JP2002132752A - Client terminal, distributed information source management server, and dynamic document generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To dynamically generate a document with an arbitrary layout using data of each information source in a distributed information source environment where a plurality of information sources exist. SOLUTION: A client terminal 101 transmits a content acquisition request for dynamic document generation to a distributed information source management server 102, and request analysis means 110 of the distributed information source management server 102 analyzes the request, and there are a plurality of requests. It is determined what search conditions should be assigned to each information source, and the search request analyzed by the search request means 111 is actually distributed to each information source to make a search request to obtain the content. Document generation means 101
7 generates a document based on the acquired content and the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 106.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a client terminal and a distributed information source for dynamically generating a document in an arbitrary layout using data of each information source in a distributed information source environment where a plurality of information sources exist. The present invention relates to a management server and a dynamic document generation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of network systems, integrated use of distributed information sources such as WWW (World Wide Web) pages, relational databases, and text databases has been required. For example, new information (such as presenting recommended travel guides by integrating and using information sources included in existing individually managed environmental information systems, map information systems, accommodation facility information systems, etc.) Document) is desired. In this case, when using information obtained from a plurality of individually existing information sources, a technique for arranging the layout in a layout desired by the user and generating a new document is required.

As a conventional method of generating a document (page) for each user, the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-122303 (hereinafter referred to as a known example) is known.

The outline of the known example will be described below. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of the individual page generation method. In a known example, when the server computer 1800 receives a page request from a user, the identification information of the user and a layout 18 for generating the individual page are provided.
10 and the page generation data 1811, the page generation processing unit 1802 generates the individual page, and the WW
It is passed to the W server 1801 and presented to the client computer 1830 from the WWW browser 1831 via the network 1820.

[0005]

In the above prior art method, the layout 1810 is stored in the server computer 1800.
Since the page generation process is performed by managing on the server, the layout structure desired by the user is not achieved. Further, the number of layouts managed on the server side is increased due to the increase in the number of users using the system, and the document on the server side is increased. There is a problem that the generation processing load increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and facilitates the generation of a document in a layout desired by a user, eliminates the need to manage a large number of layouts on the server side, and further reduces the server side. The purpose is to reduce the load on the system.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides, as a first method in dynamic document generation, a dynamic document generation system including a client terminal, a distributed information source management server, and a distributed information source. Wherein the client terminal includes layout information storage means for storing layout information used for dynamic document generation, and document generation means for generating a new document. Analyzing the request for the content for generating a dynamic document, determining what search conditions should be assigned to each of the plurality of information sources, and the search request analyzed by the request analysis A search request unit is provided for making a distributed search request to an information source and obtaining a search result. As a result, a new document is dynamically generated with a layout desired by each user by integrating and utilizing data from a plurality of information sources, and a large amount of layout management is not required on the server side.
And reduce the load on the server side.

[0008] As a second method in dynamic document generation,
A layout application history storage unit that stores a history of layout information actually applied in the past in a predetermined number of cases, and automatically selects a layout to be applied based on the content and the layout application history, or provides a user with Automatic layout selection means for presenting layout candidates is newly provided in the client terminal. This realizes layout information selection support for saving the user from having to select layout information each time.

As a third method in dynamic document generation,
The client terminal is provided with a new content storage unit for storing the content received by the content reception unit, and the content stored in the content storage unit is reused to generate a new dynamic document. I do. In this way, dynamic document generation is performed without accessing the distributed information source management server, thereby reducing the network load and shortening the time required for dynamic document generation.

As a fourth method in dynamic document generation,
An update history investigation transmission means for transmitting a survey request using the update history to the distributed information source management server to the client terminal, and an update history investigation result receiving means for receiving a result of the investigation using the update history are newly provided. Update information acquisition means for acquiring information on updates from the distributed information source databases, update history storage means for storing update history, and update history investigation requests from client terminals. A distributed information source, comprising: an update history investigation input means for receiving; an update history analysis means for analyzing the update history to determine whether the information source of the content has been updated; and an update history investigation result transmission means for transmitting the investigation result to the client terminal. In the event that an update process (addition / change / deletion) occurs in each database, the update is notified to the distributed information source management server. Provided with a means of communication. This allows
When investigating whether the data corresponding to the content to be reused for dynamic document generation has been updated, the investigation is performed using the update history storage means in the distributed information source management server, and the investigation is performed through the distributed information source. Since no processing is performed, a high-speed update history check that does not impose a load on the database is realized.

As a fifth method in dynamic document generation,
A document management server is newly provided, and documents created dynamically by the document management server and arbitrary layout information held by the user are stored. Further, the document management server also performs dynamic document generation processing. It is characterized by. As a result, sharing of dynamic documents and layout information with other users, and reduction of the load on the client terminal side are realized.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments at all, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The dynamic document generation system shown in FIG.
01, distributed information source management server 102, distributed information source 103
Consists of

The client terminal 101 requests the distributed information source management server 102 for content for dynamic document generation, receives the result, and performs processing for dynamically generating a document. Hereinafter, each component of the client terminal 101 will be described. Reference numeral 104 denotes a request transmitting unit for making a request for dynamically generating a document to the distributed information source management server 102, and reference numeral 105 denotes a content for receiving the content for dynamically generating a document from the distributed information source management server 102. A receiving unit 106 is a layout information storage unit storing layout information used for dynamic document generation, and 107 is a new unit using the content received by the content receiving unit 105 and the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 106. A document output unit 108 outputs a document generated by the document generation unit 107 to a display or a printer.

The distributed information source management server 102 actually searches and collects contents by using the distributed information source.

Hereinafter, each component of the distributed information source management server will be described.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a request input unit for receiving a request for content for generating a dynamic document from a client terminal;
10 analyzes the request received by the request input means 109,
The request analysis means 111 for determining what search conditions should be assigned to each of the plurality of information sources, and the search request 111 analyzed by the request analysis means 110 is actually distributed to each information source to make a search request. A search request unit 112 for performing the search and acquiring the search result is a content presenting unit for presenting the search result acquired by the search request unit 111 to the client terminal as content for generating a dynamic document.

The distributed information source 103 refers to a collection of (one or more) different distributed databases 113. Each database receives a search request from the search request unit 111 and performs a search process.

Next, the dynamic document generation processing according to the present embodiment will be described using a specific example.

The description will be made assuming that the shared information source 103 in the present embodiment includes the three types of databases shown in FIG. Reference numeral 210 denotes a database that stores environmental information for each district, and information on weather forecast, precipitation probability, and traffic (forecast) up to a predetermined period is stored in a relational database. Reference numeral 220 denotes detailed information for each accommodation facility, which is stored in a text format. 230
Is a map database which stores map images for each district.

[0021] Here, the user goes on a trip to City A on July 10th, so that the local environment (weather, etc.) of the day, the details of the X inn to stay at, and a document summarizing the map of City A are combined. Want it. "

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the shared information source management server 102 and the shared information source 103 in the present embodiment.

First, the request input means 109 of the distributed information source management server is connected to the request transmitting means 104 of the client terminal 101.
The request content is obtained from (step 301).

Next, the request analyzing means 110 analyzes the request and determines which database of the distributed information source 103 is to be searched or what entity is to be obtained (step 302). In the case of the example here, first, in order to obtain “local environment of the day”, the environment database 210
Needs to be searched for “Environment in City A on 7/10”. Next, in order to obtain “details of the Z inn”, it is necessary to acquire “details of the Z inn” from the accommodation facility database 220. Further, it is necessary to obtain a “map of city A” from the map database 230.

Next, based on the result of the analysis by the request analysis means 110, the search request means 111 makes a search (entity acquisition) request to each database 113 of the distributed information source (step 303). Each requested database performs a search (entity acquisition) process (step 304), and returns the result to the search request means (step 305). In this case, the record 21 is stored in the environment database 210.
1 is returned to the search request unit 111 as a result. The document 221 is retrieved from the accommodation facility database 220 by the search request unit 1.
Return to 11. The map data 231 is returned from the map database 230 to the search request unit 111.

Next, the content presentation means 112 presents the result obtained by the search request means 111 from the distributed information source 113 to the client terminal 101 (step 30).
6). Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a dynamic document generation processing flow in the client terminal 101 in the present embodiment.

First, the content receiving means 105 receives the result presented by the content presenting means 112 as content for generating a dynamic document (step 401).

Next, layout information to be applied to a document newly generated by the document generation means 107 is selected from the layout information storage means 106 and obtained (step 402).
In the present embodiment, selection of layout information in step 402 is performed by input from a user. Further, document generation is performed based on the acquired layout information and the dynamic document generation content received by the content receiving unit 105 (step 403). Finally, the document output unit 108 outputs the generated document to a display or a printer (step 404).

Although the layout information has been described as being stored in advance in the layout information storage means 106, the user inputs new layout information in step 402 and generates a document using this layout information. It does not matter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of dynamic document generation processing in the client terminal 101 according to the present embodiment. In step 401, the content receiving means 10
5 is the content for dynamic document generation received,
Let 2 be the layout information acquired from the layout information storage means 106 in step 402. At this time, the document generated in step 403 is as shown in 503.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the client terminal 101 dynamically sends a request to the distributed information source management server 102 for content acquisition to generate a document, A content receiving unit 105 that receives content for generating a document from the distributed information source management server 102, and a layout information storage unit 10 that stores layout information used for dynamic document generation
6, a document generating unit 107 for generating a new document using the content received by the content receiving unit 105 and the layout information stored in the layout information storing unit 106, and a document generated by the document generating unit 107. Request output unit 108 for receiving a request for content for dynamic document generation from the client terminal 101.
9, a request analysis unit 110 that analyzes the request received by the request input unit 109 and determines what search condition should be assigned to each of the plurality of information sources, and an analysis performed by the request analysis unit 110. A search request unit 111 for actually performing a search request for distributing a search request to each information source and obtaining a search result;
1 that presents the search results obtained by the first search unit to the client terminal 101 as contents for generating a dynamic document. A new document can be dynamically generated with a desired layout. Further, it becomes unnecessary to manage a large amount of layout on the server side, and it is possible to reduce the load on the server side.

Further, since the client terminal 101 holds the layout information storage means 106 and generates a dynamic document on the client side, the distributed information source management server 102
Even if the number of client terminals or the number of users using the method increases, the distributed information source management server 102 does not need to hold a large amount of layout information.

(Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to the second embodiment. The difference from FIG. 1 which is the configuration diagram of the first embodiment is that the client terminal 101
Is newly provided with a layout application history storage unit 601 and a layout automatic selection unit 602.

The layout application history storage unit 601 stores a predetermined number of history records of layout information actually applied in the past in the document generation processing in the client terminal 101.

The automatic layout selection means 602 automatically selects a layout to be applied based on the contents and the layout application history when the user does not specify an application layout in the document generation processing by the document generation means 107. The layout information candidates are presented to the user, and layout information selection support is performed.

The purpose of the second embodiment is to save the user from having to select layout information each time in the dynamic document generation processing in the client terminal 101.
The purpose of the present invention is to automate the process of selecting layout information to be applied using a combination of information sources of contents to which a layout is applied and a layout application history, or to provide layout information candidates to a user to assist layout information selection. .

In the dynamic document generation processing according to the second embodiment, the distributed information source management server 102 and the distributed information source 1
The processing in 03 is the same as the processing in the first embodiment (FIG. 3), and thus the description is omitted.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the client terminal 101 in the case of automating selection processing of applied layout information in the dynamic document generation processing or presenting layout information candidates to the user.

First, as in the first embodiment, the content receiving means 105 receives the result presented by the content presenting means 112 as content for generating a dynamic document (step 401).

Next, the layout automatic selecting means 602 checks the layout detailed information to determine whether there is layout information composed of information sources that match the combination of the information sources serving as the source of the received contents (step 70).
1). FIG. 8 shows an example of the detailed layout information and the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 106. Here, for the sake of explanation, the information source group is indicated by the name of the information source such as “environment database” in the detailed layout information 1110, for example, by assigning an identifier to each database of the distributed information source 103,
This database identifier may be stored as an information source group. FIG. 8 shows that the distributed information source 103 has the configuration of FIG.
It is described as having an employee database, a patent application database, and a salary database in addition to the environmental database, accommodation facility database, and map database.

If there is no corresponding layout information in step 701, the flow advances to step 709 to prompt the user to select layout information to be applied or to input new layout information. The document generation (step 403) and the output (step 404) are performed by applying. On the other hand, if the corresponding layout information exists in step 701, the process proceeds to step 702, and a layout number group of the corresponding layout information is acquired.

From step 702 onward, as a standard setting,
The processing differs depending on whether the processing for selecting the layout information to be applied is automated or layout information candidates are presented to the user.

First, when the selection process is automated, it is determined whether at least one of the layout number groups acquired in step 702 exists in the predetermined number of histories by referring to the layout application history storage unit 601. Check (step 704). FIG. 9 shows the layout application history storage unit 6.
13 is an example of a layout application history stored in a storage history No. 01. The layout application history 901 is an example in which the layout number of the layout information applied in the last ten dynamic document generations is recorded. The layout application history is updated each time a dynamic document generation process is performed. The layout application history may be created one for each client terminal 101, or may be created for each client terminal 101.
It may be created for each user who uses. Further, the number of the layout application histories may be set to any number. In step 704, if any one or more of the layout number groups acquired in step 702 exists in the layout application history, the layout that has been most recently applied from the existing layout number groups is selected (step 706). Then, a document is generated (step 403) and output (step 404) by applying the selected layout. On the other hand, in step 704, if none of the layout number groups acquired in step 702 exists in the layout application history, selection of the layout to be applied cannot be automated, and the layout information corresponding to the acquired layout number group is presented to the user. Then, the user is prompted to select a layout to be applied (step 705), and generates a document (step 403) and outputs (step 404) by applying the layout selected by the user.

Next, in the case of setting to present layout information candidates to the user in advance, the layout number group acquired in step 702 is sorted in the order of the layout most recently applied by referring to the layout application history storage unit 601 (step 702). 707). Here, it is assumed that layout numbers that do not exist in the layout application history are arranged below the sort. Next, in the sorted order, layout information corresponding to each layout information group is presented to the user as a candidate, and a layout to be applied is selected (step 70).
8) Applying the layout selected by the user to generate a document (step 403) and output (step 40)
Perform 4).

Here, in step 701, the layout information composed of the information sources that match the combination of the information sources serving as the contents is extracted. The layout information may be extracted which includes the other information sources.

Hereinafter, the processing in the client terminal 101 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to specific examples of FIGS.

If the content acquired in step 401 is 501 in FIG. 5, the information sources are "environment database", "accommodation database", and "map database".
There are three types. At this time, the layout detailed information 80 in FIG.
The layouts composed of the above three types of information sources correspond to three layout numbers "1", "2", and "3" (steps 701 and 702). When the application layout selection is automated, the layout application history 9 shown in FIG.
With reference to 01, it can be seen that the layout number applied most recently in the past among the layout numbers “1”, “2”, and “3” is “2”. Therefore, document generation (step 403) and output (step 404) are performed based on the layout information of layout number 2. On the other hand, when the application layout candidates are presented to the user to urge selection, the three layout numbers “1”, “2”, and “3” are displayed in the layout application history 901.
(Step 707), "2 (history order = 1)", "3 (history order = 4)", "1 (history order =
5) ". Layout information is presented to the user in this order (step 708). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for presenting layout candidates to the user.
Document generation (Step 403) and output (Step 40) using the layout selected by the user from the two layout candidates
Perform 4).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the layout application history storage means 601 for storing the history of layout information actually applied to the client terminal 101 in the past for a predetermined number of times, By automatically selecting a layout to be applied based on a layout application history, or by newly providing a layout automatic selecting unit 602 for presenting layout candidates to a user,
In the dynamic document generation process in the client terminal 101, in order to save the user the trouble of selecting layout information every time, the process of selecting layout information to be applied is automated, or layout information candidates are presented to the user,
It is possible to support layout information selection.

Embodiment 3 Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to the third embodiment. The difference from FIG. 1 which is the configuration diagram of the first embodiment is that the client terminal 10
1 is provided with a new content storage means 1101.

The content storage means 1101 stores the content received by the content receiving means 105.

The purpose of the third embodiment is to store the content used for dynamic document generation in the content storage unit 110.
1 and reuse the same content later,
Without accessing the distributed information source management server 102,
A new document can be generated using the same or different layout information from the previous document.

The dynamic document generation processing using the distributed information source management server 102 in the third embodiment is the same as the processing in the first embodiment except for the following one point. In the third embodiment, the distributed information source management server 1
02, the content for dynamic document generation is acquired from the content storage unit 11
01 is stored.

Next, a dynamic document generation process that does not use the distributed information source management server 102 according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a dynamic document generation process that does not use the distributed information source management server 102 according to the third embodiment.

First, in the document generation means 107, the user selects and acquires contents to be used for dynamic document generation from the contents storage means 1101 (step 120).
1). The processing from step 402 to step 404 is the same as the processing in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a dynamic document generation process without using the distributed information source management server 102 according to the third embodiment. Reference numeral 501 denotes the same content as that used in the specific example of the first embodiment, and it is assumed that the document generation unit 107 has obtained the content from the content storage unit 1101 in step 1201 according to the user's selection. Reference numeral 1301 denotes layout information acquired from the layout information storage unit 106 in step 402. It is assumed that a layout different from the layout information 502 used in the specific example of the first embodiment is selected. At this time, the document generated in step 403 is 1302.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the content storage unit 1101 for storing the content received by the content reception unit 105 in the client terminal 101.
Is newly provided, a new dynamic document can be generated using the same or different layout information from the previous one without reusing the same content and accessing the distributed information source management server 102. It becomes possible.

Also, since dynamic document generation is performed without accessing the distributed information source management server 102, it is possible to reduce the network load and further reduce the time required for dynamic document generation.

Although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that all the contents received by the contents receiving means 105 are stored in the contents storing means 1101, whether or not the received contents are stored in the contents storing means 1101 is determined. May be selected by the user, and only the selected content may be stored.

In the present embodiment, the document generating means 1
At 07, the user selects a layout to be applied in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
May be added, and layout application automation and layout information selection support may be performed as in the second embodiment.

(Embodiment 4) Hereinafter, Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to the fourth embodiment. The difference from the configuration diagram of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
01, an update history investigation transmission unit 1401 and an update history investigation result reception unit 1402 are newly provided, and the distributed information source management server 102 has an update contact acquisition unit 1403, an update history storage unit 1404, and an update history investigation input unit 1405.
And an update history analysis unit 1406 and an update history investigation result transmission unit 1407, and an update communication unit 1408 is newly provided for each database 113 of the distributed information source 103.

The update history investigation transmitting unit 1401 checks whether the content stored in the content storage unit 1101 is old or incorrect by updating the data of the distributed information source. The used survey request is transmitted to the distributed information source management server 102.

The update history investigation result receiving means 1402 receives the result of the investigation performed by the distributed information source management server 102 using the update history of the distributed information source.

The update notification obtaining means 1403 obtains a notification regarding an update from each database of the distributed information source 103.

The update history storage unit 1404 stores the update history in each database of the distributed information source 103.

The update history investigation input means 1405 receives an update history investigation request from the client terminal 101.

The update history analysis means 1406 analyzes the update history and conducts an update history check in accordance with the update history check request acquired by the update history check input means 1405.

The update history investigation result transmission means 1407 transmits the investigation result of the update history analysis means 1406 to the client terminal 101.

The update notification means 1408 notifies the distributed information source management server 102 when an update process (addition / change / deletion) occurs in each database.

As in the third embodiment, the content once used for dynamic document generation is stored in the content storage unit 1101.
If the same content is reused and a new document is generated using the same or different layout information from the previous time, the content has passed since the acquisition request. At the time of reuse, the corresponding data of the distributed information source 103 may be updated.
Therefore, an object of the fourth embodiment is to investigate whether data corresponding to content to be reused has been updated at high speed and without imposing a load on the database.

Next, the flow of the shared information source update contact processing in the fourth embodiment will be described. Each database 11
When the data update process occurs in Step 3, the corresponding update notification unit 1408 notifies the update notification acquisition unit 1403 of the distributed information source management server 102 of the date and time when the update process occurred. The acquired update history is stored in the update history storage unit 14.
04. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the update history. In this example, the date and time when the update occurred is recorded for each type of information source.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow of a content update history investigation process according to the fourth embodiment. First, the update history investigation transmitting unit 1401 transmits an update history investigation request to the distributed information source management server 102 based on the information source type of the content to be reused and the acquisition date and time (step 1).
601). In the fourth embodiment, when the content for dynamic document generation is stored in the content storage unit 1101, it is assumed that the acquisition date and time are also stored.

Next, the update history investigation input means 1405 receives the update history investigation request (step 1602), and the update history analysis means 1406 further activates the update history storage means 140.
With reference to the update history stored in No. 4, it is analyzed whether or not each information source of the content has been updated after the acquisition date (step 1603).

Next, at step 1604, if there is no information source updated after the content acquisition date and time,
The update history investigation result transmitting means 1407 transmits the fact to the client terminal 101 as an update history investigation result (step 1608), and the update history investigation result receiving means 1402 receives the update history investigation result.

On the other hand, if there is an information source updated in step 1604 after the content acquisition date and time,
As a standard setting, the processing differs depending on whether to reacquire the content acquired from the information source that has been updated or to return only the update history investigation result to the user. When the content is to be reacquired, the latest content is presented to the user by performing the processing from 302 to 306 in FIG. 3 (step 1606). Thereafter, the update history investigation result transmitting means 1407 transmits to the client terminal 101 that the information source of the content has been updated as an update history investigation result (step 1607), and the update history investigation result receiving means 1402 transmits the update history investigation result. To receive. Also,
When only the update history check result is returned to the user, the same processing as in the case of reacquiring the content is performed, except that the processing of step 1606 is not performed.

The process of generating a dynamic document at the client terminal 101 after conducting a content update history check is the same as in the third embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the update history investigation transmitting means 1401 for transmitting the investigation request using the update history to the distributed information source management server 102, and receiving the result of the investigation using the update history Update history survey result receiving means 1402 to be updated, and update contact obtaining means 1 for obtaining a notification regarding an update from each database of the distributed information source 103.
403 and an update history storage unit 1 for storing an update history
404, an update history investigation input unit 1405 for receiving an update history investigation request from the client terminal 101, an update history analysis unit 1406 for analyzing the update history to determine whether the information source of the content has been updated, and Update history investigation result transmission means 14 to be transmitted to
07 and update processing (addition / change / deletion) in each database, and a new update communication unit 1408 for notifying the distributed information source management server 102 of the occurrence of the update processing. When investigating whether data corresponding to the content to be used has been updated, the investigation is performed using the update history storage means in the distributed information source management server 102, and the processing through the distributed information source 103 is not performed. Therefore, it is possible to perform the update history investigation at high speed and without imposing a load on the database.

The configuration of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is newly provided with the layout application history storage means 601 and the automatic layout selection means 602.
In the dynamic document generation processing at the client terminal, layout application automation may be performed as in the second embodiment.

In the description of the present embodiment, the update date and time are stored in the update history, and the determination is made by referring only to the update date and time during the history investigation processing. By writing the table name, record number, and column name where the update occurred in the history, even if the database corresponding to the content has been updated, if the data of the content itself has not been updated, re-search (substance acquisition) The method of not performing the process may be used.

(Embodiment 5) Hereinafter, Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to the fifth embodiment. The difference from FIG. 1 which is the configuration diagram of the first embodiment is that the document management server 170
1 and the client terminal 101 is further provided with a registration request unit 1708 and a document acquisition unit 1709. The document management server 170
1 includes a registration unit 1702, a document storage unit 1703, a document transmission unit 1704, a content reception unit 1705, a layout information storage unit 1706, and a document generation unit 1707.

Hereinafter, newly added components will be described.

The document management server 1701 is used in the first embodiment.
4 to 4, the document generation process performed by the client terminal 101, the layout information of each user and the dynamically generated document are stored, and can be shared with other users. The registration unit 1702 performs a registration process upon receiving a registration request for layout information or a dynamically generated document from the client terminal 101. Document storage means 17
Reference numeral 03 stores the registration request document received by the registration unit 1702. The document transmitting unit 1704 is a client terminal 1
First, a document acquisition request is received from the document storage unit 1703, and the document is transmitted. The roles of the content receiving unit 1705, the layout information storage unit 1706, and the document generation unit 1707 are as follows.
05, layout information storage means 706, document generation means 7
Same as 07.

Registration requesting means 1 of client terminal 101
A request 708 requests the document management server 1701 to register layout information held by the user and dynamically generated documents. A document acquisition unit 1709 requests acquisition and reception of a document stored in the document management server 1701 or a document newly generated by the document management server 1701.

The purpose of the fifth embodiment is to manage a dynamically generated document in the document management server and share it with other users, and to manage the layout information also in the document management server. Therefore, it is possible to execute the document generation processing even in the document management server.

Next, processing in the case where dynamic document generation is performed by the document management server according to the fifth embodiment will be described. First, the processing in the shared information source management server 102 and the shared information source 103 is the same as that of the first embodiment up to step 305 in FIG. After step 305, the content presentation unit 112 presents the content for dynamic document generation to the document management server,
Content receiving means 1705 receives the content. Next, the document generation unit 1707 performs a document generation process using the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 1706. The layout information applied at this time is specified by the user when making a content acquisition request through the request transmission unit 104. The layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 1705 includes layout information registered by each user through the registration request unit 1708 for sharing, and layout information registered in advance as system-specific layout information. And The generated document is sent to the document transmitting unit 1704.
Through the document acquisition means 170 of the client terminal 101
9 and output by the document output means 108.

Next, a process for registering a document in the document management server according to the fifth embodiment will be described. First, in the document registration processing to the document management server, a request for registration of the dynamic document generated by the registration request unit 1708 of the client terminal 101 is made to the document management server. At this time, if the document to be registered is a document generated by the client terminal 101, the document to be registered is transmitted from the document generation unit 107. If the document to be registered is a document generated by the document management server 1701, the document to be registered is transmitted from the document acquisition unit 1709. get. Next, in the document management server, upon receiving the registration request from the registration request unit 1708, the registration unit 1702 performs the registration processing in the document storage unit 1703, and ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, the document management server 1701 is newly provided,
By storing the dynamically created document in the user 01, the dynamic document can be shared with other users. Further, by enabling the dynamic document generation process in the document management server 1701, the load on the client terminal 101 side is reduced. Further, by registering arbitrary layout information possessed by each user in the document management server 1701, layout information can be shared.

In the fifth embodiment, a dynamic document generation process can be performed by the client terminal 101 as in the first to fourth embodiments.

Further, in the description of the fifth embodiment, a configuration in which a document management server 1701 is newly provided in the configuration of the first embodiment, and a registration request unit 1708 and a document acquisition unit 1709 are newly provided in the client terminal 101 is described. However, similarly, the document management server 1701 is newly provided in the configuration of the second to fourth embodiments, and the client terminal 101 is further provided.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a registration request unit 1708 and a document acquisition unit 1709 are newly provided.

Further, a document management server 1701 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment, and the client terminal 101
Has only the request transmitting unit 104, the document output unit 108, the registration requesting unit 1708, and the document obtaining unit 1709, so that the client terminal 101 does not perform dynamic document generation but operates only on the document management server 1701 side. It is also possible to take a form of performing a typical document generation process.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a dynamic document generation system for generating a new document using data from a plurality of information sources, a plurality of information can be obtained by performing document generation processing on the client side. Dynamically generate a new document with the layout desired by each user by integrating the source data, and eliminate the need for a large amount of layout management on the server side, and reduce the load on the server side It has the effect of doing.

Further, by retaining the history of the layout information applied in the past, there is an effect that the selection processing of the layout information to be applied can be automated or the layout information can be supported.

Further, by storing the content used for document generation at the client terminal, it is possible to reuse the content and generate a new dynamic document without accessing the distributed information source management server. It has the effect of being possible.

Also, by storing the update history of each distributed information source in the distributed information source management server, it is possible to quickly and load the database when checking whether data corresponding to the content used for reuse is updated. There is an effect that it is possible to perform an update history check without applying any cost.

Further, a document management server is newly provided, and the document management server performs dynamic document generation processing on behalf of the document management server, so that the load on the client terminal is reduced. Further, by registering dynamically generated documents and layout information in the document management server, there is an effect that sharing use with other users is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of a distributed information source according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the distributed information source management server and the distributed information source according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a dynamic document generation processing flow in a client terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a dynamic document generation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow of automation of selection processing of applied layout information and layout information selection support in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of detailed layout information and layout information according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a layout application history according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a layout candidate presentation screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a dynamic document generation process that does not use the distributed information source management server according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of dynamic document generation processing without using a distributed information source management server according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an update history according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow of a content update history investigation process according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a dynamic document generation system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an outline of processing of an individual page generation method according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 client terminal 102 distributed information source management server 103 distributed information source 104 request transmitting means 105 content receiving means 106 layout information storing means 107 document generating means 108 document output means 109 request input means 110 request Analysis means 111 search request means 112 content presentation means 113 database 601 layout application history storage means 602 layout automatic selection means 1101 content storage means 1401 update history investigation means 1402 update history investigation result reception means 1403 update Contact acquisition means 1404 Update history storage means 1405 Update history investigation input means 1406 Update history analysis means 1407 Update history investigation result transmission means 1408 Update communication means 1701 Document management server 1702 Registration means 1703 Document storage means 1704 Document transmission means 1705 Content reception means 1706 Layout information storage means 1707 Document generation means 1708 Registration request means 1709 Document acquisition means

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/30 170 G06F 17/30 170A (72) Inventor ▲ Tsuru ▼ Takeru Hayashi 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Within Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Suzuki 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B009 NA14 VA02 VC01 5B075 KK02 PQ02 PQ05

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A distributed information source comprising a plurality of databases, a distributed information source management server for managing the distributed information source, and a request for a content for dynamic document generation to the distributed information source management server. Request sending means for making a request to the distributed information source management server for a content acquisition request for dynamically creating a document,
Content receiving means for receiving content for dynamically generating a document from the distributed information source management server, layout information storage means for storing layout information used for dynamic document generation, and content received by the content receiving means. A client terminal comprising: a document generation unit that newly generates a document using layout information stored in a layout information storage unit; and a document output unit that outputs a document generated by the document generation unit. 2. A distributed information source comprising a plurality of databases, a distributed information source management server for managing the distributed information source, and a request for a content for dynamic document generation to the distributed information source management server. A request input unit for receiving a request for content for dynamic document generation from the client terminal, and a request received by the request input unit. Request analysis means to determine what search conditions should be assigned to each of the plurality of databases existing in the distributed information source, and the search request analyzed by the request analysis means is actually sent to each database. Requesting means for making a search request to obtain a search result, and a search result obtained by the search request means. The,
A distributed information source management server comprising: content presentation means for presenting to a client terminal as content for generating a dynamic document. 3. A layout application history storage means for storing a predetermined number of history records of layout information actually applied in the past, and applying the layout information based on the layout application history stored in the layout application history storage means. 2. The client terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a layout automatic selection unit that determines a layout to be performed. 4. The layout automatic selection means extracts layout information having an information source group that matches a content information group used for document generation from the layout information storage means, and refers to the layout application history storage means. hand,
4. The client terminal according to claim 3, wherein the most recently applied layout information among the extracted layout information is selected as a layout to be applied to current document generation. 5. The layout automatic selection unit extracts layout information having an information source group that matches an information source group of contents used for document generation from the layout information storage unit, and refers to the layout application history storage unit. hand,
Sort the extracted layout information in the order in which it was recently applied,
The method according to claim 3, wherein the sorted layout information is presented to a user to prompt a selection, and layout information selected by the user from the sorted layout information is selected as a layout to be applied to current document generation.
A client terminal according to. 6. A content storage means for storing the content received by said content reception means.
A client terminal according to. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the document generation unit newly generates a document using the content stored in the content storage unit and the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit. The client terminal according to claim 6. 8. The client terminal according to claim 6, wherein the content storage unit stores only the content selected by the user among the contents received by the content reception unit. 9. An update history investigation transmitting means for transmitting an update investigation request for data of a distributed information source to a distributed information source management server, and an update history investigation result for receiving a result of the update history investigation from the distributed information source management server 7. The client terminal according to claim 6, further comprising a receiving unit. 10. An update notification acquisition unit for acquiring a notification regarding an update from each database of the distributed information source, an update history storage unit for storing information regarding the update acquired by the update notification acquisition unit as an update history, and a client terminal. Update history investigation input means for receiving an update history investigation request from the server; update history analysis means for analyzing an update history and performing an update history investigation in accordance with the update history investigation request acquired by the update history investigation input means; 3. The distributed information source management server according to claim 2, further comprising: an update history investigation result transmission unit that transmits an investigation result of the means to the client terminal. 11. The distributed information source management server according to claim 10, wherein when an update process occurs in the database, the distributed information source notifies the information source management server of the update for each database when the update processing has occurred. 12. A distributed information source comprising a plurality of databases, a distributed information source management server for managing the distributed information source, and a request for a content for dynamic document generation to the distributed information source management server. In a dynamic document generation system comprising a client terminal that receives documents and dynamically generates a document, and a document management server that performs the document generation process performed by the client terminal, the client terminal uses layout information owned by the user. Requesting a document management server to register a document or a generated document, and requesting or receiving a document stored in the document management server or a document newly generated by the document management server Document management means, the document management server, layout information from the client terminal or Registering means for receiving a registration request for a dynamically generated document, performing registration processing, document storing means for storing the document of the registration request received by the registration means, receiving a document acquisition request from a client terminal, and transmitting the document. Document transmitting means, Content receiving means for receiving content for dynamically generating a document from the distributed information source management server,
A layout information storage unit that stores layout information used for dynamic document generation, a document that newly generates a document using the content received by the content reception unit, and layout information stored in the layout information storage unit A dynamic document generation system comprising: a generation unit.