NETWORK SYSTEM, SERVER APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20110191688A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: HASEGAWA, Nobuhiko, Nozaki, Takahiro, Gojo, Tomomi
• Application Number:
  US13/018,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H

Abstract

A server apparatus provides groupware functions by storing data to be attached to an image object in correspondence with a window on which image object is to be displayed at a client terminal so that all data attached to the image object are storable regardless of any one of a plurality of windows on which the image object is displayed. The server apparatus inherits and stores data attached to an image object moved or copied at the client terminal, in correspondence with the user data attached to a seat image to which the image object is moved or copied and a second window that is specified by the user data attached to the seat image and displayed at the client terminal, in response to an update request from the client terminal.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a server apparatus, including a first processor and a storage unit, configured to provide a plurality of groupware functions; and

a client terminal, communicatably coupled to the server apparatus, including a second processor and a display unit,

wherein the storage unit includes;

a first storage part configured to store first information related to a window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, second information related to an image object to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the window, and data to be attached to the image object in correspondence with the window on which image object is to be displayed in the overlapping manner, so that all data attached to the image object are storable within data items in the first storage part regardless of any one of a plurality of windows on which the image object is displayed; and

a second storage part configured to store third information related to a seating chart window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, fourth information related to a seat image to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window, and user data to be attached to the seat image;

the first processor includes a transmitting part configured to transmit to the client terminal the first and second information and the data stored in the first storage part, and the third and fourth information and the user data stored in the second storage part;

the second processor includes;

a window display part configured to display a first window on the display unit based on the first information received from the server apparatus;

an image object display part configured to display the image object on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the first window based on the second information received from the server apparatus;

a seating chart window display part configured to display the seating chart window on the display unit based on the third information received from the server apparatus;

a seat image display part configured to display the set image on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window based on the fourth information received from the server apparatus;

an operation part configured to move or copy the image object displayed on the first window to the seat image displayed on the seating chart window in response to a move or copy instruction; and

an update request part configured to make an update request for the data attached to the image object with respect to the server apparatus when the image object is moved or copied to the seat image by the operation part;

wherein the image object display part displays the moved or copied image object on the display unit in an overlapping manner on a second window that is specified by the user data attached to the seat image, together with the data attached to the image object, as message information; and

the first storage part of the server apparatus inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the user data attached to the seat image to which the image object is moved or copied and the second window, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

2. The network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting part of the server apparatus further transmits to the client terminal fifth information related to a predetermined image, and user data to be attached to the predetermined image and related to at least one user or all users belonging within the seating chart;

the second processor of the client terminal further includes a predetermined image display part configured to display the predetermined image on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the first window or the seating chart window, based on the fourth information received from the server apparatus;

the operation part of the client terminal moves or copies the image object displayed in the overlapping manner on the first window to the predetermined image on the first window or the seating chart window;

the update request part of the client terminal makes the update request for the data attached to the image object with respect to the server apparatus when the image object is moved or copied to the predetermined image by the operation part;

the image object display part of the client terminal displays the moved or copied image object on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the second window that is specified by the user data attached to the predetermined image, together with the data attached to the image object, as message information; and

the first storage part of the server apparatus inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the user data attached to the predetermined image to which the image object is moved or copied and the second window, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

3. The network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting part of the server apparatus further transmits to the client terminal fifth information related to a predetermined image;

the second processor of the client terminal further includes a predetermined image display part configured to display the predetermined image on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the first window or the seating chart window, based on the fourth information received from the server apparatus;

the operation part of the client terminal moves or copies the image object displayed in the overlapping manner on the first window to the predetermined image on the first window or the seating chart window, and receives input of user data to be attached to the predetermined image and related to at least one user or all users belonging within the seating chart;

the update request part of the client terminal makes the update request for the data attached to the image object with respect to the server apparatus when the image object is moved or copied to the predetermined image by the operation part;

the image object display part of the client terminal displays the moved or copied image object on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the second window that is specified by the user data attached to the predetermined image, together with the data attached to the image object, as message information; and

the first storage part of the server apparatus inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the user data attached to the predetermined image to which the image object is moved or copied and the second window, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

4. The network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the operation part of the client terminal further moves or copies the image object displayed in the overlapping manner on the second window to a third window in which a groupware function related to one of a notice-board, a schedule, or a matrix is realized;

the update request part of the client terminal makes the update request for the data attached to the image object with respect to the server apparatus when the image object is moved or copied to the third window by the operation part;

the image object display part of the client terminal displays the moved or copied image object on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the third window, together with the data attached to the image object; and

the first storage part of the server apparatus inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the third window within the data items, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

5. The network system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

in the client terminal, when the operation part moves or copies the image object displayed in the overlapping manner on the second window to the third window in which the groupware function related to the notice-board is realized, the display unit displays a predetermined image object for notifying update of the notice-board in an overlapping manner on the third window, as the message information, together with the data attached to the predetermined image data, with respect to each viewing target user of the notice-board; and

in the server apparatus, the first storage part inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied predetermined image object, in correspondence with the second window of each viewing target user within the data items, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

6. The network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part includes presence information of the user specified by the user data; and

the seat image display part of the client terminal reflects the presence information to the seat image before displaying the seat image on the display unit in the Overlapping manner on the seating chart window.

7. The network system as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the data attached to the image object to be displayed in an overlapping manner on a schedule window that is related to a schedule includes time information indicating a start of the schedule, and planned action category information indicating a presence state at a time when the schedule is performed, when the first information stored in the first storage part is related to the schedule window that provides a schedule management function;

the planned action category information is reflected to the presence information of the user when the schedule is started based on the time information; and

the seat image display part of the client terminal reflects the planned action category information to the presence information of the user before displaying the presence information of the user on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window.

10. The network system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seating chart window displayed on the display unit by the seating chart window display part of the client terminal includes a sharing seating chart window to be displayed and shared among a plurality of users, and local seating chart window to be displayed by one user.

11. The network system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the local seating chart window is laid open to a plurality of users, and edited by the user who acquires the local seating chart window that is laid open.

8. The network system as claimed in claim wherein:

the storage unit of the server apparatus further includes a third storage part configured to store registered user data independent of the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part;

the registered user data stored in the third storage part includes presence information of a user other than that of the user data attached to the seat image; and

the seat image display part of the client terminal reflects the presence information of the other user to the seat image before displaying the presence information of the other user on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window.

9. The network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the data attached to the image object to be displayed in an overlapping manner on a schedule window that is related to a schedule includes time information indicating a start of the schedule, and planned action category information indicating a presence state at a time when the schedule is performed, when the first information stored in the first storage part is related to the schedule window that provides a schedule management function;

the planned action category information is reflected to the presence information of the user when the schedule is started based on the time information; and

the seat image display part of the client terminal reflects the planned action category information to the presence information of the user before displaying the presence information of the user on the display unit in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window.

12. A server apparatus communicatable with at least one client terminal via a network, comprising:

a storage unit; and

a processor configured to provide a plurality of groupware functions,

wherein the storage unit includes;

a first storage part configured to store first information related to a window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, second information related to an image object to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the window, and data to be attached to the image object in correspondence with the window on which image object is to be displayed in the overlapping manner, so that all data attached to the image object are storable within data items in the first storage part regardless of any one of a plurality of windows on which the image object is displayed; and

a second storage part configured to store third information related to a seating chart window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, fourth information related to a seat image to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window, and user data to be attached to the seat image;

the processor includes a transmitting part configured to transmit to the client terminal the first and second information and the data stored in the first storage part, and the third and fourth information and the user data stored in the second storage part; and

the first storage part inherits and stores data attached to an image object moved or copied at the client terminal, in correspondence with the user data attached to the seat image to which the image object is moved or copied and a second window that is specified by the user data attached to the seat image and displayed at the client terminal, in response to an update request from the client terminal.

13. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the transmitting part further transmits to the client terminal fifth information related to a predetermined image, and user data to be attached to the predetermined image and related to at least one user or all users belonging within the seating chart; and

the first storage part inherits and stores the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the user data attached to the predetermined image to which the image object is moved or copied and the second window, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

14. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the first storage part inherits and stores the data attached to a predetermined image object moved or copied at the client terminal, in correspondence with the second window of each viewing target user within the data items, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

15. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part includes presence information of the user specified by the user data.

16. The server apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the storage unit further includes a third storage part configured to store registered user data independent of the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part; and

the registered user data stored in the third storage part includes presence information of a user other than that of the user data attached to the seat image.

17. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a groupware program which, when executed by a computer of a server apparatus, causes the computer to perform a process to provide a plurality of groupware functions to at least one client terminal via a network, the process comprising:

a first storage procedure causing the computer to store, in a first storage part of a storage unit, first information related to a window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, second information related to an image object to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the window, and data to be attached to the image object in correspondence with the window on which image object is to be displayed in the overlapping manner, so that all data attached to the image object are storable within data items in the first storage part regardless of any one of a plurality of windows on which the image object is displayed;

a second storage procedure causing the computer to store, in a second storage part of the storage unit, third information related to a seating chart window in which a corresponding groupware function is realized, fourth information related to a seat image to be displayed in an overlapping manner on the seating chart window, and user data to be attached to the seat image; and

a transmitting procedure causing the computer to transmit to the client terminal the first and second information and the data stored in the first storage part, and the third and fourth information and the user data stored in the second storage part,

wherein the first storage procedure causes the computer to inherit and store data attached to an image object moved or copied at the client terminal, in correspondence with the user data attached to the seat image to which the image object is moved or copied and a second window that is specified by the user data attached to the seat image and displayed at the client terminal, in response to an update request from the client terminal.

18. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the transmitting procedure causes the computer to further transmit to the client terminal fifth information related to a predetermined image, and user data to be attached to the predetermined image and related to at least one user or all users belonging within the seating chart; and

the first storage procedure causes the computer to inherit and store the data attached to the moved or copied image object, in correspondence with the user data attached to the predetermined image to which the image object is moved or copied and the second window, in response to the update request from the client terminal.

19. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part includes presence information of the user specified by the user data.

20. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the process further comprises:

a third storage procedure causing the computer to store, in a third storage part of the storage unit, registered user data independent of the user data attached to the seat image stored in the second storage part; and

the registered user data stored in the third storage part includes presence information of a user other than that of the user data attached to the seat image.