JP3083121B2 - Collaborative information processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method in which a plurality of workstations connected via a network are used to allow a remote user to collaborate in a meeting or a meeting while referring to a common document on a screen. More particularly, the present invention relates to a joint information processing control system that can employ a plurality of processing methods for each of a plurality of APs (application programs).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-23235 discloses a system for electronically supporting collaborative work between remote locations by a plurality of persons.
4, and those described in JP-A-3-250365. The former expands and uses the data in the personal work area to a joint work area that can be accessed by all participants.
The latter is characterized by supporting collaborative editing of documents, group decision-making, distributed meetings, etc. by using e-mail and telephone depending on the information.

[0003] As a technique focusing on an execution method of an AP (application program) for collaborative work, a research report of the Information Processing Society of Japan, "Multimedia communication and distributed processing", Vol.
92, no. 6, there is a "distributed cooperative control method of group application using multimedia distributed attendance conference system (MERMAID) and its implementation example",
This allows existing APs to be used collaboratively with few modifications,
A distributed execution method is adopted as the execution method. Also,
In the systems described in JP-A-3-225548 and JP-A-3-225549, it is possible to perform a joint work by using an existing AP as it is, but a centralized execution method is adopted.

As described above, the execution method of the collaborative AP is roughly divided into a distributed execution method in which each site has an AP and performs processing for input, and the AP is located in one place.
Therefore, there are two methods, a centralized method of collecting and processing inputs and distributing an output to each site. In a conventional system, one of these methods is adopted.

[0005]

Each of the conventional AP execution methods has disadvantages and advantages. For example, when a centralized system is used between remote locations, the output must be distributed to all sites, which increases the load on the communication path and causes problems such as charging. On the other hand, in the distributed system, it is necessary to prepare an environment such that each site must have the same AP.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem in executing an AP in a collaborative work, and to enable the execution of an AP flexibly corresponding to various network forms.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an AP execution method is not fixed to a centralized method and a distributed method, and the above two methods are appropriately combined every time an AP is executed. Provides an execution method. For this reason, each site is provided with a work mode control unit capable of designating a parent site or a child site for each AP used jointly. Further, a data control unit and a communication control unit are provided for distributing AP processing data gathered from the child site to the parent site for centralized execution to another parent site that performs distributed processing with the parent site.

[0008]

According to the present invention, for example, among a plurality of participants of a joint work, the parent site having an AP is set to several places instead of all sites, and the AP is processed there, and a nearby child site not having an AP is processed. It is possible to distribute the processing results. Since the parent site can be set for each AP, if the network form is changed, the execution method of the AP can also be changed. This can reduce the load on the network and the resources used by the terminals.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, as one embodiment of the present invention, a "conference" by an electronic dialogue system as a joint work place performed by a joint work system provided with a multimedia communication connection system will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic interactive system comprising three workstations 40 (40-A, 40-B, 40-C) connected by a communication network 25 and a telephone switching network 27. As the communication network 25, a LAN (Local Area Network)
k), ISDN (Integrated Service)
es Digital Network) can be applied. Each workstation 40 includes control units 30 and 35 for supporting a “conference” by electronic dialogue, and displays the display screens 20 (20-A, 20-B, 20-).
In C), a window or the like for displaying conference materials is generated by the multi-window function. Each of the workstations 40 also has a telephone 10 (10) for assisting a conference held via the display screen by conversation.
-A, 10-B, 10-C). The control unit 30 includes a data control unit 33 that controls data related to the AP 35 and a communication control unit 3 that controls communication of various types of information.
2 Further, a work mode control unit 38 is provided, which determines a work mode for each AP in each workstation, that is, a centralized mode or a distributed mode, and performs predetermined control.

The AP centralized system is a system in which a site having an AP becomes a parent and distributes output to the AP to a child site having no AP. Inputs are received at both the parent site and the child site. Inputs received at the child site are once collected at the parent site, processed by the AP under the parent site, and distributed to each site as output. The AP distribution method is a method in which each site has an AP, and each site processes an input and outputs it. Note that a terminal that does not have the AP 35 but always has only the function of the child site may be provided in the system. In this case, the communication control unit 32 is required as the control unit 30 of the terminal, but the data control unit 33 and the work mode control unit 38 are unnecessary.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration diagram when the same AP is executed in a centralized and distributed manner. In the figure, three areas, for example, Tokyo area 140, Osaka area 150 and Nagoya area 160 are connected by a wide area network 170. There are four sites (110-A, 110-
B, 110-C, 110-D). Osaka area 150
Has three sites (120-A, 120-B, 120-
C). There are four sites (130-
A, 130-B, 130-C, and 130-D). In the Tokyo area 140, all the sites have this AP, and in the Osaka area 150 and the Nagoya area 160, one site (120
A, 120B) only have this AP. In other words, the Tokyo area 140 executes a distributed method for processing the input to the output at each site for the AP, and the Osaka area 15
0 and the Nagoya district 160 have only one AP each, and sites without this AP (120-B, 120
C, 130-B, 130-C, and 130-D) execute a centralized method of distributing outputs.

As representatives of the three areas, 110-A, 1
20-A and 130-A are connected by a wide area network 170 and execute a distributed system. Overall, a total of 11 sites form a single collaboration. Tokyo area 140
Executes the distributed method, but it is also possible to execute the centralized method using the site 110-A as a parent site.

FIG. 3 shows a network configuration in a case where the centralized / distributed coexistence method by the same AP in FIG. 2 is executed. Since 110-A, 120-A, and 130-A are remote locations, they are connected by a WAN and execute a distributed system.
Since 110-A, 110-B, 110-C, and 110-D are within a short distance, they are connected by, for example, a LAN and execute a distributed method. This is also possible in a centralized manner. 1
30-A, 130-B, 130-C, and 130-D are connected by a bus-type LAN, and these are connected to a WAN by a router 180.

As representatives of the three areas, 110-A, 1
20-A and 130-A form one logical ring communication path. This is called a parent loop 362. Also,
(110-A, 110-B, 110-C, 110-D)
And (130-A, 130-B, 130-C, 130-
D) and (120-A, 120-B, 120-C) each form a locally logical ring communication path. This is called a child loop (360-A, 360-B, 360-C)
Call it. These are connected by a wide area network 170 to execute a distributed system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the workstation 40 shown in FIG. In the figure, 2
Reference numeral 50 denotes a storage device for storing various programs and data for realizing the functions of the control unit 30 in FIG.
Details of each program will be described later. 200 is a central processing unit (CPU) that executes data processing in accordance with the program instructions read from the storage device 250, 2
10 is a display screen 20 according to the instruction of the CPU 200.
Shows a bitmap processor BMP that writes contents to be output to the frame memory 220 as image data. The contents of the frame memory 220 are read by the display controller 230 and displayed on the display screen (output device) 20. A keyboard 290-A is one of the input devices 290, and a keyboard driver 270 stores a code input from the keyboard in the register 260-A. 290-B is one of the input devices.
A mouse driver 280 that stores a code input from the mouse in the register 260-B.
80 is shown. Each workstation 40 is connected to a communication network such as WAN, LAN, or ISDN via a communication interface device 190. When ISDN is applied as a communication network, the telephone 1
The output of 0 is output to the network via the communication interface device 190. In this embodiment, the CPU 20
The telephone 10 can be started from 0.

FIG. 5 shows the same AP according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Software configuration example for realizing the centralized / distributed execution method of FIG. Each site (workstation) participating in the collaboration has a control program 300. Control program 3
00 includes an AP information table 310, a communication control module 320, an intercept unit 330, and a work mode control module 380. Communication control module 320
Exchanges data with the communication control module 320 of the control program 300 at another site (workstation) via a logical communication path. The logical communication paths include those through the child loop 362 and those through the parent loop, and include sites that connect to both and sites that connect to only one.

The intercept unit 330 implements the function of the data control unit 33 shown in FIG. That is, AP
A message relating to a window operation is intercepted between the window module server 350 and the window system server 340, and the input data and the output data are converted into the control module 320, the AP 350, and the window system server 340 according to the contents.
Distribute to. The window system server 340 performs operations such as receiving a user input from the input device 290 and issuing it as a message, or receiving a message from the AP and outputting it to an external storage device or an output device 240 including a display.

Each site can have a plurality of types of APs 350. The participant information table 322 stores identifier information of participants in the joint work. Parent loop 3
When the sites connected to 62 form a logical ring communication path, each site obtains the identifier information of the other sites connected to the parent loop 362. When a site connected to the child loop 360 forms a logical ring communication path, each site obtains identifier information of a site connected to the child loop 360 in which the site is located. The identifier is assigned differently at each site.

When the user uses the AP 350 jointly, the work mode control module 380 displays a menu, a dialog, and the like for designating a parent site and a child site of the AP to be jointly used. The AP information table 31 also receives and analyzes input from the user to the display screen window, the method designation menu, and the child designation menu.
0 is recorded or updated with information on the work mode.

FIG. 6 shows an AP information table 310 held by the communication control program 300. The AP information table 310 includes an AP identifier field 312, a window identifier field 314, and a status field 31.
6. It consists of a child site identifier field 318 and a sibling identifier field 319. In the joint work in the electronic dialogue system of the present invention, a plurality of APs 350 can be jointly used at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to hold information for each AP.

A site having an AP is called a parent site, and a site having no AP is called a child site. The parent site must process the input that occurs at itself and the input that occurs at its child site and distribute it to its child site. In addition, one AP can be a parent site, but another AP can be a child site.
Therefore, each site needs to know whether it is a parent site or a child site for each AP. AP information table 310
The status field 316 of the
For P, for example, if you are the parent site, "PARE
In addition, there is a case where there is a child site to which the output is to be distributed if the AP itself is a parent site, and the identifier of the child site is stored in 318. Identifier field 319
For the AP, the identifier information of the child site, that is, the site having the same parent as that of the AP if the status field 316 is "CHILD", and the status field of the parent site, that is, the status field 316 If 316 is “PARENT”, the identifier information of another parent site is stored.

FIG. 7 shows a control program 300 for each site.
Shows the format of communication data exchanged between them. This communication data protocol 370 is exchanged via a communication network. In the communication data protocol 370, the data 376 that the control program 300 intends to transmit and receive, specifies an issuer identifier 371 that is an identifier of the control program 300 that has issued the data, the control program 300 that should receive the data, or a set thereof. Reach 3
72, an AP identifier 373 which is identification information of the AP 350 used in the joint work under the present control program;
It is created by adding a window identifier 374 which is an identifier of a window relating to this data and a header 415 including other control information 375 necessary for control communication between control programs. Although the control program 300 adds a header 415 to data generated by the control program 300, the AP 350
A message issued to the AP 40 or a message issued by the wind system server 340 to the AP 350 does not have such a header 415. Such messages include window system server 340 and AP3
Intercepting section 330, which intercepts messages between 50, adds header 415 when messages are received from them. Conversely, the message having the header 415 is transmitted to the AP 350 or the window server system 3.
When sending to 40, the header 415 is usually removed.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show a processing flow example and a screen display example of workstations at three sites (site A, site B, site C) when a joint work is performed by the electronic dialogue system of the present invention. Show. FIG. 8 shows the site A
5 shows a processing flow centered on the work mode control module 380 in FIG. Site A, Site B, Site C
When the communication path is connected, a conference room window 410 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed (1004). On this conference room window 410, the AP that site A has for the collaborative work
Is displayed as a start-up AP icon 350 (10
06).

FIG. 9 shows a conference room window (410-A, 410-B,
10-C) is displayed. At the top of the meeting room window, the color of the window is changed to indicate that the connection is being established. On the conference room window 410, APs used for collaborative work are stored as icons (350-).
A, 350-B, 350-C). Site A and site B have three AP icons, (AP1), (AP2), and (AP3). Site C has only (AP1).

The input of the AP icon is waited, and if there is a selection operation on this icon (100)
8), a method designation menu 420 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (1010). Next, this method designation menu 42
It waits for the input of the work mode for 0. In FIG. 10, the site A40-A performs an operation to execute the AP3 (350-C1). First, the AP3 icon (350-C
1) is selected to display a menu 420 attached thereto, and "parent designation" 430 is selected from the menu items there. During this time, other sites (Site B, Site C)
Then, no operation is performed.

If the menu item "parent designation" is selected (1012), a parent designation menu 440 as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed (1018). Method designation menu 42
If the menu item “execute after distribution” is selected at 0 (1014), the post-distribution execution process described below with reference to FIG. 16 is performed (1070). If there is another input, processing corresponding to the input is performed (1016). Parent designation menu 44
After displaying "0", the AP started in this menu
It is determined whether or not a site name designating the parent site has been input.

In FIG. 11, site A (40-A) is shown in FIG.
After performing the parent designation operation shown in FIG.
The parent site of P3 is designated from the parent designation menu 440. The parent designation menu 440 displays a list of participants participating in the joint work. In order to specify a parent site from this participant list, it is necessary to know the site that has the AP to be started. It can be confirmed by voice over the phone. In the example of the figure, AP3
Site A (40-A) and Site B
(40-B). Site A (40-A) is AP3
Site A (450-A) and site B (450-B) are designated as parent sites.

Returning to FIG. 8, if a site name is designated (1020), a parent designation command is passed to the communication control module 320 (1026). This parent designation command is for transmitting an AP to be activated to a site designated as a parent site of the AP to be activated. Next, a parent site notification dialog 46 as shown in FIG.
0 is displayed. Then, an input to this dialog is waited for.

In FIG. 12, on the screen of site A (40-A) and site B (40-B) designated as the parent site, the fact that the site has become the parent site is notified, and the child site of the AP is designated. Button 470 for displaying a menu for
Is displayed. Here, the site A (40-A) has selected the "cancel" button 470-A, and the site B (40-B) has selected the "child designation" button 470-B.

Since site A has selected the menu item "cancel" (step 1030 in FIG. 8), it does not specify its own child site and starts AP3 as it is (103).
2) The AP information table 310 is updated for this AP3, new information is stored (1034), and a series of processing ends. If "child designation" is selected in step 1030, the process proceeds to step 1038, but the details are the same as those in step 1052 and subsequent steps in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a processing flow of the work mode control module 380 of the site B corresponding to the operation of the site A shown in the screen display examples of FIGS. 9 to 12. First,
After the connection of the communication channel, the process of displaying the conference room window 410 as shown in FIG. 14 and displaying the AP icon thereon is the same as that of the site A. By Site A, AP
Communication control module 3
The parent designation command is received from 20 (1042). Then, as shown in FIG. 12, a parent site notification dialog 460 is displayed on its own screen (1046).

Next, it is monitored whether the menu item "child designation" is selected in the parent site notification dialog (1052). If there is another input, other processing corresponding to the input is performed (1050). When the menu item "child designation" is selected, child designation menu 4
80 is displayed (1054). In this menu,
If a site name to be a child site of the AP to be started is designated (1056), a child designation command is passed to the communication control module 320 (1060). This child designation command is for transmitting the fact to a site designated as a child site of the AP to be started.

In FIG. 14, site B (40-B) displays a child designation menu 480 for child site designation. The child designation menu 480 displays sites that have not become the parent site of AP3 among the participants of this joint work. In the figure, site C (40-C) is displayed. The site B (40-B) selects the site C (484) from this menu 480. This allows Site B
(40-B) is Site C (40-C) for AP3
Of the site C (40-
Process the input in C) and distribute the output.

Returning to FIG. 13, AP 3 is started in the next step (1062), the information in the AP information table 310 is updated for this AP 3, and new information is stored (1).
064). In this case, since the site C is designated as the child site of the site B with respect to the AP3, the fact is transmitted through the communication control module 320 and the output result of the AP3 is received and displayed on its own screen. In FIG. 15, the site A (40-A) is obtained by a series of operations from FIG. 8 to FIG.
And Site B (40-B) as the parent site, and Site C (4
0-C) as the child site of site B (40-B)
3 shows a screen display example in the case where step 3 is performed. On each screen, windows (490-A, 490-B, 490-C) displayed and output by the AP 3 are displayed.

FIG. 16 shows a processing flow when the post-distribution execution processing 1070 is selected in the processing flow at the site A in FIG. When the menu item “execute after distribution” is selected (1070), a screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. If you select the menu item "Execute after distribution" 510,
The distribution destination designation menu 520 is displayed (1072), and an input waiting state is set.

In the example of FIG. 17, the site A (40-A) selects the menu 420 in order to distribute and execute the AP4. First, AP4 is selected, and a menu 420 attached to AP4 is displayed. Then, "execute after distribution" 510 is selected, a distribution destination designation menu 520 is displayed, and the distribution destination is designated there. In the figure, "Site A"
(530-A), "Site B" (530-B), and "Site C" (530-C) are selected.

In this menu, it is monitored whether or not the name of the site to which the AP is to be distributed is specified (1074). If specified, the AP start command is passed to the communication control module 320 (1078). The AP start command stores the name of the AP to be started and the like, and is transmitted to the distribution destination site. Next, AP4 is started (1080),
Update the AP information table 310 for this AP4,
The new information is stored (1082).

FIG. 18 shows a processing flow at sites B and C corresponding to the screen display example of FIG. When the execution after the distribution of the AP 4 is started by the site A, the fact is transmitted to the sites B and C via the communication control module 320. When the site B and the site C receive the AP start command from the communication control module 320 of their own site (1084), they receive and start the corresponding AP4 (1086), and display the output on the screen. FIG.
17, the AP4 is distributed from the site A (40-A) to the site B (40-B) and the site C (40-C), and the icons of the AP4 (350-D1, 350-D)
2, 350-D3) are activated at each site. FIG. 20 shows that AP4 is executed at each site,
4 (540-A, 54)
0-B, 540-C) are displayed on the screen. Then, the AP information table 310 is updated for this AP4, and new information is stored (1088).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing of the communication control module 320 in the control program 300 of FIG. Communication control module 320
Monitors and receives data from the communication control module 320 'of the other site and the intercept unit 330 of the own site (810). When the data is received, it is checked whether it is from another communication control module 320 '(82).
0). If it is from another communication control module 320 ', it is checked whether it is input data related to the AP (830). If it is input data, it is determined with reference to the header 415 added to the data and the AP information table 310 whether or not it is a parent site for the AP relating to the data (850). If it is a parent site, the data is passed to the intercept unit 330 (860), and at the same time is passed to another communication control module 320 '(890). If the data from another communication control module is not input data, it is determined whether the data is output data (840). If it is output data, it is determined whether or not it is a parent site (842). If it is not the parent site, the data is passed to the intercept section 330 (88
0). If it is the parent site, it passes the data to another communication control module (890). In the judgment of 840,
If the data is not output data, other processing according to the contents of the data is performed (870).

If the data is not from another communication control module, it is determined whether it is from the intercept unit 330 (900). If the data is from the intercept unit 330, it is determined whether or not the data is input data relating to the AP (910). If the data is input data, it is passed to another communication control module (890). If the data is not input data, it is determined whether or not the data is output data (930). If the data is output data, it is determined whether or not it is a parent site for an AP to which the data relates (940). If it is a parent site, it is determined with reference to the AP information table 310 whether there is a child site to which output is to be distributed for this AP (950). If there is a child site, the data is passed to another communication control module (890), and if there is no child site, the process ends (980).

If it is determined in step 940 that the user is not the parent site, error processing is performed (970). Step 9
If it is determined in step 30 that the data is not output data related to the AP, other processing according to the content of the data is performed (9).
60). In the determination of 900, the data is
If it is not from the job system 30, it is determined whether or not it is from the work mode control module 380 (915). If the data is from the work mode control module 380, the data is transferred to another communication control module according to the input contents (890). If it is not from the work mode control module 380 in the judgment of 915, other processing is performed according to the contents of the data (920). After the judgment of 915,
In the case where the data is not from the work mode control module 380, if processing of a site limited to a child site having no intercept section 330 is added, whether or not the own site has the intercept section 330 is determined. Is determined. If there is no intercept unit 330, it is determined that the input data is directly passed from the window system server 340, and the data is passed to another communication control module.

FIG. 22 shows the flow of data processing of the intercept unit 330 in the control program 300. The intercept unit 330 is connected to the communication control module 320 and the AP.
Monitor input from 350 and window system server 340 and distribute it. When data input is received (6
10), it is determined whether the data is from the window system server 340 (620). If the data is from a window system server, it is
It is determined whether the input data is related to 0 (630).
If it is not input data, error processing is performed (69).
0). If it is input data, it is determined whether or not the own site becomes a parent site for the AP relating to this data (640). If it is the parent site, the input data is passed to the associated AP (650) and at the same time to the communication control module 320 (660). If the data is not from the window system server 340 in the determination at 620, it is determined whether the data is from the AP 350 (67).
0). If the data is from AP 350, it is AP
It is determined whether or not the input data is input to (680).

If the data is input data to the AP, error processing is performed (700). If the data is not input data to the AP, it is determined whether the own site is a parent site for this AP (710), and if not, an error process is performed (720). In the above determination, if it is the parent site, the output data is passed to the window system server 340 (730). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a site to which the output related to the AP is to be distributed with reference to the AP information table 310. If there is no child site, the process is terminated (750). If there is a child site, the data is passed to the communication control module 320 (660). 670
If the data is not from the AP 350, it is determined whether the data is from the communication control module 320 (760).

If the data is stored in the communication control module 320
If so, it is determined whether the data is input data to the AP (770). If it is input data, the data is passed to the corresponding AP 350 (780). If the data is not input data in the judgment of 770, it is passed to the window system server as output data (80
0). If it is determined in 760 that the data is not from the communication control module, other processing according to the content of the data is performed (790).

FIG. 23 shows a flow of processing of an input generated at the parent site when the AP 350 is executed jointly. When an input is made to the AP 350 by the input device 290, the input is made to the window system server 3
40, and passes this input to the intercept unit 330. The intercept unit 330 transfers the input to the AP 350 and the communication control module 320. Upon receiving the input, the communication control module 320 passes it to the communication control module 320 ′ of another site (55).
0). On the other hand, the AP 350 that has received the input from the intercept unit 330 performs processing on the input and outputs it, and passes it to the intercept unit 330. Upon receiving this output, the intercepting unit 330 passes the output to the window system server 340 and the communication control module 320. Window system server 340 that received the output
Outputs to the output device 240. Intercept section 33
The communication control module 320 that has received the output from 0
If so, the output is sent to the site's communication control module 320 '(560).

FIG. 24 shows the flow of processing of an input generated at a child site when the AP 350 is being executed. When an input is made to the AP 350 by the input device 290, the input is made to the window system server 340.
Will receive. The window system server 340 passes the received input to the intercept unit 330. The intercept unit 330 passes the input to the communication control module 320 because the child site does not have the AP 350. The communication control module 320 passes the received input to the communication control module 320 'of its parent site (570). This input is processed by the AP 350 under the parent site and passed as output (580). Upon receiving this output, the communication control module 320
To the window system server 340 for output to the output device 240.

FIG. 25 shows a flow of an input process at a parent site having no child site to which output is to be distributed when the AP 350 is jointly executed. When an input is made to the AP 350 by the input device 290, the input is received by the window system server 340. The window system server 340 passes the received input to the intercept unit 330. The intercept unit 330 receives the input
Transfer to P350 and to communication control module 320. Upon receiving the input, the communication control module 320
It is passed to the communication control module 320 'of another site (590). On the other hand, the AP 350 that has received the input from the intercept unit 330 performs processing on the input and outputs it, and passes it to the intercept unit 330. The intercept unit 330 that has received this output passes the output to the window system server 340. At this time, the intercept unit 330 has no child site to distribute the output,
No output is passed to the communication control module 320. The window system server 340 that has received the output performs output to the output device 240.

FIG. 26 shows the flow of processing of an input generated at a child site without an intercept unit when the AP 350 is being executed. Since this site does not have an intercept part, it always operates as a child site for the joint execution of the AP. AP35 by input device 290
If there is an input for 0, the input is received by the window system server 340. The window system server 340 passes the received input to the communication control module 320 because the child site does not have the AP 350. Upon receiving the input, the communication control module 320 passes it to the communication control module 320 'of its parent site (5
70). This input is processed by the AP 350 under the parent site and passed as output (580). The communication control module 320 that has received this output transfers it to the window system server 340. The window system server 340 that has received the output outputs it to the output device 240.

In the embodiment described above, the communication control means 32, the data control means 33 and the work mode control means 38 of the control unit 30 in FIG. 1 are realized by a general-purpose CPU and a program. Needless to say, each of the data control means and the work method control means may be constituted by a module including a dedicated microprocessor as means for realizing the same functions as those already described.

[0051]

By simultaneously realizing the distributed system and the centralized system with respect to the same AP, it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the communication path and the AP resource use efficiency of each terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic dialogue system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a site configuration during execution of a centralized / distributed system of the same AP.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a network configuration in which a centralized / distributed system of the same AP is being executed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a work station constituting the electronic interactive system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a basic configuration of software provided in each workstation in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an AP information table held by a control program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a protocol of data communicated between control programs.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in a work mode control module of a site A.

FIG. 9 shows a conference room connected between three parties and an AP in FIG.
Example of screen display before is executed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation in which site A starts concentrated execution of AP3 from the state of FIG. 9;

11 is a diagram showing an operation in which the site A after the state shown in FIG. 10 designates a parent site of AP3.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which a dialog indicating that fact is displayed at sites A and B designated as parent sites as a result of the operations of FIGS. 9 to 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow in the work mode control module of site B.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation in which site B specifies its own child site in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which the AP 3 starts executing by the operations of FIGS. 9 to 14 and a window is displayed and output by the AP on the screen of each site.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing details of post-distribution execution processing in the processing flow of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an operation example in which site A simultaneously distributes and executes AP4.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a flow example of processing at sites B and C corresponding to FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which AP4 is distributed to sites B and C by the operations of FIGS.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state in which a window is displayed and output by AP4 at each site from the state of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing in the communication control module.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a process in an intercept unit.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a flow of an input process at a parent site having a child distributing an output during execution of the AP centralized method.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the flow of input processing at a child site having no AP during execution of the AP concentration method.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a flow of an input process at a parent site having no child distributing an output during execution of the AP centralized method.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the flow of input processing that has occurred at a child site without an intercept unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

300: control program, 310: AP information table,
320: communication control module, 330: intercept unit, 340: window system server, 350: A
P, 380: Work mode control module, 410: Meeting room window, 420: AP execution menu, 440: A
P execution menu, 460: Parent site notification dialog, 4
82: child designation menu, 520: distribution destination designation menu

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Ishizaki 1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.System Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Masami Kameda 5030 Totsukacho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd.Software Development Division (72) Inventor Tadashi Yamamitsu 5030 Totsukacho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd.Software Development Division (72) Inventor Kenjiro Mori Aso, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 1099, Ward Zenji-ku, Tokyo System Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-232354 (JP, A) JP-A-3-250365 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl ^7, DB name) G06F 13/00 G06F 3/14 -. 3/153 H04N 7/15

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication system comprising a plurality of terminal devices connected by a communication network, each having a communication control means and a multi-window function, wherein at least one of the terminal devices comprises:
A joint information processing method in an information processing system having an application program that can be used jointly and having a work method control unit and a data control unit, wherein when performing a joint work using the application program, the work method control unit The terminal devices are connected by a wide area network by the
A terminal device having an application program, which processes an input from its own site and an input from another site, and simultaneously transmits an input from its own site to another, and a local network with the parent site. A terminal device that does not have the application program, processes the input at the parent site, and designates one of the child sites to receive the processing result, based on the designation. Controlling the communication control means and the data control means so as to obtain the same processing result of the application program in both the parent site and the child site. 2. A joint information processing method according to claim 1, wherein said work mode control means sets said parent site by interactive input when executing said application program. 3. A plurality of terminals connected by a communication network, each terminal having a multi-window function, a communication control module, and an AP information table, wherein at least one of the terminals is a joint work application program. In a joint information processing system comprising: a terminal provided with the application program, when a communication channel between the terminals is connected, a conference room window is displayed on a display screen; The application program held by the terminal for the collaborative work is displayed as an AP icon for activation, and if a selection operation is performed on the AP icon, a method designation menu is displayed in the conference room window. If "parent designation" is selected,
A parent designation menu is displayed, and it is determined whether or not a site name for designating a parent site of the application program to be started in the parent designation menu has been input. If the site name has been designated, the communication control module is notified to the communication control module. A designated command is passed, an application program to be started selected by the AP icon is transmitted to a site designated as a parent site of the application program to be started, the selected application program is started, and the AP information table is started. And updating the application program and storing new information. 4. The collaborative information processing method according to claim 3, wherein when "execute after distribution" is selected in said method designation menu, said application program is executed after being distributed to another specified terminal. . 5. A menu for "child designation" is displayed in a conference room window of a display screen of a terminal designated as a parent site in the method designation menu, and when a site name is designated, information is stored in the AP information table. The joint information processing method according to claim 3, wherein is stored.