Combination equipment selection system using network

• US 20060075016A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Denki Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Denki Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Katou, Akira, Kanayama, Masatoshi, Ishizeki, Noburu
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

The present invention provides a combined equipment selection system which is capable of reducing the load on the host computer and securely obtaining the user information. A user terminal device 1 comprises a user information memory means 13 for storing the user information, a constant data memory means 14 for storing constant data, a combined equipment selection means 15 and a selection information display control means 16. The combined equipment selection means 15 carries out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment different from the service equipment and suitable for being combined with a service equipment, based on the model information and operational conditions of the service equipment as well as the constant data stored in the constant data memory means. The selection information display control means 16 requests a display permission from the host computer 3 for displaying the selection information onto the display section on condition that the user information and selection information are transmitted to the host computer 3, and displays the selection information onto the display section 12 only when the display permission is obtained from the host computer 3.

Claims

1. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices includes;

a user information memory means for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory means for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a combined equipment selection means for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, and said constant data stored in said constant data memory means, and

a selection information display control means for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information selected by said combined equipment selection means onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section only when said display permission is obtained from said host computer; and

wherein said host computer includes an information memory means for storing said user information and said selection information obtained from said user terminal device, and a display permission transmission means for transmitting said display permission to said user terminal device when said user information and said selection information are entered from said user terminal device.

2. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices includes;

a user information memory means for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory means for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory means for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

a combined equipment selection means for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data stored in said constant data memory means and said variable data stored in said variable data memory means, and

a selection information display control means for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information selected by said combined equipment selection means onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer;

confirming whether or not said variable data are updated when said display permission is obtained from said host computer; and

displaying said selection information onto said display section if said variable data are not updated, or displaying said selection information onto said display section after causing said combined equipment selection means to carry out again said selection operation if said variable data are updated, and

wherein said host computer includes an information memory means for storing said user information and said selection information obtained from said user terminal device, and a display permission transmission means for transmitting updated said variable data and said display permission to said user terminal device when said user information and said selection information are entered from said user terminal device.

3. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices includes;

a user information memory means for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory means for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory means for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

an update means for receiving said variable data from said host computer on condition that said user information is transmitted to said host computer, and updating said variable data stored in said variable data memory means,

a combined equipment selection means for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data stored in said constant data memory means and said variable data stored in said variable data memory means, and

a selection information display control means for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information selected by said combined equipment selection means onto said display section on condition that said selection information is transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section when said display permission is obtained from said host computer, and

wherein said host computer includes an information memory means for storing said user information obtained from said user terminal device and said selection information, and

a display permission transmission means for transmitting updated said variable data to said user terminal device when only said user information is entered from said user terminal device, or transmitting said display permission to said user terminal device when said selection information is entered from said user terminal device.

4. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices is so constructed as to perform;

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section and said constant data, and

a selection information display control function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section only when said display permission is obtained from said host computer, and

wherein said host computer is so constructed as to perform an information memory function for storing said user information and said selection information obtained from said user terminal device, and

a display permission transmission function for transmitting said display permission to said user terminal device when said user information and said selection information are entered from said user terminal device.

5. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices is so constructed as to perform;

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory function for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data and said variable data, and

a selection information display control function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer;

confirming whether or not said variable data are updated when said display permission is obtained from said host computer; and

displaying said selection information onto said display section if said variable data are not updated, or displaying said selection information onto said display section after carrying out again said combined equipment selection function if said variable data are updated, and

wherein said host computer is so constructed as to perform an information memory function for storing said user information and said selection information obtained from said user terminal device, and a display permission transmission function for transmitting updated said variable data and said display permission to said user terminal device when said user information and said selection information are entered from said user terminal device.

6. A combined equipment selection system comprising:

a plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network and

a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices,

said combined equipment selection system receiving service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selecting one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displaying selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

wherein each of said plurality of user terminal devices is so constructed as to perform;

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory function for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

an update function for receiving said variable data from said host computer on condition that said user information is transmitted to said host computer, and updating said variable data,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data and said variable data, and

a selection information display control function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said selection information is transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section when said display permission is obtained from said host computer, and

wherein said host computer is so constructed as to perform an information memory function for storing said user information and said selection information obtained from said user terminal device, and

a display permission transmission function for transmitting updated said variable data to said user terminal device when only said user information is entered from said user terminal device, or transmitting said display permission to said user terminal device when said selection information is entered from said user terminal device.

7. A program for a combined equipment selection system, being executed on a plurality of user terminal devices in said combined equipment selection system which comprises said plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network, and a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices, wherein said combined equipment selection system receives service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displays selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

said program being so constructed as to perform:

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section and said constant data, and

a selection information display function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section only when said display permission is obtained from said host computer.

8. A program for a combined equipment selection system, being executed on a plurality of user terminal devices in said combined equipment selection system which comprises said plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network, and a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices, wherein said combined equipment selection system receives service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displays selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

said program being so constructed as to perform:

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory function for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data, and said variable data, and

a selection information display control function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said user information and said selection information are transmitted to said host computer;

confirming whether or not said variable data are updated when said display permission is obtained from said host computer; and

displaying said selection information onto said display section if said variable data are not updated, or displaying said selection information onto said display section after carrying out again said combined equipment selection function if said variable data are updated.

9. A program for a combined equipment selection system, being executed on a plurality of user terminal devices in said combined equipment selection system which comprises said plurality of user terminal devices each having an operation section and a display section and connected to a communication network, and a host computer connected to said communication network for communicating with said plurality of user terminal devices and obtaining user information from said user terminal devices, wherein said combined equipment selection system receives service equipment information on a service equipment which a user wishes to use, entered by said user from said operation section of said user terminal device, selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment based on said service equipment information, and displays selection information on said combined equipment onto said display section of said user terminal device,

said program being so constructed as to perform:

a user information memory function for storing said user information entered from said operation section,

a constant data memory function for storing constant data on said service equipment and said one or more other combined equipment,

a variable data memory function for storing variable data out of data necessary for selecting said combined equipment, transmitted from said host computer via said communication network,

an update function for receiving said variable data from said host computer on condition that said user information is transmitted to said host computer, and updating said variable data,

a combined equipment selection function for carrying out a selection operation which selects one or more other combined equipment which is different from said service equipment and is suitable for being combined with said service equipment, based on model information and operational conditions of said service equipment entered from said operation section, said constant data, and said variable data, and

a selection information display control function for requesting a display permission from said host computer for displaying said selection information onto said display section on condition that said selection information is transmitted to said host computer, and displaying said selection information onto said display section when said display permission is obtained from said host computer.