Electronic service manual display program and recording medium on which the program is recorded, electronic service manual display control method and electronic service manual display control apparatus, program transmission method and program transmission apparatus, and program reception method and program reception apparatus

• US 20070033525A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: Victor Company of Japan Limited (JVC Kenwood Corporation)
• Inventors: Okubo, Hatsuo, Nuno, Ikuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,409,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

Disclosed is a superior technique for performing an information search, whereby information related to parts included in a circuit diagram or a board diagram can be obtained by using conventional databases, and whereby the labor required to produce an electronic service manual can be reduced. According to this technique, a board diagram or a circuit diagram is displayed on a drawing display screen. Network connection destination information, which includes URL information for a predetermined server, a type of information to be transmitted to the server and a predetermined transmission method, is read from a local hard disk, for example, provided for a PC (personal computer). When a predetermined manipulation, such as right clicking, is performed for a graphics primitive, the network connection destination information is referred to and menu information that enables selection of a predetermine server is generated and displayed. Further, when a predetermined server is selected on the menu information, a part corresponding to parts identification information that is designated for the selected graphics primitive is searched for, information therefor is obtained, a search request is issued to the predetermined server, and the search results are displayed on a display device.

Claims

1. An electronic service manual display program, which permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, and which permits said computer to perform the steps of:

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit;

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts;

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name;

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area;

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined-server;

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

displaying said search results information that is received.

2. An electronic service manual display program, which permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, and which permits said computer to perform the steps of:

displaying an index page display area for displaying an index page on which a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit is published;

displaying a parts table page display area for displaying a parts table page on which a list of said parts is published;

displaying a drawing display area to display a drawing, at the least, either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit;

displaying said index page in said index page display area;

displaying said parts table page in said parts table page display area;

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for said drawing corresponding to said names, and when one of said names displayed in said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated for said selected name;

when said thus obtained drawing identification information is information for a designation of said board diagram or said circuit diagram, searching for and displaying, in said drawing display area, said board diagram or said circuit diagram that corresponds to said drawing identification information;

when said drawing identification information thus obtained is information for a designation of both said board diagram and said circuit diagram, dividing said drawing display area into first and second display areas and searching for and displaying, in said first and second display areas, said board diagram and said circuit diagram that correspond to said drawing identification information;

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server;

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

displaying said search results information that is received.

3. A recording medium, on which recorded is an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, and that permits said computer to perform the steps of:

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit;

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts;

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name;

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area;

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server;

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

displaying said search results information that is received.

4. A recording medium, on which recorded is an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, and that permits said computer to perform the steps of:

displaying an index page display area for displaying an index page on which a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit is published;

displaying a parts table page display area for displaying a parts table page on which a list of said parts is published;

displaying a drawing display area to display a drawing, at the least, either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit;

displaying said index page in said index page display area;

displaying said parts table page in said parts table page display area;

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for said drawing corresponding to said names, and when one of said names displayed in said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated for said selected name;

when said thus obtained drawing identification information is information for a designation of said board diagram or said circuit diagram, searching for and displaying, in said drawing display area, said board diagram or said circuit diagram that corresponds to said drawing identification information;

when said drawing identification information thus obtained is information for a designation of both said board diagram and said circuit diagram, dividing said drawing display area into first and second display areas and searching for and displaying, in said first and second display areas, said board diagram and said circuit diagram that correspond to said drawing identification information;

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server;

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

displaying said search results information that is received.

5. An electronic service manual display control method, for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising the steps of:

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit;

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts;

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name;

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area;

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server;

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

displaying said search results information that is received.

6. An electronic service manual display control apparatus, for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising:

means for displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit;

means for displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts;

means for establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and for, when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name;

means for searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area;

means for reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server;

means for establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and for, when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server;

means for, when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

means for employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server;

means for receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server; and

means for displaying said search results information that is received.

7. A program transmission method, for transmitting an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising the steps of:

converting the electronic service manual display program into a digital signal sequence, for a communication line or a network, with an added header; and

initiating employment of a communication protocol with a partner station across the communication line or the network and transmitting the digital signal sequence,

whereby the electronic service manual display program includes the steps of

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit,

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts,

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name,

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area,

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server,

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server,

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server, and

displaying said search results information that is received.

8. A program transmission apparatus, for transmitting an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising:

conversion means for converting the electronic service manual display program into a digital signal sequence, for a communication line or a network, with an added header; and

transmission means for initiating employment of a communication protocol with a partner station across the communication line or the network and transmitting the digital signal sequence,

wherein the electronic service manual display program includes the steps of

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit,

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts,

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page-display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name,

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area,

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server,

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server,

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server, and

displaying said search results information that is received.

9. A program reception method, for receiving an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising the steps of:

initiating employment of a communication protocol with a partner station across a communication line or a network and receiving a digital signal sequence; and

removing headers from the digital signal sequence and converting the digital signal sequence used for a communication line or a network into the original electronic service manual display program,

whereby the electronic service manual display program includes the steps of

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit,

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts,

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name,

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area,

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server,

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server,

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server, and

displaying said search results information that is received.

10. A program reception apparatus, for receiving an electronic service manual display program that permits a computer to provide a function for displaying, on a display device, information that is related to parts and that is used for a predetermined product constituted by an electric circuit or an electronic circuit employing said parts as components, and at the least either a board diagram that represents not only a board used for said predetermined product but also said parts mounted on said board, or a circuit diagram that represents a circuit provided on said board, comprising:

reception means for initiating employment of a communication protocol with a partner station across a communication line or a network and receiving a digital signal sequence; and

conversion means for removing headers from the digital signal sequence and converting the digital signal sequence used for a communication line or a network into the original electronic service manual display program,

wherein the electronic service manual display program includes the steps of

displaying, in a designated index page display area, an index page showing a list of names for, at the least, either said board or said circuit,

displaying, in a designated parts table page display area, a parts table page showing a list of said parts,

establishing in advance, for each of said names published on said index page, index page information, which is drawing identification information for a drawing, at the least either a board diagram for said board or a circuit diagram for said circuit, that corresponds to said name, and when one of said names displayed on said index page display area is selected, obtaining from said index page information said drawing identification information that is designated in correlation with said selected name,

searching for said drawing designated by said thus obtained drawing identification information, and displaying said drawing in a designated drawing display area,

reading network connection destination information that includes URL information for a predetermined server having an information search function, information indicating an information type to be transmitted to said predetermined server, and search setup information for which is designated information indicating a method for transmissions to said predetermined server,

establishing, in advance for one graphics primitive of graphics primitives that are constituents of said drawing, graphics primitive information, which is parts identification information corresponding to said part, and when a predetermined operation is performed for one of said graphics primitives that constitute said board diagram or said circuit diagram displayed in said drawing display area, examining said network connection destination information and generating and displaying menu information that includes a choice for an information search using said predetermined server,

when said choice is selected in said menu information, employing said parts identification information included in said graphics primitive information for said selected graphics primitive, and obtaining, from parts table database information wherein detailed information concerning each of said parts is stored with said parts identification information for said part, information of a type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

employing said method for transmission to said predetermined server for transmitting, to said predetermined server specified by said URL information, said obtained information of said type to be transmitted to said predetermined server,

receiving, from said predetermined server, search results information concerning said information search that has been performed, by said predetermined server, based on said information transmitted to said predetermined server, and

displaying said search results information that is received.