WO2006114880A1

WO2006114880A1 - Information linkage window system

Info

Publication number: WO2006114880A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/007678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tsuneo Murate; Nobuaki Kanno
Original assignee: Yamatake Corporation
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-22
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: JPWO2006114880A1; JP4718545B2

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To easily and flexibly realize information linkage between application software. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A window system on a computer screen transmits/receives data of structure described in XML or other meta language between a plurality of programs. The system includes means for communicating necessary information and means for performing screen display based on the information. For example, in a computer system for production and production management, a facility name is defined in a tag identifier and a logic name such as a pointer name is defined in the data structure. By arbitrary pointing operation on the sender program, a drag operation by a mouse is followed by a drop operation to the receiver program area, thereby data described in meta is communicated between programs. As a result, the receiver program autonomously performs schemer interpretation and executes the target screen display operation.

Description

Specification

Information linkage window system

Technical field

[0001] It relates to technology related to computer human interface, and is used in window systems that work on a wide variety of information display screens as production management, manufacturing management systems, and other business portals in the manufacturing industry.

Conventional technology

[0002] With recent advances in computer hardware and software, the terminal display screen has become high-definition and the number of display pixels has improved, so it is possible to configure multiple windows on one screen. Independent programs for each window can perform their functions.

However, these programs have almost independent design forms, and the cooperation between the programs is not necessarily taken. When trying to cooperate, there is a need for a review from the design of each program. It has been quite difficult to collaborate on information.

[0003] A program that executes two functions in a computer is called Program A and Program B. When data is communicated between them by drag and drop, etc., the format of the data to be communicated Was fixed, and it was necessary to take a form that was strictly defined between the two programs Α and 意味, such as the meaning of the data to be passed, the data type, the data length, and the arrangement order of the passed data. In the past, many techniques have been devised for cutting the screen window, tiling attachment, overlap assignment, etc., and the example of Patent Document 1 was one of the suitable examples. This does not solve the problem of the present invention.

[0004] Figure 1 shows the image of the window system. Here, in the area from the center to the right, a program that executes the graphic screen of the upper plant Α, and executes the trend (history graph) screen of the lower process variable. If you want to select a program Β, you have often selected a graphic object on the Program Α window and saw the transition of process variables defined there! /. This operation can be performed by dragging or dropping the graphic object. It is desirable to create it (indicated by the operation indicated by the dotted line in the figure). This can be achieved by establishing communication rules between program A and program B, and communicating data from program A to program B accordingly. In fact, if a design is made using a software interface function as described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to realize advanced functions.

In addition, as a term for operating a pointing device such as a mouse, “Select” is to press a button in an object area, “Drag” is to drag while holding down the button, and “Drop” is a screen. Generally means to release a button in an area, etc.

[0005] However, in such a method, the specification is fixed, and there is a problem in terms of extensibility as a system. For example, if the program that receives the information is not a trend screen, for example, a separate maintenance management screen for equipment, there may be a desire for a high-level equipment name, etc. The point name is not sufficient, and higher logical names such as area names and device names are required. In this case, it is possible to switch the communication data for each recipient program that is the partner of the information sender, but this places a heavy burden on the sender program. On the other hand, for the receiver program, for example, the trend screen is desired to be linked from the process alarm list screen, etc., but at this time, the alarm list time program etc. In order to use the trend display near the time described in (1), it is desirable to be able to receive even time data. In this way, in a system in which multiple programs are randomly related to senders and receivers, it is extremely difficult to deal with information that depends on a fixed data communication format. Patent Document 1: JP-A-7-44351

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-11355

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] Information linkage between application software is to be realized simply and flexibly.

In other words, programs and programs that do not depend on each other, And providing a comprehensive information screen environment by linking information to each other.

As a result, it is possible for the operator to arbitrarily obtain a link function between programs, while for the software creator, it is intended to realize the function relatively easily than before.

Means for solving the problem

[0007] The first feature is a data structure. The present invention provides a system that defines a data structure that does not depend on a program for displaying a screen in the system, and that each program can set and decode only necessary portions according to the specifications, and further execute display. There are features. There, the sender program can send data without being conscious of the receiver program, while the receiver program receives data without being conscious of the sender program, and after decoding necessary and common parts, Only the basic data structure is defined so that the display can be realized.

Therefore, a meta language is used. Meta language means a language for describing languages. The power of HTML and C language for describing Web pages Recently, XML (extensible Markup Language), which is an extension of HTML, is mentioned.

The meta language only defines the basic structure, and the structure can be freely determined within the scope. The language user can freely define the elements and attributes, and the order in which they are arranged.

[0008] The second feature is the program structure. The present invention defines the software structure composed of program cars, and sets the standard of the program structure so that each program can build a window system linked with information only by having a simple mechanism. It is characterized by.

Each program includes at least a routine for executing processing corresponding to selection, dragging, and dropping operations of objects (meaning selectable target units on the screen) from the pointing device. It has a structure that can be a recipient.

[0009] The above two points are the gist of the invention. The invention described in claim 1 relates to a plurality of programs on a window system that stores a data structure described in a meta language in a memory at the time of dragging, loads a memory at the time of dropping, and provides a screen drawing as a result of the decoding. The invention is shown.

The invention according to claim 2 is an invention of a method related to a window system in which drag and drop operation step forces viewed from the operation surface are also realized.

Claims 3 and 4 show the inventions according to claims 1 and 2, respectively, in which the meta language is limited to XML.

[0010] The invention of claim 5 is the invention of claim 1, wherein one function is further added to the storage means. This additional function is called the reflect function here, but this is done by checking the acceptance attributes of all programs in advance, searching for a drop-acceptable program at the start of dragging, It means something that is exaggerated to distinguish it from things.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] The data structure described in the meta language is basically created as a flat text document, and no matter what meta language is used, there is no difference in the present invention. I will explain.

An XML element is a unit of information that begins with <element name> and ends with <element name>. The element name can be freely determined by the program. (In addition, elements that do not have content are indicated by <element name />.)

On the other hand, in order to think about the name of an element and tell it to the computer, a schema is sometimes written. Schema is a kind of language, and there are rules to describe it. There are several types of schema for XML. Major examples include DTD (Document Type Definition) described as part of the XML 1.0 specification. Normally, an XML document that describes elements and attributes is created according to the rules defined in this schema. The created XML document can be checked against the TV by checking it against the schema and writing it according to the rules.

However, it is sufficient to implement the present invention by using the simplicity of XML and deciphering the recipient program power ¾ ML document element by element without using a schema. So I won't touch the schema anymore.

(1) Data structure

(a) Example 1

For illustration of Figure 1, taking Figure 2 in the same layout as an example, a graphic figure corresponding to the program of the sender and receiver operating in the divided windows on one terminal screen 10 respectively. If there is a drawn system diagram screen 11 and a trend screen 12 that can display process variables, the data that the graphic parts (in this example: distillation tower) in the selectable object 21 in the system diagram screen 11 have Is described in XML as follows.

Soga 1

<Device name> Distillation tower A102 </ Device name>

<Point name> A102-FLOW.PV / Point name>

<Point name> A102-TEMP1.PV / Point name>

<Point name> A102-LEVEL.PV / Point name>

Point name> A102-TEMP2.PV / Point name>

</ Monitoring point>

</ Equipment name> On the other hand, if the data that can be processed by the trend screen 12 is defined in XML, it will be as follows.

</ Display pen>

</ Energy

[0013] Here, the object 21 (distillation tower) in the system diagram screen 11 is selected and dragged with a pointing device such as a mouse, and dropped to the trend screen 12 to display the history graph of the process variables belonging to it. If this is done (the operation is indicated by arrow 31), the information shown in Definition 1 is sent as data. Since the trend screen 12 can understand <point name> defined in definition 2 of this information as a common element name definition, the trend screen automatically assigns four point names to trend display pens 1 to 4. And operate to display the trend at the current time.

In this way, the logical names between <element name> <element name> are communicated between screen programs. The sender program on the system diagram screen 11 sends the XML defined in the object, extracts only the logical names common to both from the XML received by the receiver program on the trend screen 12, and executes the display according to the specification However, other data can be ignored.

[0014] (b) Example 2

If there is a maintenance management screen 14 as another program, the data power ¾ ML that can be processed by this program 14

―Definition 3―

Device name />

</ Maintenance history>

</ Equipment name>

If defined as </ maintenance information>, select the object outside 21 (distillation tower) in the system diagram screen 11 and drag and drop it on the maintenance management screen 14 (operation 32). ), The information shown in definition 1 is passed as data, but maintenance management screen 14 can understand area name> and <device name> in definition 3 in this information as a common definition. Screen 14 shows that area name: A, equipment name: distillation tower A102 can be displayed regarding the maintenance status history up to the present.

(c) Example 3

For example, assuming that there is an alarm list screen 13 as another program, select an alarm event of one process variable managed by this program, and define data that can be sent to the trend screen 12 in XML The XML looks like this: ―Definition 4―

<Device name> Distillation tower A102 </ Device name>

<Point name> A102-FLOW.PV / Point name>

<Event> Alarm HI occurrence / event>

</ Monitoring point>

</ Equipment name> In this case, when the line object 22 at the point name in the alarm list screen 13 is selected and dragged and dropped on the trend screen 12 (operation 33), the information defined in definition 4 is sent as data. The Here, the alarm occurrence time, etc. can be transmitted using time data dependent on the monitoring point.

On the other hand, the program that works on the trend screen is upgraded and the XML definition is expanded as follows.

―Definition 5―

</ Display pen>

</ Energy usage trend> Since the point name and time in this information can be understood as a common definition, the trend screen 12 of the new program receives the data of the alarm occurrence time of point A102-FLOW.PV. Used as a display parameter. By setting this to, for example, the center time of the time axis, the trend screen near the alarm occurrence time can be displayed.

(2) Program structure

Next, an example of the structural design of the sender program and the receiver program is shown.

The program flow and stored information transition diagram in FIG. The program structure is

Common to both sender and receiver programs. For the sake of simplicity, the “data structure defined in the meta language” will be called “metadata”.

[0017] When a program is called by ENTRY100, most activation methods are event activation with some event power except when it is initially activated. It goes through a branch 110 that accepts periodic events, normal keyboard operation events, mouse events, and other events. It is sufficient that the event for information linkage according to the present invention is branched by at least three discriminating branches 111, 112, and 113 (other events flow in the Other direction and are not shown).

In the operation flow of the sender program, when an object is selected, the branch 111 goes to a downstream object selection process 121 to reset and prepare metadata. When dragging, the branch 112 goes to the metadata store process 122 to store the metadata in the storage means 200.

On the other hand, in the operation flow of the receiver program, at the time of dropping, branch 113 goes to metadata loading and decryption processing 123. Here, necessary processing is performed as appropriate, and execution of drawing and the like is entrusted to the display update main routine 130. The decryption method is mainly applied to self-processing by applying the stored metadata to common definition elements in its own meta-language definition, as in the above-mentioned embodiments (a) to ( It is determined for each program.

[0018] The metadata storage means 200 must be configured with a force composed of a clipboard or other simple memory, or a force metadata storage unit 210 that can be composed of active components such as another program module or can be freely used. is there. This accepts Store / Load from each program and deals with saving / reading data structures described in meta languages.

In addition, when performing a drag operation in the sender program, the reflect processing unit 220 that executes a so-called reflect function of providing a program group that can accept a drop operation subsequent to the drag and a function indicating the screen area is provided. The storage means 200 is positioned as an option.

The reflect processing unit 220 is executed at the timing when the storage process to the metadata storage unit 210 is executed (whether the memory write is detected or the module activation timing is detected). Etc.), the entire window system database (not shown) is examined, and the screen frame of the area of the receiver program having the description definition common to the meta language definition is displayed in red, for example, by displaying it in red. To do. Thereby, operation efficiency can be achieved.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow and will be described. The reflect processing unit 220 is called from the metadata storage means, and first obtains strong metadata stored in the metadata storage unit 210 in a process 221. Next, an area of a candidate program in the system is obtained (process 222). Therefore, the metadata of the receiver program is extracted (process 223). Here, both metadata are compared to check whether there is a common defined element name (process 224). If it exists, the frame display of the receiver program is displayed in red, for example (process 225). If you don't, do nothing and skip. In loop end processing 226, examine the power of programs that can still be recipients. If there is a program, the program area pointer is sequentially advanced in processing 227 and the processing is repeated from processing 223. When all candidate programs have been examined, the process is over (229).

The metadata of the recipient candidate program is set in the management area of the normal window system at the start timing, so the details are omitted.

[0020] The configuration of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in this embodiment. For example, pointing devices include other than mice. The implementation method of the program or storage means shown in Fig. 3 is arbitrary, and it may not be composed of a single execution module, or may be executed by a multitask divided into multiple parts.

In addition, the examples of language definitions are based on XML. Depending on the language specifications defined as other meta languages, various modifications are possible, and even such changes are within the scope of the present invention. Shall.

[0021] As described above, according to the present invention, only the common specifications are defined in the system, and the data structure described in the meta language can be defined and processed independently in each program. The effect is not affected by version upgrades and additions.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] [FIG. 1] An image view of the window system is shown.

[Figure 2] Shows window system program, corresponding screen layout and operation outline. [Figure 3] Shows the program flow and the transition state of metadata storage.

[Figure 4] Flow of reflect processing unit

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] In the window system on the computer screen,

A sender program having means for storing a data structure described in a meta-language defined in the object selected and dragged by the pointing device, and means for storing the data structure;

A receiver program having means for loading a data structure described in a meta language stored when dropped by a pointing device, and means for decoding the data structure and displaying a screen;

Force Configured window system.

[2] In the window system on the computer screen,

Selecting and dragging an object with a pointing device on the sender program window;

A step for storing a data structure described in a meta language defined for the dragged object;

Dropping a pointing device on the receiver program window; loading and decoding a data structure described in a meta language in which the receiver program is stored;

The receiver program draws in the window;

A powerful window system information linkage method.

[3] A window system according to claim 1, wherein the meta language is XML.

[4] The method for linking information in a window system according to claim 2, wherein the meta language is XML.

[5] In the window system of claim 1,

The storage means has a reflect processing unit,

Reflect processing section

A window system characterized by searching for the program that can accept a drop by checking the recipient attributes of all the programs in advance and highlighting the display frame of the acceptable program.