JPH10326232A - Distributed network computing system and information exchanging device used for the same system and method therefor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain service offer corresponding to the processing capability of a terminal or the communication capability of communication infrastructure even when plural communication infrastructures coexist without necessitating any large-scaled server computer in a network environment in which each kind of terminal is present, and to efficiently attain data transmission. SOLUTION: A server computer 1 is provided with an information exchanging device 10, and service information provided as an applied service is information- converted into a prescribed format based on the attribute of terminal information, and transmitted. The applied service can be offered by absorbing the relative difference of the processing capability of each kind of terminal equipment 31, 41, and 51, and the applied service can be offered by absorbing the relative difference of the communication capabilities of communication networks 30, 40, and 50 by information converting the service information into the prescribed format based on the attribute of the communication network with which the terminal equipment is connected. Also, when data correction is operated, transfer efficiency can be improved by transferring only difference data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed network computing system for connecting a plurality of terminal devices, and more particularly, to a public network or a wired LAN (Local Area Network).
k), multiple types of communication networks such as wireless LANs are mixed, and various terminal devices with different processing capabilities such as portable information terminals, personal computers (PCs), and portable PCs connected to these communication networks are inventoried. A distributed network computing system that provides application services of various application software such as a management service, an information exchange device used in the system, an information exchange method related to a data transmission method in information exchange, and a program for implementing the method And a computer-readable storage medium storing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information processing by a computer is mainly performed by a centralized processing system using a plurality of terminals connected to one main computer. In contrast, a distributed processing system is configured so that multiple computers are connected via a network or the like, share the resources owned by each computer, and can perform efficient processing. An environment for distributed processing of various application software is referred to as a distributed computing environment.

In a network environment that realizes distributed computing, a user does not need to be conscious of where programs and data are specially located. Logically, the entire network appears as if it were a single computer, so that the user can use necessary information and functions from his own operation environment.

[0004]

By the way, in a network environment as described above, when considering a system for providing each terminal device with an application service such as an application software such as an inventory management service, a terminal device used by a user is considered. Each has a difference in processing capacity (this is called a terminal attribute and includes a CPU capability, a display screen size, a memory capacity, and the like). In order to absorb / adjust the difference, the terminal side or the Artificial information manipulation is required on the server side.

Further, each terminal device is connected to, for example, a public network or a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Net).
work), each uses a different communication network. Therefore, there is a relative difference in data transmission speed, transmission amount, quality, and the like as a communication infrastructure for each communication network.

Generally, when the processing capability of a personal computer (PC) as a general-purpose device is set to an upper level, a portable information terminal is set to a middle level, and other terminal devices are set to a lower level. In addition, as a communication infrastructure, a wired or wireless LAN is at an upper level in terms of both transmission amount and quality.
SDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is at the middle level, and analog wired, analog or digital wireless is at the lower level.

[0007] In a network environment, there is such a difference in processing capability of each terminal device and a difference in communication capability as a communication infrastructure. Therefore, in such an environment, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to provide application services commonly to various terminal devices.

Further, in order to provide a service by absorbing such a difference in processing capability between terminal devices and a difference in communication capability as a communication infrastructure, complicated processing is required. There was a problem that a large server computer having a corresponding capacity was required.

[0009] Further, in business establishments such as companies and factories, it is necessary to install a switch for exchanging connection between extension telephones in the premises and between subscriber telephone lines (office lines) and extension telephones. Generally, private branch exchanges or private branch exchanges are PBX
(Private Branch Exchange), and in particular, a digital private branch exchange is called a digital PBX.
The digital PBX converts an audio signal into a digital signal and processes it. Therefore, OA equipment such as a personal computer, word processor, and computer used in the premises are connected to the digital PBX, and these data and audio are unified. And efficient processing. further,
By adding various network functions to the digital PBX, a wide area network can be constructed from the intra-office communication network.

When constructing a LAN for the first time,
In many cases, several computer devices are connected to one Ethernet cable (coaxial cable).
However, as networking advances and the number of connected devices increases, the physical length of the cable is reached. Tools that extend the network physically and logically beyond this limitation include routers and the like.

The router can configure a network having a closed loop, and determines only an optimal route and passes only necessary packets (routing). The router determines based on the network number in the Internet protocol (network layer), and then determines based on the node number to determine the final destination.

Since the Internet protocol in the network layer is defined differently depending on the protocol such as TCP / IP or OSI, the router basically supports one type of protocol. In other words, it is possible to select only a network of a specific protocol from a backbone network in which a plurality of protocols coexist, and this is effective where a reduction in load factor due to speed is required from Ethernet to a line.

However, on a network connection device such as an exchange or a router, a service can be provided by absorbing the difference in processing capability of each terminal device and the difference in communication capability as a communication infrastructure as described above. Such a system has not been proposed so far.

Furthermore, the attributes of terminal devices used in the system are generally determined at the time of system design, and application services are generally provided according to the attributes. Therefore, even if a terminal device having a new attribute is developed, it cannot be easily introduced into the system and used. In a network computing environment, the original data of a server that manages the original data is often changed. In such a case, the terminal device connected to the server cannot know the fact of the change unless it is performed by an artificial information operation, cannot cope with the change, and is extremely inconvenient.

In the network computing environment as described above, it is often necessary to perform data communication using, for example, a line having a low data transfer capability. Generally, data transfer (eg, data copy) takes time. If a large amount of data is transferred on a line having a low data transfer capability as described above, the data transfer time becomes longer and communication costs increase. , And host usage fees. Further, when a line having a low data transfer capability is used, the reliability remains uneasy.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a network environment in which various terminal devices exist, a large-scale server computer is not required, and the processing capability of each terminal device is adjusted. Application services can be provided, and even when multiple communication infrastructures are mixed, application services can be provided according to the communication capabilities of the communication infrastructures, and efficient and highly reliable data transfer is possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributed network computing system, an information exchange device used in the system, an information exchange method related to a data transmission method in information exchange, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the method.

Further, according to the present invention, in a network environment where each terminal device exists, a difference in processing capability between terminal devices and a difference in communication capability as a communication infrastructure on a network connection device such as an exchange or a router. Network computing system capable of providing services by absorbing / adjusting data, and enabling efficient and highly reliable data transfer, an information exchange device used in the system, and information relating to a data transmission method in information exchange It is an object to provide an exchange method and a computer-readable storage medium storing the method.

[0018]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The present invention provides an information processing device that provides application services such as various application software, a plurality of types of terminal devices that receive application services from the information processing device, the information processing device, and the terminal devices. In a distributed network computing system comprising a communication network connecting the information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus.

This information exchange apparatus has terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of each terminal device, and acquires terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means. In addition, the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, and update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device are allocated. It comprises a conversion means for managing and controlling transmission processing, and a communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices are present on the network, service information provided by the information processing device is exchanged according to the processing capability of each terminal device. The information exchange in this case means that the processing capability of the terminal
To change the format of some information. For example, when transmitting image information (image), if the partner terminal device does not have image processing capability, the image information is converted into symbol information and transmitted.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (computation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). (PDA or the like) can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices, even if the format changes. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data that is the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transmission can be improved.

(2) The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, a terminal device that receives application services from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus and the terminal device. In a distributed network computing system including a plurality of types of communication networks to be connected, an information exchange device is provided in the information processing device.

This information exchange apparatus includes a communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating a communication capability of each communication network, and a communication device to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected from the communication infrastructure information management means. Acquires network communication infrastructure information, converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information, and converts various types of data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. Conversion means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information and controlling transmission processing;
Communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of communication networks are mixed on a network, service information provided by the information processing device is exchanged in a format corresponding to the communication capability of each communication network. . The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device as the communication partner is connected. For example, if the data transmission capacity of the communication network is high, the data is transmitted after being encrypted.If the data transmission capacity is low, binary data is converted to text data, format information such as centering is changed to blank characters, fonts are changed. Send after reducing the transmission data size by ignoring information. When the data transfer capability is low, the data may be compressed and transmitted if the terminal has an optimal computing capability.

As a result, even in a system in which various types of communication infrastructures are mixed, it is possible to absorb a relative difference in the data transmission speed / amount / quality of the communication infrastructures, and the format is changed on the terminal side. Can also receive services similar to those of other terminal devices. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(3) The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, a plurality of types of terminal devices that receive application services from the information processing apparatus, In a distributed network computing system including a plurality of types of communication networks connecting terminal devices, an information exchange device is provided in the information processing device.

This information exchange apparatus includes terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of each terminal device, and communication infrastructure information management for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of each communication network. Means, and obtains terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means, and obtains communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected from the communication infrastructure information management means, The service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and update information and symbols of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device are provided. Conversion means for allocating and managing information and controlling transmission processing, and the service information converted by the conversion means Constructed comprises a communication means for transmitting through the communication network.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices and a plurality of types of communication networks are present on the network, the service information provided by the information processing apparatus uses the processing capability of each terminal device and each communication device. Information is exchanged in a format appropriate for the network.

The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the processing capability of a terminal device as a communication partner and the communication capability of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (computation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). (PDA or the like) can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices, even if the format changes. Further, even in a system in which various communication infrastructures are mixed, it is possible to absorb a relative difference in data transmission speed / amount / quality and the like of the communication infrastructure. It will be possible to receive services similar to those of terminal devices. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(4) The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, a terminal device that receives application services from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus and the terminal device. In a distributed network computing system including a communication network to be connected, an information exchange device is provided in network connection means for interconnecting networks.

This information exchange apparatus obtains terminal attribute information managing means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device, and acquires terminal attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information managing means. Conversion means for converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, and communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network; Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and performing transmission processing control, and transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device. When transmitting, if there is a change in the data, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices exist on the network, service information provided by the information processing device is exchanged according to the processing capability of each terminal device. The information exchange in this case means that the processing capability of the terminal
To change the format of some information. For example, when transmitting image information (image), if the partner terminal device does not have image processing capability, the image information is converted into symbol information and transmitted.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (computation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). Can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive services similar to those of other terminal devices, even if the format changes.

In particular, by performing such information exchange by means of a network connection means (such as a circuit switch or a router), information can be exchanged in a final form near the terminal equipment of the user. That is, when a network is created from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(5) The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, a terminal device that receives application services from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus and the terminal device. In a distributed network computing system including a communication network to be connected, an information exchange device is provided in network connection means for interconnecting networks.

This information exchange apparatus includes a communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network, and a communication network to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected from the communication infrastructure information management means. Conversion means for obtaining communication infrastructure information of the application service, and converting the service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information, and converting the service information converted by the conversion means through the communication network. Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various types of data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus, and performing transmission processing control. When sending various data such as document data,
When there is a change in the data, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of communication networks are mixed on a network, service information provided by the information processing device is exchanged in a format corresponding to the communication capability of each communication network. . The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device as the communication partner is connected. For example, if the data transmission capacity of the communication network is high, the data is transmitted after being encrypted.If the data transmission capacity is low, binary data is converted to text data, format information such as centering is changed to blank characters, fonts are changed. Send after changing the transmission data size by ignoring the information. Note that when the data transmission capability is low, the data may be compressed and transmitted if the terminal has an appropriate operation capability.

Thus, even in a system in which various communication infrastructures are mixed, it is possible to absorb a relative difference in data transmission speed / amount / quality and the like of the communication infrastructure, and the format is changed on the terminal side. Can also receive services similar to those of other terminal devices.

In particular, by performing such information exchange by network connection means (such as a circuit switch or a router), information can be exchanged in a final form near the terminal equipment of the user. That is, when a network is created from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(6) The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal apparatus for receiving application services from the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus and the terminal apparatus. In a distributed network computing system including a communication network to be connected, an information exchange device is provided in network connection means for interconnecting networks.

This information exchange apparatus includes terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device, and communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network. Obtaining terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means, and obtaining communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected from the communication infrastructure information management means, Conversion means for converting the service information provided as a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network And update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device. Means for performing various types of data such as the document data to the terminal device, when there is a change in the data, perform transmission based on the update information and the symbol information. The feature is that it was.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices and a plurality of types of communication networks are present on the network, the service information provided by the information processing apparatus uses the processing capability of each terminal device and each communication device. Information is exchanged in a format appropriate for the network. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information according to the processing capability of a terminal device as a communication partner and the communication capability of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (calculation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). (PDA or the like) can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices, even if the format changes. Further, even in a system in which various communication infrastructures are mixed, it is possible to absorb a relative difference in data transmission speed / amount / quality and the like of the communication infrastructure. It will be possible to receive services similar to those of terminal devices.

In particular, when such information exchange is performed by the network connection means (such as a circuit switch or a router), information can be exchanged in a final form near the terminal equipment of the user. That is, when a network is formed from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(7) The present invention provides a first information processing apparatus for providing an application service, a terminal device for receiving the application service from the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, In a distributed network computing system comprising a communication network connecting a terminal device, a processing capability of the terminal device is provided to a second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device. The terminal attribute information management means for managing the terminal attribute information shown is provided.

[0047] The first information processing device includes a search unit that searches for a second information processing device having the terminal attribute information management unit from one or a plurality of second information processing devices;
For the second information processing apparatus searched by the search means, the terminal attribute information of the terminal device as the communication partner is obtained from the terminal attribute information management means, and the service information provided as an applied service is obtained by the terminal. Conversion means for converting the service information converted by the conversion means into a specific format based on the attribute information, communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network, and document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as, and performing transmission processing control, when transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device, when there is a change in the data, The transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices exist on the network, the service information provided by the first information processing apparatus (the main server computer for performing the application service) is transmitted to each terminal. Information is exchanged according to the processing capacity of the device. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the processing capability of the terminal device as the communication partner. For example, when transmitting image information (image), if the partner terminal device does not have image processing capability, the image information is converted into symbol information and transmitted.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (computation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). (PDA (Personal Digital A
ssistants)) can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices, even if the format changes.

Further, by distributing the function of managing terminal attribute information required for information exchange to the second information processing device (sub server computer), the processing load on the first information processing device can be reduced. And a system resistant to obstacles can be realized. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(8) The present invention provides a first information processing apparatus for providing an application service, a terminal device for receiving the application service from the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, In a distributed network computing system including a communication network connecting terminal devices, a communication capability of the communication network is provided to a second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device. Communication infrastructure information management means for managing the indicated communication infrastructure information.

[0052] The first information processing apparatus comprises: a search means for searching a second information processing apparatus having the communication infrastructure information management means from one or a plurality of second information processing apparatuses; With respect to the second information processing apparatus searched by the above, the communication infrastructure information of the terminal device as the communication partner is obtained from the communication infrastructure information management means, and the service information provided as an applied service is included in the communication infrastructure information. Conversion means for converting the service information converted by the conversion means into a specific format based on the communication information, and communication means for transmitting the service information via the communication network, and various types of document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. Means for allocating and controlling data update information and symbol information and controlling transmission processing. When sending over data, when there is a change in the data, and wherein it has to perform transmission based on the update information and the symbol information.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of communication networks are mixed on the network, the service information provided by the first information processing apparatus (the main server computer that performs the application service) is transmitted to each communication network. Information is exchanged in a format corresponding to the communication capability of the network. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device as the communication partner is connected. For example, if the data transmission capacity of the communication network is high, the data is sent after being compressed or encrypted.If the data transmission capacity is low, binary data is converted to text data, or format information such as centering is changed to blank characters. Change the transmission data size by, for example, ignoring font information, and then send. When the data transmission capacity is low, the data may be compressed and sent if the terminal has a suitable arithmetic capacity.

As a result, even in a system in which various types of communication infrastructures coexist, it is possible to absorb the relative differences in the data transmission speed / amount / quality of the communication infrastructures, and the format is changed on the terminal side. Can also receive services similar to those of other terminal devices.

Further, by distributing the management function of communication infrastructure information required for information exchange in the second information processing apparatus (sub server computer), the processing load on the first information processing apparatus can be reduced. And a system resistant to obstacles can be realized. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

(9) The present invention provides a first information processing apparatus for providing an application service, a terminal device for receiving the application service from the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus and the first information processing apparatus. In a distributed network computing system comprising a communication network connecting a terminal device, a processing capability of the terminal device is provided to a second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device. Terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information shown in FIG. 1 and communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating communication capability of the communication network.

[0057] The first information processing apparatus searches for a second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information managing means and the communication infrastructure information managing means from one or a plurality of second information processing apparatuses. Search means and the second information processing apparatus searched by the search means,
A service provided as an applied service by obtaining terminal attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management unit and obtaining communication infrastructure information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the communication infrastructure information management unit. Conversion means for converting information into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network; Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the apparatus and performing transmission processing control, and for transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device. , If the data changes,
The transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information.

According to such a configuration, when a plurality of types of terminal devices and a plurality of types of communication networks exist on a network, service information provided by an information processing apparatus (a main server computer for performing an applied service) is provided. Is exchanged in a format corresponding to the processing capacity of each terminal device and each communication network. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information according to the processing capability of a terminal device as a communication partner and the communication capability of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected.

As a result, the terminal device is excellent in portability, but relatively inferior in information processing capability (computation capability) and screen display / user interface providing capability as compared with other terminal devices (PC, etc.). (PDA or the like) can be used to construct a distributed network computing system, and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices, even if the format changes. Further, even in a system in which various communication infrastructures are mixed, it is possible to absorb a relative difference in data transmission speed / amount / quality and the like of the communication infrastructure. It will be possible to receive services similar to those of terminal devices.

Further, the function of managing terminal attribute information and the function of managing communication infrastructure information required for information exchange are distributed and provided to the second information processing device (sub server computer). Can be reduced, and a system resistant to failure can be realized. In addition, in data transfer such as data copy, when the original data of the transfer data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information, so that the efficiency of data transfer can be improved.

[0061]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a server computer, which comprises a general-purpose computer having a high processing capability.

The server computer 1 is installed in an office, has an application service unit 20, and provides various application services (application software) such as an inventory management service to each terminal device. The service provided by the application service unit 20 can use an image reader 43 and a printer 42 described later as input / output devices.

The server computer 1 has a public network 30 and a wired L
Three types of communication networks (hereinafter, referred to as communication infrastructure) having different communication capabilities such as an AN (Local Area Network) 40 and a wireless LAN 50 are connected.

In the public network 30, a portable information terminal 31, a portable telephone 32, a pager (pager: pager) 3
3. A facsimile machine (FAX) 34 is connected. The public network 30 includes an analog communication network and a digital communication network. The analog communication network generally has a lower data transmission amount and reliability than a digital communication network. The portable information terminal 31 is connected to the server computer 1 via a mobile communication network included in the public network 30. The mobile communication has not only low data transmission amount but also poor quality such as line disconnection due to movement characteristics and occurrence of errors during data transmission. In the present embodiment, the portable information terminal 31 is an information device that emphasizes portability, has a low screen size / control function, and can use only text information. It is also assumed that the processing capability of the CPU is lower than that of a personal computer (PC), and the CPU does not hold an external storage device.

A personal computer (PC) 41, a printer 42, an image reader 43
Is connected. In general, the wired LAN 40 has a larger transmission data amount and a stable line quality as compared with wireless communication such as a mobile phone service. At present, distributed network application services for general offices are often designed for the wired LAN 40.

The printer 42 and the image reader 43 are installed as output devices / input devices in an office building. For example, in the inventory management service, the image reader 43
Reads the inventory slip and stores the data in the wired LAN 40
Is sent to the server computer 1 via the server 42, and the totalized result is output by the printer 42.

A portable PC 51 is connected to the wireless LAN 50. Although the communication capabilities of the wireless LAN 50 and the wired LAN 40 are comparable, the processing capability of the portable PC 51 connected to the wireless LAN 50 is inferior to the processing capability of the PC 41 connected to the wired LAN 40.

Although not shown, a server computer other than the server computer 1 is also connected to the network environment.

As described above, in the network environment, there is a difference in the processing capability of each terminal device and a difference in the communication capability of the communication infrastructure.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the server computer 1
Is provided with an information exchange device 10 to absorb / adjust attributes of various terminal devices and communication infrastructure (difference in information processing capability, difference in communication capability) existing on the network.

The information exchange apparatus 10 includes an information exchange processing unit 11, a terminal information management unit 12, an application service user interface information management unit 13, and a user information management unit 1.
4. It comprises a communication infrastructure information management unit 15.

The configuration of each unit of the information exchange apparatus 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the information exchange processing unit 11. The information exchange processing unit 11
It is responsible for a series of processes for exchanging information as applied services into other information in accordance with the attributes of each terminal device and communication infrastructure. This information exchange processing unit 11
Are the information exchange device internal communication interface unit 111, terminal type determination unit 112, information exchange execution unit 113, server user data information management unit 114, compression / encryption processing unit 11
5, information exchange device external communication interface unit 116, data change management unit 117, and retransmission management unit (not shown)
It comprises a priority management unit and a terminal monitoring unit.

Information exchange device internal communication interface unit 1
Reference numeral 11 denotes an interface for communicating with other components in the information exchange device 10. Terminal type determination unit 112
Determines the type of terminal device of the user (for example, a large-screen desktop PC, a portable small-screen subnotebook PC, a portable information terminal, etc.). The information exchange execution unit 113 performs an actual information exchange process (decomposition, search,
Extraction, rework). The server user data information management unit 114 manages user data information registered in the server computer 1. Compression / encryption processing unit 115
Performs communication data compression and encryption processing as necessary when communication is performed from the inside of the information exchange apparatus 10 to the outside. Information exchange device external communication interface unit 1
Reference numeral 16 denotes an interface for performing communication from the information exchange apparatus 10 to the outside. Data change management unit 117
Controls the data update information such as document data / user data and the like, which is managed and stored in the server computer 1 using a structured language, the replacement data of image data with symbol information, and the transfer processing of the data to the outside. I do.

Further, the retransmission management unit performs retransmission processing / to be described later.
Data transfer to terminal /
When data transmission fails, retransmission control of data is performed. That is,
This retransmission management unit indicates that the destination terminal is using the line (communicating).
In the case of, the retransmission interval is controlled after a few minutes, and in the case of retransmission processing due to packet drop due to packet communication, information exchange (reprocessing) is performed under the control of the information exchange execution unit 113 and the compression / encryption processing unit 115. Etc.) / The data size is reduced by data compression to shorten the data transfer time. The priority management unit determines the priority / urgency of the communication data and manages and controls the communication data transmission method based on the determination result. In addition, the information exchange processing unit 11 is provided with a terminal monitoring unit having a function of coping with continuous provision of service even if a problem occurs on the terminal side by monitoring the state of the terminal. Have been.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the terminal information management unit 12. The terminal information management unit 12 manages attribute information indicating a processing capability such as a CPU capability, a display capability, and a memory capacity for each terminal device connected to the server computer 1. The terminal information management unit 12 includes an information exchange device internal communication interface unit 121, a terminal attribute negotiation unit 122, and a terminal attribute information management execution unit 123.

Information exchange device internal communication interface unit 1
Reference numeral 21 denotes an interface for communicating with other components in the information exchange device 10. Terminal attribute negotiation unit 122
Is an interface when the terminal information management unit 12 performs various exchanges / negotiations on terminal attributes with terminal devices. The terminal attribute information management execution unit 123 is an interface that manages / operates a terminal attribute table in which terminal attribute information for each terminal device is registered.

FIG. 4 shows a user interface information management unit 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the third embodiment. When a user uses an application service, an operation method such as operating an icon on a terminal device, operating a button, or inputting a command differs for each terminal device. The user interface information management unit 13 manages user interface information indicating an operation method unique to each terminal device when performing such an applied service. The user interface information management unit 13 includes an information exchange device internal communication interface unit 131 and an application service interface table management unit 132.

Information exchange device internal communication interface 1
Reference numeral 31 denotes an interface for communicating with other components in the information exchange device 10. The application service interface table management unit 132 manages information on a user interface for each application service.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the user information management unit 14. For example, taking the screen display as an example,
When the user uses the application service, there are various preferences depending on the user, such as moving a display such as a graph on the terminal device to an easily viewable position. The user information management unit 14 manages user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, including a screen display preference when using such an applied service. The user information management unit 14 includes an information exchange device internal communication interface unit 141, a user information table management unit 142, and a user authentication unit 143.

Information exchange device internal communication interface 1
Reference numeral 41 denotes an interface for communicating with other components in the information exchange device 10. The user information table management unit 142 manages user names and related information such as users and terminal names / addresses / communications infrastructure types. The user authentication unit 143 operates when the information exchange device 10 requires user authentication.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the communication infrastructure information management unit 15. The communication infrastructure information management unit 15 manages attribute information indicating communication capability of each communication network, such as data transmission speed, transmission amount, and quality. The communication infrastructure information management unit 15 includes an information exchange device internal communication interface unit 151, a communication infrastructure feature management unit 152, and a retransmission processing / line disconnection correspondence management unit 153.

Information exchange device internal communication interface 1
Reference numeral 51 denotes an interface for communicating with other components in the information exchange device 10. The communication infrastructure feature management unit 152 manages feature information such as transmission quality and transmission speed as a communication infrastructure. The retransmission processing / line disconnection correspondence management unit 153 implements retransmission processing and a processing function at the time of line disconnection according to the communication infrastructure used by the user.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the processing operation of a general application service when the information exchange apparatus 10 is not used will be described with reference to an inventory management service as an example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a general application service. The server computer 1 has a wired L
An input from the image reader 43 is received via the AN 40, and information such as a stock slip is delivered to the application service unit 20 (step A11). In the server computer 1, the application service unit 20 extracts the required stock amount from the slip information read by the image reader 43, and, for example, displays the contents to a user using the PC 41 on the display screen of the PC 41. (Step A1)
2).

With this display, the user can access the server computer 1
The information processing such as updating the stock amount to the latest information is performed using the PC 41 connected to the PC (step A13). Upon receiving the correction information from the user, the application service unit 20 outputs a new inventory slip reflecting the result to the printer 42 (step A14). Thus, the user can obtain a new inventory slip from the output result of the printer 42.

In such a general application service, it is assumed that the user can use the PC 41, the printer 42, and the image reader 43 at hand. In the example of FIG.
The C41, the printer 42, and the image reader 43 are connected to the server computer 1 via a wired LAN 40 in the office.

Next, a case where an application service is provided to a user who uses the portable information terminal 31 or the portable PC 51 outside the office will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of an applied service when the information exchange apparatus 10 is used.
The information exchange device 10 is installed in the server computer 1 at an external interface of the application service unit 20.

First, the information exchange apparatus 10 receives information on a terminal device to be transmitted from the application service unit 20 (step B11). At this time, if the terminal device of the transmission destination is the PC 41 in the office, the information exchange device 10 is not required (to “not use” in step B12),
The server computer 1 executes the normal processing described in FIG. 7 (step B13).

On the other hand, when the transmission destination is the portable information terminal 31 or the portable PC 51 outside the office, the information exchange device 1
The routine enters the routine for executing the information exchange process using 0 (to "use" in step B12).

The information exchange device 10 acquires the terminal attribute information of the terminal device from the terminal information management unit 12 (step B).
14), information exchange (information exchange processing, terminal attribute absorption processing) of the information passed from the application service unit 20 based on the terminal attribute information (steps B15 and B16). The information exchange in this case refers to absorbing / adjusting terminal attributes by changing the format of certain information in accordance with the processing capability of the terminal device.

For example, when sending image information (image),
If the terminal device of the other party has no image processing capability, the image information is converted into symbol information and transmitted. As a result, the terminal can receive the same service as other terminal devices even if the format changes. When the information exchange according to the terminal attributes is performed in this way, the information exchange device 1
0 sends the converted information as service information to the terminal device (step B17).

Here, reading of the terminal attribute from the terminal attribute information management unit 12 will be described. The terminal attributes include, for example, screen size, screen control information, types of data that can be displayed on the screen, and the like.

There are two methods for reading terminal attributes: (A) having a terminal attribute table in the terminal information management unit 12 and (B) obtaining terminal attribute information from terminal equipment.

In the present embodiment, the former method (A) is used when the terminal device is the portable information terminal 31. The latter method (B) is used when the terminal device is the portable PC 51. The selection of (A) / (B) is performed by the user information management unit 14, the correspondence between the user name, the terminal address, and the communication infrastructure is obtained from the user information table management unit 142, and the terminal attribute management execution unit 123 determines. I do. Terminal side CP
If the U capability is sufficient and the quality of the communication line is high,
The latter (B) method of negotiating terminal attributes with the terminal side is adopted.

In the method (B), a protocol for determining a terminal attribute is determined between the terminal and the server (information exchange device 10). FIG. 9 shows the concept of the protocol sequence. As shown in this protocol sequence, the terminal side control code system (line feed code, tab, etc.)
The terminal and the server (the information exchange device 10) confirm the bitmap, the screen size, the available font type (including the corresponding language), and the like.

Next, a method of information exchange will be described.

Information exchange is performed when the terminal has no display capability, or when the information transmission capability of the communication infrastructure is poor, and the server needs to perform quantitative / qualitative conversion of the information.

The information exchange includes, specifically, conversion from binary data to text data, conversion from image information to symbol information, conversion from icon data to symbol information, conversion from voice information to text information, Conversion from color images to monochrome images.

The conversion of binary data to text data will be described. For example, in document creation application software used in a PC or the like, that is, word processing software, created document data is stored as binary data. Often. This is because it is necessary to save not only text data but also various attached information such as a document format and font.

However, generally, this binary data is
The data size is larger than simple text data.
Further, in order to display the binary data, the terminal side needs not only a text display capability but also various image display capabilities. Furthermore, since the screen size on the terminal side is often designed to be small with emphasis on portability, it is often necessary to display the document data after processing it on the server side.

In order to deal with such a problem, information exchange is effective. That is, the binary data is converted to text data and sent to the terminal device. As a result, the terminal can perform processing according to its own processing capability.

FIG. 10 shows the information exchange processing operation at this time.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of information exchange according to a terminal attribute. If word processing software is taken as an example of an applied service, the information exchange apparatus 10 first searches the location of document data in the server user data information management unit 114, and the document data is stored in any format. Is checked (step C11).

As a result, if the document data is binary data (Yes in step C12), the information exchange device 10
In the information exchange execution unit 113, the binary document data is subjected to component development (document decomposition) for each element such as text, format, font and the like (step C13). Then, by retrieving and extracting necessary information from each component element (steps C14 and C15), the information is reprocessed into an information format adapted to the terminal screen (step C1).
6). The reprocessed information, that is, the service information of the word processing software exchanged according to the terminal, is provided to the terminal device by the information exchange device external communication interface unit 116.

The same applies to other information exchanges. For example, if the terminal has no image processing capability, the image part is converted into symbol text information, and the icon is converted into symbol text information. Further, if the terminal does not have the voice processing capability, the voice information is converted into text information and transmitted, so that a service corresponding to each processing capability can be provided.

As described above, when there are a plurality of types of terminal devices on the network, the service information provided as an applied service is exchanged and transmitted in a format that matches the processing capability of each terminal device. Use a terminal device (PDA, etc.) that has excellent portability, but is relatively inferior to other terminal devices (PCs, etc.) in information processing ability (computing ability) and screen display / user interface providing ability. Thus, a distributed network computing system can be constructed, and the terminal can receive services similar to those of other terminal devices, even if the format changes.

[0111] Such information exchange may be performed in accordance with the operation method of each terminal device, independently of the processing capability of the terminal device itself.

That is, when the user uses the applied service, the operation method, such as operating an icon on a terminal device, operating a button, or inputting a command, differs for each terminal device. If such an operation method for each terminal device is registered in advance in the user interface information management unit 13 as user interface information, and information is exchanged based on the user interface information for each terminal device, The service can be provided by an operation method corresponding to each terminal device.

Further, information exchange may be performed according to the preference of the user who handles the terminal device.

In other words, when the user uses the application service, the user prefers the display position depending on the user, such as moving the graph relationship to the center on the terminal device or viewing the text at the same position. come. Such screen display preferences (screen display preference information) are registered in advance in the user information management unit 14 as user information, and information exchange is performed for each user based on the user information. If
The service can always be provided at the display position according to the user's preference.

Next, a case where information is exchanged according to the communication infrastructure will be described.

The information exchange apparatus 10 includes a communication infrastructure feature management section 152 in the communication infrastructure information management section 15 and a user information table management section 142 in the user information management section 14.
As a result, information on the communication infrastructure used by terminal users is grasped. In addition, data retransmission control is performed based on the information.

FIG. 11 shows the information exchange processing operation at this time.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of information exchange according to the communication infrastructure. For example, when the user uses the portable PC 51, it can be determined that the CPU capability as the terminal device is high (No in step D11). At this time, if the data transmission capacity as the communication infrastructure is high (No in step D16), the information exchange process 11 of the information exchange apparatus 10 performs compression / compression as necessary.
The data is compressed or encrypted using the encryption processing unit 115 (step D17), and the data is transmitted. If the data transmission capability as the communication infrastructure is low (Yes in step D16), information such as converting binary data to text data, changing format information such as centering to blank characters, and ignoring font information is used. An exchange process is performed (step D18), and the data is transmitted after the transmission data size is reduced.

On the other hand, a portable information terminal 31 having a low CPU capability
Is used (Yes in step D11),
Regardless of the communication infrastructure, the information exchange processing is performed in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 10 (steps D12 to D1).
5).

As described above, first, the processing capability of the terminal device is checked, and if the processing capability is high, the communication capability of the communication infrastructure is checked next, and information exchange is performed in accordance with the communication capability. On the other hand, when the processing capability of the terminal device is low, the information exchange is performed according to the processing capability of the terminal device because the terminal device cannot cope with the communication capability of the communication infrastructure, no matter how high the communication capability.

As a result, even in a system in which various types of communication infrastructures coexist, it is possible to absorb / adjust the relative differences in the data transmission speed / amount / quality of the communication infrastructures, and the format is changed on the terminal side. Can also receive services similar to those of other terminal devices.

In this embodiment, the terminal device is P
Although the description assumes C, a portable PC, a portable information terminal, a pager, a FAX, a mobile phone, a printer, and the like, other server computers connected to a network may be used.
Further, in the above information exchange method, the program information in which the processing method is described may be stored in a storage medium operated by the server computer 1.

Next, a case where data encryption is performed will be described.

When an application service is used outside the office, it is important to encrypt and send the data in order to secure the security of the application service. In this case, since the terminal needs to have the ability to decrypt the encrypted data, the encrypted data cannot be sent to all terminal devices. In addition, when data is encrypted, the amount of data usually increases, so that the data transmission capacity of the communication infrastructure must be high.

FIG. 12 shows the processing operation at this time.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when data is encrypted. Application Service Department 20
When providing the application service of the application software by the information exchange device 10, the information exchange device 10
The attribute information of the terminal device to be a communication partner is obtained from the device (step E11), and the processing capability of the terminal device is determined based on the attribute information (step E12).

As a result, it is found that the processing ability is high and the ability to decrypt the encrypted data is found (step E1).
2), the information exchange apparatus 10 next acquires communication infrastructure information to which the terminal device is connected from the communication infrastructure information management unit 15 (step E13), and determines the communication capability based on the communication infrastructure information. (Step E1
4). If the communication capability is high (step E1)
4), the information exchange device 10 encrypts the information of the application service in the information exchange processing unit 11 (step E15), and then transmits the encrypted service information to the terminal device (step E15). E16). This allows
The terminal uses the service after decrypting the encrypted data.

On the other hand, when the processing capability of the terminal device is low and the terminal device does not have the capability to decrypt the encrypted data (step E12).
No), the information exchange apparatus 10 transmits the information of the application service without encrypting the information (step E17) (step E16). At this time, a message to the effect that encryption has not been performed may be notified to the user. Alternatively, if there is no ability to decrypt the encrypted data (No in step E12), the terminal device side user is asked to determine whether or not to transmit before transmitting the data as it is, as described above. Transmission processing may be performed according to the answer result.

[0129] Even if the terminal device has a processing capability, but the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected is low (No in step E14), the information exchange apparatus 10 transmits the information of the application service. Is transmitted without encryption (step E17) (step E16).
Alternatively, when the communication capacity of the communication network is low (step E1).
No. 4), similar to the above, before the transmission as it is, the terminal device side user may be asked to determine whether or not the transmission may be performed, and the transmission processing may be performed based on the response result.

In the encryption process, even if the terminal device has a level of capability to support the encryption process,
The necessity of encryption may be selectable by the user.

Furthermore, there are various levels of data encryption, from simple scrambling to high-level encryption, and the load on terminal equipment and communication infrastructure also varies. Therefore, the encryption level can be appropriately changed according to the processing capability of the terminal device or the communication capability of the communication infrastructure.

As described above, by providing the function of data encryption, security can be ensured even when an application service is received outside the office. In this case, it is determined from the terminal attributes and the attributes of the communication infrastructure what kind of encryption is possible and what amount of encrypted data can be transmitted by the used communication infrastructure, and the appropriate Encryption can be performed.

Next, a case where data compression is performed will be described.

Data compression is an effective means for transmitting information having a large data amount such as image data. In this case as well, similar to the data encryption described above, the terminal needs to have the ability to decompress and process the compressed data. As for the communication infrastructure, since the compressed data can be sent as long as it takes time, the communication capability of the communication infrastructure does not matter here.

FIG. 13 shows the processing operation at this time.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when data compression is performed. Application Service Department 20
When the application service is provided by the information exchange device 10
First, the terminal device acquires attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal information management unit 12 (step F11), and determines the processing capability of the terminal device based on the attribute information (step F12).

As a result, it is found that the processing capacity is high and the capacity to decode the compressed data is found (step F1).
2), the information exchange apparatus 10 compresses the information of the application service in the information exchange processing unit 11 (step F13), and then transmits the compressed service information to the terminal device (step F13). F14). This allows
The terminal uses the service after decompressing the compressed data.

On the other hand, if the processing capability of the terminal device is low and there is no capability to expand the compressed data (step F12).
No), the information exchange apparatus 10 transmits the information of the application service without compression (step F15), as it is (step F14). At this time, a message to the effect that compression has not been performed may be notified to the user.

As described above, by providing a function of data compression, data transmission can be performed efficiently.
In this case, it is possible to determine what kind of data compression is possible from the terminal attributes and perform appropriate compression.

In the example of FIG. 13, it is determined whether data compression is possible only by the processing capability of the terminal device. However, the data compression is performed including the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected. It may be determined whether or not is possible.

Further, the level of compression can be appropriately changed according to the processing capability of the terminal device and the communication capability of the communication infrastructure.

Next, a case where an application service is used using an input / output device will be described.

The input / output devices referred to here are devices other than a computer, and in the example of FIG. 1, are a mobile phone 32, a pager (pager) 33, a FAX 34, a printer 42, and an image reader 43.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when using an application service using an input / output device. Upon receiving a signal from the user indicating that the application service is to be used (step G11), the information exchange apparatus 10
After performing user authentication of the user through the user information management unit 14 (step G12), the type of device used by the user is determined (step G13).

If the user uses the input / output device (Yes in step G13), the information exchange apparatus 10 performs an information exchange process according to the input / output device (step G14), and the information exchange is performed. The subsequent service information is transmitted (step G15).

More specifically, if the input / output device is the portable telephone 32, the information exchange device 10 uses the voice processing function,
For example, text data is converted to voice data, and a service is provided as a voice message.

In the case of the pager 33, the message data is converted into message data of a predetermined number of characters and transmitted.
In the case of 34, the service is provided within a specific limited range corresponding to each input / output device, such as transmitting text data after converting it into image data.

On the other hand, if the user is not an input / output device but a terminal device having a CPU processing capability (No in step G13), the information exchange apparatus 10 executes a normal application service (step G13). Step G16). That is, services are provided by exchanging information according to the processing capacity of each terminal device.

As described above, by exchanging information according to the input / output devices, even when the user uses a facsimile or the like, for example, it is possible to provide an application service corresponding to the use.

It is also possible to exchange service information from the server by matching the attribute of the input / output device with the attribute of the communication infrastructure.

Hereinafter, a case where service information provided as an applied service is described in a structured language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) will be described. Note that HTML is a structured language (tag language) used in the WWW (World Wide Web), which is currently widely used on the Internet. SGML is C
ALS (Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Suppo
rt) is a structured language that is expected to spread in the future along with the spread of rt).

In general, as one of the management of document data including multimedia data, a technique using a structured document is considered. In this case, each component (text data, image data, moving image data, program, etc.) constituting the document data is managed by a tag, and a browsing device (browser) displays the document data on a screen based on the tag. Will be displayed. Therefore, when providing the service information described in the structured document format, if the server analyzes the tag, it is possible to know what kind of component of the document data provided as the service information is. it can.

Therefore, before actually transferring the data, the structured document is analyzed based on the tag information, and the attribute information such as the data size and additional information of each component (information that cannot be displayed only with the tag information) is grasped. At the same time, an information exchange device for grasping the format corresponding to the attributes of the terminal device and the communication infrastructure is mounted on the server side. In this case, a tag for information exchange is inserted into the structured document generated from the information exchange device.

As described above, by performing data management in the structured document format, data management is facilitated.
Analysis of document parts becomes easy even in information exchange work. Also,
If an information exchange device is constructed based on a widely used structured language rule such as HTML, the widespread WW
Changes and effects on the W system can be minimized.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the entire system including application services when a structured document is assumed. In the figure, reference numeral 61 denotes a structured document management unit which manages service information provided as application services such as various application software in a structured document format. This structured document management unit 61 is provided in the application service providing unit 20 of FIG. Here, the case where the application service providing unit 20 manages the service information described in advance in the structured document format has been described. However, as described later, even if the service information is in the unstructured document format, Good (see FIG. 20).

Reference numeral 62 denotes an information exchange unit, which exchanges information according to the attributes of the terminal and the attributes of the communication infrastructure. This information exchange unit 62 corresponds to the information exchange device 10 in FIG. 63
Denotes a network unit, which indicates various communication networks connecting the server and the terminal. The network unit 63 corresponds to the public network 30, the wired LAN 40, and the wireless LAN 50 in FIG. 6
Reference numerals 4a to 64c denote terminal devices that receive services from the server, such as PCs (Personal Computers) and NCs.
(Network Computer), PDA (Personal Digital Ass)
istants). These terminal devices 64a to 64c
Have different communication infrastructures and different processing capacities. In FIG. 1, it corresponds to the portable information terminal 31, the PC 41, and the portable PC 51.

In such a configuration, application services such as various types of application software are managed by the structured document management unit 61 in a structured document format (for example, an HTML document). Here, an example of the structured document is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 16, a tag 66 indicates that text data comes after that. Tag 6
Reference numeral 7 denotes document format information, which defines centering (center alignment). A tag 68 indicates font information. Here, a font having a large size is defined. The tag 69 indicates image information.

The information exchange section 62 analyzes the structured document, and checks the type of each component constituting the document and its data size based on the tag information inserted in the document. When transmitting each component data, the processing capability of the terminal device and the communication capability of the communication infrastructure are checked, and information is exchanged according to the capability.

For example, when it is determined that the data transmission capability of the communication infrastructure is low, the transmission data is reduced by exchanging information (or data compression) for a document part having a large data amount. If it is determined from the terminal attributes that the terminal device to communicate with does not have a document display capability (in the case of a terminal without a browser), information is exchanged into a format that can be displayed on the terminal side. Perform data transmission.

Further, at the time of information exchange, the data is changed so as to match the display style of the document according to the user's preference (information exchange processing based on user information).

Next, a specific processing operation will be described.

The operation in the case where the service information in the structured document format is managed by the application service providing unit 20 will be described. However, the service information in the unstructured document format is managed by the application service providing unit 20. This case will be described later with reference to FIG.

First, processing according to the terminal attribute will be described.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to a terminal attribute when a structured document is used. FIG.
In the application service providing unit 20 in the server computer 1,
Manages service information described in a structured document format. When a certain terminal device issues a document request instruction (service request instruction) to the server computer 1, the service information described in the structured document format is applied to the application service providing unit 2.
0 is passed to the information exchange device 10. Thereby, the information exchange apparatus 10 executes the following information exchange processing.

That is, the information exchange apparatus 10 first analyzes the structured document constituting the service information (step H11). In this case, in the structured document, each component is defined by a syntax prescribed including the tag information. Based on the tag information, the information exchange device 10 determines the type of each component constituting the document and its data. The size is checked (step H12). This is to find out, for example, where and how much image information is located and where and how much is the program.

A series of processes such as disassembly, search, extraction, and information exchange to be described later are performed by the information exchange execution unit 113 (FIG. 2) in the information exchange processing unit 11.

After the analysis of the structured document, the information exchange apparatus 10 acquires the attribute information of the terminal device as the communication partner from the terminal information management unit 12, and checks the processing capability (step H1).
3). As a result, if it is determined that the processing capacity of the terminal is low and the terminal does not have the ability to display the structured document, the information exchange apparatus 10 displays each component data of the structured document in a format that can be displayed by the terminal. (Step H14).

That is, in the case of a terminal device having a low screen control function (a terminal having no browser function), for example, when the information provided as service information is image information, particularly moving image information, this is used as symbol information (the image information). To something that is simply shown in some form). In the case of format information of a document, it is converted into a blank character or a new line and sent. In the case of a character type, it is ignored because the terminal cannot handle it.
Furthermore, since a program such as "Java" or "ActiveX" operating on the client (terminal) side cannot be handled by the terminal, it is ignored and a message indicating that the program cannot be handled is notified.

When the information exchange according to the processing capability of the terminal device is performed in this way, the information exchange device 10 transmits the service information after the information exchange via the communication network to which the terminal device is connected. (Step H15). As a result, for example, even when a terminal device having no ability to display a structured document is used, the service information can be provided in a format suitable for the terminal.

Next, processing according to the attribute of the communication infrastructure will be described.

In information exchange based on the attribute of the communication infrastructure, only the data size of each component is important.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the attribute of the communication infrastructure when a structured document is used. In FIG. 1, service information described in a structured document format is managed in an application service providing unit 20 in the server computer 1. From a terminal device to server computer 1
When there is a document request instruction (service request instruction) for
The service information described in the structured document format is passed from the application service providing unit 20 to the information exchange device 10. Thereby, the information exchange apparatus 10 executes the following information exchange processing.

That is, the information exchange device 10 first analyzes the structured document constituting the service information (step I11). In this case, in the structured document, each component is defined by a syntax prescribed including the tag information. Based on the tag information, the information exchange device 10 determines the type of each component constituting the document and its data. The size is checked (step I12). This is to find out, for example, where and how much image information is located and where and how much is the program.

A series of processes such as disassembly, search, extraction, and information exchange to be described later are performed by the information exchange execution unit 113 (FIG. 2) in the information exchange processing unit 11.

After analyzing the structured document, the information exchange apparatus 10 acquires from the communication infrastructure information management unit 15 the attribute information of the communication infrastructure to which the terminal device as the communication partner is connected,
The communication capability is checked (step I13). as a result,
If it is determined that the data transmission capability of the communication infrastructure is low, the information exchange device 10 converts each component data of the structured document into a format that matches the data transmission capability of the communication infrastructure (step H14).

That is, for example, PHS (Personal)
In the case of a communication infrastructure having a low data transmission capacity such as a handyphone system (data communication network), for example, when information provided as service information is image information, particularly moving image information, the amount of information is reduced by dropping frames. Send in reduced form.

As described above, when information exchange according to the data transmission capacity of the communication infrastructure is performed, the information exchange device 1
No. 0 transmits the service information after the information exchange via the communication network to which the terminal device is connected (step I15).
Thus, for example, even when using a communication infrastructure having a low data transmission capability, service information can be provided in a format suitable for the communication infrastructure.

Next, processing according to the terminal attribute and the attribute of the communication infrastructure will be described.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to a terminal attribute and a communication infrastructure attribute when a structured document is used. In FIG. 1, service information described in a structured document format is managed in an application service providing unit 20 in the server computer 1. Document request instruction (service request instruction) from a certain terminal device to server computer 1
If there is, the service information described in the structured document format is passed from the application service providing unit 20 to the information exchange device 10. Thereby, the information exchange apparatus 10 executes the following information exchange processing.

That is, the information exchange device 10 first analyzes the structured document constituting the service information (step J11). In this case, in the structured document, each component is defined by a syntax prescribed including the tag information. Based on the tag information, the information exchange device 10 determines the type of each component constituting the document and its data. The size is checked (step J12). This is to find out, for example, where and how much image information is located and where and how much is the program.

A series of processes such as disassembly, retrieval, and extraction of parts by document analysis and information exchange to be described later are performed by the information exchange execution unit 113 (FIG. 2) in the information exchange processing unit 11.

After analyzing the structured document, the information exchange apparatus 10 acquires the attribute information of the terminal device as the communication partner from the terminal information management unit 12, and checks the processing capability (step J1).
3). As a result, when it is determined that the processing capability of the terminal side is low and there is no capability to display the structured document (Yes in step J14), the information exchange apparatus 10 transmits each component data of the structured document to the terminal. Is converted into a format that can be displayed (step J14), and the service information after the information exchange is transmitted via the communication network to which the terminal device is connected (step J16).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing capability of the terminal side is high and that the terminal has the capability of displaying the structured document (No in step J14), the information exchange device 10 Of the communication infrastructure to which the terminal device to be connected is connected (step J1).
7). Then, the information exchange device 10 performs information exchange according to the communication capability of the communication infrastructure based on the attribute information (step J18), and transmits the service information after the information exchange via the communication network to which the terminal device is connected. Send it (step J16).

As described above, even when providing service information described in a structured document format, by exchanging information according to the terminal attributes and the attributes of the communication infrastructure, the processing capability of the terminal device and the communication infrastructure It is possible to provide a service that matches the communication ability.

It is to be noted that not only the terminal attributes and the attributes of the communication infrastructure but also the user interface information management unit 13 shown in FIG. By exchanging information or using the user information management unit 14, it is also possible to exchange information based on user information indicating an operation method unique to each user.

Further, in a structured document format, for example, data is encrypted, data is compressed, and when an input / output device such as a facsimile is used, information exchange according to the input / output device is performed. In providing the described service information,
All the methods described above can be applied.

Further, in the above example, the case where service information described in advance in a structured document format is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a format (format) different from the structured document format is provided. The present method can be applied even to service information described in (binary data). FIG. 20 shows the processing operation at this time.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the processing operation when service information other than the structured document format is targeted. Here, the case of exchanging information according to the terminal attribute will be described, but the same applies to the case of exchanging information based on the attribute of the communication infrastructure, and further, user interface information, user information, and the like.

The difference from the processing of FIG. 17 is that the structured document conversion processing shown in steps K11 and K12 is added. This is a process for converting, for example, information in a binary format into a structured document format such as HTML. This structured document conversion process is also performed by the information exchange execution unit 113 (FIG. 2) in the information exchange processing unit 11.
In this case, in FIG. 1, the application service providing unit 20 in the server computer 1 manages service information described in an unstructured document format, and the information exchange device 10 converts the service information into a structured document format. Will be.

When a terminal device issues a document request instruction (service request instruction) to the server computer 1, service information described in a format different from the structured document format is transmitted from the application service providing unit 20 to the information exchange device 10. Passed to.
Thereby, the information exchange apparatus 10 executes the following information exchange processing.

That is, the information exchange apparatus 10 first cuts out the components constituting the service information (step K1).
1). In this case, for example, in the document information of binary data, for example, the main information, font, format,
Other attributes (date, author name, etc.) are managed. Therefore, each part can be cut out by examining the token. When each component is cut out, the information exchange apparatus 10 creates a structured document expressing these components in a structured language such as HTML (step K12).

After the structured document is created in this way, the processing described with reference to FIG. 17 is performed on the structured document.

That is, the information exchange apparatus 10 analyzes the structured document (step K13), and checks the type of each component constituting the document and its data size (step K13).
14). The information exchange device 10 is a terminal information management unit 1
The attribute information of the terminal device that is the communication partner is acquired from the communication device 2 (step K15), and information of each component is exchanged based on the attribute information (step K16). Information exchange device 10
Transmits the service information after the information exchange via the communication network to which the terminal device is connected (step K17).

As described above, even when the service information is described in the unstructured document format, the same effect as described above can be obtained by adding the process of converting the service information to the structured document format. It is.

In the above description, a structured document such as HAML is taken as an example. For example, OLE (Object Linking and Emb
For example, the present invention can be applied to any document formed by each component data, such as edding).

Next, referring to FIG. 21, which shows a flow of data updating on the server computer 1, for editing operations such as correction, deletion, and addition of document data / user data managed and stored using a structured language. Will be explained.

The user opens a file to be updated stored and managed in the server computer 1 (step L11). When the desired file is opened, the user performs editing work such as correction, deletion, and addition to update document data, image data, and the like (step L12). When the update is performed, the data change / update management unit 117 automatically updates / adds “version tag” information as version-up / update information for each updated location (step L13). When the updating of the document data or the image data is completed, the opened file is closed and managed and stored in a predetermined storage area (step L14).

[0199] The tag of the shared document may be provided with additional information in the user information management unit 14 existing for each user.

For the document data updated as described above, for example, FIG. 22 showing a flow of accepting a data copy request on the server computer 1 in response to a copy request from a terminal outside the office, and FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. 23 showing the flow of the copy process.

For example, if there is a transfer request for data copy of a predetermined file from the terminal side (step N11), the server computer 1 accepts this request (step M11) and opens the corresponding file. Then, when the desired file is opened, the version tag information including the location where the data has been corrected, deleted, or added is sent from the server computer 1 to the terminal side (step M12).

The terminal receives the version tag including the change tag (step N12), checks and confirms the data difference between the server computer 1 and the terminal (step N13), and requests a copy of only the difference data, that is, the version tag. A request for data copy of the location where the information has been updated is returned to the server computer 1 (step N14).

The server computer 1 accepts the returned request (step M13) and transmits necessary parts to the terminal (step M14). At this time, information exchange / data compression work may be performed according to the attribute level on the terminal side and transmitted. On the other hand, the terminal receives the data transmitted from the server computer 1 and updates the corresponding part (step N15), and updates the version tag information of the data (step N15).
16). By doing so, it is possible to copy only a necessary portion (only a different plate) quickly and accurately.

Next, data having a relatively large data size, such as multimedia data such as moving image data, still image data, and audio data which have not been transmitted in the past, and which are likely to be retransmitted in the future ( Data transfer processing relating to, for example, icons and voice messages) will be described with reference to FIG. Here, to the large data, symbol data of a small data size associated with the large data is assigned (executed by the information exchange execution unit 113).
The symbol data is transmitted from the server computer 1 thereafter, and the terminal side displays the original data (such as multimedia data) corresponding to the symbol data when receiving the symbol data.

When the server computer 1 receives a transfer request for certain document data including multimedia data from, for example, a terminal having a low processing capability (step P11), the server computer 1 opens a desired file and registers a symbol corresponding to the multimedia data. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step P12).

If the symbol has not been registered, it is checked whether data transfer is necessary (step P13). If the data transfer is not to be performed (No in step P13), the process ends.

On the other hand, when performing data transfer (necessary for step P13), the data transfer processing including the above-described version tag information is performed (step P14), and symbol negotiation (symbol allocation processing) for multimedia data is performed. This is performed between the server computer 1 and the terminal (step P
15) Symbol registration is performed (step P16).
This is performed by the server user data information management unit 114.

If the symbol corresponding to the multimedia data has been registered in step 12,
Correction / change of data is confirmed (step P
17). If there is data modification / change (step P1
(Yes to 7), and the process proceeds to Step P13. On the other hand, if there is no data correction / change (N
o) For the multimedia data, the corresponding symbol data is transmitted (step P18).

As described above, by using the present data transfer method, a large amount of data is copied by connecting to a high-speed LAN or the like in the office, and then only the difference data is automatically copied (when going out). In general, when data transfer such as data copy that requires a lot of time, especially when using a communication infrastructure having a low data transfer capability, the data transfer time can be reduced, the communication fee can be reduced, and reliable data transfer can be performed.

[0210] The above-described various control processing techniques include, for example, a magnetic disk, ie, a floppy disk (FD) loaded in a floppy disk device (FDD), as program information that can be executed by a computer.
Hard disk drive (HDD) and optical disk (CD
-ROM, DVD, etc.), writing to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and applying to various devices, or transmitting to a communication medium and applying to various devices. The computer (server computer 1) that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded on the recording medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, the case where the information exchange device is provided in the server computer that provides the service has been described. In the second embodiment, the functions (processes) required for information exchange are different. A case in which the information is distributed to server computers will be described.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 25 differs from FIG. 1 in that a plurality of server computers 1a to 1e exist on the network. Here, the server computers 1a to 1e are interconnected via a wired LAN 2 in the office.

The server computer 1a is a main server computer for providing a service, and has an application service providing unit 20. The server computer 1a is equipped with an information exchange processing unit 11 and operates as an information exchange control server that controls the entire information exchange.

The other server computers 1b to 1e are sub server computers. The server computer 1b has a terminal information management unit 12 for managing terminal attribute information.
And operates as a terminal information management server under the control of the server computer 1a. The server computer 1c is provided with a user interface information management unit 13 for managing user interface information, and operates as a user interface information management server under the control of the server computer 1a. A user information management unit 14 is mounted on the server computer 1d, and operates as a user information management server under the control of the server computer 1a. A communication infrastructure information management unit 15 is mounted on the server computer 1e, and operates as a communication infrastructure information management server under the control of the server computer 1a.

These server computers 1a to 1e are connected to various communication networks (public network 30, wired LAN 40, wireless LAN 5).
0) through various terminal devices (portable information terminal 31, PC
41, portable PC 51, etc.).

That is, in the second embodiment, the terminal information management unit 12, the user interface information management unit 13, the user information management unit 14, and the communication infrastructure information management unit 15 are mounted on different server computers 1b to 1e, respectively. A distributed processing system is constructed in such a manner that the server computer 1a in which the information exchange processing unit 11 is mounted controls various processes to realize a unified information exchange processing function as a whole.

At this time, the information exchange device internal communication interface 111 shown in FIG. 2 controls communication between the servers, and the information exchange device external communication interface 116.
Manages application services and communication processing with other terminal devices.

In the example of FIG. 25, each of the functions required for information exchange is distributed to each of the server computers 1b to 1e. However, two or more functions are assigned to one server. A computer may have the same function, or a plurality of server computers may have the same function.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a service providing processing operation by distributed processing in the second embodiment. When providing an application service to a terminal device, the server computer 1a first checks a function necessary for information exchange (step X11). The functions required for information exchange in this case are a function of managing terminal attribute information and communication infrastructure information, and a function of managing user interface information and user information.

Here, for example, in the case of exchanging information according to the terminal attribute, a management function of the terminal attribute information is necessary, and the server computer 1a accesses each of the other server computers 1b to 1e, and A server computer having a management function is checked (step X12). At that time, there are cases where the same function is assigned to multiple server computers.
The server computer 1a confirms each of the corresponding server computers and selects a server computer that can use the function (steps X13 and X14).

In the example shown in FIG. 25, this corresponds to the server computer 1b. In this case, since only one of the server computers 1b has the function of managing the terminal attribute information, the server computer 1a communicates with the server computer 1b, and the server computer 1b communicates with the server computer 1b.
Wait for permission from b.

When the use is permitted from the server computer 1b (Yes in step X14), the server computer 1a obtains the terminal attribute information of the terminal device to be communicated with from the terminal information management unit 12 of the server computer 1b. ,
The service providing process by information exchange as described in the first embodiment is executed (step X15).

That is, the server computer 1a converts the service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information in the information exchange processing section 11, and converts the converted service information to the terminal. Transmission is performed via a communication network to which the device is connected. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the processing capability of the terminal device as the communication partner.

The above is an example of the case of exchanging information according to the terminal attribute. However, as in the above case, when exchanging information according to the attribute of the communication infrastructure, for example, the server computer 1b
To 1e to check for a server computer having a function of managing communication infrastructure information. As a result, by obtaining the communication infrastructure information of the terminal device as the communication partner from the communication infrastructure information management unit 15 of the corresponding server computer 1e, the service providing process by information exchange as described in the first embodiment is performed. Execute The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device as the communication partner is connected.

Further, when exchanging information according to the attributes of the user interface, the server computers 1b to 1e
Are accessed, and a server computer having a user interface information management function is checked. as a result,
By obtaining the user interface information corresponding to the communication partner terminal device from the user interface information management unit 13 of the corresponding server computer 1c, the service providing process by information exchange as described in the first embodiment is performed. Execute The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the operation method of the terminal device as the communication partner (the operation method when receiving an applied service such as an icon, a button, or a command).

When exchanging information according to the attributes of the user, each of the server computers 1b to 1e is accessed to check for a server computer having a user information management function. As a result, by acquiring the user information corresponding to the terminal device as the communication partner from the user information management unit 14 of the corresponding server computer 1d, the information exchange as described in the first embodiment is performed. Execute service provision processing. The information exchange in this case is to change the format of certain information in accordance with the operation method of the user who uses the terminal device as the communication partner (the operation method of the user's preference such as screen display preference).

As described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by decentralizing the functions of the information exchange device. Further, by decentralizing each function, it is possible to realize an advanced information exchange processing function by combining a plurality of servers having relatively low processing capabilities. In this case, the distributed processing reduces the processing load on the server that provides the service (the server computer 1a in FIG. 25), so that even a small-sized computer can be used. Further, since the system is realized by combining a plurality of servers, it is possible to flexibly deal with a system failure in comparison with a centralized system, and to improve reliability.

In the second embodiment, the decentralization is performed for a plurality of servers commonly connected to the wired network L @ N2 in the office. However, for example, connection to various communication networks such as the public network 30 is performed. It is also possible to perform decentralization for a plurality of servers that have been set.

In the second embodiment, when a server having a desired function is found, communication / communication is established with each server. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a corresponding server may be found by referring to a table indicating what function each server has.

It is also possible to distribute data encryption functions and data compression functions to other servers in a distributed manner. In this case, if the data is encrypted,
The server having the function determines whether data encryption is possible based on terminal attribute information and communication infrastructure information,
If data encryption is possible, service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. The server that performs the application service receives the encrypted service information and sends it to the terminal device that is the communication partner.

Similarly, in the case of data compression, the server having the function determines whether or not data compression is possible based on terminal attribute information and communication infrastructure information. If possible, compress service information provided as an applied service. The server that performs the application service receives the compressed service information and sends it to the terminal device that is the communication partner.

The control processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 described in the first embodiment, the control processing shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 (for example, the control processing of the encryption / compression function), and FIGS. It goes without saying that the control processing shown in FIG. 24 can be similarly applied to the present embodiment. For example, the copy function in the case where the original data described in the first embodiment is changed can also be applied to the second embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the third embodiment, a case where the information exchange apparatus is realized on an exchange will be described.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an integrated server 70 when the information exchange device according to the third embodiment is realized on an exchange. Here, an apparatus in which the circuit switch and the server computer are integrated is referred to as an integrated server.

[0239] As shown in FIG.
Is provided with an information exchange device 71. The information exchange device 71 exchanges information according to the attributes of the terminal device and the communication infrastructure and the like. The specific configuration is the same as that of the information exchange device 10 in FIG. Shall be.

The integrated server 70 is provided with an office application service unit 72a as a server computer. The application service unit 72a performs various office-based application services (application software) such as an inventory management service. At present, the application service unit 72a cannot be directly mounted on a real-time operating system (hereinafter, referred to as a real-time OS) 77 without any change.
4 is interposed. The real-time OS 77 is an OS for real-time processing, and is a general OS (for example, UNIX or M
Unlike S-DOS), it emphasizes the response speed.

The office application service unit 72b that can be started on the real-time OS 77 can be directly mounted on the real-time OS 77 without passing through the virtual computer 74. The virtual computer 74 is a computer created virtually, and is functionally equivalent to one actual computer (real computer), and can operate one OS on one virtual computer. it can. In the present embodiment, the virtual computer 74 is incorporated in the circuit switch 73.

The circuit switch 73 comprises a virtual computer 74, a real-time application service unit 75, and a switch function unit. The real-time application service unit 75 performs general telephone-based services such as alternate reception (answering machine) and message transfer (pager). Switch function unit 7
Reference numeral 6 has a function as an exchange such as line connection and telephone number management. FIG. 28 shows the configuration.

As shown in FIG.
Is composed of a terminal control unit 761, a service control unit 762, and a maintenance operation unit 763. The terminal control unit 761 performs control such as receiving a signal from a terminal device and passing it to the next place. The service control unit 762 determines what kind of service to provide according to the signal. Maintenance operation section 76
Reference numeral 3 includes telephone number information and the like in addition to line error information.

The hardware 78 is, for example, a CP
U indicates a physical circuit portion such as a line circuit.

With such a configuration, it is possible to realize an apparatus having both a circuit exchange and an information exchange which exist on the telephone communication network. In this case, by implementing the integrated server, information can be exchanged in a final format near the terminal device of the user. That is, when a network is formed from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork.

Also, by storing data in the terminal integrated server, the integrated server is ultimately used as a cache, and only the simplified data transmission to the communication partner terminal device, that is, the cache is stored in the cache. Notifies that data has been registered. As a result, loss of data amount can be minimized, and characteristics of each sub-network can be compensated.

Further, if an exchange is arranged, it can be used as an office server. In this case, since a large number of exchanges are often arranged on the network, the distributed processing described in the second embodiment is effective.

In the example shown in FIG. 27, the information exchange device is incorporated in an integrated server in which a server computer and an exchange are integrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The application service provided from the integrated server may be converted into a predetermined format by an information exchange device and sent, provided separately from the server (server computer + exchange). Further, each function as an information exchange device may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality of exchanges. In short, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof.

In the following, a case will be described in which an exchange is provided with an information exchange device.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to the third embodiment. Now, in the office 81, PC82, PC8
3, and an integrated server 85 connected to these PCs 82 and 83 via a wired LAN 84. The integrated server 85 includes a server computer and a PB
X (private branch exchange) integrated with the computer, which operates as an exchange and provides application services as a server computer. Meanwhile, office 91
It is assumed that a PC 92 and an integrated server 94 connected to the PC 92 via a wired LAN 84 are provided therein. The integrated server 94 is a computer in which a server computer and a PBX (private branch exchange) are integrated like the integrated server 85.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a public network, and 101 denotes a private branch exchange existing on the public network. Reference numeral 102 denotes a mobile terminal device provided with a service. This portable terminal device 1
02 is connected to the integrated server 94 by the private radio 95 in the office 91.

In such a configuration, the application services provided from the integrated server 85 in the office 81 are the terminal devices (PC 82, PC 83) installed in the same office.
The terminal device (PC 92, portable terminal device 102) installed in another office 91 can also be used.

Here, when the information exchange function is provided in the PBX 85a of the integrated server 85, as shown in FIG.
The BX 85 a is sent to the integrated server 94 via the public network 100. At this time, if the user uses the portable terminal device 102, the service information is provided from the integrated server 94 via the local wireless network 95. However, when the service information cannot be received by the portable terminal device 102 due to an excessive amount of information or the like, it is necessary to exchange information with the PBX 85a of the integrated server 85 and then have the service information retransmitted. is there.

On the other hand, the PBX 85a of the integrated server 85 and the PBX 94a of the integrated server 94 can be provided with an information exchange function in a distributed manner. In this case, as shown in FIG. 30B, the PBX 85a can determine only what terminal device the user is using and send the service information as it is to the terminal integrated server 94. . The service information at this time is sent to the integrated server 94 via the PBX 85a and the public network 100. PB of integrated server 94
In X94a, the communication infrastructure of the terminal device used by the user is determined, and the service information is exchanged and transmitted according to the data transmission capability of the communication infrastructure.

At this time, if the amount of the service information is large and the user is using the portable terminal device 102, only the service provision notification is sent to the portable terminal device 102, and the service information is left as it is. PC9 in the form of
2, the service information can be re-transmitted from the integrated server 85 without the user retransmitting the service information.
2 or directly connect the portable terminal device 102 to the wired LAN.
By connecting to the service 93, the service can be provided. That is, the terminal integrated server to which the terminal device receiving the service is connected can be used as a cache, and as a result, unnecessary time can be saved and the line usage fee can be reduced.

As described above, by providing the information exchange function to the circuit exchange, it is possible to exchange information in a final format near the terminal equipment of the user. That is, when a network is formed from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork.

The control processing shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 described in the first embodiment, the control processing shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 (for example, the control processing of the encryption / compression function), and FIGS. It goes without saying that the control processing shown in FIG. 24 can be similarly applied to the present embodiment. For example, the copy function when the original data described in the first embodiment is changed can be applied to the third embodiment.

Although the third embodiment has been described with respect to a circuit switch, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rule for interconnecting LANs can be used.
Even in the evening. In short, as long as a network connection device interconnects a network (a public network in a circuit switch and a LAN in a router), the same effect as described above can be obtained by mounting an information exchange device in the network connection device. Things.

In each of the above embodiments, the terminal device receiving the application service may operate as a server computer.

Further, the method described in each of the above-described embodiments can be executed by a computer as program information such as a magnetic disk, ie, a floppy disk (FD) loaded in a floppy disk device (FDD), a hard disk, or the like. The present invention can be applied to various devices by writing to a recording medium such as a disk device (HDD), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), a semiconductor memory, or transmitted to a communication medium and applied to various devices. . Computer that implements this device (server computer 1)
Reads a program recorded on a recording medium, and controls the operation of the program to execute the above-described processing.

[0261]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when a plurality of types of terminal devices are present on a network, service information provided as an applied service is formatted according to the processing capability of each terminal device. It is excellent in portability by exchanging information and sending it, but its information processing ability (calculation ability) and screen display / user interface providing ability are relatively inferior to other terminal devices (PC etc.). A distributed network computing system can be constructed using a terminal device (such as a PDA), and the terminal can receive the same services as other terminal devices even if the format changes. Further, when a plurality of types of communication networks coexist, service information provided as an applied service is exchanged in a format corresponding to the communication capability of each communication network and transmitted, whereby the data transfer speed / amount / Can absorb relative differences such as quality,
On the terminal side, even if the format changes, it becomes possible to receive services similar to those of other terminal devices. Also,
An operation method for each terminal device (an operation method for receiving an applied service such as an icon, a button, or a command) is provided as user interface information, and information is exchanged for each terminal device based on the user interface information. If this is the case, the user can always receive the service in an operation method according to each terminal device. In addition, if the user's preference using each terminal device is held as user information and information is exchanged for each user based on the user information, the user always conforms to his / her preference. Service can be provided. By providing a data encryption function, security can be ensured even when an application service is received outside the office. In addition, by providing a data compression function, data transmission can be performed efficiently. Further, even when the user uses an input / output device such as a facsimile, application services can be provided by exchanging information according to the input / output device. Further, by using the plate tag information and the symbol information, it is possible to shorten the time and improve the reliability of the data transfer, and to reduce the data transfer cost.

Further, according to the present invention, as described above, by distributing each function as an information exchange apparatus, a plurality of servers having relatively high processing capabilities can be combined to provide an advanced information exchange processing function. Can be realized. As a result, in a network environment where various terminal devices are present, it is possible to provide application services according to the processing capacity of each terminal device without requiring a large server computer, and when a plurality of communication infrastructures are mixed But
It is possible to provide application services according to the communication capability of the communication infrastructure.

In addition, according to the present invention, a situation in which a server goes down due to the local concentration of functions as in the prior art, or a situation in which the entire system becomes unavailable if the communication network is not available, occurs. It is possible to provide application services that are resistant to obstacles.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of types of terminal devices exist on a network, service information provided as an applied service is exchanged and transmitted in a format corresponding to the processing capability of each terminal device. Therefore, although it is excellent in portability, information processing ability (calculation ability) and screen display /
It is possible to construct a distributed network computing system using a terminal device (such as a PDA) whose user interface providing capability is relatively inferior to other terminal devices (such as a PC). Even if it changes, you will be able to receive the same services as other terminal devices.

Further, when a plurality of types of communication networks are mixed, service information provided as an applied service is exchanged and transmitted in a format corresponding to the communication capability of each communication network, so that the data transmission speed of the communication infrastructure can be improved. It is possible to absorb relative differences such as / amount / quality, and the terminal can receive the same service as other terminal devices, even if the format is changed.

In particular, by providing such an information exchange function in a circuit switch or a router, information can be exchanged in a final format near a user's terminal device. That is, when a network is formed from each subnetwork, information can be exchanged in a format suitable for the subnetwork.

Furthermore, it can be used as a cache. For example, only a simplified data transmission to a terminal device as a communication partner, that is, a notification that data has been registered in the cache is notified, thereby reducing the data amount. Can be minimized, and the characteristics of each sub-network can be compensated.

Further, by distributing the information exchange function for each exchange / router, individual loads can be reduced.

Further, as described above, according to the present invention,
By using the plate tag information and the symbol information, it is possible to shorten the time and improve the reliability of the data transfer and reduce the data transfer cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing an internal configuration of an information exchange processing unit in the information exchange device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal information management unit in the information exchange device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram showing an internal configuration of a user interface information management unit in the information exchange device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram showing an internal configuration of a user information management unit in the information exchange device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a communication infrastructure information management unit in the information exchange device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart showing the processing operation of a general application service according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of an applied service when the information exchange apparatus is used according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing a protocol sequence for determining a terminal attribute according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing an information exchange processing operation according to the terminal attribute according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of information exchange according to the communication infrastructure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when encrypting data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when compressing data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when using an application service using an input / output device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the entire system including application services when a structured document is assumed according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of a structured document according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the terminal attribute when a structured document is used according to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the embodiment according to the attribute of the communication infrastructure when a structured document is used.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the embodiment according to a terminal attribute and a communication infrastructure attribute when a structured document is used.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when service information other than a structured document format is targeted according to the embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a data update processing operation on the server computer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary flowchart showing a data copy request / acceptance processing operation on the server computer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 23 is an exemplary flowchart showing a data copy processing operation on the terminal device side according to the embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a symbol data transmission processing operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a service providing processing operation by distributed processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an integrated server when the information exchange device according to the third embodiment is realized on an exchange.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a switching function unit of the circuit switch according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distributed network computing system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 30 is an exemplary view for explaining a processing operation when an information exchange function is mounted on the PBX according to the third embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server computer 10 ... Information exchange apparatus 11 ... Information exchange process part 12 ... Terminal information management part 13 ... User interface information management part 14 ... User information management part 15 ... Communication infrastructure information management part 20 ... Application service part 30 ... Public Network 31 Portable information terminal 32 Mobile phone 33 Pager 34 FAX 40 Wired LAN 41 PC 42 Printer 43 Image reader 50 Wireless LAN 51 Portable PC 117 Data change management unit 1a Server computer (Information exchange control server) 1b ... Server computer (terminal information management server) 1c ... Server computer (user interface information management server) 1d ... Server computer (user information management server) 1e ... Server computer (communication infrastructure information management server) 2 ... wired LAN 70 ... integrated server 71 ... information exchange device 72a, 72b ... office system application service section 73 ... circuit switch 74 ... virtual machine 75 ... application service section 76 ... the exchange function unit 77 ... real-time OS 78 ... hardware

Claims (106)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, various terminal devices that receive application services from the information processing device, and communication that connects the information processing device and the terminal devices. In a distributed network computing system comprising a network, an information exchange device is provided in the information processing device, the information exchange device manages terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of each terminal device, The terminal attribute information of the terminal device as a communication partner is obtained from the terminal attribute information management means, and the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information. Assigns and manages update information and symbol information for various data such as document data stored in And a communication unit for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion unit via the communication network, and transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device. In the distributed network computing system, when the data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 2. An information processing apparatus for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal device for receiving application services from the information processing apparatus, and a communication network connecting the information processing apparatus and the terminal devices. In the distributed network computing system, the information processing apparatus is provided with an information exchange apparatus, the information exchange apparatus includes: a communication infrastructure information management unit that manages communication infrastructure information indicating a communication capability of the communication network; Acquire communication infrastructure information of the communication network to which the terminal device that is the communication partner is connected from the infrastructure information management means, and convert service information provided as an applied service to a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information, Various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device Conversion means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information for transmission processing control, and communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network. When transmitting various data such as the document data, if there is a change in the data, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 3. An information processing apparatus that provides application services such as various application software, a terminal device that receives application services from the information processing apparatus, and a communication network that connects the information processing apparatus and the terminal devices. In the distributed network computing system, the information processing device is provided with an information exchange device, the information exchange device has terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device, and the communication Communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the network; acquiring terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means; Acquires communication infrastructure information of the communication network to which the device is connected, and The service information provided by the terminal is converted into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device are allocated. A conversion unit for managing and controlling transmission processing; and a communication unit for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion unit via the communication network, and transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device. A distributed network computing system, wherein, when transmitting, if the data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 4. An information processing device for providing application services such as various application software, various terminal devices receiving application services from the information processing device, and communication for connecting the information processing device and the terminal devices. A network connection means for interconnecting networks, and an information exchange apparatus provided in the network connection means, the information exchange apparatus comprising: Terminal attribute information managing means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the capability; acquiring terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information managing means; and providing service information provided as an applied service with the terminal attribute information. Conversion means for converting to a specific format based on the Communication means for transmitting the converted service information via the communication network; and the information exchange apparatus further includes update information and symbols for various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. Means for allocating and managing information and controlling transmission processing. When transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device, if there is a change in the data, transmission based on the update information or symbol information And a distributed network computing system. 5. An information processing apparatus for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal device for receiving application services from the information processing apparatus, and a communication network connecting the information processing apparatus and the terminal devices. A network connection means for interconnecting networks, and an information exchange device provided in the network connection means, wherein the information exchange device has a communication capability of the communication network. Communication infrastructure information management means for managing the communication infrastructure information to be indicated; and service information provided as an applied service by acquiring communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected from the communication infrastructure information management means. To a specific format based on the above communication infrastructure information Conversion means, and communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network. The information exchange apparatus further comprises: document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as, and performing transmission processing control, and when transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device, when there is a change in the data, A distributed network computing system, wherein transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 6. An information processing device for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal device for receiving application services from the information processing device, and a communication network connecting the information processing device and the terminal device. A network connection means for interconnecting networks, and an information exchange apparatus provided in the network connection means, wherein the information exchange apparatus has a processing capability of the terminal device. Terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the communication capability of the communication network, communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network, and a terminal of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means While acquiring attribute information, the same Conversion means for acquiring communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected, and converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; Communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the means via the communication network, and the information exchange apparatus further includes update information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. Means for allocating and controlling symbol information and performing transmission processing control. When transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device, when there is a change in the data, the update information and the symbol information are transmitted to the terminal device. A distributed network computing system characterized in that transmission based on the network is performed. 7. A first information processing device that provides application services such as various application software, various terminal devices that receive application services from the first information processing device, and the first information processing device And a communication network connecting the terminal device to the second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device. Terminal attribute information managing means for managing terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the first information processing apparatus, wherein the first information processing apparatus searches for a second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information managing means; For the second information processing apparatus searched by the search means, obtain the terminal attribute information of the terminal device as the communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means. Conversion means for converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information; and communication means for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means via the communication network. Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus, and performing transmission processing control, wherein the terminal device has various data such as the document data. , When the data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 8. A first information processing apparatus for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal device for receiving application services from the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, In a distributed network computing system comprising a communication network connecting terminal devices, a second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device performs processing of the communication network. A communication infrastructure information managing unit that manages communication infrastructure information indicating a capability; a first information processing device that searches for a second information processing device that has the communication infrastructure information management device; The communication infrastructure information management means communicates with the terminal device serving as a communication partner for the second information processing device searched by Converting the service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information; and transmitting the service information converted by the converting means via the communication network. Means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various types of data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus, and performing transmission processing control. A distributed network computing system characterized in that, when transmitting various data such as, for example, the data is changed, transmission is performed based on the update information and the symbol information. 9. A first information processing apparatus for providing application services such as various application software, a terminal device for receiving application services from the first information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus, In a distributed network computing system comprising a communication network connecting a terminal device, a processing of the terminal device is performed by a second information processing device connected to the communication network separately from the first information processing device. Terminal attribute information management means for managing terminal attribute information indicating capability and communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating processing capability of the communication network; the first information processing apparatus comprises: Search means for searching for the second information processing apparatus having the management means and the communication infrastructure information management means; With respect to the second information processing device obtained, the terminal attribute information of the terminal device as the communication partner is obtained from the terminal attribute information management unit, and the communication of the terminal device as the communication partner is obtained from the communication infrastructure information management unit. Converting means for acquiring infrastructure information and converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and communication infrastructure information; and converting the service information converted by the converting means into the communication network. And a communication unit for transmitting and controlling update processing and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus, and performing transmission processing control. When sending various data such as the above document data, if there is a change in the data, the update information or symbol information Distributed network computing system according to claim that to perform the transmission of brute. 10. The distributed network computer according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said terminal devices are present on a network. System. 11. The distributed network computer according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said communication networks exist on the network. System. 12. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the terminal devices and the communication network exist on the network. Distributed network computing system. 13. The distributed network according to claim 4, wherein the terminal device operates / functions as a server computer. Computing system. 14. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said network connection means exist on a network, and each function as said information exchange apparatus is provided in said network connection means in a decentralized manner. Or a distributed network computing system according to claim 6. 15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the network connection means is provided integrally with the information processing apparatus, and constitutes an integrated server together with the information processing apparatus. Distributed network computing system. 16. The distribution according to claim 4, wherein said information exchange device is provided on a network independently of said information processing device and said network connection means. Network computing system. 17. The information exchange apparatus has a user interface information management means for managing user interface information indicating an operation method unique to each terminal device, and the conversion means communicates from the user interface information management means. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein user interface information corresponding to the terminal device of the other party is acquired, and service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user interface information. 10. The distributed network computing system according to claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9. 18. The information exchange apparatus has user information management means for managing user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, and the conversion means includes a communication partner from the user information management means. The user information corresponding to a terminal device to be obtained is obtained, and service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user information. 10. The distributed network computing system according to claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9. 19. An information exchange apparatus, comprising: encryption determination means for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information; and data encryption by the encryption determination means. 3. The distributed network computing system according to claim 1, further comprising an encryption unit configured to encrypt service information provided as an application service when it is determined that the application service is provided. 20. The second information processing apparatus further comprises: user interface information management means for managing user interface information indicating an operation method unique to each of the terminal devices; Means for searching for a second information processing apparatus having means, the conversion means for the second information processing apparatus searched for by the search means as a target from the user interface information management means to a terminal device serving as a communication partner. 10. The distribution according to claim 7, wherein corresponding user interface information is obtained, and service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user interface information. Network computing system. 21. The second information processing apparatus includes user information management means for managing user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, and the search means includes the user information management means. The conversion means searches the second information processing apparatus searched by the search means for the second information processing apparatus from the user information management means to the communication target terminal device. 10. The distribution according to claim 7, wherein the corresponding user information is obtained, and the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user information. Network computing system. 22. The second information processing device, comprising: encryption determination means for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information; and data encryption by the encryption determination means. 8. The distributed network computing system according to claim 7, further comprising: an encryption unit that encrypts service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the application information can be provided. 23. The distributed network computing system according to claim 19, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level according to a processing capability of said terminal device. 24. The information exchange apparatus, wherein: an encryption determining means for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the communication infrastructure information; and the data can be encrypted by the encryption determining means. 6. The distributed network computing system according to claim 2, further comprising: an encryption unit configured to encrypt service information provided as an application service when it is determined that the application service is an application service. 25. The second information processing device, comprising: encryption determination means for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the communication infrastructure information; and data encryption by the encryption determination means. 9. The distributed network computing system according to claim 8, further comprising: encrypting means for encrypting service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the service is available. 26. The distributed network computing system according to claim 24, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level according to a communication capability of said communication network. 27. An information exchange apparatus comprising: encryption determining means for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; and data encryption by the encryption determining means. 7. The distributed network computing system according to claim 3, further comprising: an encryption unit configured to encrypt service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that encryption is possible. . 28. The second information processing apparatus comprising: an encryption determining unit configured to determine whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; 8. The distributed network computing system according to claim 7, further comprising: an encryption unit that encrypts service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that data encryption is possible. 29. The distributed network according to claim 27, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level in accordance with a processing capability of said terminal device and a communication capability of said communication network. Computing system. 30. An information exchange apparatus, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the terminal attribute information; and data compression by the compression determination means. 5. The distributed network computing system according to claim 1, further comprising: compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the application service is applied. 31. A second information processing apparatus, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the terminal attribute information; and data compression by the compression determination means. 8. The distributed network computing system according to claim 7, further comprising compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the service is available. 32. The distributed network computing system according to claim 30, wherein said compression means changes a compression level in accordance with a processing capacity of said terminal device. 33. The information exchange device, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the communication infrastructure information; and data compression by the compression determination means. 6. The distributed network computing system according to claim 2, further comprising: compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the application service is provided. 34. The second information processing device, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the communication infrastructure information; and data compression by the compression determination means. 9. The distributed network computing system according to claim 8, further comprising compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the service is available. 35. The distributed network computing system according to claim 33, wherein said compression means changes a compression level in accordance with a communication capability of said communication network. 36. The information exchange device, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; and data compression by the compression determination means. 7. The distributed network computing system according to claim 3, further comprising: compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that the conversion is possible. . 37. The second information processing apparatus, comprising: compression determination means for determining whether data compression is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information; 10. The distributed network computing system according to claim 9, further comprising compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service when it is determined that data compression is possible. 38. The distributed network according to claim 36, wherein the compression unit changes a compression level according to a processing capability of the terminal device and a communication capability of the communication network. Computing system. 39. An information exchange device provided in an information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the terminal attribute manages terminal attribute information indicating a processing capability of the terminal device. Information management means, and obtains terminal attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management means, and converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, Conversion means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and performing transmission processing control; and transmitting the service information converted by the conversion means to the communication network. Communication means for transmitting the document data and the like to the terminal device when the data is changed. That case, the information exchange apparatus, characterized in that the it has to perform transmission based on the update information and the symbol information. 40. An information exchange device provided in an information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication infrastructure manages communication infrastructure information indicating communication capability of the communication network. Information management means, and from the communication infrastructure information management means, acquire communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected, and specify service information provided as an applied service based on the communication infrastructure information. Conversion means for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and performing transmission processing control; and Communication means for transmitting the service information via the communication network; When transmitting data, if there is a change in the data, the information exchange apparatus, characterized in that the it has to perform transmission based on the update information and the symbol information. 41. An information exchange device provided in an information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the terminal attribute manages terminal attribute information indicating a processing capability of the terminal device. Information management means, communication infrastructure information management means for managing communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network, and terminal attribute information of a terminal device with which communication is to be performed from the terminal attribute information management means; Obtain communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected from infrastructure information management means, and convert service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information. In addition, it allocates and manages update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device. And a communication unit for transmitting the service information converted by the conversion unit via the communication network, and transmitting various data such as the document data to the terminal device. An information exchange device for performing transmission based on the update information and the symbol information when the data is changed. 42. User interface information management means for managing user interface information indicating an operation method specific to each terminal device, wherein said conversion means corresponds to a terminal device to be a communication partner from said user interface information management means. 40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising: acquiring user interface information to convert the service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the user interface information.
The information exchange device according to claim 40 or 41. 43. User information management means for managing user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, wherein said conversion means corresponds to a terminal device serving as a communication partner from said user information management means. 42. The information according to claim 39, 40 or 41, wherein user information to be obtained is obtained and service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user information. Exchange equipment. 44. An encryption judging means for judging whether or not data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information, and when it is judged by the encryption judging means that data encryption is possible. 40. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising: encryption means for encrypting service information provided as an applied service. 45. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level in accordance with a processing capability of said terminal device. 46. An encryption judging means for judging whether or not data encryption is possible based on the communication infrastructure information, and when it is judged by the encryption judging means that data encryption is possible. 41. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising: encryption means for encrypting service information provided as an applied service. 47. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level according to a communication capability of said communication network. 48. An encryption judging unit for judging whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and that the data can be encrypted by the encryption judging unit. 42. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising: an encryption unit configured to encrypt service information provided as an applied service when the determination is made. 49. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said encryption means changes an encryption level according to a processing capability of said terminal device and a communication capability of said communication network. 50. A compression judging means for judging whether or not data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information, and when the compression judging means judges that the data can be compressed, 40. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising: compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service. 51. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said compression means changes a compression level in accordance with a processing capability of said terminal device. 52. Compression judging means for judging whether or not data can be compressed based on the communication infrastructure information; and when the compression judging means judges that the data can be compressed, 41. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising compression means for compressing service information provided as an applied service. 53. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said compression means changes a compression level according to a communication capability of said communication network. 54. Compression judging means for judging whether or not data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and if the data can be compressed by the compression judging means. 42. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising a compression unit configured to compress service information provided as an applied service when the determination is made. 55. The information exchange apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said compression means changes a compression level in accordance with a processing capability of said terminal device and a communication capability of said communication network. 56. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device is managed by the terminal attribute information management. And obtains terminal attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management unit, and converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information. In both cases, update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus are allocated and controlled, and transmission processing control is performed. Thereafter, the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control is transmitted to the communication network. The information exchange method characterized in that the information is transmitted through a web browser. 57. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network is managed by the communication infrastructure information management. The communication infrastructure information of the communication network to which the terminal device that is the communication partner is connected is acquired from the communication infrastructure information management unit, and the service information provided as an applied service is obtained based on the communication infrastructure information. To a specific format,
After allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device and performing transmission processing control, the converted and controlled service information is transmitted through the communication network. An information exchange method characterized by transmitting the information. 58. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device is managed by terminal attribute information management. Registered in the communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network in the communication infrastructure information management unit, and obtains the terminal attribute information of the communication partner terminal device from the terminal attribute information management unit, Obtain communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which the terminal device is connected from the communication infrastructure information management unit, and convert service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information. In addition to the conversion, update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus are allocated, managed, controlled, and transmitted. An information exchange method characterized by transmitting the converted and controlled service information via the communication network after performing communication processing control. 59. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an applied service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. The processing capability of the terminal device is determined, the service information is converted into a specific format according to the processing capability, update information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device, and symbol information. An information exchange method, wherein the service information is subjected to transmission processing control and the service information subjected to the conversion transmission control is transmitted via the communication network. 60. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an applied service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. Determines the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected, converts the service information into a specific format according to the communication capability, and updates various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device. An information exchange method, comprising: allocating and controlling information and symbol information, performing transmission processing control, and then transmitting the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control via the communication network. 61. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an applied service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. Determine the processing capability of the terminal device and the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected, convert the service information into a specific format according to the processing capability and the communication capability, and manage and store the service information in the information processing device. Information for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as converted document data and performing transmission processing control, and thereafter transmitting the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control via the communication network. method of exchange. 62. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing device. A terminal attribute information management unit is provided in the second information processing device connected to the terminal device, terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device is registered in the terminal attribute information management unit, and the terminal attribute information management unit is A second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management unit for the second information processing apparatus; and a service provided as an applied service. The information is converted into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device are allocated and controlled, and transmission processing is performed. And controls information exchange method of the conversion transmission controlled the service information after this and transmits via the communication network. 63. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing apparatus. A communication infrastructure information management unit is provided in a second information processing apparatus connected to the communication infrastructure information, and communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network is registered in the communication infrastructure information management unit. Searching for a second information processing device having the same, and for the second information processing device, acquiring communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected from the communication infrastructure information management unit; The service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information, and the converted service information is transmitted via the communication network. Update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus are allocated and controlled, and transmission processing is controlled. Thereafter, the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control is transmitted to the communication network. The information exchange method characterized in that the information is transmitted through a web browser. 64. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing device. A terminal information management unit and a communication infrastructure information management unit are provided in the second information processing device connected to the terminal information device, and terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device is registered in the terminal attribute information management unit;
Communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network is registered in the communication infrastructure information management unit, and a second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information management unit and the communication infrastructure information management unit is searched for. For the information processing apparatus 2, the terminal attribute information of the communication target terminal device is obtained from the terminal attribute information management unit, and the communication infrastructure information management unit communicates with the communication network to which the terminal device is connected. Acquires infrastructure information, converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and converts various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. The update information and the symbol information are allocated and controlled, and the transmission processing is controlled. Information exchange method and transmits via network. 65. The terminal device according to claim 59, wherein a plurality of the terminal devices exist on a network.
Claim 61, Claim 62, Claim 63, or Claim 64
Information exchange method described. 66. The information exchange method according to claim 59, wherein a plurality of said communication networks exist on the network. 67. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the terminal devices and the communication network exist on the network.
9, claim 60, claim 61, claim 62, claim 63,
70. The information exchange method according to claim 64. 68. The information exchange according to claim 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, or 64, wherein said terminal device operates / functions as a server computer. Method. 69. The network connection device according to claim 59, wherein a plurality of said network connection devices exist on a network, and each of said information exchange functions is provided in said network connection device in a decentralized manner. Claim 61
62. The information exchange method according to claim 62, 63 or 64. 70. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the network connection device is provided integrally with the information processing device, and realizes an integrated server function together with the information processing device.
9, Claim 60, Claim 61, Claim 62, Claim 6
73. The information exchange method according to claim 64. 71. The information exchange function is provided on a network independently of the information processing device and the network connection device. 67. The information exchange method according to claim 63 or claim 64. 72. A user interface information management unit for managing user interface information indicating an operation method unique to each of the terminal devices, wherein the conversion unit responds to the terminal device serving as a communication partner from the user interface information management unit. 56, 57, 58, 59, wherein the user interface information to be provided is obtained, and the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user interface information. , Claim 60, Claim 61, Claim 62, Claim 6
73. The information exchange method according to claim 64. 73. A user information management unit for managing user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, wherein the conversion unit corresponds to a terminal device serving as a communication partner from the user information management unit. The user information is obtained, and the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user information. Claim 60, Claim 6
The information exchange method according to claim 1, 62, 63 or 64. 74. It is determined whether or not data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information. If it is determined that the data can be encrypted by the encryption determination, the data is provided as an application service. 58. The information exchange method according to claim 56, wherein said service information is encrypted. 75. The second information processing apparatus includes a user interface information management unit that manages user interface information indicating an operation method unique to each terminal device,
The search unit searches for a second information processing device having the user interface information management unit, and the conversion unit
For the second information processing apparatus searched by the search unit, user interface information corresponding to a terminal device as a communication partner is obtained from the user interface information management means, and service information provided as an applied service is obtained. 67. The information exchange method according to claim 62, wherein the information is converted into a specific format based on the user interface information. 76. The second information processing apparatus includes a user information management unit that manages user information indicating an operation method unique to each user, and the search unit includes the user information management unit. The conversion unit searches for the second information processing apparatus having the search information from the user information management unit and sends the second information processing apparatus searched by the search unit to the terminal device serving as a communication partner. 65. The method according to claim 62, wherein the corresponding user information is obtained, and the service information provided as an applied service is converted into a specific format based on the user information. Information exchange method. 77. The second information processing device determines whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information, and determines that data encryption is possible based on the encryption determination. 63. The information exchange method according to claim 62, wherein, in the case where the service information is provided, service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. 78. The distributed network computing system according to claim 74, wherein the encryption changes a level of encryption according to a processing capability of the terminal device. 79. It is determined whether or not data encryption is possible based on the communication infrastructure information. When it is determined that the data can be encrypted by the encryption determination,
61. The information exchange method according to claim 57, wherein service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. 80. The second information processing apparatus performs an encryption determination for determining whether data encryption is possible based on the communication infrastructure information, and the data can be encrypted based on the encryption determination. 64. The information exchange method according to claim 63, wherein when it is determined that the service information is present, service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. 81. The information exchange method according to claim 79, wherein the encryption changes a level of encryption according to a communication capability of the communication network. 82. It is determined whether data encryption is possible based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and when it is determined that the data can be encrypted by the encryption determination, 62. The information exchange method according to claim 58, wherein service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. 83. The second information processing device judges whether data can be encrypted based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and the data can be encrypted based on the encryption judgment. 63. The information exchange method according to claim 62, wherein when it is determined that the service information is service information, service information provided as an applied service is encrypted. 84. The encryption method according to claim 82, wherein the encryption changes a level of encryption according to a processing capability of the terminal device and a communication capability of the communication network.
3. Information exchange method described in 3. 85. It is determined whether or not data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information. If it is determined that the data can be compressed by the compression determination, the data is provided as an application service. 56. The service information according to claim 56, wherein said service information is compressed.
Information exchange method described. 86. The second information processing apparatus determines whether data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information, and determines that data can be compressed based on the compression determination. 63. The information exchange method according to claim 62, wherein the service information provided as an applied service is compressed when the service information is applied. 87. The information exchange method according to claim 85 or 86, wherein said compression changes a level of compression in accordance with a processing capability of said terminal device. 88. It is determined whether or not data can be compressed based on the communication infrastructure information. When it is determined that the data can be compressed by the compression determination,
61. The information exchange method according to claim 57, wherein service information provided as an applied service is compressed. 89. The second information processing device determines whether or not data can be compressed based on the communication infrastructure information, and determines that data can be compressed based on the compression determination. 64. The information exchange method according to claim 63, wherein the service information provided as an applied service is compressed when the service information is applied. 90. The information exchange method according to claim 88 or 89, wherein said compression changes a level of compression in accordance with a communication capability of said communication network. 91. It is determined whether or not data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information. If it is determined that the data can be compressed by the compression determination, 62. The information exchange method according to claim 58, wherein service information provided as an applied service is compressed. 92. The second information processing apparatus determines whether data can be compressed based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and the data can be compressed based on the compression determination. 65. The information exchange method according to claim 64, wherein when it is determined that the service information is service information, service information provided as an applied service is compressed. 93. The compression method according to claim 91, wherein the compression is performed by changing a compression level according to a processing capability of the terminal device and a communication capability of the communication network.
2. The information exchange method described in 2. 94. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein terminal attribute information indicating a processing capability of the terminal device is registered. Acquiring terminal attribute information of a terminal device serving as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information, converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, Update information and symbol information of various data such as managed and stored document data are allocated and controlled to perform transmission processing control, and thereafter, the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control is transmitted via the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for implementing the information exchange method described above. 95. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, comprising: communication infrastructure information indicating communication capability of the communication network; From this communication infrastructure information, obtain communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a terminal device that is a communication partner is connected,
While converting service information provided as an applied service to a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information,
After allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and performing transmission processing control, the converted and controlled service information is transmitted via the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for realizing an information exchange method characterized by transmitting the information. 96. An information exchange method provided in an information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, comprising: registering terminal attribute information indicating a processing capability of the terminal device; Communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network is registered, terminal attribute information of a terminal device to be a communication partner is obtained from the terminal attribute information, and the terminal device is connected from the communication infrastructure information. Acquires communication infrastructure information of a communication network, converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and documents managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. After allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as data, and performing transmission processing control, the converted and controlled Computer-readable storage medium storing the program information for realizing the information exchange method characterized by sending a bis information through the communication network. 97. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an application service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. The processing capability of the terminal device is determined, the service information is converted into a specific format according to the processing capability, update information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device, and symbol information. A computer which stores program information for realizing an information exchange method characterized by transmitting the service information subjected to the conversion and transmission control via the communication network. Possible storage medium. 98. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an applied service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. Determines the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected, converts the service information into a specific format according to the communication capability, and updates various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing device. A program information for realizing an information exchange method characterized in that information and symbol information are allocated and controlled and transmission processing control is performed, and then the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control is transmitted through the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium that stores therein. 99. An information exchange function is provided in a network connection device for interconnecting networks, and when transmitting service information provided as an applied service from an information processing device to a terminal device, the network connection device side transmits the service information. Determine the processing capability of the terminal device and the communication capability of the communication network to which the terminal device is connected, convert the service information into a specific format according to the processing capability and the communication capability, and manage and store the service information in the information processing device. Information for allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as converted document data and performing transmission processing control, and thereafter transmitting the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control via the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for realizing an exchange method. 100. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing apparatus for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing apparatus. A terminal attribute information management function is provided in the second information processing device connected to
Terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device is registered in the terminal attribute information management function, and a second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information management function is searched for. As a target, obtain terminal attribute information of a terminal device as a communication partner from the terminal attribute information management function, convert service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information, Allocating and controlling update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the apparatus, performing transmission processing control, and then transmitting the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control via the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for realizing an information exchange method characterized by the following. 101. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing device. A communication infrastructure information management function is provided in the second information processing apparatus connected to the communication infrastructure information, and communication infrastructure information indicating the communication capability of the communication network is registered in the communication infrastructure information management function. Searching for a second information processing device having the same, and for this second information processing device, acquiring communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a terminal device as a communication partner is connected from the communication infrastructure information management function; Converting service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the communication infrastructure information, and converting the converted service information via the communication network; Update information and symbol information of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus are allocated and controlled, and transmission processing control is performed. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for realizing an information exchange method characterized by transmitting the information via a communication network. 102. An information exchange method provided in a first information processing device for providing an application service to a terminal device connected via a communication network, wherein the communication network is provided separately from the first information processing device. Providing a terminal attribute information management function and a communication infrastructure information management function in a second information processing apparatus connected to the communication network; registering terminal attribute information indicating the processing capability of the terminal device in the terminal attribute information management function; Is registered in the communication infrastructure information management function, and a second information processing apparatus having the terminal attribute information management function and the communication infrastructure information management function is searched for. For the processing device, the terminal attribute information of the terminal device with which the communication is made is obtained from the terminal attribute information management function, and the terminal information is obtained from the communication infrastructure information management function. Acquires communication infrastructure information of a communication network to which a device is connected, converts service information provided as an applied service into a specific format based on the terminal attribute information and the communication infrastructure information, and stores the information in the information processing device. Update information and symbol information of various data such as managed and stored document data are allocated and controlled to perform transmission processing control, and thereafter, the service information subjected to conversion and transmission control is transmitted via the communication network. A computer-readable storage medium storing program information for realizing an information exchange method. 103. A computer-readable program storing program information for realizing the information exchange method according to any one of claims 56 to 93, and mounted on an information processing apparatus to operate. Storage medium. 104. The update information and the symbol information are added to a changed portion or an image data portion of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus. And transmitting only the changed part based on the update information or the symbol information to the terminal device when transmitting the terminal device to the terminal device. Claim 5, Claim 6, Claim 7, Claim 8, or Claim 9
A distributed network computing system as described. 105. The update information and the symbol information are added to a changed portion of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and a multimedia data portion such as a moving image / still image / audio, and The method according to claim 39, wherein, after the data is changed, when the data is transmitted to the terminal device, only the changed portion based on the update information or the symbol information is transmitted to the terminal device.
The information exchange device according to claim 40 or 41. 106. The update information and the symbol information are added to a change portion of various data such as document data managed and stored in the information processing apparatus and a multimedia data portion, and after performing the change processing of the various data, 57. The data transmission device according to claim 56, wherein only the changed portion based on the update information or the symbol information is transmitted to the terminal device.
8, Claim 59, Claim 60, Claim 61, Claim 6
72. The information exchange method according to claim 63 or 64.