Display control system, display control method, and display control program

Abstract

A server (20) updates extension component information in a common extension component holder on the basis of information transmitted from a terminal (10), and transmits the updated extension component information to a terminal (10) of each user who uses the extension component information. Each terminal (10) updates its own extension component information by using the extension component information received from the server (20), and uses the updated extension component information to perform display control and input control of an extension UI. When an extension component subject to update is not in focus on the terminal (10), the terminal (10) updates the extension component immediately. When the extension component subject to update is receiving an input (in focus) on the terminal (10), the terminal (10) updates the extension component after the focus is removed.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a display control system, a display control method, and a display control program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to assist a user's operation on the screen of a Web system, an extended UI (extended UI) for assisting the user's operation is prepared separately from the UI (existing UI) provided on the screen of the Web system, and the extended UI is overlaid on the existing UI on the screen. There is a technique for displaying. For example, there is a technique for performing user operation support by displaying an extended UI showing a list of information (input candidate list) that is an input candidate for the existing UI over the existing UI on the screen. In this technique, when the extended UI overlaid on the existing UI on the screen receives a user operation, the content of the operation is passed to the existing UI. Thereby, the Web system can process the user operation as if it were performed on the existing UI (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, the extended component information for controlling the above extended UI is often used by a plurality of users. Therefore, in order to update the extended component information, an administrator or the like needs to create a file necessary for updating the extended component information and distribute the created file to the terminals of each user. For this reason, there is a problem that the extended component information on each user's terminal cannot be updated promptly. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to promptly update the extended component information on each user's terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a display control system comprising a server and terminals for multiple users, wherein the server includes a storage unit that stores extension component information indicating the content of display control and input control for each extension component of the extended UI of a Web system, an update unit that updates the extension component information based on information transmitted from the user's terminal, and a transmission unit that transmits the updated extension component information to the terminal of a user who uses the extension component information, and the user's terminal includes a receiving unit that receives the updated extension component information, an extension component update unit that reflects the information of the extension component to be updated in the received extension component information to the extension component information of its own terminal according to the operation status of the extension component, and a control processing unit that performs display control and input control for each extension component using the reflected extension component information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the information on expansion components on each user's terminal can be updated quickly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the system's overview. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the system's operation overview. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the update process for extension components. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the system configuration. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing steps performed by the terminal. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing steps performed by the terminal. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure performed by the terminal. [Figure 8]Figure 8 shows an example of a computer that runs a display control program. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0009] [Extended UI] First, the extended UI (User Interface) in this embodiment will be briefly described. The extended UI is a UI that is overlaid on the existing UI (the UI originally provided by the Web system) that makes up the screen of the Web system in order to assist the user of the Web system. For example, the extended UI displays input suggestions for the user and information indicating what operations the user should perform on the extended UI, and accepts operation input from the user. The extended UI and the content of the operation input are then passed to the existing UI corresponding to the extended UI. The Web system then processes based on the content of the operation passed to the existing UI. As a result, the Web system processes the user's operation as if it had been performed on the existing UI. This extended UI can be realized, for example, by the technology described in Patent Document 1.

[0010] [overview] Next, an overview of the display control system (system) of this embodiment will be described using Figure 1. The system comprises a terminal 10 for each user and a server 20. Each terminal 10 is a device that provides user operation support through an extended UI. The server 20 is a server that provides extended component information to each terminal 10. Each terminal 10 displays the extended UI on the Web system using the extended component information provided by the server 20.

[0011] In this embodiment, the system manages the expansion component information, which was previously managed individually by each terminal 10, on the server 20. When the expansion component information is updated by any of the terminals 10, the server 20 transmits the updated expansion component information to each terminal 10.

[0012] For example, consider the case where, as shown in Figure 1, the extension component information is updated on user A's terminal 10 in order to display the extension UI. In this case, user A's terminal 10 sends the updated extension component information to server 20. Server 20 sends the updated extension component information received from user A's terminal 10 to the terminals 10 of each user (for example, user B, user C) who will be using that extension component information. As a result, the updated extension UI is displayed on each user's terminal 10.

[0013] An example of system operation will be explained using Figure 2. For example, when user A's terminal 10A starts the extended UI system, it establishes a session with server 20 and loads the extended component information to be updated from server 20's common extended component information storage unit (S1). Subsequently, when terminal 10 updates the extended component information, it sends the updated extended component information to server 20 (S2: Extended component information update).

[0014] Subsequently, the server 20 sends the updated extension component information to each terminal 10 that will use the said extension component information (terminal 10B of user B, terminal 10C of user C) (S3: Update of extension component information). For example, based on the communication session information, the server 20 identifies the terminal 10 that previously received the said extension component information as a terminal 10 that will use the said extension component information. Then, the server 20 sends the updated extension component information to the identified terminal 10.

[0015] By performing the above-described process, the system can quickly update the information on the expansion components used by each terminal 10.

[0016] Note that the extended part information includes information on each extended part displayed on the Web system. That is, the updated extended part information may include information on extended parts that are not the update targets in addition to the information on the extended parts to be updated. Therefore, when the terminal 10 receives the updated extended part information from the server 20, it reflects only the information on the extended parts that are the update targets in the extended part information of its own terminal 10 (performs the update process of the extended parts). Here, the terminal 10 controls the timing of executing the update process of the extended parts according to the operation status of each extended part displayed on the Web system.

[0017] For example, as shown in (1) of FIG. 3, when the extended part to be updated in the updated extended part information is an extended part newly added or an extended part whose value has not been changed during the use of the Web system, the terminal 10 immediately performs the update process of the extended part.

[0018] On the other hand, for example, as shown in (2) of FIG. 3, when the extended part to be updated is an extended part that the user of the terminal 10 has focused on or an extended part for which the user is inputting a value, the terminal 10 waits until the focus on the extended part is removed, and after the focus is removed, it performs the update process of the extended part.

[0019] By doing so, each terminal 10 can update the extended part information received from the server 20 to the extended part information of its own terminal 10 without disturbing the operation of the extended parts by the user.

[0020] [Configuration Example] Next, a configuration example of the system will be described using FIG. 4. The system includes, for example, a plurality of terminals 10 and a server 20. Each terminal 10 and the server 20 are communicably connected by a network such as the Internet.

[0021] [Terminal] Terminal 10 comprises an input unit 11, an output unit 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15. The input unit 11 is responsible for inputting various types of information to terminal 10. The input unit 11 is an interface for receiving various types of information from input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. The output unit 12 is an interface for outputting various types of information to a display device such as a display. The output unit 12 is an interface for outputting extended UIs on a web system to the display, for example.

[0022] The communication unit 13 is a communication interface for data communication with other devices via a network. The communication unit 13 establishes a communication session with, for example, the server 20. Then, using the established communication session, the communication unit 13 receives expansion component information from the server 20 and sends the expansion component information updated by the terminal 10 to the server 20.

[0023] The memory unit 14 stores various information that the control unit 15 refers to when it operates, and various information acquired when the control unit 15 operates. Here, the memory unit 14 is, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disc.

[0024] The storage unit 14 stores, for example, extended component information that indicates information about the extended UI (extended component) corresponding to each UI (input item) that constitutes the screen of the Web system. The extended component information is, for example, information that indicates the display control and input control content of the extended component. The extended component information is, for example, information that indicates the display position of the extended component corresponding to each input item on the screen of the Web system, the display information of the extended component, and the input rules applied to the extended component (for example, selection input from a dropdown menu showing input candidates, text input, numerical input, etc.).

[0025] The control unit 15 is responsible for controlling the entire terminal 10. The control unit 15 comprises a receiving unit 151, a control processing unit 152, an expansion component creation / editing unit (creation / editing unit) 153, and an expansion component update unit 154.

[0026] The receiving unit 151 receives expansion component information from the server 20. The control processing unit 152 performs display control and input control for each expansion component based on the expansion component information stored in the storage unit 14.

[0027] The Extension Parts Creation and Editing Unit 153 creates and edits extension parts information. For example, based on user input, the Extension Parts Creation and Editing Unit 153 creates new extension parts information and edits (updates) existing extension parts information. The Extension Parts Creation and Editing Unit 153 then sends the newly created and updated extension parts information to the server 20.

[0028] The expansion component update unit 154 updates the expansion component information in the storage unit 14 using the expansion component information (updated expansion component information) received from the server 20. For example, the expansion component update unit 154 reflects the information of the expansion component to be updated in the expansion component information of the storage unit 14, based on the expansion component information received from the server 20.

[0029] In this case, the expansion component to be updated in the expansion component information received from the server 20 may be currently being operated by the user of the terminal 10. In such cases, the expansion component update unit 154 controls the timing of reflecting the information of the expansion component to be updated in the expansion component information of the storage unit 14, according to the operation status of the expansion component to be updated.

[0030] For example, as shown in Figure 3, the expansion component update unit 154 classifies each expansion component shown in the expansion component information received from the server 20 into the following categories (0) to (3). Then, the expansion component update unit 154 performs an update process for the expansion component according to the classified category.

[0031] For example, the extension component update unit 154 does not perform update processing on extension components that have not changed after the update, among the extension components indicated in the extension component information received from the server 20 ((0)). On the other hand, the extension component update unit 154 immediately performs update processing on extension components that are newly added, and extension components whose values ​​have not been changed while using the Web system, among the extension components indicated in the extension component information received from the server 20 ((1)).

[0032] Furthermore, the extension component update unit 154 waits for the extension component currently focused on or being input by the user of terminal 10, among the extension components indicated in the extension component information received from server 20, until the focus is lost, and then performs update processing on the extension component ((2)). In addition, the extension component update unit 154 immediately performs update processing on any extension component whose value has been changed while using the Web system, but which is not currently focused on by the user, among the extension components indicated in the extension component information received from server 20 ((3)).

[0033] In the cases of (2) and (3) above, the expansion component update unit 154 performs value update processing, etc., treating the values ​​entered by the user before the expansion component update as if they had been entered into the updated expansion component.

[0034] [server] Next, the server 20 will be described. The server 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The communication unit 21 is a communication interface for data communication with other devices via a network. The communication unit 21 establishes a communication session with, for example, the terminal 10. The communication unit 21 then transmits expansion component information to the terminal 10 and receives updated expansion component information from the terminal 10 through the established communication session.

[0035] The memory unit 22 stores various information that the control unit 23 refers to when it operates, and various information acquired when the control unit 23 operates. Here, the memory unit 22 is, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM or flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disc.

[0036] The storage unit 22 includes, for example, a common expansion component information storage unit that stores expansion component information. The storage unit 22 also stores information (communication session information) indicating communication sessions established with each terminal 10.

[0037] The control unit 23 is responsible for controlling the entire server 20. The control unit 23 comprises a session management unit 231, an update unit 232, and a transmission unit 233.

[0038] The session management unit 231 establishes a communication session with each terminal 10. The session management unit 231 then records the information of the established communication session in the communication session information. Furthermore, if, for example, extension component information is transmitted to the terminal 10 through the established communication session, the session management unit 231 records the transmitted extension component information in the communication session information.

[0039] The update unit 232 updates the extended component information. For example, when the update unit 232 receives updated extended component information from terminal 10, it uses that updated extended component information to update the extended component information in the common extended component information holding unit.

[0040] The transmitting unit 233 transmits expansion component information to each terminal 10. For example, based on a request from a terminal 10, the transmitting unit 233 transmits expansion component information from the common expansion component information holding unit to that terminal 10. Also, for example, when the expansion component information is updated by the update unit 232, the transmitting unit 233 transmits the updated expansion component information to the terminal 10 that previously transmitted the said expansion component information. The terminal 10 that previously transmitted the said expansion component information can be identified based on the communication session information described above.

[0041] [Example of processing procedure] Next, an example of the processing procedure for updating extended component information in terminal 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 5, when the value of an extended component is changed by user operation (S11), the control processing unit 152 of terminal 10 records the extended component to be changed and the changed value in the value change list (S12).

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, when the receiving unit 151 of the terminal 10 receives updated extension component information from the server 20 by another user (S21), the extension component update unit 154 determines whether or not all of the extension component information received in S21 has been processed (S22).

[0043] Here, if the expansion component update unit 154 determines that there is information on an unprocessed expansion component in the expansion component information received in S21 (No in S22), it retrieves one piece of information on an unprocessed expansion component from the expansion component information (S23). Then, the expansion component update unit 154 determines whether the information on that expansion component has been updated (S24), and if it has been updated (Yes in S24), it determines whether the expansion component is currently being input by the user (S25). On the other hand, if the information on that expansion component has not been updated (No in S24), it returns to S22.

[0044] If the expansion component update unit 154 determines in S25 that the expansion component is currently being input by the user (Yes in S25), it adds the identification information of the expansion component to the delayed update list (S29). Then, the expansion component update unit 154 updates the information of the expansion component after the user has lost focus on that expansion component (S30). After that, it returns to S22.

[0045] On the other hand, if in S25 the expansion component update unit 154 determines that the expansion component has not been input by the user (No in S25) and that it is a newly added expansion component (Yes in S26), it updates the information of the expansion component (S30). Then, it returns to S22.

[0046] On the other hand, if in S26 the expansion component update unit 154 determines that the expansion component is not a newly added expansion component (No in S26) and is included in the value change list (Yes in S27), it updates the value of the expansion component based on the value change list (S28). Then, the process proceeds to S30.

[0047] Furthermore, if the expansion component update unit 154 determines in S27 that the expansion component is not included in the value change list (No in S27), the process proceeds to S30.

[0048] Furthermore, if the expansion component update unit 154 determines in S22 that it has finished processing all the expansion component information received in S21 (Yes in S22), it terminates the process.

[0049] As shown in Figure 7, when the terminal 10's expansion component update unit 154 detects that the user's input focus on an expansion component has been lost (S41), it determines whether all expansion components in the delayed update list have been processed (S42). If the expansion component update unit 154 determines that there are unprocessed expansion components in the delayed update list (No in S42), it retrieves one unprocessed expansion component from the delayed update list (S43). The expansion component update unit 154 then updates the value of the expansion component with the value entered by the user (S44) and updates the information of the expansion component (S45). After that, it returns to S42. If the expansion component update unit 154 determines that all expansion components in the delayed update list have been processed (Yes in S42), it terminates the process.

[0050] In this way, the expansion component update unit 154 can update the expansion components according to the operation status of the expansion components on its terminal 10.

[0051] [System configuration, etc.] Furthermore, the components of each part shown in the diagram are functional concepts and do not necessarily need to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the specific forms of distribution and integration of each device are not limited to those shown in the diagram, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various loads and usage conditions. Moreover, all or any part of the processing functions performed by each device can be realized by a CPU and the program executed on that CPU, or by hardware using wired logic.

[0052] Furthermore, among the processes described in the embodiments described above, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically by known methods. In addition, the processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified.

[0053] [program] The aforementioned terminal 10 and server 20 can be implemented by installing a program (display control program) as packaged software or online software on a desired computer. For example, by having the above program run on an information processing device, the information processing device can function as terminal 10 and server 20. The information processing device referred to here includes mobile communication terminals such as smartphones, mobile phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System), as well as terminals such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

[0054] Figure 8 shows an example of a computer running a display control program. Computer 1000 has, for example, memory 1010 and a CPU 1020. Computer 1000 also has a hard disk drive interface 1030, a disk drive interface 1040, a serial port interface 1050, a video adapter 1060, and a network interface 1070. These components are connected by a bus 1080.

[0055] Memory 1010 includes ROM (Read Only Memory) 1011 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 1012. ROM 1011 stores, for example, a boot program such as BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The hard disk drive interface 1030 is connected to the hard disk drive 1090. The disk drive interface 1040 is connected to the disk drive 1100. For example, a removable storage medium such as a magnetic disk or optical disk is inserted into the disk drive 1100. The serial port interface 1050 is connected to, for example, a mouse 1110 and a keyboard 1120. The video adapter 1060 is connected to, for example, a display 1130.

[0056] The hard disk drive 1090 stores, for example, the OS 1091, application programs 1092, program modules 1093, and program data 1094. That is, the programs that define each process executed by the terminal 10 and server 20 are implemented as program modules 1093 in which executable code is written. The program modules 1093 are stored, for example, on the hard disk drive 1090. For example, a program module 1093 for executing processes similar to the functional configuration of the terminal 10 and server 20 is stored on the hard disk drive 1090. Note that the hard disk drive 1090 may be replaced by an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0057] Furthermore, the data used in the processing of the above-described embodiment is stored as program data 1094 in, for example, memory 1010 or hard disk drive 1090. The CPU 1020 then reads the program module 1093 and program data 1094 stored in memory 1010 or hard disk drive 1090 into RAM 1012 as needed and executes them.

[0058] Furthermore, the program module 1093 and program data 1094 are not limited to being stored in the hard disk drive 1090; for example, they may be stored in a removable storage medium and read by the CPU 1020 via a disk drive 1100 or the like. Alternatively, the program module 1093 and program data 1094 may be stored in another computer connected via a network (LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), etc.). The program module 1093 and program data 1094 may then be read by the CPU 1020 from the other computer via a network interface 1070. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 10 devices 11 Input section 12 Output section 13,21 Communications Department 14,22 Storage section 15,23 Control Unit 20 servers 151 Receiving Unit 152 Control Processing Unit 153 Expansion parts creation / Editorial department 154 Expansion Parts Replacement Section 231 Session Management Department 232 Update Department 233 Transmitter

Claims

1. A display control system comprising a server and terminals for multiple users, The aforementioned server, A storage unit that stores information about extension components, which shows the content of the display control and input control of each extension component in the extended UI of the web system. An update unit updates the extended component information based on the information transmitted from the user's terminal, The system includes a transmission unit that transmits the updated extended component information to a user's terminal that uses the extended component information, The aforementioned user's terminal is, A receiving unit that receives the updated extended component information, An expansion component update unit that reflects the information of the expansion component to be updated in the received expansion component information to the expansion component information of its own terminal according to the operation status of the expansion component, A control processing unit that uses the updated extended component information to control the display and input of each extended component. A display control system characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The aforementioned server, The system further includes a session management unit that records the communication session when the extended component information is transmitted to the user's terminal. The aforementioned transmitting unit Based on the record of the aforementioned communication session, the updated extension component information is sent to the terminal of the user who previously sent the extension component information. The display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is as described above.

3. The aforementioned expansion component update unit is, If the received extension component information indicates that the extension component to be updated is currently being operated on, the information of the extension component will be reflected in the extension component information of the terminal only after the operation on the extension component is completed. The display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is as described above.

4. The aforementioned expansion component update unit is, If the extension component to be updated is currently undergoing an input operation, the value entered into the extension component before the update is processed as if it were entered into the extension component after the update. The display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is as described above.

5. The aforementioned user's terminal is, The system includes a creation / editing unit that, based on instructions from the user, creates new information on the extended component or edits the extended component information obtained from the server and sends it to the server. The display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is as described above.

6. A display control method performed by a display control system comprising a server and terminals for multiple users, The server, which includes a storage unit that stores information about extension components that shows the content of display control and input control for each extension component of the extended UI of the web system, A step of updating the extended component information based on the information transmitted from the user's terminal, The process of transmitting the updated extension component information to the user's terminal that uses the extension component information, The aforementioned user's terminal, A step of receiving the updated extended component information, The process of reflecting the information of the extension component to be updated in the received extension component information to the extension component information of the terminal itself, according to the operation status of the extension component, The process involves using the updated extended component information to control the display and input of each extended component. A display control method characterized by including the following.

7. The process of receiving extension component information from the server, which indicates the content of the display control and input control of each extension component of the Web system's extended UI, updated by the input of instructions from another user's terminal, The process of reflecting the information of the extension component to be updated in the received extension component information to the extension component information of the terminal itself, according to the operation status of the extension component, The process involves using the updated extended component information to control the display and input of each extended component. A display control program to be executed on the aforementioned terminal computer.

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