruction information. In this case, inventory information, price information, or customer information registered in the business report information ledger is changed or corrected. FIG. 3 shows several types of data to be referred to in rule check after data are input to a worksheet. Examples of rule setting information are a person-in-charge code, and the post, managerial position, and skill information of the person in charge. Rule setting information also includes worksheet information that the person in charge can handle (access) . Rule setting information also includes a purchase merchandise list of pieces of merchandise that the person in charge can purchase, and the maximum and minimum number limit information for each piece of merchandise to be purchased by the person in charge. Rule setting information also includes a sales merchandise list of pieces of merchandise that the person in charge can sell, and the maximum and minimum number limit information for each piece of merchandise to be sold by the person in charge. Rule setting information also includes a discountable rate per merchandise item and a discountable rate per lot. Rule setting information also includes sales due date designation information or purchase due date designation information of each piece of merchandise, and transaction due date designation information for each customer.

FIG. 3 shows an example of one person in charge. However, pieces of check information of a plurality of persons A, B, C, D, and so on in charge can be registered.

These pieces of rule information can be changed or corrected. Information for change or correction is supplied from the received data processing section A7 or operation section 102 to a rule change/correction control section 200. All pieces of specific person-in-charge information can be erased through the rule change/correction control section 200. The rule change/correction control section 200 is arranged in the rule setting section 109. However, it may be independently arranged at another portion.

FIG. 4 shows part of the operation flow of the apparatus of the present invention.

Data input processing to a worksheet is executed (step AS1) . When an input data fixing operation is executed (step AS2), rule check is performed (step

AS3) , as described above. If an error is detected by rule check, warning is given (step AS4) . If input data reception is permitted, the flow advances to step AS5.

In step AS5, transfer of the input data to a ledger data area and processing of the input data are started in accordance with the worksheet classification information. That is, in step AS5, various kinds of data processing operations are executed i accordance with commercial distribution, physical distribution, and monetary distribution. "Commercial Distribution" When a person in charge has placed (or received) an order for merchandise, pieces of information including the name, number, and amount of merchandise for which the order has placed (or received) , the customer, and the date/time are transferred to the ordering (or order reception) ledger of the person in charge. In the ordering (or order reception) ledger of the person in charge, information update processing is executed to update, e.g., the total number and total amount of merchandise for which the order has been placed (or received) .

When the person in charge has made a contract, pieces of information including the title of contract, the number of contracts, the expected amount of money receipt (or disbursement) for the contract, the customer, the date/time of contract, and the start and end days of execution of contract are transferred to the contract information ledger of the person in charge. In the contract information ledger of the person in charge, pieces of information such as the total expected amount of money receipt (or disbursement) for the contract and the total number of contracts are updated. "Physical Distribution"

When a person in charge has sold (or purchased) merchandise, pieces of information including the name, number, and amount of sold (purchased) merchandise, the customer, and the date/time are transferred to the sales (or purchase) ledger of the person in charge. In the sales (or purchase) ledger of the person in charge, information update processing is executed to update, e.g., the total number and total amount of sold (or purchased) merchandise.

When a person in charge has directly purchased office equipment, pieces of information including the name, number, and amount of purchased office equipment, the customer, and the date/time are transferred to the direct equipment purchase ledger of the person in charge. In the direct equipment purchase ledger of the person in charge, information update processing is executed to update, e.g., the total number and total amount of purchased equipment. When a person in charge has loaded (or unloaded) merchandise, pieces of information including the name and number of loaded (or unloaded) merchandise, an amount corresponding to the number of loaded (or unloaded) merchandise, the customer, and the date/time are transferred to the load (or unload) ledger of the person in charge. In the load (or unload) ledger of the person in charge, information update processing is executed to update, e.g., the total number of loaded (unloaded) merchandise and the total amount corresponding to the number of loaded (unloaded) merchandise. "Monetary Distribution"

When a person in charge has executed money receipt (or disbursement) processing, pieces of information including the name (merchandise name or the like) of an object for money receipt (or disbursement) , the amount of money receipt (or disbursement) , the partner for money receipt (or disbursement) , and the date/time are transferred to the money receipt (or disbursement) processing ledger of the person in charge. In the money receipt (or disbursement) processing ledger of the person in charge, information update processing is executed to update, e.g., the total amount of money receipt (or disbursement) .

In step AS6, the input data are started to be transferred to a knowledge data area and processed in accordance with the worksheet classification information.

That is, the input data and updated data are handled as update data for the balance sheet (B/S) , statement of profit and loss (P/L) , cash flow (C/F) as management reports in accordance with the classification result. With this processing, a management report database is constructed. In this case, in the apparatus of the present invention, current management report data corresponding to the physical distribution and monetary distribution data is constructed. Additionally, in the apparatus of the present invention, predicted management report data corresponding to the commercial distribution is constructed.

The current management report data and predicted management report data will be described later in detail.

In steps AS7 to ASH, data processing at each step is executed by referring to the internal link information. In step AS7, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the second step (e.g., a section) level to which the person in charge belongs are executed. In step AS8, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the third step (e.g., a department) level to which the section belongs are executed. In step AS9, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the fourth step (e.g., a branch) level to which the department belongs are executed. In step AS10, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the fifth step (e.g., a company) level to which the branch belongs are executed. In step ASH, real database construction, business report database construction, and management report database construction at the sixth step (e.g., a group leader company) level to which the company belongs are executed.

FIG. 5 shows examples of the first to sixth steps. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of persons Fl to Fn in charge are assigned to the first level. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of sections El to En are assigned to the second step. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of departments DI to Dn are assigned to the third step. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of branches Cl to Cn are assigned to the fourth step. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of companies Bl to Bn are assigned to the fifth step. Data construction sections at the level of a plurality of leader companies are assigned to the sixth step. FIG. 5 shows the linkage between a company Bn level, a branch Cn level, a department Dn level, and a section En level. Other company, branch, department, and section levels also have the same linkage by internal link information. The entire data construction section is present in the business data section 113 shown in FIG. 1 and is set such that a plurality of persons in charge belong to one section, a plurality of sections belong to one department, a plurality of departments belong to a plurality of branches, a plurality of branches belong to one company, and a plurality of companies belong to the leader company.

The internal link information is used in a computer, as described above. That is, the internal link information is used to transfer data of each step data processing section to an upper step data processing section to which each step data processing section belongs.

Assume that one person in charge exclusively uses one computer. A real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of that person in charge are constructed as databases at the first step.

When one computer in one section is shared by a plurality of persons in charge, a real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of each person in charge are constructed as databases at the first step. In addition, a real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of one section are constructed as databases at the second step.

When one computer in one department is shared by a plurality of sections, and this computer is also shared by each person in charge of each section, a real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of each person in charge are constructed as databases at the first step. A real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of one section are constructed as databases at the second step. Additionally, a real database, business report database, and management report database at the level of one department are constructed as databases at the third step.

In the above description, the person-in-charge level is defined as the first step, and the section level is defined as the second step. However, the steps may be defined in a reverse order. That is, the levels may be defined as the first step, second step, third step,... sequentially from the upper level.

In this case, a data processing & storage section which has at least the first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections exists. In addition, an internal link information section which stores internal link information used to transmit the data of each step data processing section to an upper step data processing section to which each step data processing section belongs exists.

In the system of the present invention, an external link information section which stores external link information indicating a transmission destination to which data of each step data processing section is transmitted through a network exists, as will be described next.

Along with recent proliferation of computers, one person in charge sometimes uses one or two computers. In this case, a lead computer for totalizing business situations from a plurality of computers of a person in charge is necessary.

In the present invention, a database at any step can be transmitted from a given computer to another desired computer. Various forms can be used to transmit a database. The transmission destination and the step of database to be transmitted can be arbitrarily changed or corrected. FIGS. 6 to 10 show various examples of a computer layout in a company, the transmission destination to which each computer transmits a database, and the step of database to be transmitted. Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, computers CPl to CP10 are computers at the person-in-charge (first step) level, which construct databases at the first step. Computers CPU to CP14 are computers at the section (second step) level, computers CP15 and CPl6 are computers of the department (third step) level, and computers CP17 and CP18 are computers of the branch (fourth step) level. A computer CPl9 is a computer at the head office. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first step databases of the computers CPl, CP2, and CP3 at the first step level are transmitted to the computer CPU at the second step level, the first step databases of the computers CP4 and CP5 at the first step level are transmitted to the computer CP12 at the second step level, the first step databases of the computers CP6 and CP7 at the first step level are transmitted to the computer CP13 at the second step level, and the first step databases of the computers CP8, CP9, and CP10 at the first step level are transmitted to the computer CP14 at the second step level.

The second step databases of the computers CPU and CP12 at the second step level are transmitted to the computer CP15 at the third step level, and the second step databases of the computers CP13 and CP14 at the second step level are transmitted to the computer CP16 at the third step level. The third step databases of the computers CP15 and CPl6 at the third step level are transmitted to the computer CP17 at the fourth step level. The fourth step databases of the computers CP17 and CP18 at the fourth step level are transmitted to the computer CP19 at the fifth step level. In this network, the computer CP19 at the head office can construct business report data and management report data for each branch.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the first step databases of the computers CPl to CP10 at the first step levels are transmitted to the corresponding computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level. The second step databases of the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level are transmitted to the corresponding computers CP15 and CP16 at the third step level. The third step databases of the computers CP15 and CP16 at the third step level are transmitted to the computer CP17 at the fourth step level. All the first step databases at the first step level are directly transmitted to the computer CP19 at the fifth step level .

In this network, the computer CP19 at the head office can construct real data at the level of all persons in charge, and business report data and management report data for the sections, departments, branches, and head office on the basis of the internal link information described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In this case, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches need not transmit business report data and management report data of the branches to the computer CP19 at the head office. However, to verify various kinds of data in the computer CP19 at the head office, various kinds of data at the branches may be transmitted to the computer CP19 at the head office. In this case, each computer has a data verification function.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first step databases at the first step level are transmitted to the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level. The second step databases of the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level are transmitted to the computers CP15 and CP16 at the third step level. All the first step databases at the first step level are directly transmitted to the computer CP17 at the fourth step level. In addition, all the first step databases at the first step level are also directly transmitted to the computer CP19 at the fifth step level.

In this network, the computer CP19 at the head office can construct real data at the level of all persons in charge, and business report data and management report data for the sections, departments, branches, and head office on the basis of the internal link information described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches can construct real data at the level of persons in charge in the branches, and business report data and management report data for the sections, departments, and branches. In this case, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches need not transmit business report data and management report data of the branches to the computer CP19 at the head office. The computers CP15 and CP16 at the departments need not transmit business report data and management report data of the branches to the computer CP17 at the branch to which the departments belong.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the first step databases at the first step level are transmitted to the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level. All the first step databases at the first step level are directly transmitted to the computers CP15 and CP16 at the third step level. All the first step databases at the first step level are also directly transmitted to the computer CP17 at the fourth step level. In addition, all the first step databases at the first step level are also directly transmitted to the computer CP19 at the fifth step level. In this network, the computer CP19 at the head office can construct real data at the level of all persons in charge, and business report data and management report data for the sections, departments, branches, and head office on the basis of the internal link information described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches can construct real data at the level of persons in charge in the branches, and business report data and management report data for the sections and departments .

Furthermore, the computers CP15 and CPl6 at the departments can construct real data at the level of persons in charge in the departments, and business report data and management report data for the sections .

In this case, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches need not transmit business report data and management report data of the branches to the computer CP19 at the head office. The computers CP15 and CP16 at the departments need not transmit business report data and management report data of the branches to the computer CP17 at the branch to which the departments belong. The computers CPU to CP14 at the sections need not transmit business report data and management report data of the sections to the computers CP15 and CP16 at the departments to which the sections belong. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the first step databases at the first step level are transmitted to the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level. The second step databases of the computers CPU to CP14 at the second step level are transmitted to the computers CP15 and CP16 at the third step level. The fourth step databases of the computers CP17 and CP18 at the fourth step level are transmitted to the computer CP19 at the fifth step level. All the first step databases at the first step level are directly transmitted to the computer CP17 at the fourth step level . In this network, the computers CP17 and CP18 at the branches can construct real data at the level of persons in charge in the branches, and business report data and management report data for the sections, departments, and branches. The structure of external link information, a generation method thereof, and an external link information setting method for each computer will be described next.

In the company, a master computer is specified, and a table of all computers to be used is generated. FIG. 11 shows a table of use computers (external link information) . Each computer is assigned, e.g., a computer name (in this example, CPl to CPl9 described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 are used as computer names) and an address. As an address, a computer model name (identification number) , telephone number, or the like is used. A computer name as a data sending destination of each computer is registered in each row of computer names CPl to CPl9 (a plurality of computer names may be registered as data sending destinations) . The step number of data to be transmitted is added to each sending destination computer name. A number in parentheses indicates step information to be transmitted. A portion without an entry means that neither sending destination computer nor step to be transmitted are designated. For the computer CPl, the first step information is transmitted to the computer CPU.

FIG. 12 is a table of use computers corresponding to the network shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 13 is a table of use computers corresponding to the network shown in FIG. 8. The constructed table of use computers is transmitted from the grand computer to all the computers as external link information. In each use computer, this table is stored in the external link information section 112. When a computer wants to transmit step information, a computer as a data sending destination and a step to be transmitted are determined by looking up the table.

To change a use computer, or to add a new use computer upon changing the organization, the table (external link information) is corrected. This correction is done by the master computer used in an authorized organization. The new table is transferred to each computer. In the present invention, the activation start date/time and time information can be additionally transmitted. As a result, each computer can determine the use start date/time by looking up the activation start date/time. Until this date/time, previous external link information is used.

Hence, the system of the present invention can construct appropriate business report information and management report information independently of the timing of change in company organization or merging/splitting of companies.

Details of internal link information will be described next.

The outline of internal link information was described with reference to FIG. 5. That is, in a computer, the first step information is transmitted to the second step, the second step information is transmitted to the third step, the third step information is transmitted to the fourth step, the fourth step information is transmitted to the fifth step, and the fifth step information is transmitted to the sixth step. Internal link information represents the information transmission path in a computer. In the system of the present invention, every computer has information storage sections for the first to sixth steps . FIG. 14 shows the structure of internal link information. In the example shown in FIG. 14, blocks Pl-1 to Pl-n at the first step are shown. The blocks Pl-1 to Pl-n link to a block P2-1 at the second step. Blocks P2-2 to P2-n also belong to the second step. The first step blocks also belong to each of the blocks P2-2 to P2-n at the second step, though for convenience they are not illustrated. The blocks P2-1 to P2-n link to a block P3-1 at the third step connected through a line. Blocks P3-2 to P3-n also belong to the third step. The second step blocks also belong to each of the blocks P3-2 to P3-n at the third step, though for convenience they are not illustrated.

Similarly, in the internal link information, the third step links to the fourth step, the fourth step links to the fifth step, and the fifth step links to the sixth step. As a characteristic feature of the system of the present invention, the number of blocks at each step can be arbitrarily changed. In addition, the period when the linkage between the blocks functions, the date/time of function start, and the date/time of function stop can be arbitrarily set.

The internal link information will be described in more detail. In the internal link information, the total number of blocks at the first step corresponds to the total number of persons in charge (employees) (or the number of use computers) in the company or company group. The total number of blocks at the second step corresponds to the number of sections in the company or company group. The total number of blocks at the third step corresponds to the number of departments in the company or company group. The total number of blocks at the fourth step corresponds to the number of branches in the company or company group. The total number of blocks at the fifth step corresponds to the number of companies belonging to the company group.

Each block includes, e.g., the step address of the link destination, the address of the self step, and information of the dates of start and end of link. The link start/end information may include time information. FIG. 14 shows the example of the block Pl-n at the first step.

The number of persons in charge, sections, departments, branches, or companies belonging to the group may increase or decrease. In this case, the internal link information is adaptively changed to cope with various kinds of changes .

FIG. 15 shows internal link information only at the first to third steps for illustrative convenience. There are 13 persons in charge (Pl-1 to Pl-13) at the first step. The persons in charge corresponding to the blocks Pl-1 to Pl-4 link to the block P2-1 corresponding to the second step (section) . The blocks Pl-5 to Pl-8 corresponding to persons in charge at the first step link to the block P2-2 corresponding to the second step (section) . The blocks Pl-9 to Pl-13 corresponding to persons in charge at the first step link to the block P2-3 corresponding to the second step (section) . All the blocks P2-1, P2-2, and P2-3 corresponding to the sections link to the block P3-1 corresponding to the third step (department). If, e.g., a person in charge or section changes, the internal link information can easily be corrected by changing the link destination information.

In the apparatus of the present invention, business and management reports of, e.g., merchandise sales information of the persons in charge, sections, departments, branches, and companies are constructed using the above-described internal and external link information. In the system of the present invention, distribution elements are defined as business transaction elements, which are further classified into commercial distribution elements, physical distribution elements, and monetary distribution elements. Additionally, as actions wherein a distribution element generates data, commercial distribution data generation actions, physical distribution data generation actions, and monetary distribution data generation actions are classified and defined. Referring to FIG. 16, as business distribution elements, merchandise, products, intermediate products (also called semi-finished products) , components, resources, money, securities (stocks) , and services are classified. As commercial distribution data generation actions, contract, ordering, order, order reception, reception, reserve, and cancel are classified and defined. As physical distribution data generation actions, delivery, reception, load, unload, deposit, lending, sales, and purchase are classified and defined. As. monetary distribution data generation actions, money receipt, disbursement, payment, remittance, and interest remittance are classified and defined.

The commercial distribution data generation actions including business contracts are defined to manage a state wherein no merchandise or money actually moves. Although this classification and definition are done in the present invention for the convenience in management, an article (merchandise) or money may sometimes actually move simultaneously with a contract in business. The physical distribution data generation actions are defined to manage a state wherein an article actually moves. The monetary distribution data generation actions are defined to manage a state wherein money actually moves.

When commercial distribution data is generated, its pieces of information (merchandise name, quantity, unit price, and the like) are recorded on ledgers prepared for the distribution elements. Examples of ledgers are contract, ordering, order, order reception, reception, reserve, and cancel ledgers. When physical distribution data is generated, its pieces of information are recorded on ledgers prepared for the distribution elements. Examples of ledgers are delivery, reception, load, unload, deposit, lending, sales, and purchase ledgers. When monetary distribution data is generated, its pieces of information are recorded on ledgers prepared for the distribution elements. Examples of ledgers are money receipt, disbursement, payment, remittance, and interest remittance ledgers .

These ledgers are present at each of the first to sixth step levels. FIG. 17 schematically shows a situation wherein ledgers at the first step level are constructed in a computer used by a person CHI in charge. FIG. 18 schematically shows a situation wherein ledgers at the first step level are constructed in a computer shared by persons CHI, CH2, and CH3 in charge.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when a salesperson has sold merchandise and received money from the customer, a real database is constructed in the business data section 113. FIGS. 17 and 18 also show monetary distribution data in detail.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, one person CHI in charge uses one computer. In the example shown in FIG. 18, two persons CHI and CH2 in charge share one computer. As shown in FIG. 17, when merchandise is sold, a real database is constructed for each of pieces of merchandise A, B, C, and D. A worksheet (to be described later in detail) is assigned a distribution number for every sales action. One distribution number is assigned to one sales action. Data contains the customer, unit price, quantity, and total amount. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the person CHI in charge has sold the pieces of merchandise A, B, C, and D. In FIG. 17, the merchandise A has been sold three times. FIG. 19 schematically shows the above-described contents executed by the apparatus of the present invention. That is, when certain data is input by a person in charge, the ledger database is processed (steps Bl and B2) . Next, the management report database serving as a database for the balance sheet, statement of profit and loss, cash flow, and the like is processed (step B3) . Next, so-called step processing of sequentially transmitting the data to upper step data processing & storage sections is executed (step B4) . This processing also applies to the management report data. That is, management reports for each person, each section, each department, each branch, each company, and each group company are constructed.

Then, the external link information is referred to and business report data and management report data at the designated step are transmitted to the designated computer (step B5) . Next, received data processing is executed (step B6) . In the received data processing, for example, when business report data and management report data are transmitted from another computer, the business report data and management report data are subjected to step processing (or totalization processing) (step B7). In the above embodiment, a plurality of companies form a company group, and comprehensive consolidated management report and business report are generated at the leader company. However, actual partners of business transactions include a plurality of companies that require consolidated accounting and companies (to be referred to as unconsolidated companies) that require no consolidated accounting.

FIG. 20 schematically shows an unconsolidated company group 202 and consolidated company group 203 with respect to a company 201.

In the system of the present invention, when a business transaction with an unconsolidated company has occurred, business and management reports generated by the business transaction are independently constructed. To do this, when business transaction data is input through a computer terminal, it must be identified whether it is a business transaction with an unconsolidated company or that with a consolidated company.

Identification of input data for a consolidated company and that for an unconsolidated company is executed by the rule check section A2 (FIG. 2) . The identification codes of consolidated companies are registered in the rule check section A2 in advance. When the code of a consolidated company is input as input data of a transaction partner, the data input to the worksheet that is used at this time is identified as input data for a consolidated company. Conversely, when an unregistered code or name is input as input data of a transaction partner, the data input to the worksheet that is used at this time can be determined as input data for an unconsolidated company.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the function of a determination functional section arranged in the slip input data processing section Al . When data is input to a worksheet (step Cl) , the transaction partner code or name described in the worksheet is referred to. It is determined whether the currently input data is data for a consolidated company or data for an unconsolidated company (step C2) . If the input data is data for a consolidated company, it is transferred to a consolidated business data section. If the input data is data for an unconsolidated company, it is transferred to the consolidated business data section and an unconsolidated business data section. More specifically, this transfer processing is executed by the data transfer processing section A3 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 22 shows data construction sections in the business data section 113. FIG. 1 shows one data construction section. In fact, a plurality of data construction sections with the same pattern (format) are prepared in correspondence with classification processing described with reference to FIG. 21. One data construction section 1131 accumulates and processes data for a consolidated company. The other data construction section 1132 accumulates and processes data for an unconsolidated company. Data construction sections having the same format as that of the data construction section 1131 are prepared for the second to sixth steps. Similarly, data construction sections having the same format as that of the data construction section 1132 are prepared for the second to sixth steps. As described above, data construction sections for unconsolidated companies are arranged. Hence, the data of profit and loss statement and the data of cash flow statement with an unconsolidated company, which are constructed as a management report especially in relation to monetary distribution, become actually reliable information. In addition, since the data are updated and constructed, as needed, reliable management report and business report information can be immediately obtained.

As described above, this system has a first data processing & storage section to which both information with a consolidated management report and information with an unconsolidated management report are input, and which has at least a first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections. The system also has a second data processing & storage section to which information with an unconsolidated management report is input, and which has at least a first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections.

The system also has an internal link information section which stores internal link information used to transmit data of each step data processing section in the first and second data processing & storage sections to an upper step data processing section to which each step data processing section belongs, and an external link information section which stores external link information that indicates a transmission destination to which data of an arbitrary step section of step data processing sections in the first and second data processing & storage sections is transmitted through a network.

The system of the present invention also includes a public information processing function. When an actual business transaction is done by accessing public information, the public information can be received into the basic information processing system to construct business report and management report information.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram for explaining a public information processing function imparted to the system of the present invention. The system shown in FIG. 23 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1. For illustrative convenience, only portions necessary for the description are extracted and shown in FIGS. 1 and 23. As shown in FIG. 23, in this system, a public information file section 250 and public information access driver 260 are connected to the bus 101 (this block is indicated as the public information processing section 116 in FIG. 1) . The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 denote the same parts in FIG. 23, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The public information file section 250 stores the company's catalog information and the like. The public information access driver 260 is a driver used to access public information at another company (another computer) . A public information holder management file section 270 manages the public information holder when the computer itself is set as a management computer. FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the operation of a function of setting public information in the public information file section 250. This operation is obtained by a program that is downloaded to or preset in the system control section 100. A person in charge operates the operation section 102 to set a public information setting mode (step Dl) . A company merchandise list is read out from a ledger stored in the business data section 113 and displayed on the display 115 (step D2) . Merchandise or a product whose information should be open to public is selected (step D3) . The name of merchandise or a product to be made open and an accompanying merchandise or product code (including classification information) , price, and term of validity are transferred to and described in a public information ledger (step D4) . With this processing, the company's public information is stored in the public information file section 250.

In this case, validity term information such as the sales period or public period of the_. merchandise or product may be input. Information representing the price or price range of the merchandise or product may be input. The information of specific merchandise or a product, which is set once, may be partially deleted.

To correct information, the public information is read out from the public information file section 250 and displayed on the display 115 again.

To correct information, the user clicks on a "correct information" button (step D5) . When the computer shifts to an information correction mode, the public information stored in the public information file section 250 is read out and displayed on the display 115 (step D6) . The user confirms the public information on the display, corrects a portion as needed, and finally clicks on an "end" button (step D7) . If NO in step D5, the user clicks on a "no correction" button. The computer displays a message to ask whether the presence of public information is to be registered in the management computer. If registration is unnecessary, the user clicks on the "end" button (step D8) . However, in many cases, the presence of public information is registered in the management computer because the public information should be open. When a button to register it in the management computer is clicked, classification information is extracted from the created public information. The company name (the name of the company that makes the public information open) and the computer address at which the public information is present are added to the classification information. The public information holder information is transmitted to the management computer through the network. FIG. 25A shows public information constructed in a computer. FIG. 25B shows public information holder information. Examples of public information are broader classification, sub classification, merchandise or product name, purpose, unit price, open validity period, and other information. Other information describes the characteristic features of merchandise such as the quality, material, and size. These pieces of information may link to image information representing a photographic image of merchandise. The public information holder information shown in

FIG. 25B, which is to be registered in the management computer, contains the company name, pieces of broader and sub classification information, and a computer address where the public information is held. The pieces of broader and sub classification information contained in the public information holder information are the same as those in the public information. The public information holder information may also contain merchandise or product name information. FIG. 26A shows a state wherein a management computer 300 for managing public information holder information is connected to other computers 301a, 301b. 301c, 301d, 301e, 301f, ... having public information through a network NW.

The management computer 300 has the public information holder management file section 270 shown in FIG. 23. When the above-described public information holder information (FIG. 25B) is sent through the network NW, the management computer 300 stores public information holder management information in the public information holder management file section 270. FIG. 25B shows only a piece of public information holder management information. However, the public information holder management file section 270 in the management computer 300 have a number of pieces of public information holder management information sent from computers at other companies, all of which have the same format. That is, pieces of public information sent for a plurality of companies are stored as a table, as shown in FIG. 26B.

A case wherein a computer 302 (FIG. 26A) observes the public information of each company will be described with reference to FIG. 27. In this case, software and a memory in the public information access driver 260 provided in the computer 302 mainly operate. The user operates the operation section 102 to set the computer in a public information access mode (step El) . The computer 302 requests public information holder information of the management computer 300 (step E2) . The management computer 300 transmits to the computer 302 public information holder information of a number of companies, which are stored in the public information holder management file section 270. Upon receiving the pieces of public information holder information (FIG. 26B) , the computer 302 temporarily stores them in the memory and displays them on the display (steps E3 and E4) .

The user observes the merchandise or product classification information or company name in each displayed public information holder information. Interesting classification information or a company name (or both of them) is selected with a cursor and clicked on. The selected classification item or company name is specified (step E5) . The user performs selection end operation.

Then, the computer 302 requests public information of a computer using its computer address that is added to the specified classification item or company name (or both of them) (step E6) . Upon receiving the public information from the accessed computer, the public information is temporarily stored in the memory and displayed (steps E7, E8, and E9) . The user can designate reserve or order (ordering) while observing the public information (step E10) .

As described above, the system of the present invention can refer to public information holder information and recognize the address of the computer of the public information holder at any company.

The user can request public information of a desired computer through the network. If all pieces of public information need not be requested, some pieces of public information can be requested by designating classification information. With this processing, the loaded public information can be displayed, as shown in FIG. 28. Referring to FIG. 28, reference numeral 401 denotes public information received from a company A; and 402, public information received from a company B. Items 403 such as "reserve" and "order" shown as in FIG. 16 are displayed on the public information display window. When the user moves the cursor to a desired item name on the window and clicks on in, a reserve form or order form (so-called worksheet) 404 corresponding to the public information is displayed on the window. When the user inputs necessary data, order quantity, merchandise name, and the like in the worksheet, these pieces of information are automatically processed as information of the basic system.

The company name, merchandise name, and unit price can be dragged with the cursor and copied to the worksheet. For the order quantity, a desired quantity is input by operating the operation section.

That is, the data input step at this time corresponds to the input data processing section Al shown in FIG. 2. Hence, when ordering or order of merchandise or product is executed, data based on public information are automatically loaded to data of the basic system of the user's computer.

As described above, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a means for loading public information from another computer through a network, a public information display means for displaying the received public information and a worksheet to input information of a basic system, and a means for designating arbitrary data in the public information to copy the data to an information input section of the worksheet and process the data as data of the basic system.

FIG. 29 shows a simplified process of information exchange between the management computer 300, the computer 301b having public information, and the computer 302 for requesting public information and placing an order for a product or merchandise.

The computer 302 requests public information holder information of the management computer 300 (steps Fl and F2) . The management computer 300 transmits the public information holder information to the computer 302 (step F3) . The computer 302 displays the public information holder information on the display. The user requests public information of the computer 301b having interesting public information (steps F4 and F5) . The computer 301b transmits the public information to the computer 302 (step F6) . The computer 302 displays the public information on the display. The user places an order for merchandise or a product by referring to the public information (step F7) . When order processing is executed, the computer 302 simultaneously loads order data to the data of the basic system and ends the processing (steps F8 and F9) . FIG. 30 shows another example. The same numbers

(Fl to F7) as in FIG. 29 denote the same steps in FIG. 30. In this example, when public information is referred to, and order processing is executed, the other party computer 302 transmits order information to the computer 301b (step Gl) . The other party's computer 301b can convert the received order information into order reception information and load it to the data of the basic system (step G2) . Accept information (acknowledge) is transmitted to the computer 302 (step G3) . Upon confirming the accept information (step G4) , the computer 302 loads the order information to the basic system data and ends the processing (steps G5 and G6) .

FIG. 31 shows still another example of the public information processing function.

Since public information includes not only information for sales (information for order reception) but also information for ordering, a receiving side can also execute order reception processing.

When order reception processing is executed, a reply must be sent to the other party's computer to indicate the order has been received. Order reception information is transmitted to the other party's computer. The other party's computer can directly transfer the order reception information to the business data section 113 as ordering information of its own. That is, the public information can be loaded to the basic system and processed as business data.

The same numbers (Fl to F7 ) as in FIG. 30 denote the same steps in FIG. 31, and a description thereof will be omitted. In this example, the public information contains the contents of "ordering", such as an engineering work or construction work. Ordering information also contains, as other information, condition information such as the cost and due date.

When the user observes the public information and is satisfied with the conditions, he decides order reception. The order reception information is transmitted to the other party's computer 301b (step Gil) . The computer 301b converts the order reception information into ordering information and loads it to the basic system data (step G12) . That is, an ordering slip is automatically generated (step G13) . The computer 302 confirms the ordering information, loads the generated order reception information into the basic system data, and ends the processing (steps G14 and G15) .

As described above, according to the system of the present invention, information exchange for order reception or ordering is immediately executed. In addition, even when order reception information or ordering is executed by referring to public information, the information is automatically loaded into the basic system data. As a result, the speed of business transactions and the business data processing speed can be greatly improved as compared to the prior art.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the system of the present invention, when transmission or reception between computers is done, the transmission or reception function acts. These functions are incorporated in the transmission protocol determination processing section A5 and received data reception processing section A6 described with reference to FIG. 2.

In the system of the present invention, a scrambling function (encryption function) acts upon transmitting information, and a descrambling function (decryption function) acts upon receiving information. The scrambling and descrambling functions use unique key information. Hence, the security of, especially, ordering or order reception information is high.

FIG. 32 shows a transmission/reception functional section that operates in linkage with the received data buffer 105 and transmission data buffer 106. Referring to FIG. 32, the transmission data processing section is particularly extracted from the transmission/reception functional section (the received data processing section has the same arrangement as that shown in the block diagram of FIG. 33 (to be described later) ) . The transmission/reception function is realized by transmission/reception software included in the system control section 100. It may be constituted as a transmission/reception processing section by a circuit board separately connected to the bus 101.

The transmission/reception functional section executes scrambling processing especially in transmitting order information or order reception information to the other party's computer or in receiving accept information or ordering information from the other party's computer," as described above with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31. An example will be described below. A case wherein information is exchanged between the computer 302 and the computer 301b shown in FIG. 26A will be described. When order information is transmitted from the public information processing section 116 of the computer 302 to the other party's computer 301b, the order information is stored in a transmission information temporary storage section 501. For example, a merchandise or product code as the order information and its condition information (some pieces of information related to the merchandise or product shown in FIG. 25A) are stored in a key .information temporary storage section 502. The order information (information described in the order form shown in FIG. 28) is supplied from the transmission information temporary storage section 501 to a scrambling section 503. On the other hand, key information is supplied from the key information temporary storage section 502 to the scrambling section 503. The order information is scrambled by some pieces of order information (classification information, merchandise name, purpose, unit price, or other information) . The scrambled order information is stored in a temporary storage section 504. Next, the address of the other party's computer 301b as the transmission destination is added to the data header by a transmission destination address adding section 505 to form a transmission packet. At this time, the computer address of the computer 302 as the transmission source is also added. The transmission packet is transferred to the transmission data buffer 106.

When a transmission packet is present, the transmission data buffer 106 transfers the transmission packet to the transmission/reception interface 104 periodically or at preset time. The transmission/ reception interface 104 transmits data to the other party's computer 301b added to the data header.

Referring to FIG. 33, the received data processing section is particularly extracted from the transmission/reception functional section in the computer 301b (the transmission data processing section has the same arrangement as that described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 32) .

The received data is stored in the received data buffer via the transmission/reception interface. Whether data is stored in the received data buffer 105 is confirmed by check processing by the system control section 100. The received data is fetched from the received data buffer 105 and stored in a received data temporary storage section 552. It is confirmed here that a packet from another computer has been received. Partial data in the received data temporary storage section 552 is received by a key information testing section 553. The partial data is data obtained by scrambling information such as a merchandise code, product code, or condition information by the same information. The data is predetermined in the system. When the partial data is descrambled by partial data held by the public information holder, the merchandise code, product code, or condition information is decrypted.

Public information held by a public information holder contains a plurality of merchandise codes. The public information holder information cannot know merchandise that is ordered by the user. Hence, various merchandise codes are selected, and the partial data is decrypted. It is then checked that the decrypted data is a merchandise code contained in the public information. This check is done by an authentic decrypted data checking section 555. If the merchandise code is accurately decrypted, it is found that the merchandise code is key information used by the computer 302. The merchandise code is determined as key data. This determination is done by a key data determination section 556.

The key data determined by the key data determination section 556 is supplied to a descrambling section 557. The descrambling section 557 descrambles all transmitted scrambled data using the key data. The decrypted descrambled data are stored in a temporary storage section 558.

Subsequent processing is executed by the public information processing section 116. The public information processing section 116 loads the received data into the business data of the basic system.

The above scrambling and descrambling processes employ the code of ordered merchandise or the like as key information. Consequently, on the network, the merchandise that is ordered by the user is difficult to know. Hence, the security of key information is high. Information transmission and reception between the public information holder and the computer of the user who refers to the public information have been described above. The scrambling and descrambling techniques can also be employed in transmitting information from a given computer to another computer using external link information.

When information is to be transmitted from a given computer to another computer, the code of sales merchandise or ordered merchandise is used as key data. On the receiving side, to search for a merchandise code used as key data, decryption processing is executed by combining part of received data and the merchandise code held by the computer, thereby determining a merchandise code with which normal decryption can be performed. A merchandise code used when normal decryption is executed is key data for decrypting the received data.

Referring to FIG. 34, data of an order slip is stored in a temporary storage section 601. Information of the order slip (so-called worksheet) contains the handling date/time, slip code, transaction partner, person-in-charge code, ordered merchandise code, unit price, quantity, and designated due date. To transmit the information through the network, e.g., the merchandise code is used as key data. The merchandise code is sent from the temporary storage section 601 to a register 602. The merchandise code is supplied to a scrambling data generation section 603 as an initial value. Scrambling data is supplied to a scrambling section 604. The merchandise code in the temporary storage section 601 is scrambled first. The scrambled merchandise code is stored at a specific portion in a temporary storage section 605. The remaining pieces of information (handling date/time, slip code, transaction partner, person-in-charge code, unit price, quantity, and designated due date) are read out for the temporary storage section 601. The merchandise code is supplied to the scrambling data generator 603 as the initial value again. The remaining pieces of information are scrambled using the scrambling data obtained from the scrambling data generation section 603, and stored in the temporary storage section 605.

The information is added with the transmission destination address and self computer address and transmitted.

To decrypt scrambled data by the receiving-side computer, decryption of the merchandise code portion is attempted first, as described with reference to FIG. 33. If the decrypted data matches the initial value (key information) of the scrambling data generator 603, it reveals that the initial value at this time is the key information for the entire data. If the decrypted data does not match the initial value used at this time, another merchandise code is selected and used as an initial value. When various merchandise codes are converted, and the decrypted data does match the initial value (key information) at all, a message is sent to the other party's computer to indicate that reception and decryption is impossible.

As described above, the system of the present invention has a transmission information temporary storage section for temporarily storing transmission business information integrally containing at least identification information of merchandise to be handled such as sales merchandise or ordered merchandise, information such as a quantity and price related to the merchandise to be handled, and identification information of an input side which inputs the information. The system also has a key information temporary storage section for temporarily storing the identification information of the merchandise to be handled, which is contained in the transmission business information, as key data. The transmission business information is scrambled by the key data and transmitted to a computer at a transmission destination. The merchandise identification information is received from the computer at the transmission destination.

The receiving side has a storage means for temporarily storing scrambled transmission business information obtained by scrambling transmission business information integrally containing at least identification information of merchandise to be handled such as sales merchandise or ordered merchandise, information such as a quantity and price related to the merchandise to be handled, and identification information of an input side which inputs the information using, as key data, the identification information of the merchandise to be handled, which is contained in the transmission business -information. The receiving side also has a trial descrambling means for sequentially selecting a plurality of pieces of holding identification information of a plurality of pieces of merchandise to be handled, which are contained in public information, partially descrambling the scrambled transmission business information, and determining whether normal identification information is obtained.

When the trial descrambling means obtains the normal identification information, holding identification information selected at this time is determined as key data. The scrambled transmission business information is descrambled using the key data determined by the key data determination means.

In the above processing, a means for loading decrypted information (descrambled data) into the data of the basic system of its own is also prepared. The data storage form of the business data section

113 will be described next with reference to FIG. 35. In the system of the present invention, data files of commercial distribution, physical distribution, and monetary distribution are stored total files for each day, total files for each month, and total files for each year. In the example shown in FIG. 35, databases used to create an expected balance sheet, expected profit and loss statement, and expected cash flow statement for Wednesday of the second week in March, 2001 are automatically constructed. When these databases are used, a change in business transactions (commercial distribution, monetary distribution, and physical distribution) in the past can easily be made into a graph and observed. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spir-it or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

C L I M S 1. A business data processing apparatus comprising: a first data processing section which obtains at least first total data of input data; a first step group (A4, 111) formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to said first data processing section; a second data processing section (A4, 111) which obtains second total data by totalizing the first total data of said first step group; a second step group (A4, 111) formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to said second data processing section; a third data processing section (A4, 111) which obtains third total data by totalizing the second total data of said second step group; a third step group (A4, 111) formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to said third data processing section; a fourth data processing section (A4, 111) which obtains fourth total data by totalizing the third total data of said third step group; a fourth step group (A4, 111) formed by assembling a plurality of data processing sections similar to said fourth data processing section; an external link information section (112) which has computer address information of a transmission destination and step information of data to be transmitted so as to output total data of an arbitrary step in the first total data of said first step group, the second total data of said second step group, the third total data of said third step group, and the fourth total data of said fourth step group; and means (A5) for referring to the step information of the data to be transmitted and the computer address information of the transmission destination in said external link information section and transmitting total data of a designated step to a designated computer.

2. A business data processing apparatus comprising: a data processing & storage section (100, 113) having at least a first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections; an internal link information section (111, 100) which stores internal link information to transmit data of each step data processing section to an upper step data processing section to which each step data processing section belongs; and an external link information section (112, 100) which stores external link information representing a transmission destination to which data of an arbitrary step data section in the step data processing sections is transmitted through a network.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an internal link changing means (A7) for the internal link information.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said internal link changing means loads internal link change information through a reception section.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said internal link changing means further comprises means for changing the internal link information of said internal link information section at a designated time by referring to activation designated time information contained in the internal link change information.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising external link changing means (A7) for the external link information.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said external link changing means for the external link information further comprises means for loading external link change information through a reception section.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said external link changing means further comprises means for changing the external link information of said external link information section at a designated time by referring to activation designated time information contained in the external link change information.

9. A business data processing apparatus comprising: a first data processing & storage section (1131, 100) which receives both information of a consolidated management report and information of an unconsolidated management report, said first data processing & storage section having at least a first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections; a second data processing & storage section (1132, 100) which receives the information of the unconsolidated management report, said second data processing & storage section having at least a first step data processing section, a plurality of second step data processing sections belonging to the first step data processing section, and a plurality of third step data processing sections respectively belonging to the plurality of second step data processing sections; an internal link information section (111) which stores internal link information to transmit data of each step data processing section in said first and second data processing & storage sections to an upper step data processing section to which each step data processing section belongs; and an external link information section (112) which stores external link information representing a transmission destination to which data of an arbitrary step data section in the step data processing sections in said first and second data processing & storage section through a network.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an input data processing section which supplies data to said first and second data processing & storage sections, said input data processing section comprising means for selectively distributing input data to said first and second data processing & storage sections by referring to identification data registered in advance when the input data is supplied.

11. A business data processing apparatus comprising: a transmission information temporary storage section (501) which temporarily stores transmission business information integrally containing at least identification information of merchandise to be handled, including sales merchandise and ordered merchandise, information including a quantity and price related to the merchandise to be handled, and identification information of an input side which inputs the information; a key information temporary storage section (502) which temporarily stores the identification information of the merchandise to be handled, which is contained in the transmission business information, as key data; and means (503) for scrambling the transmission business information by the key data and transmitting the transmission business information to a computer at a transmission destination.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the identification information of the merchandise is received from the computer at the transmission destination.

13. A business data processing apparatus comprising: storage means (552) for temporarily storing scrambled transmission business information obtained by scrambling transmission business information integrally containing at least identification information of merchandise to be handled, including sales merchandise and ordered merchandise, information including a quantity and price related to the merchandise to be handled, and identification information of an input side which inputs the information using, as key data, the identification information of the merchandise to be handled, which is contained in the transmission business information; trial descrambling means (554) for sequentially selecting a plurality of pieces of holding identification information of a plurality of pieces of merchandise to be handled, which are contained in public information, partially descrambling the scrambled transmission business information, and determining whether normal identification information is obtained; key data determination means (555, 556) for, when said trial descrambling means obtains the normal identification information, determining holding- identification information selected at the time as the key data; and descrambling means (557) for descrambling the scrambled transmission business information using the key data determined by said key data determination means.

14. A business data processing apparatus using a network, comprising: means for loading public information from a computer through a network; public information display means for displaying the loaded public information and a worksheet to input information of a base system; and means for designating arbitrary data in the public information to copy the data to an information input section of the worksheet and to process the public information as data of the basic system.