JP4087214B2 - Network system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network system in which a server device and a terminal device are connected via a network such as a LAN.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a client-server type network system, there is a network system (Patent Document 1) in which application development at the time of construction of a network system can be easily performed by causing a client device to function as an emulator. In addition, there has been a network system (Patent Document 2) in which the response is improved by reducing the frequency of communication between a server device and a terminal device connected via a network.
[0003]
Further, with the spread of the Internet in recent years, there are increasing examples of building an in-house system and a system for transactions between companies on the basis of HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). These basically use a Web server and a Web client, for example, to perform transaction processing in cooperation with a database.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-122942 A [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-267977
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a usage form of the HTTP-based system, a network system in which a server device and a terminal device are provided in a LAN is configured to start a Web server on the server device and execute a Web browser on the terminal device.
[0006]
However, the environment varies depending on whether a portable terminal that performs data transmission by wireless communication as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is a terminal device or a PC (personal computer) connected to a LAN is a terminal device. to differ greatly. That is, when the terminal device is a portable terminal, the input key section has only a numeric keypad and some other keys, and the display range is narrow. Further, the configuration of an input / output unit connected to the outside, such as a barcode scanner or a serial printer, is different from that of a general PC. In addition, when connecting via a wireless LAN, the mobile terminal always moves during wireless communication, and sometimes goes out of the wireless communicable area during communication. Furthermore, since the battery is used as a power source, a sudden power interruption may occur. In addition, such a system is used in, for example, a distribution system, and has a characteristic that data to be held is regarded as important even if the terminal device is used in a relatively poor environment.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to configure a small-sized, light-weight, low-power-consumption terminal device according to the input / output contents of the terminal device, and to easily develop a terminal program and a server program. Regardless, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network system that operates as if a stable virtual terminal device is connected to the server device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a network system including a server device and a terminal device.
A gateway device that emulates a Web client and converts a protocol between the server device and the Web client and a protocol between the terminal device to each other is provided in the network;
The server device includes server-side control means for performing communication with the gateway device, providing content to be browsed by a Web client, and reading input from the Web client,
The terminal device is provided with terminal-side control means for performing communication with the gateway device, displaying content received from the gateway device, and inputting data.
The gateway device analyzes a content received from the server device, and provides a parser program execution unit that provides data only for a display range of the display screen of the terminal device at a time, and the parser program Between the terminal device and a Web client manager that performs inter-process communication and emulates as a Web client when viewed from the Web server, including a process of returning data input from the terminal to the Web server of the server device And a gateway-side manager program execution means including a wireless communication proxy that performs proxy control of wireless communication.
[0009]
With this configuration, the gateway device appears as a virtual terminal device when viewed from the server device, so that the terminal is viewed from the server device (Web server) without being affected by the communication environment between the gateway device and the terminal device. The device operates stably. In addition, since the terminal device only needs to have the minimum functions necessary for the terminal device among the Web client functions , the terminal device does not increase in scale, and is a small, lightweight, and low power consumption terminal device. Can be configured. As a result, the memory capacity is no longer limited, and freezing during program execution is less likely to occur. In addition, the data processing capability of the entire network system can be easily improved by improving the processing capability of the server device. Furthermore, since a general-purpose Web server function only needs to be provided as a server program, the existing development environment can be used, and the program development cost is not high and development can be performed in a short time.
[0010]
In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the parser program execution means executes in parallel for each of the terminal devices , or executes one parser program for a plurality of terminal devices.
With this configuration, when there Akuasesu simultaneously from a plurality of terminal devices, as viewed from the Web server, a plurality of Web browsers (clients) are so connected, substantially single gateway side manager program However, a plurality of terminal devices can be used simultaneously.
[0011]
The present invention is characterized in that the network system includes a wireless communication unit that connects the terminal device and the gateway device via a wireless LAN.
This configuration can be applied to a network system using a wireless LAN.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the terminal device is a portable terminal.
With this configuration, the terminal device can be carried.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a server device, and 2 is a portable terminal corresponding to a terminal device. Reference numeral 3 denotes a network such as a LAN, to which a gateway device 4 and a wireless bridge 5 are connected. The wireless bridge 5 performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 2 and also communicates with the gateway device 4 via the network 3.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the data flow of the entire network system. Here, the server device 1 executes a Web server program corresponding to the server program according to the present invention. This Web server is a program having an information transmission function by WWW (World Wide Web), stores information (contents) such as an HTML document and an image, and responds to a request from a client program such as a Web browser. It fulfills the function of transmitting such information via. As an extended function of the HTML document, CGI (Common Gateway Interface), ASP (Active Server Pages), JSP (Java (registered trademark) Server Pages), or the like is used. Also, C-HTML (compact HTML) is used as a content description language for portable information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) as HTML documents.
[0015]
In the gateway device 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a parser (parser program execution means) that analyzes an HTML document read from the Web server by the HTTP protocol. This is, for example, Lynx, a text-based web browser. Reference numeral 43 denotes a gateway manager (gateway manager program execution means), which includes a wireless communication proxy and a Web client manager. The wireless communication proxy performs proxy control of wireless communication between the gateway device 4 and the terminal device 2. The Web client manager looks (emulates) as a Web client ( including a Web browser and the like ) when viewed from the Web server of the server apparatus 1, and sets a protocol between the Web client viewed from the Web server and the terminal apparatus 2. Is converted into a protocol according to the communication between them. However, a virtual terminal is not established only by emulation of the Web client by the Web client manager. When the input data is returned to the Web server, a response from the terminal is also required. It is completed including it.
[0016]
In the gateway device 4, reference numeral 42 denotes an adapter that performs interprocess communication between the parser program 41 and the Web client manager using a socket or the like.
The parser 41, the adapter 42, and the gateway manager 43 correspond to the gateway program according to the present invention. In this example, the parser 41 is shown to be executed for each terminal device. However, a single parser 41 may perform processing for a plurality of terminals.
[0017]
Each terminal device 2 includes means for executing a terminal program. The terminal program communicates with the wireless communication proxy using a wireless communication protocol, and operates as a Web client when viewed from the Web server via the gateway device 4.
[0018]
In this way, the Web client is divided into the Web client manager and the terminal that actually browses, and the wireless communication control is left to the wireless communication proxy. With this configuration, the gateway device appears as a virtual terminal device when viewed from the server device, so that the terminal is viewed from the server device (Web server) without being affected by the communication environment between the gateway device and the terminal device. The device operates stably.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows interprocess communication between the parser 41 and the Web client manager. (0) First, when there is a request from the terminal program of the terminal device 2, (1) the parser 41 informs the device name of the terminal device as the representative device name of the Web client manager. For example, the device name “H01” of a certain terminal device is notified, and the device name “H02” of another terminal device is notified. (2) Next, the Web client manager creates devices “H01S” and “H02S” corresponding to these terminal devices. (3) Then, a conversation (communication) is performed between the Web client manager device and the parser 41 device. (4) Thereafter, a virtual communication path is established by connecting to the Web server.
[0020]
In this way, each terminal device communicates with the Web server via the Web client manager and the parser.
[0021]
Next, processing contents of the parser 41 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A is an example of an HTML document received from the Web server of the server device 1. FIG. (B) is a development view of a structure generated by analyzing this HTML document. As is clear from the HTML document shown in (A), the character string displayed on the first line is “AAA”, and the character string displayed on the second line is “BBB”. The display content of the third line is “[] OK CAN”. Furthermore, the character string displayed on the fourth line is “CCC”.
[0022]
In this way, a chain of line information is generated. As the input object chain, an input field on the third line, a submit button, a reset button, and a link character string on the fourth line are generated in order as an input object chain.
[0023]
In this way, a display as shown in (C) is made on the display screen of the terminal device 2. Here, TA is an input field, SB is a submit button, and RB is a reset button. When the character string “CCC” is linked and the focus is here, TEST2. An HTML document will be called.
[0024]
The link address is extracted by analyzing the HTML document and stored in the HTML document information.
[0025]
In this way, when the gateway device analyzes the HTML document and gives data to the terminal device, it gives only the range that can be displayed at once in the display range of the display screen of the terminal device. As a result, the terminal device only needs to have a minimum memory according to the screen size. If the Web client is executed on the terminal device alone, all codes described in the HTML document are analyzed and display data is generated (displayed by operating the vertical scroll bar outside the displayable range). A lot of memory is required. In addition, in this case, the entire range to be displayed is determined by the content of the HTML document and is not fixed, so that it is necessary to secure a large memory capacity in advance.
[0026]
Next, a configuration for providing an input / output function unique to the terminal device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a method for managing settings of functions unique to a terminal device such as a barcode scanner, a buzzer, a vibrator, etc., without describing them in an HTML document, by setting for each terminal. The example shown in FIG. 5 shows the processing contents for bar code scanner input. Here, the Web server generates a code of the HTML document by CGI and gives it to the gateway device.
[0027]
As shown in the figure, the gateway device 4 includes a terminal setting program manager. This terminal setting program manager is a program for setting the barcode scanner setting information of the terminal. By executing this terminal setting program manager from a console connected to the network that can access the gateway device, Create code scanner setting information. This bar code scanner setting information includes default type information of the bar code to be read in the input field.
[0028]
The barcode scanner setting information on the gateway device 4 side is taken in as the barcode scanner setting information of the terminal device itself by the file transfer function in the process when the terminal device 2 is turned on. Since all the terminal devices 2 capture the same barcode scanner setting information, all the terminal devices can be set only by creating the barcode scanner setting information by the terminal setting program manager. The terminal program of the terminal device 2 reads the barcode scanner setting information and sets the barcode type to be read in the input field. For example, if JAN is set as the barcode type, the barcode reading result as JAN is input to the input field. That is, the barcode scanner operates when the input field has focus (cursor). This bar code scanner input function is realized by the processing of the four parsers 41 of the gateway device and the processing of the Web client manager. The same applies to output processing by a buzzer, a vibrator and the like.
[0029]
FIG. 6 shows a method for managing settings for functions unique to a terminal device such as a barcode scanner, a buzzer, and a vibrator in an HTML document and managing them for each input field. In particular, the example shown in FIG. 6 shows an example in which the type of barcode that can be read for each input field can be specified by an extension tag. For example, if SCAN = “CODE: JAN” is described as an attribute of “<INPUT TYPE =”, the barcode reading result as JAN is input to the input field. If SCAN = “CODE: CODE128” is described, the barcode reading result as CODE128 is input to the input field. The same applies to output processing by a buzzer, a vibrator and the like.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, (1) since the gateway device is seen as a virtual terminal device when viewed from the server device, the server device (Web server) is not affected by the communication environment between the gateway device and the terminal device. ), The terminal device operates stably. Further, (2) to the terminal device, Web of client function, since it is imparted only the minimum functions necessary for the terminal device, not scale terminal device is large, compact, lightweight, low power consumption A simple terminal device can be configured. As a result, the memory capacity is no longer limited, and freezing during program execution is less likely to occur. In addition, (3) the data processing capability of the entire network system can be easily improved by improving the processing capability of the server device. (4) Since the server program only needs to have a general-purpose Web server function, the existing development environment can be used, and the program development cost is not high and development can be performed in a short time.
[0031]
According to the present invention, the gateway program is a program that is executed in parallel for each terminal device or a program that is executed one by one for a plurality of terminal devices, so that there is simultaneous access from a plurality of terminal devices. In this case, since a plurality of Web clients are connected as viewed from the Web server, a plurality of terminal devices can be used at the same time while being substantially a single gateway program.
[0032]
In addition, according to the present invention, the wireless communication unit that connects the terminal device and the gateway device via a wireless LAN is provided in the network system, so that the present invention can be applied to a network system using a wireless LAN.
[0033]
According to the present invention, the terminal device can be carried by making the terminal device a portable terminal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a data flow configuration of the entire network system. FIG. 3 is a diagram between a parser 41 and a Web client manager. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing inter-process communication. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing contents of a parser of a gateway device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing control of a barcode scanner input of a terminal device. Figure [Explanation of symbols]
1-server device 2-terminal device (mobile terminal)
3-network 4-gateway device 5-wireless bridge 41-parser 42-adapter 43-gateway side manager

Claims (4)

In a network system including a server device and a terminal device,
A gateway device that emulates a Web client and converts a protocol between the server device and the Web client and a protocol between the terminal device to each other is provided in the network;
The server device includes server-side control means for performing communication with the gateway device, providing content to be browsed by a Web client, and reading input from the Web client,
The terminal device is provided with terminal-side control means for performing communication with the gateway device, displaying content received from the gateway device, and inputting data.
The gateway device analyzes a content received from the server device, and provides a parser program execution unit that provides data only for a display range of the display screen of the terminal device at a time, and the parser program A Web client manager that performs inter-process communication and emulates a Web client as viewed from the Web server, including a process of returning data input from the terminal-side control means to the Web server of the server device , and the terminal device And a gateway-side manager program execution means including a wireless communication proxy that performs proxy control of wireless communication with the network system.   2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the parser program execution unit executes the parser program in parallel for each terminal device or executes one parser program for a plurality of terminal devices.   The network system according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit that connects the terminal device and the gateway device via a wireless LAN.   The network system according to claim 3, wherein the terminal device is a mobile terminal.

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