JP3918322B2 - Database server and program recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a database server to which a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a client / server system, a database of product information or the like that is a shared resource is stored and managed by a server, and each client accesses the database and downloads and uses an arbitrary record.
By the way, the product records in the product information database are fluid, and in particular, there are many records that are invalid according to seasonal products or discontinued products, etc. On the client side, the product record is accessed and the registration date is referred to confirm whether or not the product expiration date has passed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, accessing each product record in the database and checking for expired products from the registration date places a heavy burden on the client side and increases mistakes.
An object of the first invention is to allow the client side to be notified of the expiration date by including expiration date information indicating the expiration date of the item in each item record in the item information database. is there.
The subject of the second invention is that each product record in the product information database includes time limit information indicating the expiration date of the product so that it can be reported in advance to the client before it expires. It is to be.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means of the present invention are as follows. The database server according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information, and a product record including a product code, product image information, and product time limit information With reference to the product information database for each product, timing means for obtaining timing information, time limit information included in each product record in the product information database, and timing information obtained by the timing means A determination means for determining whether or not the time limit has been reached, a first extraction means for extracting a product record including the time limit information when the time limit is determined by the determination means, and the product information database Access code that stores the product code and the name of the accessed client as the access history from the client And a second extraction unit for extracting a corresponding client name using a product code as a key based on the product record extracted by the first extraction unit and the access history stored in the access history storage unit And transmission means for transmitting an invalid notice indicating that the image information of the product has expired to the client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction means. .
[0005]
3. The database server according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information, and a product record including a product code, product image information, and product time limit information With reference to the product information database for each product, timing means for obtaining timing information, time limit information included in each product record in the product information database, and timing information obtained by the timing means A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a predetermined period has been reached with reference to the deadline, and a product record including the deadline information when the discriminating means determines that the predetermined period has been reached. 1 as an access history from the client to the product information database. Access history storage means for storing the accessed client name, the product record extracted by the first extraction means, and the corresponding client name using the product code as a key based on the access history stored in the access history storage means The second extraction means for extracting and a warning notice indicating that the image information of the product is about to expire is sent to the client to the client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction means. And a transmission means.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a wide area communication network system, which is a client / server system that uses merchandise information, which is a shared resource, between a retail chain store or the like deployed on a wide area scale and its center. Here, a client computer CTC is installed on each user side, and a server computer SRC is installed on the center side. The server computer SRC is a database server that manages and operates a center side product information database SDB that is shared and used by each client. The product information database SDB stores product information for all products as data for one record for each product, and is centrally managed on the center side. This product information database SDB has each product record and an image file linked to it. Here, the image file is a file in which a photographed image of a product obtained by photographing the entire appearance of the product is stored. Each user A, B, C... Who is a client can access the product information database SDB on the center side from a remote location and arbitrarily read and use the record. When a record search condition is input from the client computer CTC, the server computer SRC searches the merchandise information database SDB for a record that matches the condition and sends it to the requesting client computer CTC, which the client computer CTC receives and displays. Display output on the screen. Here, when record storage is instructed, the record transmitted from the server side is registered and stored in its own product information database (local database) LDB. Further, among the users A, B, C..., The specific user C has the authority as an update registrant who is permitted to update the product record in the product information database SDB. When a product image obtained by photographing the entire appearance of a product is input using the digital camera DCA, which is an image input device, or product character information indicating product attributes is input, the contents of the server-side product information database SDB are changed accordingly. Updated.
[0007]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the server computer SRC.
The CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the overall operation of the server computer SRC according to various programs. The storage device 2 includes a storage medium 3 in which an operating system, various application programs, a product information database SDB, and the like are stored in advance, and a drive system thereof. The storage medium 3 is fixedly provided or detachably mountable, and is constituted by a magnetic / optical storage medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, or a RAM card, and a semiconductor memory. The program and data in the storage medium 3 are loaded into the RAM 4 under the control of the CPU 1 as necessary. Further, the CPU 1 receives a program and data transmitted from the other device side via the communication interface unit 5 and stores them in the storage medium 3 or stored in a storage medium provided on the other device side. The program and data can be used via the communication interface unit 5.
[0008]
FIG. 3A shows the record structure of the product information database SDB stored in the storage device 2 of the server computer SRC. A record corresponding to one product has a product code and product name indicating product attributes. In addition to the manufacturer name, size, etc., each item includes a registration date, an expiration date, an image link number, and an invalid flag. Here, the “registration date” indicates the date when the product record is newly registered or changed, and the “expiration date” is year / date information indicating the time limit for seasonal products or sales cancellation. The “image link number” is link information for instructing to call a product image file stored in a 1 image 1 file format. The “invalid flag” is a flag indicating that the expiration date has expired.
FIG. 3B shows the configuration of the access history file AOC stored in the storage device 2 of the server computer SRC, and this access history file AOC stores the access history from the client for the product information database SDB. The product code, the access client name, and the access date are stored as history information. That is, this history information indicates who accessed what product record and when. Access history information is generated and stored in the access history file AOC each time the product information database SDB is accessed. Here, the CPU 1 refers to the expiration date stored in the record in the product information database SDB, and refers to the access history file AOC when the time expires or is about to expire, and the relevant information in the product information database SDB A client that has accessed the record in the past is extracted, and an invalid notification indicating that the record in the product information database SDB has expired or a warning notification indicating that the record is about to expire is sent to the client.
[0009]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of each client computer CTC. The client computer CTC has the CPU 11 as the core, and the CPU 11 controls the overall operation of the client computer CTC according to various programs in the storage device 12. Since the storage device 12 has a storage medium 13 and is basically the same as the storage device 2 and the storage medium 3 on the server computer SRC side, description thereof is omitted. Programs and data in the storage medium 13 are loaded into the RAM 14 as necessary. An input device 15 as an input / output device, a display device 16, a printing device 17, and a communication interface unit 18 are connected to the CPU 11, and the CPU 11 controls their input / output operations according to an input / output program. The input device 15 has a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse for inputting character string data such as a record search condition or inputting various commands. Here, in the client computer CTC for the registrant, a digital camera DCA as an image input device can be attached to and detached from the input device 15, and a product image photographed by the digital camera DCA is passed through the input device 15. It is captured. The display device 16 is a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display device, a plasma display device or the like that performs multicolor display, and the printing device 17 is a full-color printer device, which is a non-impact printer or a dot impact printer such as thermal transfer or inkjet. .
[0010]
Next, the operation of this client / server system will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, a program for realizing each function described in these flowcharts is stored in the storage medium 3 (13) in the form of a program code that can be read by the CPU 1 (11), and the program follows the contents. Operation is performed.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation on the client computer CTC side, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation on the server computer SRC side. Here, on the client computer CTC side, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation in the case of performing a record search, and the execution is started when the search key is pressed.
First, a search screen is displayed (step A1). In this case, a condition input area is displayed on the search screen for each condition item such as manufacturer name and product classification. Here, when a search condition is input on the search screen (step A2), the CPU 11 waits for a response after transmitting the input search condition to the center side (step A3). As a result, when the search result (record, image file) is downloaded from the center side to the requesting client side, it is temporarily stored in the RAM 14 (step A4). Then, each record as a search result is read from the RAM 14, and a part of data such as a product code and a product name is extracted from each record and displayed as a list (step A5). When an arbitrary record is selected on the list screen by a mouse operation or the like (step A6), a detail screen is displayed and various product character information and product images in the selected record are displayed in detail (step A7). Here, when a record saving key is selected and a save command is input (step A8), the selected record on the detailed screen is registered and saved in its own product information database LDB (local) (step A9). Then, it is checked whether there is an end instruction (step A10), and the process returns to step A5 until the end instruction is received, and the above-described operation is repeated. As a result, the client side can select only the necessary records from all the records that match the search conditions and store them in its own local database.
[0011]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation when there is an access from a client on the server computer SRC side. First, it is checked whether or not the access from the client is a record search request (step B1). If it is not a search request, other normal processing is executed (step B2), but the search condition is transmitted from the client side. When it comes, the product information database SDB is searched based on this search condition, and all records that match it are extracted (step B3). Then, it is checked whether an invalid flag is set for each extracted record (step B4). Here, the invalid flag is set when the product expires. If the invalid flag is not set for all the records in the search result, all the records as the search result are sent to the requesting client. If the invalid flag is set, the record with the flag set is deleted from the product information database SDB (step B5), and the remaining records are sent to the requesting client. (Step B6). Then, the product code and the client name of the transmitted record are registered in the access history file AOC together with the access date (current date) (step B7).
[0012]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation that the server computer SRC executes once a day by starting the scheduler. First, the expiration date of each record in the product information database SDB is compared with the system date (current date) to search for a record whose expiration date is the current day (step C1). As a result, if there is a corresponding record (step C2), the record is extracted from the product information database SDB (step C3). Then, the access history file AOC is referred to search for an accesser of the record (step C4). Here, if there is a client who has previously accessed a record whose expiration date is the current date (step C5), all the accessors are extracted from the access history file AOC (step C6), and an invalidity notification message is created (step C6). In step C7), this message is transmitted to all the users by e-mail and transmitted to the mail software on the client side (step C8). Then, it is checked whether or not the above-described processing has been completed for all the records extracted in step C3 (step C9). If not, the process returns to step C4 and pays attention to the next record whose current day is the expiration date. , Find out if any clients have accessed the record in the past. If no one has accessed the record in the past, no message is sent. When the end of all records is detected in step C9, an invalid flag indicating expiration date is set in all the records extracted in step C3 (step C10).
[0013]
On the other hand, if there is no record whose expiration date is the current day, this is detected in step C2 and the process proceeds to step C11. Among the records in the product information database SDB, the record one week before the expiration date is recorded. Search for. As a result, if there is no corresponding record (NO in step C12), the flow is exited. If there is a corresponding record, the record is extracted from the product information database SDB (step C13). Then, the access history file AOC is referred to search for an accesser of the record (step C14). Here, if there is a client that has previously accessed the record corresponding to one week before the expiration date (step C15), all the accessors are extracted from the access history file AOC (step C16), and a warning message is created. (Step C17), this message is transmitted by e-mail to all accessors (Step C18). Then, it is checked whether or not the above-described processing has been completed for all the records extracted in step C13 (step C19). If not, the processing returns to step C14 and the above-described operation is repeated until all the records are completed.
[0014]
As described above, in this client / server system, when the expiration date included in each product record in the product information database SDB is reached, the record is extracted to indicate that the product has expired. Since the notification of invalidity is made to the client, the expired product can be immediately confirmed on the client side. Also, when the expiration date in the record is used as a reference, when the previous day is reached one week before that date, the record is extracted and a warning notification is sent to the client indicating that the product is about to expire From the client side, the expired product can be confirmed in advance. In this case, the invalid notice or the warning notice can be given only to those who have accessed the record in the past.
In the above-described embodiment, the change notification is made to the access client for the changed record. However, the notification may be made to all clients who have accessed the same database. Furthermore, although the product information is exemplified as the database, it may be personnel information, accounting information, or the like. Moreover, although the wide area communication system was illustrated, it may be a local area network system. In this case, not only the product image common system but also a general data common system such as groupware may be used.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in a product information database including product image information and its expiration date information, the client using the product image information is notified that it has expired or before the expiration date. In this case, the client to be notified is determined based on the access history from the client to the product information database, so that the relevant client can be notified with certainty.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a client / server system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a server computer SRC.
3 shows a configuration of a product information database SDB and an access history file AOC stored in the storage device 2 of the server computer SRC, (A) shows a product information database SDB, and (B) shows a configuration of an access history file AOC. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a client computer CTC.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when a record search is instructed in the client computer CTC.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server computer SRC executed when there is an access request from a client.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation executed by starting the scheduler once a day on the server computer SRC side.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,11 CPU
2, 12 Storage device 3, 13 Storage medium 4, 14 RAM
5, 18 Communication interface unit 15 Input device SRC server computer CTC Client computer SDB Product information database DCA Digital camera AOC Access history file

Claims (4)

In a database server in which a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information,
A product information database in which product records including product codes, product image information, and product deadline information are stored for each product;
A timing means for obtaining timing information;
Determining means for determining whether or not the deadline has been reached with reference to the deadline information included in each product record in the product information database and the timekeeping information obtained by the timekeeping means;
When it is determined that the due date has been reached by this determining means, a first extracting means for extracting a product record including the due date information;
As an access history from the client to the product information database, an access history storage means for storing a product code, the name of the accessed client ,
Second extraction means for extracting a corresponding client name using the product code as a key based on the product record extracted by the first extraction means and the access history stored in the access history storage means ;
A database server comprising: a transmission unit that transmits an invalid notice indicating that the image information of the product has expired to a client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction unit. . In a database server in which a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information,
A product information database in which product records including product codes, product image information, and product deadline information are stored for each product;
A timing means for obtaining timing information;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a predetermined period has been reached with reference to the time limit information contained in each product record in the product information database and the time information obtained by the time measuring means with reference to the time limit When,
A first extracting unit that extracts a product record including the time limit information when it is determined that the predetermined period has been reached by the determining unit;
As an access history from the client to the product information database, an access history storage means for storing a product code, the name of the accessed client ,
Second extraction means for extracting a corresponding client name using the product code as a key based on the product record extracted by the first extraction means and the access history stored in the access history storage means ;
Transmission means for transmitting a warning notice to the client indicating that the image information of the product is about to expire, to the client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction means. A featured database server. In a database server in which a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information,
Computer
Means for storing a product information database in which a product record including a product code, product image information, and product deadline information is stored for each product;
Timekeeping means for obtaining timekeeping information,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the time limit has been reached by referring to the time limit information included in each product record in the product information database and the time measurement information obtained by the time measurement unit; A first extraction means for extracting a product record including the deadline information when the deadline is determined,
As an access history from the client to the product information database, an access history storage means for storing a product code and an accessed client name ;
Second extraction means for extracting a corresponding client name using the product code as a key based on the product record extracted by the first extraction means and the access history stored in the access history storage means;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that functions as a transmission unit that transmits an invalid notification indicating that the image information of the product has expired to the client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction unit recoding media. In a database server in which a plurality of client computers are connected via a communication network to provide product image information,
Computer
Means for storing a product information database in which a product record including a product code, product image information, and product deadline information is stored for each product;
Timekeeping means for obtaining timekeeping information,
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a predetermined period has been reached with reference to the time limit information contained in each product record in the product information database and the time information obtained by the time measuring means with reference to the time limit ,
A first extracting unit for extracting a product record including the time limit information when it is determined that the predetermined period has been reached by the determining unit;
As an access history from the client to the product information database, an access history storage means for storing a product code, the name of the accessed client ,
Second extraction means for extracting a corresponding client name using the product code as a key based on the product record extracted by the first extraction means and the access history stored in the access history storage means;
A program that functions as a transmission unit that transmits to the client a warning notification indicating that the image information of the product is about to expire is sent to the client computer corresponding to the client name extracted by the second extraction unit. Computer-readable recording medium.

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